Are Your Employees Well? Is Your Business Well?
We could start this conversation with asking if you or your employees are vaccinated. But there is so much more to ensuring a healthy business and workforce than just talking about vaccines. We are tired of Covid and the hostility that seems to come with discussing masks or vaccines. But let’s talk differently. This means talking about employee Wellbeing.
The overall health and performance of our organizations is completely tied to the health of our employees and their relationships within the organization. When people are sick or stressed, they do not communicate, follow-though or perform at optimal levels.
Isn’t our goal to have thriving businesses? It follows that leaders and managers must work to provide thriving workplaces that take the whole human being into account when designing jobs, pay structures, benefit plans, organizational norms, policies, values and the environment. It is time to frame conversations about our business success to also meet the needs of our most important asset – the people.
Covid has changed a lot of things for a lot of people. And while we wanted to return to “normal” now is a time for employers to improve on normal. Now is the time to create better than normal workplace cultures and environments that employees want to work for and thrive in. Now is the time for employers, managers and real leaders to talk with people, listen and learn from employees, engage with people on how to meet their needs in our rapidly changing workplace and world. It’s amazing how heartfelt listening conversations can open up new possibilities, new ideas and allow employees to feel heard.
Here is a short list of conversations to start having now:
Let’s talk about our benefit plans – do they meet your needs?
What are your family’s real needs?
How do our compensation and time off programs align to meet your family’s needs?
Has COVID impacted your family directly? If so, how?
Do our wellness programs punish or support employees toward their greater wellbeing?
What does your work team need in order to perform at it’s highest level?
For large employers over 100 – How can we support you as we comply with the new OSHA COVID Vaccine Regulations?
For small employers under 100 – Talk about the needs of the business, the needs of the people and how vaccine decisions for the company are a balancing act, that may require compromise to meet everyone’s needs.
As you listen, be open, be flexible, be adaptable, and most importantly be empathetic. Offering empathy does not mean you have to agree with everything discussed, but it does mean you allow people to feel heard and understood. Then openly discuss the delicate balancing act of caring for the wellbeing of people and caring for the wellbeing of the business.
These repeated conversations, start to shift thinking and demonstrate your people matter. Don’t we all want to matter? In this tight labor market, these conversations can help employers KEEP the talent they have. Now, is an opportunity to build relationships with people that last – this creates engagement and retention and will have a lasting impact for years to come.
Please contact me if I can help you to Navigate these important and engaging conversations!