Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders issued for the vast majority of U.S. states, most companies that can have staff work from home are doing so. This creates a host of logistical and management challenges for many companies.
These are stressful times for everyone, and in a work environment where mental illness was already a rising concern for many organizations, the COVID-19 crisis is creating new concerns. Employees are anxious not only about their health and the health of their loved ones but also about the economy, child care, and their job security.
In a crisis, our attention tends to shift from the most common, everyday concern of needing approval to the more basic needs of security and control (water, food, shelter, etc.).
Obviously, we are not currently in the best of times. The rapid outbreak of COVID-19 has led to local, state, and national shutdowns; quarantines; and “shelter-in-place” orders around the world.
Employees’ direct supervisors and managers have a significant impact on their ability to be engaged and productive. All too often, though, these leaders are not trained and ready to manage effectively. Therefore, management training remains a critical investment area for learning and development (L&D) professionals.
It probably won’t surprise you to learn that sometimes, your employees fake their happiness. What may surprise you is the degree to which this occurs. A recent survey found that a whopping 81% of employees have faked happiness at work.
The stereotype of the “yes man/woman” is a common one. The idea is that employees are loathe to disagree with, or in any way offend, their bosses. Certainly, a baseline of respect is expected of employees. But, it can also be dangerous not to be up front with superiors about genuine concerns.
According to CrisMarie Campbell and Susan Clarke—cofounders of thrive! Inc.—there is a certain beauty in conflict. In a recent interview, Campbell and Clarke say, “Conflict can be beautiful. No, it’s not easy or fun, but the magic of a team is that people are better together. The catch is that the ‘better’ part can only happen […]
Generational stereotypes at work are pretty common. For example, the thinking sometimes goes that older workers are more loyal to their jobs than younger workers or that younger workers are lazy and don’t make good managers.
The fast spread and intense media coverage of the COVID-19 virus have placed renewed attention on work-from-home arrangements for sick or presumably sick employees, but the issue is far from new.