The secrets to a happy workplace revealed - Financial Review Article. "In a world where many leaders are putting in place back to office mandates, the best places to work prioritise freedom and choice". Read the full article here to discover some innovative employer initiatives to create a happy workplace >> https://lnkd.in/g6UEmGnN #FutureUCoaching #FindYourPurpose #CareerHappiness #DreamCareer

💼 Take back your time! ⏰ Here’s how you can use your right to disconnect: • Chat with your employer about work expectations after hours • Set and document clear boundaries for work and personal time • Say no to non-urgent tasks outside your working hours • Lean on your union for support if needed • If things don’t improve, reach out to the Fair Work Commission Remember, it’s not just about the rules – it’s about you! Protect your time, your health, and your well-being. ✨ Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g8-Gj9hV #righttodisconnect #employeewellbeing #workplacewellbeing

🛠️🌟 Happy Labor Day! 🌟🛠️ Today, we celebrate the dedication, resilience, and hard work of every individual who contributes their time, energy, and skills to make our workplaces thrive. In these challenging times, the spirit of Labor Day resonates more profoundly than ever before. As we commemorate this day, let's take a moment to honor the essential workers who have been the backbone of our society, tirelessly serving on the front lines, ensuring our safety, health, and well-being. From healthcare professionals and first responders to grocery store clerks and delivery drivers, your unwavering commitment embodies the true essence of Labor Day. Moreover, let's acknowledge the adaptability and perseverance exhibited by workers worldwide as we navigate through unprecedented changes and uncertainties. From remote work setups to embracing new technologies, your flexibility and determination exemplify the resilience of the human spirit. #LaborDay , #HappyLaborDay , #HardWork , #Dedication , #Perseverance , #Workplace , #Community , #Unity , #Collaboration , #Achievement , #Milestone , #Gratitude , #ThankYou , #Celebration , #WorkLife , #Empowerment , #Appreciation , #Inclusion , #Support , #Success

✨ Exciting News ✨ Working Families has just announced their Top 30 flexible and family-friendly employers in the UK. What really caught my eye is that 4 law firms and 2 financial services organisations made it into the Top 10! See below. These industries have traditionally been seen as tough on employee wellbeing, so seeing this shift is truly heart-warming. Could this signal a real change in how we approach work-life balance? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Let’s keep the conversation going – is the working world really changing? #FlexibleWorking #FamilyFriendly #EmployeeWellbeing #WorkLifeBalance #InclusiveWorkplace #DiversityandInclusion #Leadership #FutureOfWork #EmployeeEngagement Citi, Crown Prosecution Service, DAC Beachcroft, Grant Thornton UK LLP, Hill Dickinson LLP, Mishcon de Reya LLP, NHS North East London, Pinsent Masons

If you want to determine whether an employer is treating employees with dignity, simply ask the employees how they feel about waking up and going to work every day. This can provide more accurate insights than any survey can.

Intriguing article in today's #WallStreetJournal: The loneliness of the American worker. https://lnkd.in/g6Gn88Hj When I was employed once upon a time with #Humana, I participated in an employee survey intended to gauge engagement. A key indicator was the ability to say "yes" to the question -- and I'm paraphrasing -- "Do you have at least one friend at work that you can call a best friend?" I emphatically did, and still do -- not just from Humana, but from every place I've worked. I'm currently working remotely, and this has a long list of advantages. Limitations to connecting with people is a thing, though. At every place where I've worked in person, there are memories of belly laughs, the kind that make you glad you weren't taking a sip of something when someone said or did something. Or, the ability to put a note on a desk of a colleague going through a tough time. Marking graduations, promotions and retirements with celebrations. The inspiration that comes from a personally delivered strategy overview that makes you glad when the alarm clock goes off in the morning just so you can do your part in bringing it to life. It's hard to draw these types of feelings and interactions from a Zoom call. So many persons with whom I've worked have left an enduring, positive mark that I don't think could have originated from virtual interactions. Depth of personal connection is not to be underestimated.

Some of my fondest memories of my time at Brooklyn Creative League | Brooklyn's Original Coworking Space are the Wednesday pot luck lunches co-hosted by owners Neil Carlson and Erin Carney where a disparate group of professionals, small business owners and consultants with little in common came together to share salad, salami and tales of work and life in Park Slope. I now know those coworkers who I saw regularly and collaborated with occasionally were my weak ties. And many of us now know just how vital those weak ties are for our wellbeing. The Wall Street Journal shares some sad statistics about just how lonely today's desk-based workers -- both remote and in-person -- are, and some strategies that companies like 1-800-Flowers.com are deploying to build connectivity and assuage the loneliness that Cigna Healthcare, the health-insurance company, estimates is costing companies $154 billion a year in absenteeism alone. Among the strategies Cigna is trying: "It has also begun tapping workers across teams to serve as designated hosts during lunchtime, encouraging people to sit with colleagues they don’t know in common areas and chat, and suggesting conversation topics." It's a good start. As I learned at BCL, never underestimate the power of sitting together over a shared buffet. Who else misses the old days? https://lnkd.in/einsbBd3 MillerKnoll #loneliness #coworking #connection #wellbeing #workplace #hybridwork #workplacewellbeing

How do we deal with loneliness at work? Our modern working styles, with fewer opportunities to truly get to know our coworkers, adds to a cycle of loneliness. Whether we work in-person, virtual, or hybrid, we have more ways to communicate, but fewer ways to connect. This article raises many good points, but there is one thing missing in the conversation: solutions. I believe that many solutions to the loneliness of the American worker – and Americans in general – can be found in art and culture. This is why I am meeting with employers and cultural leaders across America specifically to discuss new ways we can all collaborate to strengthen employees, workplaces, and communities. Participating in art and cultural activities is a proven way to help us feel more connected to others, all while doing something we enjoy. It doesn’t matter if we are creating art together, viewing a show as part of an audience, or going to museum, these all help us feel more connected. What if employers provided employees with memberships to local cultural organizations as part of their benefits packages, like we do gym memberships? Or collaborated with local arts groups for midday concerts and curated wellness days? Or, as one participant in our convening in Bentonville, Arkansas shared, hosting seminars for activities like plant-potting or cooking? We need ways to connect with and learn about colleagues as people, not as squares on a screen. And when we encourage creative exploration in employees’ daily lives we reduce stress and anxiety, helping to stop the marginalizing cycle of loneliness. It’s true that American’s are facing an epidemic of loneliness. But it’s also true that by working together, and prioritizing our creative health equally with our mental and physical health, we have tools to develop solutions.

The findings from our "State of Workplace Injustice Report" reveal some stark realities that we, as leaders, need to confront head-on. 📊 According to our qualitative analysis of 686 participants: 77% detailed their worst experiences with workplace injustice over the past year. Only 50% felt that their organizations were aware of these injustices. A mere 17% reported that their organizations took action. Alarmingly, just 8% experienced a positive outcome. These statistics highlight a critical gap in addressing workplace injustice. As leaders, it's not enough to be aware—we must act decisively to create environments where every employee feels heard, valued, and supported. Let's reflect on these numbers and commit to transforming our workplaces into havens of fairness and justice. The journey starts with us. Download the full report to dive deeper into these findings and learn actionable strategies to combat workplace injustice: The State of Workplace Injustice Report What are your thoughts? Share your experiences and tips for addressing workplace injustice in the comments below. #workplaceinjustice #leadershipdevelopment #justiceforall #speakup #organizationalculture #employeerights #fairness #humanresources #justlead

We had an interesting panel at the Star Tribune Top Workplaces luncheon last week, moderated by our columnist Evan Ramstad. Panelists talked about one of the hottest issues this year: retention of workers. Here's some of what I learned: -- Bonnie Supan, vice president of operations at Brenny Transportation said you can't forget to have fun. The firm - founded to give women and people of color a bigger role in trucking - has bad joke contests. Even laughing contests. But knowing how hard a job trucking is, and needing employee buy-in for company goals, there's a huge reward at the end of the year if those goals are met: an all-inclusive trip to a resort somewhere tropical. -- Rick Getschow, city manager of Eden Prairie, said he couldn't beat that trip considering his operations are funded by taxpayers. But his staff does challenge other cities to pickleball and other sports (they beat Edina, by the way). Seriously, though, after listening to employees the city increased mental health and parental leave benefits and leaned into more flexibility. Also, he said, it's important to recognize people for a job well done. -- Joffrey Wilson, vice president of DEI at Mortenson, talked about how you need to grow in a way that allows for current employees' career development. He also talked about how DEI needs to be part of growth plans, not a set of policies on an island. Employees need to understand the what and the why. And the importance of employee input. "It's important to listen. It's also important to revamp things based on what you hear." --Hilary Marden-Resnik, CEO of UCare, talked about consistency of values and how that contributes to retention. UCare has a 4% turnover rate over five years, which made the other panelists a bit jealous. The organization has to have a culture of caring given its mission, and for employees to understand that mission, the organization has to put employees front and center.