Culture & Leadership

A new survey suggests that many companies aren’t ready to handle opioid problems in the workplace; and HR and workers have very different perspectives on the issue. As the opioid crisis in this country grows, most organizations are still unsure how to handle issues such as what to do for workers under the influence of these drugs. In fact, according to one survey, only 13% of organizations are confident about spotting signs of opioid misuse, and 76% don’t provide educational programs or information to address this problem. Understanding rules and regs around testing and how you can help employees is essential to take charge of this growing concern. … [Read more...] about The Opioid Crisis Isn’t Going Away: What You’ve Done to Prepare Probably Isn’t Enough

Old ideas could be dragging down your culture and hurting engagement, retention, productivity, and morale. Are there elements of your culture that are sabotaging the health of your organization, costing good employees, and hurting productivity? Some of these may be leftovers from 10 or 20 years ago when they were considered acceptable, maybe even essential. However, the move to a more person-centered, tech-savvy workplace has rendered these ideas obsolete and, in some cases, dangerous. Read on to see what “landmines” your culture may be hiding. … [Read more...] about Is the Past Keeping You from Thriving in the Future?

Use this opportunity to increase awareness, share resources; your actions could be life-saving. Suicide is on the rise. Over 45,000 people die by suicide annually, and this is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. Although suicide prevention focuses mainly on identifying people with mental health conditions and providing appropriate interventions, there are many additional opportunities to educate and help people. September, which is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, is the perfect time to help break down the stigmas and stereotypes about mental health issues and increase awareness among your employees. The results could save lives. … [Read more...] about September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Looking ahead, employers will need to step up their efforts to balance person-centered workplaces with cutting-edge technology and automation. The first leaf has yet to fall and winter coats are still in the closet, but smart organizations are already looking ahead to 2020. They know that they will have to be less centralized, more mobile, and more flexible than ever; and they are strategizing to adopt the latest technology, attract the best younger workers, and employ cutting-edge training tools and resources. Read on to learn about how you can prepare for success in 2020. … [Read more...] about Expect Some Surprises, New Challenges in 2020

If you think you know your job candidates and employees by viewing their social media postings, think again. According to a new survey, people are using a variety of tactics to hide social media posts about their activities, interests, and beliefs from employers. Of over 2,000 respondents, 84% say they believe social media regularly impacts hiring and other employment decisions; and one in five say they have posted material that they believe could jeopardize a current or future opportunity.  As a result, nearly half (43%) say they enable privacy settings to keep social media posts and information from employers; and 40% have created an alias or alternate account. … [Read more...] about Survey: Prospects and Employees Seek to Hide Lives, Feelings, Beliefs from Employers

It’s time to make sure you have tools, skills, resources to help workers deal with disaster—whether it’s around the block or across the country. The mass shootings this past weekend likely have had an impact on your employees. Some may be sad, others anxious or angry. Even when a tragedy doesn’t affect people directly, they often feel pain—either because of their empathy for the victims or because it opens wounds regarding their own experiences. Compassionate leadership during times of tragedy doesn’t just ease suffering; it sets a tone that enables people to recover more quickly from future setbacks. It increases colleagues’ connections and loyalty to each other and helps them see leadership as being on their side. All of this has a positive impact on the culture, atmosphere, and functioning of the organization. Read on for steps you can take to ensure employees feel supported, heard, and empowered in the aftermath of tragedy. … [Read more...] about How to Support Employees When Tragedy Touches Their Lives, Hearts

Experts share best practices for taking organizations from poisonous to positive. If you or your colleagues dread going to work, you’re not alone. In at least one survey, 25% of respondents say that a toxic work environment is a serious problem and causes more lost productivity than distractions, “lazy” colleagues, poor managers, and meetings. You could have a toxic workplace and not even realize it; but the good news is that you can take your organization from poisonous to positive. Read on for signs of a toxic workplace and what top executives say you can do to build lasting change. … [Read more...] about Detoxify Your Workplace for Greater Engagement, Retention, Productivity

Focus on employees’ strengths over weaknesses for an empowered workforce. Much is made of helping employees discover and correct their weaknesses. That approach has very limited utility. It often creates defeated, deflated employees unable to add much value to the organization. Read on to learn about another approach leaders can use to create higher levels of performance and productivity by leveraging strengths.  It is important to start by reviewing the significance of emotional intelligence. This is the ability to “motivate oneself and persist in the face of frustrations, to control impulse and delay gratification, to regulate one’s moods and keep distress from swamping the ability to think, to empathize, and to hope,” according to author Elizabeth D. Hutchinson. It is a critical factor for leaders who want to shift attention from deficits to strengths. It gives these leaders a deeper understanding of human interactions; and it helps them begin to focus their concerns on … [Read more...] about Creating a Strengths-Focused Organization