Culture & Leadership

The holidays are fast approaching; and some employees will have to work. This can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be.

Halloween hasn’t even passed yet, and the stores are putting out their Christmas displays. At the same time, the travel industry is promoting deals for Thanksgiving. Like it or not, some employees will have to work on the holidays. But to avoid conflict, damage to morale, and frustrations, plan ahead, communicate, listen, and promote fairness.

Let’s face it. The country is divided politically, and people may have very strong opinions on both sides of the aisle. Don’t let political discussions mar national holiday celebrations at your workplace.

Political conversations can be disruptive, particularly at a time when organizations are still recovering from the COVID pandemic. Workers are still exhausted and stressed out. The focus needs to be on uniting teams, demonstrating mutual respect and concern, and boosting retention and engagement. Politics at work can isolate certain people and create a hostile, tense atmosphere.

In a podcast last week, Cleveland Clinic psychologist Chivonna Childs, PhD, talked about how to take the poison out of a toxic workplace.

“If a workplace is toxic, productivity goes down and absences go up,” said Dr. Chivonna Childs at online program, Coping with a Toxic Work Environment. She noted, “When we’re working in an any environment that’s toxic, we can feel isolated…and it can lead to depression, sleeplessness, and poor appetite. It can attack our self-esteem.”

Even people with a strong work ethic and a love for their work can be affected by a toxic environment. Dr. Childs explained that people in this situation might start calling off more because they don’t feel well physically. They may have muscle tension, gastrointestinal problems, and headaches. When they think about work, they feel sick. “There may be times when you literally can’t get out of bed, and that can be the depression, or you’re so anxious that you’re nauseated,” Dr. Childs said. Even when you do manage to get to work, she added, “You’re not productive and your creativity isn’t there. So if you have all of these things happening, the workplace is suffering as well.”

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and it’s not too late to pay tribute to the late civil rights leader. You can celebrate his life and legacy wherever you are.

Whether you have a few minutes or a few hours, there are things you can do to continue Dr. King’s legacy on this day designated in his honor.

Let’s face it. Times are tense. People are stressed out, overworked, and juggling a variety of personal and professional challenges. Laughter can help.

Studies show that laughter can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve your immune system, and boost your mood. Even in challenging times, there is place for humor in the workplace, but there need to be some parameters.

Whether it’s a pandemic, flood, hurricane, wildfire, or something else, when disaster strikes communication can minimize the chaos and help keep people safe. Here’s how.

Communication can’t wait until disaster strikes. Employees need to know what to expect from you. They should feel confident that you will do everything possible to protect them (and their families) and keep them safe.

Can you ‘nudge’ employees into making better decisions or embracing change? According to some experts, you can.

The ‘nudge,’ a concept that uses positive reimbursement and indirect suggestions to influence behavior and decision making, has made its way into the workplace. Used appropriately and ethically, it can lead to better decisions and improved employee satisfaction.

Diversity and inclusion need at be at the core of your organizational culture. How do you get there? And how do you stay there over time?

Start your organizational journey to lasting diversity and inclusion by having those sometimes difficult conversations about inequities, racism, and related issues in your workplace. Then prepare to do the hard work to create lasting change.