Sept 2020 | TENTH EDITION NEWSLETTER |
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It is very possible that you were meant to read this newsletter today... |
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Make suicide prevention a health and safety priority at work.
A call to action to all workplaces and professional associations — now is the time to implement the National Guidelines for Workplace Suicide Prevention.
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Suicide Prevention & Response: New Tools Help Employers Take Action
Suicide is a topic that must be brought out of the darkness in order to save lives. There are many organizations working to dispel myths and bring hope and light to the subject so that those in crisis feel comfortable seeking help to recover and reengage fully in life. READ MORE
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4 ways managers can help employees find career clarity during coronavirus
The monotony of remote work has employees questioning the value they bring to the workplace, forcing many to tackle some uncomfortable truths about their careers, says Tracy Timm, founder of the Nth Degree, a career coaching company.
“Isolation is really increasing our unhappiness, and a lot of people are taking a critical eye toward their career and questioning if this is really where they want to be right now,” she says. “People are asking if their career path has been intentional or reactionary, and taking a microscope to the things that aren’t working for them.”
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Young Adults’ Pandemic Mental Health Risks
In a new C.D.C. survey, 18- to 24-year-olds reported the highest levels of symptoms of anxiety and depression, and a quarter of them said they had seriously considered suicide. In a recent survey, 62.9 percent of young adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, or both.
Yes, these are hard times, and everyone is stressed, but new data suggest that young adults — both those who are going back to college and those who are not — may be suffering particularly hard when it comes to mental health.
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5 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Trends We Can Expect in 2020
As the year draws to a close, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) remain top of mind for HR and learning and development professionals. A focus on DEI, both as an organizing principle of workplace culture and as a strategic business advantage, is an increasingly important topic for organizational leaders outside of the HR department. READ MORE
Jesse Bridges | 9/17/2020 | EVERFI.com
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5 Tips for Managing an Underperformer — Remotely
by Liz Kislik | July 22, 2020 | Harvard Business Review
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How to Do Performance Reviews — Remotely
by Rebecca Knight | June 15, 2020 Harvard Business Review
You may have conducted hundreds of performance reviews over the course of your career, but in the era of Covid-19 everything is different. You and your team have been working remotely for months now in an extremely difficult situation.
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BY AYTEKIN TANK | fastcompany.com
In a remote-work world, setting up clear boundaries is integral to protecting your mental health and personal well-being. Picture yourself this February, blissfully ignorant about the long and stressful road that would unfold before us once...
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Listen! September is National Suicide Prevention Month
It seems so obvious when others should shut up and listen. It seems so obvious when not listening is making everything worse.
Yet, sadly, I’m positive that when someone has been sharing with me, I’ve repeatedly egregiously committed the sins of thinking about and forming in my head what I’ll jump in and say the minute she pauses, gone into advice mode or, worse yet, told my story that was clearly so much worse than his.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Maybe it should be National Truly Listen Month.
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REIMBURSING EMPLOYEE REMOTE WORK COSTS
Working from home continues to bring up new questions employers may not have had to consider before, or at least not on such a wide scale. Both employees and employers are wondering what remote work or telework expenses are reimbursable, if at all.
Brought to You by IEC Sponsor
9/10/2020
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4 BENEFITS OF POSITIVE RECOGNITION TO BOOST EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
With all that’s happening, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the negativity in the world. Our emotional state is important at work. Positive emotions transform our minds and increase our ability to bounce back from hard times. The power of positivity should not be overlooked, and recognition plays a critical role in generating these emotions in a modern workplace.
By Raphael Crawford-Marks | 9/14/2020
Employee Benefit News
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CAROL'S CRUSADE AGAINST MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA
"You have to use the words. You can't dance around it. You can’t be real vague," says Carol Meade, Director of Behavioral Health at UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids, one of the largest mental health providers in Iowa. The question Carol is describing - “Are you thinking about suicide?” – is extraordinarily difficult for many of us to ask, especially when it comes to a loved one. But asking it saves lives. And, since the suicide rate in Iowa is significantly higher than the U.S. average, particularly among men of prime working age, we all need to get better at understanding and talking directly about the problem.
Brought to You by IEC Sponsor
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WAITING FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE? DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME, CREATE A PLAN NOW
Now that there is a realistic possibility that the U.S. will approve a COVID-19 vaccine in the coming months, employers face the question of whether to require employees to be vaccinated. Many employers face a similar question each year when they contemplate requiring employees to get a flu shot. Given the speed of the COVID-19 vaccine development, employers should create a plan before a vaccine is approved.
Brought to You by IEC Sponsor
Margaret A. Hanson & Gene R. La Suer
9/17/2020
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Why Address Suicide Prevention?
- Workers are an employer’s most valuable asset.
- Creating a culture of health and safety is both humane and good for business.
- Good mental and physical health can help enhance workforce productivity.
- Many workplaces already have structures and resources in place to help employees get the help they need, so suicide prevention can be connected with them.
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Why gifts are employers’ secret weapon for engaging remote workers!
With a large part of the workforce remote and many workers furloughed, sending employees a gift can foster employee engagement and help companies show appreciation during a time when teams can’t meet in-person.
Employers have been challenged with connecting and engaging with their employees throughout the pandemic and have turned to new benefit offerings to promote workplace culture and employee well-being.
9/15/2020
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When to stop working from home? How about never, workers say…
U.S. workers who are being shepherded back to the office would rather continue doing their jobs from home, at least a few days a week.
It’s not that they hate the idea of returning, but more that they’ve grown to really like the work-from-home life. It’s becoming the big topic of conversation across virtual workplaces, as companies try to get employees to leave their makeshift desks in bedrooms, kitchen counters, porches or backyards for the once-familiar surroundings of the good old office.
9/16/2020
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11 free LinkedIn Courses to Combat Racism in the Workplace
Since the death of George Floyd, employers have been pledging to champion diversity. To help professionals live by that commitment, LinkedIn Learning is offering free classes on practicing allyship and antiracism within the workplace.
“Allyship is not a title you wear, it’s how you live and engage with others,” said Rosanna Durruthy, LinkedIn’s vice president of diversity, inclusion and belonging, in a live virtual discussion about the courses. “It requires ongoing work from all of us.”
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Ten Steps All Workplaces Can Take to Reduce Risk of Exposure to Coronavirus
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Labor Department clarifies when parents qualify for paid leave, unemployment for school closures
9/3/2020 | Jennifer Liu | CNBC
Paid leave rules have changed — will they affect your workforce?
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A WORD FROM OUR SPONSORS... |
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New for 2020!
ADD YOUR BUSINESS CONTENT HERE TO GET IN FRONT OF THOUSANDS OF LOCAL BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS!
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2020 Fall Live Virtual Conference
OCTOBER 21st
YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO REGISTER!!
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*All courses have been submitted for credits. Please watch website for updated approvals. |
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NO NEED TO BE CERTIFIED TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE!
If you have a desire to learn, improve, network or motivate yourself or your team, you will find great value in attending the conference .
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Does your school district need face masks?
Get your order in...
The Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Education and Iowa Department of Public Health, has been tasked with distributing cloth face masks provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for use by students, faculty and staff at public and private K-12 schools in Iowa.
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STRONG MINDS | STRONG HEARTS |
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Congratulations to Iowa & Missouri Employment Conference's
Suzanne Kmet for passing IPMA-SCP testing!
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Jerry with Nan
Montego Bay, Jamaica
January 2012
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In the blink of an eye - life changes...
This month, I found out the hard way that life can change in a minute. My brother-in-law Jerry, who is 57 years old, seemingly perfectly healthy one minute found out the next that he has Glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is a very aggressive type of brain cancer that is incurable. It has affected his speech, motor skills, his cognition and just about everything else. Unfortunately, Jerry will have to live in a skilled nursing facility for the rest of his life.
Somewhere, I read the poem "The Dash". The poem illustrates the importance of the ‘dash’ that is written between the date of a person’s birth and the date of their passing. Throughout the poem, the author calls the reader to think about how they want to live out all of their years in between those two significant dates.
I remember thinking, what an incredible way to think of our lives. Now years later, sitting here, I am thinking about Jerry and how I have a whole new perception of the dash.
Jerry is a very hard-working farmer, he is kind, he is loving and if you know him, you would be his friend. EVERYONE loves him! As I sit here reflecting on Jerry's “dash”, I can't help but think the end date is too soon. Did Jerry get to do everything that he wanted to do? How can we make the rest of his “dash” meaningful?
I don't pretend to know the answers. But what I do know is Brian and I have dedicated countless hours in the last few days touring assisted living facilities trying to make sure Jerry has the best place to live out the remainder of his dash.
Be grateful for the moments you have. Be kind to people around you. Appreciate the dash!
Nan
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