Culture & Leadership

Workplace stress is an ongoing problem, but you can help a lot with a little effort. Workplace stress has been getting a lot of attention lately; but according to at least one survey, this is still a significant problem for employees despite efforts to address it. The report from Comparably showed that more than half of workers feel stressed out at work, and many of these say they’ve been run ragged on the job. Interestingly, entry-level workers report more burnout than employees with years of experience. Read on to learn about what specific issues cause stress for employees at various levels and how you can help. … [Read more...] about Study: Unclear Goals, Long Hours Hurt Employees’ Health

A new survey shows that bias, along with its impact on productivity and well-being, is still a serious issue for employees. Despite efforts to increase fairness and equity in the workplace, bias still plagues many organizations. According to a recent survey, 64% of employees say they have experienced workplace bias in the past year, and 61% feel that bias against them occurs at least once a month.  Nearly two-thirds (54%) of respondents say they’ve witnessed bias against a coworker in the past year. The vast majority (84%) said that the bias they experienced has had a negative impact on their overall happiness, well-being, and confidence. Read on for more survey results and insights into how you can better address workplace bias. … [Read more...] about Employees Recognize Efforts to Address Bias, But the Journey Isn’t Over

Summer vacations can be all blue skies if you plan, prepare, and have consistent policies. Juggling employee requests for prime summer vacation slots can be real headache for HR and other managers. Experts suggest several tips to take the pain out of vacation scheduling and avoid problems such as disgruntled workers, poor morale, and tension between colleagues. Read on to make vacations fun and easy for everyone. … [Read more...] about Plagued by Vacation Scheduling Headaches? Take these Tips, and Feel Better Fast

Don’t underestimate the value of recognition for accomplishments small and large on workers. According to a new Deloitte survey, a daily “thank you” can go a long way with your employees. Of 16,000 professionals—from C-suite execs to junior staff—85% said that they prefer a simple “thank you” as recognition for their daily accomplishments. About a third (32%) said they want to be recognized by their direct supervisor, and 37% said they would like kudos from the boss above their own manager. Women, in particular, would like management to make the extra effort at recognition. … [Read more...] about Thank You: Two Small Words Have a Big Impact on Employees

Take five steps to ensure flexible, adaptive leadership and teams to manage change with agility. Want a competitive edge in a tough market? Then become a FALO—a “Flexible, Adaptive, Learning Organization.” This encourages leaders to focus on issues within their area of control instead of wasting time chasing issues they can’t substantially impact. A FALO organization has a willingness to change or compromise, the ability to use flexibility to accommodate new conditions, and the capability to quickly learn new skills and information necessary to meet demands. … [Read more...] about Want to Soar above the Competition? Take Flight with FALO

Identify, pursue skills, competencies to thrive and build a strong organization. As post-acute and long-term care providers continue to move into an unknown, uncertain future, it is essential that leaders do what I call “mirror work.” This reflective effort requires that leaders assess their skills and competencies to determine how ready they are to move organizations into uncharted territory. It requires an attention to developing the critical competence of adaptive leadership. Let’s begin by defining the term. Adaptive leadership centers around strategies that create the type of change that builds and enables the capacity, at the individual and the organizational level, to thrive. The interventions associated with adaptive leadership build on the past, particularly past successes. This approach relies heavily on experimentation and the integration … [Read more...] about Adaptive Leadership: The Essential Competency for the Future

Seven key steps can encourage employees to be problem-solvers, creative decision-makers. A growing number of organizations see a culture void of finger-pointing and fear as essential to innovation and employee engagement. As far back as 1990, researchers suggested the value of the ability to be open and honest without fear of negative consequences. This concept, known as “psychological safety,” encourages workers to take risks, share ideas, and contribute to the organization’s quality, growth, and positive change. In 2002, one researcher said, “In psychologically safe environments, people believe that if they make a mistake, others will not penalize or think less of them for it.” So how do you embrace psychological safety and promote it in your workplace? … [Read more...] about Psychological Safety Promotes a More Engaged, Innovative Workforce

Absence management can save time, trouble, and even legal woes. Only 1 in 4 HR professionals report having effective absence management programs, according to data from The Standard’s Absence and Disability Readiness Index. Managing absences while ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is an ongoing challenge for HR. However, understanding the facts and taking a few steps to safeguard absence tracking and compliance can help protect your organization and its employees. … [Read more...] about It’s 9 a.m.: Do You Know Where Your Employees Are?