HR Industry Brief

  We’ve all been there. It’s the middle of the night, and you just remembered that you wanted to proof that report or you’re thinking about that meeting you have tomorrow and wondering if you’re prepared. Maybe you get up, turn on your computer, and work until you’re too exhausted; or maybe you stay in bed, thinking and planning or just tossing and turning. At any rate, there are a few things you can do to prevent these late-night work-related woes:

• Make a to-do list. Plan out what you have to do the next day so that you feel more prepared and organized.
• Keep a journal. Putting your worries, fears, thoughts, and ideas in writing can enable you to process your emotions and relieve your stress and anxiety.
• Exercise self-compassion. Give yourself a break. You’re not perfect. Resist the urge to obsess about a conversation or situation or worry incessantly about the “what ifs.”
• Engage in physical activity. Research shows that just a … [Read more...] about (5/18) How To Stop Thinking About Work at 3 am

Increasingly data shows that depression, stress, and anxiety are affecting more and more Americans as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Now is the time to review your mental health and wellness benefit offerings for your employees and encourage them to take advantage of these as needed. The statistics emphasize the urgency to address mental health now:

• A federal emergency hotline for people in emotional distress experienced a 1,000% increase in calls in April over a year ago.
• 20,000 people texted a hotline run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in April.
• Talkspace, an online therapy company, reports a 65% increase in clients since mid-February.
• The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute predicts that if unemployment rises to a level similar to the 1930s Great Depression, our country could expect an additional 18,000 people to die from suicide and more than 22,000 additional deaths from drug … [Read more...] about (5/15) The Coronavirus Pandemic Is Pushing America into a Mental Health Crisis

More time at home has led to more than just an increase in crafting projects and TV binge watching. According to some new data, people are spending significantly more time on learning activities during this pandemic. For example, users watched nearly 8 million hours of courses on LinkedIn Learning in April. This is three times the amount watched in February. Elsewhere:

• Managers spent 105% more time watching courses in March and April than in January and February.
• Online learning activities increased the most for people in the recreation and travel industry (132%). Workers in sales professions invested more time in learning, with 116% increase in activities.
• Stress management was among the most popular online learning topics. Ten times more people watched or participated in programming on this topic in April than in February.

While many industries are struggling with layoffs and downsizing, healthcare organizations are hustling to find and hire new staff for a variety of positions. Here are four of the hiring challenges healthcare organizations must deal with:

• A surge in clinical and non-clinical hiring. HR and managers must be prepared to juggle hiring for a wide range of positions at once. These include not only physicians, nurses, and CNAs but also patient transporters, respiratory specialists, janitorial/housekeeping staff, and kitchen workers.
• The need to hire and onboard quickly. More than ever, it is necessary to have a screening process in place that prioritizes efficiency as well as quality. Background and reference checks, as well as other due diligence, will be key to ensuring that only capable, skilled employees are hired.
• Loss of baby boomers. While many people between the ages of 56 and 74 are planning or considering retirement, many of them are … [Read more...] about (5/13) What COVID-19 Is Doing to Healthcare Hiring

Sorting through the myths and facts about COVID-19 can be challenging for everyone. However, when employees have widely divergent beliefs and/or spread misconceptions, it can negatively affect the workplace and people’s ability to do their jobs effectively. Here are some ways you can help stop the spread of misinformation about COVID-19:

• Provide reliable and consistent sources of information including the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Professional organizations such as the American Health Care Association, LeadingAge, and AMDA—The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine are also reliable sources that share vetted information.
• Communicate frequently about the virus. Repeat facts regularly.
• Encourage employees to think critically about what they hear and to ask questions.
• Caution workers about misinformation and myths that may be circulating.
• Restate your … [Read more...] about (5/12) Tips for Combating COVID-19 Myths Among Staff

While they may not be voicing their fears out loud, employees are still worried about their exposure to COVID-19 on the job. According to a new survey:

• 54% of employees say they are worried about exposure to the coronavirus at work.
• 53% suggest that the availability of coronavirus testing would make them feel safe going back to work.
• 42% who work remotely want to continue to have work flexibility moving forward.
• 56% say that employers have a right to know if their workers have tested positive for COVID-19.
• 43% support mandatory coronavirus testing for employees, and only 17% think their jobs would be affected by their test results.
• 71% of workers are confident that their employers will be prepared to safely reopen their businesses and bring employees back to the workplace.
• 44% of employees say they would like to see organizations to continue transparency and open communication from leadership in the … [Read more...] about (5/11) More Than Half of US Workers Worry about COVID-19 Exposure on the Job

More than ever your teams are looking to you and other managers for support, inspiration, and guidance during this challenging time. It’s not too late to make sure you are taking the right steps to be a great crisis (and post-crisis) leader:

• Provide consistent messages on a regular basis. This will increase employees’ confidence and sense of security if you present consistent information from day to day.
• Celebrate small successes. Use baby steps to measure success.
• Be patient. Remember that people are working hard under tremendous stress. Think twice before you criticize or complain.
• Tune into people’s emotions.
• Get input from your teams. Ask for help, feedback, and opinions; listen and learn.
• Don’t look back; focus on the future and help others to envision it.
• Trust your teams to do their jobs; don’t micromanage.
• Expect bumps in the road.
• A leader doesn’t have all the answers. … [Read more...] about (5/8) 11 Ways Leaders Can Lead Through the COVID-19 Pandemic

When your employees feel cared for, a new survey says they:

• Plan to stay at their organization for three years or more (60%).
• Feel included in their organization (95%).
• Would recommend their company to a friend (91%).

• Empower managers to lead change.
• Implement daily check-in calls.
• Maintain consistent communication.
• Respect employees’ privacy when checking in.
• Focus on learning and development.
• Empower employees with support and tools to stay productive and healthy.
• Give employees flexibility now and moving forward.

According to a new survey, few employers have all of their ducks in a row when it comes to plans for reopening their business in the coming months. Among the findings:

• 26% of organizations have a return-to-work strategy
• 56% are starting to work on their plans
• 52% plan to mandate social distancing at work
• 27% anticipate staggering return dates
• 83% will consider increasing remote work options
• 12% plan significant reconfigurations of physical workspaces to enable social distancing
• 64% plan on some type of medical testing with employees
• 36% admit that they are unprepared to reopen

Employees who self-quarantine and won’t come to work because they’re afraid of contracting COVID-19 aren’t covered by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Under this rule, employees at businesses with fewer than 500 workers or at some public entities may take leave related to COVID-19 if they:

• Are subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order.
• Have been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine.
• Are experiencing coronavirus symptoms and are seeking a medical diagnosis.
• Are caring for an individual subject to quarantine or isolation.
• Are caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed or unavailable due to COVID-related reasons.
• Are experiencing any other substantially similar condition specified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.