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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:
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:
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:
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 7th 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:
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:
Once an employee has been identified as suffering from burnout, it is then important to consider implementing some of the following practices:
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.
With the scope of HR continuing to grow, the profession is witnessing an increasing number of HR teams that are struggling to meet this increasing demand.
In a recent LinkedIn poll, we asked our followers to share where their teams were facing challenges.
Almost half of respondents, 43%, said CAPACITY (having enough of the right people available when needed), 23% cited CAPABILITY (having the right skills and experience within the team), and 27% stated BOTH were issues.
Just 7% responded ‘NEITHER – we’re in good shape’.
This means that an overwhelming 93% of HR teams feel that they are not properly resourced to deliver everything their organizations need.
The impact of this on practitioners is highlighted in a study by HR software company MHR which found that half of HR professionals are on the verge of quitting due to burnout. Indeed, a separate study by Gartner found that 71% of HR leaders believe burnout amongst HR teams is more of a challenge than it was pre-pandemic.
And it’s no wonder this is happening. Since the pandemic ended, HR have been at the forefront of responding to a seismic shift in the workplace – the rise of the ‘carpe diem’ mindset has seen a significant increase in the importance of employee wellbeing; the ‘quiet quitting’ phenomenon brought to light important conversations around boundaries and work-life balance; and all of this on top of the mass adoption of hybrid and remote working across the world.
But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Also thrown into the mix is the need for companies to focus on their diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies, offer learning and development opportunities around the assimilation of new technologies, manage the change fatigue that emerges from this, and create a bulletproof Environmental, Social and Governance plan… all the while maintaining their ‘business as usual’ HR processes!
In our experience, the best route forward in a situation like this is to take a step back.
At OrgShakers we have pioneered the use of the Program Acceleration Office (PAO) whose role is to work with individual project managers to align, connect, and optimise resources across the whole team. In doing so the PAO creates a shared ‘big picture’ vision for the HR function based on a common roadmap, defined dependencies and impacts, and agreed outcomes. And once the organization’s in-house HR practitioners are optimally deployed, the PAO can objectively identify those areas where external resources are required.
We offer a range of services and expertise across all areas of HR, including fractional HR generalist and specialist support to bolster your team. So, if you would like to discuss how we can help with your capability and capacity needs, please get in touch with us today.
Supporting an employee through grief is always difficult; we all grieve differently. But it can feel particularly daunting to support the aching grief of a recently bereaved parent.
It’s important for employers to consider that a parent’s journey with their bereavement doesn’t always begin post-mortem. For parents who lose their children to illness, this process would have started long before. And in some ways, this part can be even harder to manage, as a parent will still be juggling work alongside this traumatic process.
During this period, flexibility is of the utmost importance. Employers who can offer as much flexibility as possible to a parent going through that process will allow them to have the time they need to prepare for what will inevitably be an intensely emotional time. It wouldn’t be surprising to see performance slip in these employees, but employers should acknowledge that this is temporary and heavily influenced by the nature of the circumstances.
Once a parent has lost a child, there are a few things employers can do to help them:
It all comes down to emphasizing the ‘human’ in human resources. When an employee goes through something as unimaginable as the loss of a child, what they need more than anything is to be seen as more than just an employee, but a three-dimensional person. By doing this, employers will be better able to offer the support the employee may need during this time, aiding in their eventual assimilation back into working life when the time comes.
To discuss how we can help strengthen your bereavement support strategies, please get in touch with me directly at karen.cerrato@orgshakers.com
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is caused by experiencing very stressful, frightening or distressing events. Most of us will experience at least one trauma in our lifetime that could lead to PTSD, although not all experiences with trauma lead to this disorder.
While often associated with military veterans, PTSD affects a wide range of individuals, including survivors of accidents, natural disasters, assaults, and other life-altering events. It is estimated that around 6% of the US population suffer from PTSD, and around 4% of the UK population. It is therefore very likely that employers will have team members who struggle with the disorder, and considering its delicate nature, it is important for them to know the best ways of supporting the mental health of these employees:
Supporting employees with PTSD requires a multi-faceted approach. With each person’s experience with PTSD varying significantly, there is no one-size-fits-all way of supporting someone. So, educating managers and employees, training them on how to communicate and actively listen, and making employees aware of the resources available to them can all lend to optimizing the productivity of those that suffer with a mental health disorder and allow them to thrive in their working environment.
If you would like to discuss how we can help strengthen your mental health support strategies, please get in touch with us.