Mental health support has become a staple offering from employers in the contemporary world of work. This shift was greatly influenced by the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, leading to more employees being granted access to Employee Assistance Programs and subscriptions to wellbeing apps as part of their benefit packages.

However, despite this rising popularity, research finds that 85% of employees are not using their mental health benefits – with the primary reason for this being confusion over how to access them, as well as a lack of understanding about what they actually are.

This drives me to pose the question: what if we rebranded ‘mental health’?

The term ‘mental health’ is concise in its nature – it focuses on the health of someone’s mental state. But using these two words together, ‘mental’ and ‘health’, has given it clinical connotations that can sometimes result in employees not taking advantage of these benefits as they feel it is less applicable to them. It inadvertently promotes the misconception that only those employees who have a formally diagnosed mental health disorder can use mental health support from their employer. In reality, mental health support is as much about the upkeep and maintenance of a healthy mind as it is about helping to heal a struggling one.

So, what would happen if companies started dubbing their mental health benefits as ‘self-care benefits’?  

This would have employers market their mental health support around self-care and self-improvement strategies, helping staff foster healthy habits for the upkeep of their physical and mental wellbeing. Imagine concise, easy to access resources that all employees are aware of and where they can be used without having to go through the more formal processes of using an EAP (unless this is needed!). For the most part, this rebrand centres around improving employee accessibility to resources that will improve their brain health. By adopting a shift in the language being used, these support strategies can feel relevant to all employees.

Intentional shifting from being reactive to mental health issues to being proactive about the promotion of good mental wellbeing can make the difference between a rarely used resource and an effective tool that sees daily use. Ultimately, the shift can lead to an overall happier and healthier workforce, and employers will likely see an overall increase in engagement and decrease in absences.

It’s important to note this rebranding by no means replaces the need for mental health support for serious mental health disorders or workplace burnout. Rather it is about employers providing clear messages that separate mental health support from self-care and mental sustainability so employees can realize the benefits of nurturing a healthy mind, and employers can reap the byproduct of increased productivity.

If you would like to discuss how we can help take your mental health strategies from reactive to proactive, please get in touch with me at amanda@orgshakers.com

Reid Hoffman, co-founder of popular social media platform LinkedIn, recently made the prediction that by 2034, the 9-to-5 job will be extinct.

Hoffman is famed for his grand predictions; most notably, he predicted the mass rise of social media back in 1997 – something which has definitely come to fruition. Now, as we see the world of work continuously change and evolve as it keeps in pace with new generations of workers, new technological advancements, and the rise of the 4-day work week, it’s not such a jump to consider that Henry Ford’s 9-to-5 model – which came into practice in the early 1900s – might be on its way out.

To get a better idea, we asked the OrgShakers team whether they think Reid Hoffman’s prediction is accurate, and if so, what they believe the 9-to-5 will be replaced with:

• David Fairhurst – I agree with Hoffman’s prediction of the 9-to-5 becoming extinct, as it lines up perfectly with my own predicted that HR professionals and businesses need to be preparing for the end of jobs altogether. The ‘job’ – defined as a set of responsibilities assigned to an individual employee – has been the fundamental building block of organizations for millennia.

However, we have seen that the pace of this organizational change has been rapidly accelerated by the influx of new technologies paired with the evaporation of the boundaries of time and geography. Therefore, I believe that a more flexible and responsive methodology is needed in order to keep up with this new pace of change through companies increasingly adopting a skills-based approach to managing work and workers. 

• Therese Procter – With the rise of the gig economy, remote work, and automation, more people are going to choose to work on their own terms, selecting projects and clients that align with their skills and interests. AI and automation will likely free humans from mundane and repetitive tasks, paving the way for more creative and high-value work. This shift could lead to a fundamental change in how we approach work, possibly making the traditional 9-to-5 schedule redundant. So, I agree with the prediction, however, it’s essential to note that this prediction might not apply universally. Certain industries, such as healthcare, education, and retail, will still require more traditional schedules.

As we move forward, it’s crucial for individuals, companies, and governments to adapt to these changes and create new systems that support this evolving workforce. This might involve rethinking education, training, and social safety nets to ensure that everyone can thrive in this new environment.

• Clare Parkes –  I don’t know that 9-5 will be extinct per se, but I do agree that there will be a more significant mix in the workplace of different employment terms. Given, amongst many trends, the shift towards skill-based job design, greater flexibility post-Covid, and a need to refine the non-office-based teams’ terms and conditions towards the increasing consumer demand of 24/7, then it is inevitable that the way we employ people will change, with an increased mix of employment agreements and ways of working as a result.

• Ken Merrit – I agree with the thesis that the 9 to 5 workday will be extinct in the next 20 years. The following 2 trends are driving us to this inevitable outcome:

• Changing of the Guard:  As Boomers & Gen X descend and Millennials & Gen Z ascend as business leaders, traditional business model operating rules will change accordingly. I believe that means we will have more open work rules and far fewer rigid structures that were born prior to today’s workforce engagement preferences and the digital age.
  • Future of Virtual Work: More technology and broader geographies have already ushered in more virtual work through Zoom, Teams, etc.  Businesses, Education, and Not-for-Profit models are all getting more comfortable with working across time zones and timelines. As tools like Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality become more adopted, it will enable even more flexibility for the future of work.

• Cindy Strong – According to Reid Hoffman the traditional 9-5 will become a thing of the past, claiming AI and the gig economy will continue to be disruptors and change agents in the way work is done. Although the key contributors he outlines are already being felt by the modern workforce, I don’t agree it is likely all traditional ways of working will be extinct. Rather we will require new skills to adapt to the advances in technology and flexibility in the way work is done. It is not a new experience for technology, inventions and world events to be a catalyst to require a workforce to be resilient to change. The encouragement is we have insights from leaders like Mr. Hoffman to prepare our resilience on the horizon of uncertainty.

• Sayid Hussein – I agree with Reid Hoffman’s prediction that the traditional 9-to-5 job could be extinct by 2034. The rise of remote work, flexible schedules, and the gig economy have already begun to shift the workforce away from rigid time structures. In place of the 9-to-5, I believe we will see a more fluid work environment where individuals manage their own hours, driven by project-based work or outcomes rather than clocking in and out at specific times. This change will be fuelled by advances in technology, such as AI and automation, which will enable people to work from anywhere at any time, making the concept of a fixed workday increasingly obsolete.

• Anju Jain – I agree with Reid Hoffman’s prediction that the 9-to-5 job could become obsolete by 2034, largely driven by the ongoing transformation in how we work. The acceleration of remote work, advancements in automation, blurring geographies, seeking skills vs degrees, and the rise of the gig economy are already challenging the traditional workday structure. In this evolving situation, work is likely to become more fluid and project-based, with a focus on results rather than hours logged. We may see a model where employees have the freedom to choose their work, working hours, and locations, thereby increasing their productivity and work-life balance. Individuals are likely to quickly shift between being an employee, freelancer or an entrepreneur.   

However, this shift would also require substantial changes in labor policies, employee benefits, and management practices. Companies will need to rethink how they hire, measure performance, or compensate people. Traditional models of health insurance and retirement plans will have to be redefined. The challenge will be to balance the benefits of this new work structure with the potential risks of increased worker isolation and burnout – a significant concern for the individual, the organization, and society as a whole.

If you would like to discuss any of these topics in greater detail, you can get in touch directly through our website, or book in a private and confidential one-hour consultation with one of our team members through our OrgShakers CL!CK service.

The benefits that a company offers to their prospective employees play a huge role in attracting and retaining talent. But as we know, different generations are drawn to different types of benefits, and as Gen Z enter into the workforce in full force, we are starting to see the emergence of new, innovative benefits being offered in order to attract this fresh new talent.

The latest new benefit? Gushcloud International – an IP management and licensing company – have recently started offering their employees ‘Tinder Leave’. The company has partnered with well-known dating app Tinder to offer their employees sponsored Tinder subscriptions and an additional paid day of leave for their staff to actively go on dates and seek out new connections in the hopes of improving their wellbeing outside of work.

Dating apps have become a very popular tool for fostering romantic relationships, especially amongst the younger generations. And there is a growing body of research to suggest that employees who are in happy, healthy relationships outside of work tend to be better, more productive workers. One study even found that married men were less likely to report workplace burnout and, as their marital satisfaction increased, burnout likelihood decreased.

From this perspective, companies that consider offering Tinder Leave could be paving the way for employee satisfaction to increase as their personal lives become socially and romantically nourished.

So, is Tinder Leave something that more companies should consider?

There are a lot of interesting benefits that could come from offering this type of perk to employees. For one thing, it’s an innovative way of highlighting a company’s care and commitment to social wellbeing. It also signifies that a business values work-life balance, through actively encouraging employees to take the time to build these connections.

However, there are some potential drawbacks that employers will need to consider, too. For instance, offering Tinder subscriptions could actually prove to be a distraction at work, as employees may be more tempted to be checking their phone and swiping through potential matches. So, when looking at this as a potential offering to employees, it’s important for employers to consider all the factors.

If you would like to discuss how we can help you design and implement innovative wellbeing strategies to improve work-life balance, please swipe right to get in touch with us today.

We are all familiar with the idea that a happy employee is a more productive one.

Smart employers are always taking into consideration rising trends, to ensure that their people are feeling valued and recognized – and one new component to improving employee happiness seems to be rising fast: voluntary benefits.

Voluntary benefits – also known as supplemental benefits or employee wellbeing benefits – are offerings that employees can choose to purchase in addition to their core benefits package. These will often include a range of options, such as life insurance, dental and vision coverage, disability insurance, wellness programs, legal services, and even pet insurance.

Their appeal is rooted in their flexibility – employees can pick and choose what best suits their lifestyle and their financial context, making them more uniquely tailored to an individual’s needs.

In this way, voluntary benefits are a fantastic tool for making your employees feel valued, as they offer the opportunity for personalization that standard benefits packages don’t.

Because of this, 86% of employers now consider voluntary benefits crucial to their overall wellbeing strategy. And with  63% of employees saying they would consider changing jobs for better voluntary benefits, choosing the right ones to make available is now more important then ever. So, here are some key voluntary benefits employers should be considering in order to keep their employees happy, healthy, and productive for the year to come:

• Legal Services – this would see employers provide access to legal advice and services, which can prove to be invaluable when dealing with personal legal matters. Additionally, employers can look at offering identity theft protection to help workers protect their personal information (especially with cybersecurity threats continuously rising).
• Supplemental Health Benefits – this has typically taken the form of dental and vision insurance, critical illness insurance, and accident insurance, but now some employers are expanding this scope to also offer supplementary mental health benefits too. This also encompasses physical health benefits such as subsidized gym memberships or nutrition counselling.
• Pet Insurance – the significant rise in pet adoptions during the pandemic has now made offering pet insurance as a voluntary benefit a very attractive one for a lot of employees.
• Educational Assistance – while 80% of working adults are interested in going to school, only 40% know their employers offer a tuition reimbursement assistance program. This can be a great voluntary benefit to consider as it is applicable across generations and ultimately strengthens the skills and knowledge of the employee you are investing in.
• Life and Disability Insurance – the interest in term-life insurance and disability insurance continues to grow amongst employees, and so this would prove to be a popular offering for many as a voluntary benefit.

In the evolving landscape of employee benefits, voluntary benefits stand out as a key differentiator—one that can set your organization apart in the quest to enhance employee happiness whilst at the same time attract, retain, and motivate top talent. If you would like to discuss the support we can offer in helping design and select your benefit packages, please get in touch with us via our website.  

We all enjoy a bit of retail therapy from time to time.

But, while retail therapy is fine in moderation, a more alarming trend seems to be emerging amongst younger workers: “Doom Spending”.

Doom Spending describes an anxiety-fuelled purchasing trend whereby a person has become so stressed about their finances that they are spending money to alleviate that stress – thereby feeding a vicious cycle.

A recent survey discovered that 43% of Millennials and 35% of Gen Zers use Doom Spending to make themselves feel better, in spite of the fact that this bad habit will ultimately worsen their financial worries.

However, despite the counter-productiveness of Doom Spending, it does raise red flags for employers and HR professionals about how financial stress is a persistent issue. Seven in ten (68%) HR professionals noticed a rise in requests for financial support or education in the past year, and in a different study by PwC, 57% of employees cited finances as the top cause for stress in their lives.

Whilst Doom Spending is definitely not making this problem any better, it does signify a call to action for employers: the need for financial wellbeing support.

Managing money can be hard, especially for those younger workers who have less experience in doing so. Pair this with the rise of flexible credit financial services which allow people to spread the cost of purchases over a few months, and it’s no wonder that managing finances has become more difficult.

We now live in a world where the average person can have anything they want, when they want it – at a price. But it can be hard to resist the temptation when things that were once very expensive have now become accessible through monthly payments. There is also the element of tailored advertisements on social media, using subliminal messaging techniques that are constantly piquing our interest and reminding us that we want – and can have – MORE.

That’s why having financial wellbeing support available to workers can be such an effective workplace benefit. Not only will it help employees feel more confident in managing their finances and correcting their spending habits, it also helps to reduce employee stress, which in turn leads to better productivity and engagement.

In addition to this, those companies offering financial wellbeing tools (such as access to Wagestream) are going to be more attractive to those looking for work. The above research from PwC confirms this, as it also discovered that 73% of financially stressed employees said they would be attracted to another employer who cares more about their financial wellbeing.

So, if you would like to discuss how we can help design and implement financial wellbeing strategies for your organization to increase your talent attraction and reduce financial stress, please get in touch with us today.                                 

You can accomplish remarkable things in just sixty minutes.

In 1969, Neil Armstrong’s first steps and initial exploration on the moon took about an hour.

In 2020 Mo Farah set a world record by running 21,330 meters in 60 minutes. That’s an average speed of over 13 mph, which is faster than most of us can run if we sprint just 100 meters. He just maintained that pace for a whole hour – try that on your next fun run!

Alternatively, you could make yourself a delicious meal of Beef Tacos with Homemade Guacamole. Our favorite recipe takes about an hour from ‘fridge to fork.

What we see here is that while sixty minutes might not seem that long – the length of a team meeting, a workout at the gym, or an episode of your favorite podcast – it can also be incredibly productive and even transformative.

At OrgShakers, we champion The Power of the Hour … 60 minutes where leaders can brainstorm, gain expert insights, or get the unbiased feedback needed to spark something extraordinary. After all, every major breakthrough began with an idea and someone ready to listen.

That’s why we’re excited to introduce our new consulting service: OrgShakers CL!CK.

OrgShakers CL!CK offers a one-hour, private and confidential online consultation with one of our experienced HR professionals. It’s perfect for those moments when you need advice to tackle a new challenge, to test and refine your HR strategy, or simply to try out new ideas to see what resonates.

With extensive global corporate experience, our team is equipped to provide guidance on any HR-related question, whether you’re dealing with everyday tactical issues or complex strategic concerns.

If you would like to learn more about this service and book in time with one of our team members, head over to https://orgshakers.com/orgshakers-click/

The World Health Organization estimates that in a company of 1,000 employees, 200-300 workers will suffer from a serious mental health problem in any given year, one worker will die by suicide every ten years, and for every employee who dies by suicide, another 10-20 will make a suicide attempt.

When we look more closely at the US, it can be seen that of the high-income countries monitored annually by the Commonwealth Fund, the US has the highest suicide rate – with workplace suicides having risen by 39% since the turn of the millennium. And the UK is not far behind when it comes to cause for concern, as it is estimated that 10% of suicides each year could be work related.

In the tragic event that an employee does commit suicide, the employer has a vital role in supporting workers in the aftermath of this tragedy – a role which must be handled with a sense of care and compassion in order to properly manage the aftereffects of such a delicate situation. These are some of the things employers need to do:

• Acknowledge the Incident – it’s important for employers to speak about what has happened and provide employees with the space to process it. The loss should be acknowledged without speculation or blame, and condolences should be offered to the family, colleagues, and friends, as well as a clear assurance that the company is there to offer support to those affected.  
• Supporting and Signposting – in the immediate aftermath of the incident, it’s imperative that employers are making employees aware of the support that’s on offer internally (usually through an Employee Assistance Program) as well as offering to signpost grief counselling services to those who need it. Peer support should also be encouraged during this time, as the team will be feeling a mix of emotions, some more intensely than others, and having the support of your peers to lean on is vital.
• Allow Time for Grieving – some employees will be more affected than others by the loss of an employee through suicide, either due to how close they were with the deceased or if suicide is a particularly triggering topic for them based on past trauma. It can be a good idea for employers to provide a certain level of flexible leave for those who need time to process. In addition, employers can designate a safe, quiet space in the workplace where employees can go if they need a moment away from their work environment.
• Memorials and/or Tributes – if it’s appropriate and in line with the wishes of the family, it can be good to consider organizing a memorial service or providing a space for employees to share memories and support each other. Employers can also consider allowing employees to express their grief through tributes such as a memory board, a charitable donation, or planting a tree in memory of the employee.
• Ongoing Mental Health Monitoring – managers need to be regularly checking in with their teams to see how they are coping and reminding them of support available. It’s equally as important that managers are also given ongoing support and training so that they can handle these delicate situations to the best of their abilities.

In the aftermath of an employee suicide many employers will likely want to review and improve their workplace practices around suicide prevention – especially if the suicide was in any way work-related.

This will involve re-evaluating the workplace culture by reviewing policies and practices to ensure they support employee wellbeing and mental health, as well as reaffirming how important open and honest communication is and that all employees can always make time to talk privately to their leaders and direct reports.

It can be a good idea to conduct an incident review to get a better understanding of any work-related behaviors that might have been observed at work. HR should use these findings to prevent future tragedies by using the data to strengthen polices, procedures, and support systems.

Lastly, consider introducing mental health initiatives such as stress management programs and anti-bullying policies, as well as reviewing your current EAP provider to ensure they are offering a wide range of support for diverse issues.

If you would like to discuss this in more detail, please get in touch with me at karen.cerrato@orgshakers.com

Most of us are guilty of having a gossip now and then. And there is no more potent breeding ground for gossiping than that of a workplace – after all, conversations are bound to occur over lunch breaks, in the corridor, or passing the water cooler.

However, is having a workplace that loves a gossip a sign of a healthy work environment, or a toxic one?

One study of 1,400 participants found that those perceived to be ‘office gossips’ were viewed in a negative light when compared to their non-gossiping colleagues.

However, another study determined that gossip enabled people to influence each other, form similar opinions, and build robust social bonds – as well as promoting cooperation amongst groups without the need for formal intervention.

What we’re seeing is that even though gossip is proven to be a tool for social cohesion in the workplace, its connotations can have negative effects on one’s reputation. After all, when we think about how ‘gossiping’ has been presented in popular media, it never tends to be in a favorable light (think shows like Gossip Girl or the endless litany of celebrity gossip columns).

But when it comes to employers being unsure whether or not to be concerned about office gossip, context plays a key role in whether it is acting as a force for good or not. Gossiping can actually be categorized into three different types:

• Positive Gossip – this is when people speak positively about others in their absence and share uplifting stories, leading to the building of trust and the strengthening of social bonds.
• Neutral Gossip – this is when someone talks about someone else purely to share information, and will often constitute mundane topics without any passing of positive or negative judgement.
• Negative Gossip – this is when someone is spreading rumors, criticisms, or unfavorable information about others that damages reputations and relationships.

When employees are engaging in positive or neutral gossip, this tends to lead to increased cohesion and camaraderie, which ultimately helps to strengthen the way that team members communicate and work together.

However, if employers begin to catch wind of negative gossiping taking place, this may be a cause for concern, as it can have a detrimental effect on their workplace culture, and can even lead to bullying allegations depending on the extent of what is being said. This can result in a workplace being dubbed ‘toxic’ and ‘unwelcoming’, which can damage the overall reputation of the organization. It is therefore important for leaders and managers to ensure that they are promoting a culture where the building of interpersonal bonds is encouraged but also aligns with the values of the company, highlighting that gossiping negatively is not something that is condoned.

If you would like to discuss how we can help you build a positive workplace culture that emboldens your reputation, please get in touch with us today.

Rising workplace sickness is costing UK businesses billions every year, with an estimated £25bn being lost through presenteeism, according to a new think tank report.

New analysis from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) reveals the annual hidden cost of employee sickness has risen by £30 billion since 2018. 

Most of this increased cost, around £25 billion, is from lower productivity, with only £5 billion due to a rise in sick days.

Employees now lose the equivalent of 44 days’ productivity on average due to working through sickness, up from 35 days in 2018, and lose a further 6.7 days taking sick leave, up from 3.7 days in 2018.

Workers in the UK are among the least likely to take sick days, especially compared to other OECD and European countries. 

Read the full piece here: https://www.hrgrapevine.com/content/article/2024-08-01-rising-workplace-sickness-is-costing-uk-economy-billions-every-year-think-tank-warns

In recent days, the UK has experienced the worst civil unrest in more than a decade.

After the fatal stabbing of three young girls at a dance class in the UK seaside town of Southport, the spread of misinformation around the perpetrator of this crime, as well as far-right and anti-immigration rhetoric, has sparked a series of riots, looting, and violent attacks against people of colour.

After the arrest of a 17-year-old boy for the murders in Southport, social media posts began to falsely speculate that the suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker who arrived in the UK in 2023. However, it has since been confirmed that this information is false, and that the suspect was born in the UK to Rwandan parents. But these harmful rumours have led to violent rioting and race-related crime skyrocketing (on Wednesday 7^th August, there were plans for more than 100 gatherings of rioters), with many people finding themselves scared to leave their homes for fear of being attacked or discriminated against due to their race, ethnicity, or faith.

Sadly, the UK is not alone in experiencing racially motivated incidents of this kind, and when they do occur, many employers will have team members who feel angry and scared. Therefore, it’s so important for leaders, managers, and HR professionals to be providing the right support during this time:

• Flexible Working – reiterate to staff members that their safety is of the utmost importance to the company, and should they feel more comfortable doing so, they can work from home or any other place they feel safe. It is also worth considering flexibility around hours being worked, as some may feel more comfortable working earlier in the day, as many riots have been scheduled and taken place in the evening.
• Mental Health Support – the rising violence all across the country is going to have a damaging effect on the mental health of those who feel targeted, exacerbating feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress. Employers should remind their teams of the tools they have available for mental health support, whether this be external signposting or through an in-house Employee Assistance Program.
• Reporting a Crime – if an employee were to fall victim to a crime, especially when travelling to and from work, explain the process that they can go through to report this crime if they wish to and assist where necessary. For many people, it can be incredibly daunting to admit that they are a victim and have to report abuse, and so those employers who can support staff during that process will be instrumental to making them feel safe.

It is an atrocious thing when people feel unsafe where they live, and so it is crucial for employers to be doing everything they can to support the physical and mental wellbeing of those staff members affected.

If you would like to discuss these support strategies in further detail, please get in touch with me directly at therese@orgshakers.com

Burnout is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an ‘occupational phenomenon’. Whilst it is not a medical condition, it has been classified as a syndrome, meaning a collection of symptoms or signs associated with a specific health-related cause.

Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress or overwork. It can lead to a lack of motivation, decreased productivity, and overall feelings of cynicism and detachment. Burnout often occurs when individuals feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands effectively. It can impact various aspects of a person’s life, including work performance, relationships, and overall well-being. Recognizing burnout early and taking steps to address it is important to prevent further negative consequences on health and productivity.

However, many people tend to confuse burnout with depression, but the reality is that the two are very different. Whilst there is some overlap in symptoms – such as fatigue and low mood – the two differ exponentially. The most obvious difference is that whilst burnout is considered a syndrome, depression is classified as a mental health condition and often requires a professional diagnosis and psychological/medical treatment.

This is because depression can be caused by various factors, including biological dispositions (such as genetic dispositions or hormonal imbalances) or environmental factors. Burnout, however, is primarily related to stress induced by work, and typically results from prolonged exposure to job demands paired with a lack of resources and/or support.

While burnout and depression can coexist or exacerbate each other, they are separate conditions that may necessitate different approaches to management and treatment. If you suspect that you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of either burnout or depression, always seek the right support. This can mean reaching out to your manager, going through your HR team, or potentially reaching out to your EAP provider.

As burnout is something that is likened closely to the workplace and working conditions, it is more likely for managers and employees to recognize signs of burnout amongst their colleagues. Here are a few signs you might spot when someone is on the verge of burning out:

• Increased Irritability – if you notice team members becoming easily frustrated, agitated, or showing signs of impatience, it could be a sign of burnout.
• Decreased Motivation – a lack of enthusiasm or engagement in tasks, projects, people, or meetings.
• Physical Symptoms – persistent headaches, fatigue, digestive issues, or sleep disturbances.
• Cynicism and Negative Attitude – a shift towards a more negative outlook, pessimism, or sustained criticism.
• Decreased Productivity – missed deadlines, unfinished tasks, or a decline in the quality of work.

Once an employee has been identified as suffering from burnout, it is then important to consider implementing some of the following practices:

• Encourage Work-Life Balance – be an advocate for setting boundaries between work and personal life. Encourage team members to take breaks and to take their holiday to remind them that you want them operating at their best and therefore need to ensure they are taking care of their well-being.
• Provide Support – foster a culture of open communication and support within the team. Encourage team members to share their concerns and struggles, and offer assistance where needed.
• Promote Self-Care – encourage team members to engage in activities that promote self-care, such as exercise, mindfulness, hobbies etc. Diet and water intake could also be explored, and promoted in the office through having water coolers and healthy snacks available.
• Delegate Tasks – ensure workload is distributed evenly and appropriately among team members. By delegating tasks effectively, this will help to prevent overwhelming individuals.
• Seek Feedback – regularly check in with team members to gather feedback on workload and use this feedback to make necessary adjustments.

By recognizing the signs and implementing preventive measures, you can promote a healthy work environment for your teams that allows them to work at their optimum. To discuss how we can help implement these preventative strategies, and offer training around burnout prevention, please get in touch with me at therese@orgshakers.com

As the tug of war between working from home and working from the office continues, we are now seeing a rise in return to office (RTO) mandates being issued across multiple industries. Indeed, one study has found that up to 70% of companies with flexible work schedules are planning to increase the days employees must work in office by 2025.

These forcible RTO mandates are expected to have a disproportionately negative impact on one group of employers: the ‘super-commuters’ – individuals who travel for more than 90 minutes to get to work.

Recent research from Trainline found that the number of super-commuters has increased following the pandemic. 47% of those who travel for 90+ minutes made the change either during or after the pandemic, and 84% of super-commuters said they were able to extend their commute because of their hybrid working pattern.

This makes sense – with employees expected to come into the office less, this affords them the ability to live further away from where they work and extend their radius of travel, as they will only have to do this commute two to three times per week. However, with RTO mandates rising, this will likely take its toll on those who have to now commute 90+ minutes each way on a daily basis.

Having to travel such long distances each day significantly increases the workday for these super-commuters, taking them from an 8-hour day to over 11-hours when including this added travel. This is likely to have noticeable effects on employee performance and engagement in the form of higher absences, lower morale, and increased likelihood of burnout.

One way employers can support their super-commuters, however, is by leaning in on the very thing that has made hybrid working effective – flexibility.

If employees are going to have to spend an extended period of time travelling to work, then one thing to consider encouraging is making use of that travel time. ‘Working from home’ has already evolved beyond the home with employees working from coffee shops, trains, and just about anywhere that has a Wi-Fi signal. So, if super-commuters are spending 3 or more hours getting to and from work, why not make this a part of their working day?

This removes the pressure of travel delays making them ‘late to work’, as they would have already been working on their way to the office! It also ensures that they are able to get home from work at a time which enables them to continue to sustain the work-life balance that attracted them to hybrid and remote working in the first place.

If you would like to discuss how we can help your business optimize your working styles and ensure that optimizes productivity, please get in touch with us today.