One in five US adults struggle with mental illness. For many of them, this struggle occurs as they balance busy, often hectic schedules with family obligations, schooling, and work. World Mental Health Day was created to foster education about this very struggle, and to break down social stigmas surrounding illnesses like anxiety, depression, and more.
Grokker will attend the 25th annual IBI/Conference Board Health and Productivity Forum in just a few short weeks.
I am deeply grateful to all our Grokker members who inspired us to make employee mental health more approachable and accessible. And I am overwhelmed by the entire team at Grokker who worked tirelessly to create and launch our newest product — Grokker Guides.
August 7th and 8th, 2023 | Marriott Brooklyn Bridge Hotel
Grokker is excited to be participating at the C2HR Con in Brooklyn, New York. The conference is a chance to come together with fellow HR professionals to reflect and celebrate all the progress made in the world of work, and set intentions for the future. Sessions include discussions on the challenges and opportunities facing the HR industry today, including pay transparency, AI, hybrid and remote work, and more.
In talking with HR leaders at companies with large, diverse and dispersed workforces, the conversation rarely fails to touch on the fact that no matter how great the wellbeing benefits offered, some employees can’t “get around” to using them. The social health and wellbeing network that helps employees at global enterprises to move more, sleep better, eat more healthily and reduce financial stress. Our CEO's book, It’s Personal: The Business Case for Caring, thoughtfully examines the Human Connection Movement™ in the workplace, which is fueled by a growing desire among employees to feel more connected to one another and as a result, better connected to their jobs.
One hundred and fifty six years after Major General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas to announce the ending of slavery, President Biden has written Juneteenth into law as a federal holiday in the U.S. While June 19th, this “Second Independence Day,” gives us reason to formally celebrate African Americans’ rich history and culture, it’s important to note that it wasn’t until 2020, after the death of George Floyd and amidst the Black Lives Matter protests across the country, that Juneteenth — at long last — entered the public consciousness in a more meaningful way. Indeed, as a Canadian executive managing a North American team, Juneteenth entered my consciousness for the first time last year as I worked to help my team absorb and react to the events happening south of the border — and around the world.
Even though June is Pride Month, it’s important to carry on the values of Pride through the rest of the year. Although Pride is a great way to celebrate the impact and history of the LGBTQ+ community, it’s important to remember that, as a society, there is still a lot of work to do in order to reach a more equitable and inclusive culture, especially in the workplace.
The ideas surrounding mental health in corporate America too often prove self-defeating and counterproductive. Scientific American published a research-based analysis that indicates upwards of 55 percent of employees fear retribution for taking a mental health day off. Compounding that problem, studies point to 83 percent of Americans suffering work-related stress, with 29 percent saying the levels were high to extreme.
Two weeks ago, the U.S. aviation industry struggled after an FAA issue caused a 90-minute delay on all departing flights. This followed what can only be classified as a disaster of epic proportions for the airline Southwest, when operational and IT issues caused the cancellation of over 16,000 flights during peak holiday travel. A frequent traveler myself, you’d think my mind would hop to the frustration felt by stranded and delayed passengers, and while they have my sympathy, that’s not who was on my mind; instead, my heart went out to all airline employees. As a founder of a company that works to solve workplace wellbeing, I know through first-hand knowledge and studies the extraordinarily high-risk of burnout and exhaustion aviation employees face. I also realize how events like these merely serve to compound and accelerate that rate of burnout.
Corporate diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B) programs are a work in progress, as HR leaders across industries are continually learning what it takes to make a long-term difference in attracting, retaining, supporting, and promoting a diverse workforce today. But change doesn’t happen overnight, and for many, it feels like all of the hard work they’re putting in to build a more diverse team and attractive employee value proposition isn’t resulting in happier, more engaged employees fast enough.
Many organizations continue to work in remote and hybrid models as the pandemic winds down, but many employees, when given the option to return to work, would actually prefer to continue working remotely. Our new guide, Taking Care of Remote Employees: The Key To Business Success Beyond the Pandemic, gives you actionable steps to ensure that your employees feel supported no matter where they are working.
