Caring for Employee Safety in a Pandemic and Beyond
A weekly roundup of the latest future of work and conscious leadership news and insights
Last week Business Insider reached out to talk to me about whether safety is now considered a perk in the workplace. The article has now been published and it highlights some of the important concepts we discussed during the interview.
First, conscious leaders should definitely be mindful of whether they are providing a safe workplace for their teams. If your company needs to have in-person meetings or events, how are you taking each stakeholder’s concerns into consideration? We discussed the examples of Google extending flexible work hours and locations to their teams along with a $1,000 stipend for items needed to work from home effectively.
Contrast that with companies like L’Oreal that started pushing employees back into their New York City office before they were comfortable doing so. Google received lots of positive media coverage for its empathy while L’Oreal suffered negative coverage. As I shared with Business Insider, potential employees will take note of the companies that are flexible, use common sense, and listening to employees.
Second, employees are brand ambassadors. If they are happy and taken care of, customers and clients can tell. That energy permeates every interaction. It further builds your brand and reputation as a great team to join.
Third, employers and employees should always be discussing what works best for both. It’s a two-way conversation with both parties sharing their levels of comfort and capacity. As more conscious leadership grows in the workplace, the more we will see these types of productive, synergistic conversations taking place. In the long run, it’s going to benefit everyone and create a happier way to work.
If you’re eager to become a conscious leader who transforms the way we work, let’s connect. You’re on the cutting edge of the future of work and will lead the way for others.
Here is some of the future of work and conscious leadership content I found interesting this week:
According to ManpowerGroup, employees are looking for greater autonomy, on-demand learning, and more wellbeing in the “next normal.” Conscious leaders in particular should note that employees are looking for leadership that invests in their growth and wellbeing and provides the flexibility they need to thrive. These findings verify where leadership needs to be focusing their attention for nurturing their teams.
Harvard Business Review shares some ways to create psychological safety in virtual meetings. With the usual in-person energetic and physical cues missing, conscious leaders can find new ways to make sure their team feels comfortable in virtual meetings. The article covers tips like leveraging polls, using chats and breakout rooms, and connecting directly with quiet team members.
Business Insider also reports that Microsoft found their remote employees are holding more meetings now, but for shorter lengths of time. Unsurprisingly, remote employees found they don’t need to sit in an hour-long meeting to get what they need. Instead, they are holding 30-minute or shorter meetings. One concerning finding: employees are working more on weekends. As a conscious leader, ensuring your teams take weekends for rest and relaxation is important. This is a tell-tale sign that burnout could be imminent.
Work happy. Live happy. BE happy.
Meredith
Meredith’s coaching helps conscious leaders step courageously into the future of work. Contact her to develop your conscious leadership and transform your organization into the workplace of the future.
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