As the month of July is upon us, it’s important to remember that the values and sentiments of Juneteenth don’t end in July. The observation and celebration of equity, inclusivity, and diversity in the workplace should be the norm and is something we need to carry on every month of the year.
The global pandemic prompted wide-reaching industries to pivot to remote workforces. Few employees were prepared for this seemingly radical shift even though the work from home trend had evolved by upwards of 400 percent during the last decade, according to remote workforce statistics published by Tech Republic. Those who were unprepared or not well suited to the change grew tired of working from home relatively quickly. Some developed the telltale signs of work from home fatigue and digital fatigue from excessive screen usage. These issues can be overcome with sound policies, infrastructure, and time management strategies.
Although the idea of conducting a workplace wellness assessment may seem like a purely qualitative exercise, wide-reaching data and professional research indicate quantitative goals are affected as well. A Gallup study supports the position that the cost of poor workplace wellbeing negatively impacts an organization's goal achievement and bottom line. These are key takeaways from Gallup's research.
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 difference between an organization that enjoys a culture of trust and one that does not is akin to a good or bad relationship. Healthy relationships foster trust, communication, and a sense of wellbeing. The precise opposite is true of dysfunctional ones that cause everyday people stress and anxiety before getting out.
In a word, now. Over the past year, we’ve learned that employees depend on employer support to help them not just cope with periods of change and uncertainty, but to maintain their daily, whole-person wellbeing. The transition back to the office and into post-pandemic workplace norms is going to reveal additional challenges — and opportunities to take employee wellbeing to the next level.
May 25, 2020, was a day we’ll never forget. I remember the pain and heartache I felt learning witnessing the horrific murder of another Black person at the hands of police. On top of the pain that we were already feeling about the global pandemic and the lockdown, it just felt like too much. And I grieved that all of us were living in a world where something like that could happen, could still happen, after all these years and decades of equal rights talk and activism. Unfortunately, talk and activism weren’t enough to save George Floyd’s life — to give him the breath he called out for, the breath taken away from so many others before him.
For a company to grow and thrive, it needs to have a culture that encourages innovation. That can only happen if employees feel that it is safe for them to take risks at work.
Identifying workplace stressors ranks among the crucial issues facing modern industry leaders. Fast-paced technologies and increased drives to complete more tasks at a rapid pace prove counterproductive in the long run. That’s largely because frontline workers experience symptoms of stress, anxiety, and develop an aversion to being at work. Today’s thought leaders have a unique opportunity to pivot away from outdated models that pretend workplace stress doesn’t hamstring the organization. By identifying workplace stressors and making positive change, organizations are better equipped to succeed.
Workplace culture is the backbone of every company. It’s what defines your organization and allows you to create an identity that you can communicate to your employees, customers, and the general public.
In March 2020, the entire world stopped. Countries worldwide started to take the COVID-19 virus seriously. Many companies stopped functioning normally and had to pivot to running digitally. Some organizations didn’t make it during the past year — and many employees continue to struggle with stress, anxiety, and overwhelm.
The number of employees struggling with addictive substances has surged since 2018. Nearly half of American workers abused substances, and the number of people who were absent due to alcohol and substances almost doubled through 2020. The issues with drugs and alcohol in the workplace don’t even account for the overuse of prescription drugs.
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.
