A bipartisan group of 13 US senators is encouraging the Biden administration to halt its push to mandate staffing levels in nursing homes. These senators with rural populations say it’s the wrong move, since nursing homes are already struggling to hire and retain professional staff.
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Helping Staff Bounce Back Boosts Their Mental Health
During the pandemic, organizational leaders learned the importance of resilience. Helping staff be more resilient gives them tools and skills to recover from difficult situations and crises and see the light in dark times.
Defined by the U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services as “the ability to withstand, adapt to, and recover from adversity and stress,” resilience helps teams to effectively respond to and recover from crises and problem-solve with agility and creativity.
Pet Bereavement Policy: The Win-Win Benefit You’re Missing
The loss of a pet is a deeply painful experience for animal lovers. An employer who gives them time to grieve can win their loyalty and improve morale and productivity.
Over two-thirds of Americans own at least one pet, and most say that their pet is an important part of their family. According to a recent Harris Poll survey, 89% of pet owners said they got much comfort from their animal during the pandemic. So it’s not surprising that people suffer when they lose a pet and want time off to grieve.
Money Matters, But Employees Really Want Stability, Meaningful Work
Think you know what workers want? A new survey suggests there’s a gap between employer perceptions and what their employees say about what motivates them to stay with their organization.
In a new survey from Paychex, 30% of employees said that perceived job stability is the most important reason to stay with their employer, and 60% ranked it in their top three. Nearly half (45%) said feeling that their work is meaningful is most important, 33% cite having a passion for the field.
How to Keep Politics Out of Holiday Celebrations
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.
Report: Worker Mental Health Still Suffering…and It’s Leading Some Out the Door
The COVID pandemic clearly has had a negative impact on employee mental health in this country, and there is much work ahead to boost psychological and emotional wellbeing on the job.
According to the 2022 Mind the Workplace report, employees are struggling to cope with the changes and stresses brought on and exacerbated by the pandemic. For instance, 71% of respondents say that they’re having difficulties concentrating on their work. This is nearly double the number who reported this problem in 2018.
“Several factors may be contributing to this increase, but two years of living and working through the pandemic could contribute to lesser concentration at work,” said Taylor Adams, director of workplace mental health at Mental Health America (MHA), the report’s sponsor.
From A to Z: What You Need to Know to Attract Gen Z Workers
Generation Z workers are in their 20s and starting their lives and careers. They can help solve your workforce woes. But you need to meet them where they are to get them on your team.
Gen Z workers are social media natives who are driven by realism, committed to inclusivity, polarized politically, and fiscally responsible. A Harris Poll provides some insights into what this generation wants and how to attract them to your organization and engage them as employees.
Expert: Toxic Workplace Hurts Everyone, But There Are Ways to Cope
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.”
Top 10 Compliance Issues for 2022
While the pandemic has dominated much of your focus in the past two years, it’s time to put some attention back on compliance issues that impact your organization.
While it may not exactly be business as usual, it is time to re-examine the regulatory and compliance concerns that will increase security, help you attract and retain good workers, maximize resident and staff satisfaction, and even improve the bottom line.
How to Celebrate MLK Day
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.
