Blog | Articles | Resources

By Sherri Gordon Workplace bullying is persistent mistreatment that occurs in the workplace. It can include behaviors such as verbal criticism, personal attacks, humiliation, belittling, and exclusion. 1 It's important to note that anyone can be a bully or be bullied, regardless of the role they have in the workplace. Unfortunately, bullying in the workplace is far from uncommon. According to a survey by the Workplace Bullying Institute, 30% of workers have directly experienced bullying while at work. People who work remotely were more likely to report such bullying, with 43.2% responding that they had been bullied on the job. 2     Workplace bullying hurts the health and well-being of employees. It can also damage workplace productivity and performance. "Bullying's pernicious nature creates long-lasting scars that have an effect on the victim's sense of self-worth, self-assurance, and general mental health," says Azizi Marshall, LCPC , a licensed clinical professional counselor and founder of the Mental Health at Work Summit and Center for Creative Arts Therapy.  This article discusses some of the signs and effects of workplace bullying. It also covers its impact on the workplace and what people can do to help prevent this type of behavior.   Read More Here. Image by drobotdean on Freepik
By The Calm Team Sleep is essential to work , but employees aren’t getting nearly enough rest. Almost half (48%) of Americans feel sleepy at least two days a week , and 28% feel sleepy at least five days a week. The result: headaches, irritability, and an overall decline in well-being.    Add a heavy workload to the mix and employees can suffer physically, mentally, and professionally. Poor sleep and overwork lock employees into an unhealthy cycle that can damage their health and even shorten their lifespans. It’s employers’ responsibility to make changes that break that cycle, so employees can show up to work healthy and well-rested. Why sleep matters in the workplace Sleep is the foundation of employee wellness in the workplace. A good night’s rest—or lack thereof—can affect every aspect of an employee’s life. Here’s how:  Health and safety Sleep and overall health go hand in hand. Insufficient sleep can increase your risk for diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and mental health conditions. Sleep also affects your ability to function at a job and perform work safely. When you’re sleepy or overtired, you move slower, your attention drifts more easily, and you can suffer from headaches or brain fog. As a result, accidents, injuries, and poor decision-making are more likely.  Read More Here. Image by senivpetro on Freepik
By Nature Worldwide, at least 13% of people between the ages of 10 and 19 live with a diagnosed mental-health disorder, according to the latest State of the World’s Children report , published this week by the United Nations children’s charity UNICEF. It’s the first time in the organization’s history that this flagship report has tackled the challenges in and opportunities for preventing and treating mental-health problems among young people. It reveals that adolescent mental health is highly complex, understudied — and underfunded. These findings are echoed in a parallel collection of review articles published this week in a number of Springer Nature journals. Anxiety and depression constitute more than 40% of mental-health disorders among young people (those aged 10–19). UNICEF also reports that, worldwide, suicide is the fourth most-common cause of death (after road injuries, tuberculosis and interpersonal violence) among adolescents (aged 15–19). In eastern Europe and central Asia, suicide is the leading cause of death for young people in that age group — and it’s the second-highest cause in western Europe and North America. Read More Here. Image by Freepik
by   Ludmila N. Praslova, Ron Carucci, and Caroline Stokes While the organizational costs of incivility and toxicity are well documented, bullying at work is still a problem. An estimated 48.6 million Americans, or about 30% of the workforce, are bullied at work. In India, that percentage is reported to be as high as 46% or even 55% . In Germany, it’s a lower but non-negligible 17% . Yet bullying often receives little attention or effective action. To maximize workplace health and well-being, it’s critical to create workplaces where all employees — regardless of their position — are safe. Systemic, organizational-level approaches can help prevent the harms associated with different types of bullying. The term workplace bullying describes a wide range of behaviors, and this complexity makes addressing it difficult and often  ineffective . Here, we’ll discuss the different types of bullying, the myths that prevent leaders from addressing it, and how organizations can effectively intervene and create a safer workplace. Read More Here. Image by pch.vector on Freepik  
By Loving Life Rest and recovery at work is an essential element for a thriving and productive work environment. Fatigued and overworked employees are more likely to get sick, take time off work, and be less productive. In our always-connected world, the lines between work and rest often blur, making it even more vital to intentionally carve out time for rejuvenation. This blog will explore the significance of rest, its range of benefits, and actionable strategies to foster a culture where rest and recovery is not frowned upon in the workplace. We’ll also address potential challenges and provide tools to support these initiatives. Read More Here. Image by katemangostar on Freepik
By Taylor Telford This time last year, big companies had begun backing away from efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in their ranks, otherwise known as DEI. Experts feared energy around the work, which swelled after George Floyd’s murder in 2020, was waning. Since then, things have gotten even more complicated. In June, the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in higher education, igniting opposition to DEI. Dozens of bills targeting DEI initiatives at public colleges are pending across the country, and there’s been a spike in litigation alleging that the methods private companies use to address inequality amounts to discrimination. Read More Here. Image by fanjianhua on Freepik
By Kelly Greenwood & Natasha Krol Uncertainty breeds anxiety, and we are living in uncertain times. Between rising numbers of Covid-19 cases, questions about whether or not to reopen economies and businesses, the ongoing protests in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, and the economic fallout of the pandemic, we don’t know what will come next. And that’s taking a toll on our mental health, including at work. We saw an impact early in the pandemic. At the end of March and in early April, our nonprofit organization, Mind Share Partners, conducted a study of global employees in partnership with Qualtrics and SAP. We found that the mental health of almost 42% of respondents had declined since the outbreak began. Given all that’s happened between then and now, we can only imagine that the figure has increased. Much has been said about this short-term mental health impact, and the long-term effects are likely to be even more far-reaching. Prior to the pandemic, many companies had increased their focus on workplace mental health ( often in response to pressure from employees ). Those efforts are even more imperative today. Read More Here. Image by jcomp on Freepik
By Brita Long When did equity get added to the middle of diversity and inclusion? Why is the stated value equity and not equality? Does equity in the workplace matter that much, or should businesses just focus on diversity and inclusion? The first time I heard DEI as shorthand, instead of diversity and inclusion, was in 2017 when I took leadership training for my volunteer work. Looking at Google Trends , the phrase “diversity and inclusion” started gaining in popularity in 2014, but the full phrase “diversity, equity, and inclusion” didn’t start gaining in popularity until 2020. We’ve written about diversity in the workplace and inclusion in the workplace . In this quick guide, learn more about equity, and why it matters in the workplace. What Is Equity? Merriam-Webster defines equity as: “justice according to natural law or rights; freedom from bias or favoritism.” Another definition is this: Equity refers to fair and just treatment of all people. Equity in the workplace looks like all employees receiving the resources they need to succeed. What Is Equity In The Workplace? Equity in the workplace is about ensuring all employees access the same opportunities, resources, and treatment. Equity means employees are valued based on their skills, knowledge, and abilities in a workplace, rather than their characteristics. Read More Here. Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik
By Lauren Aratani  Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies within US companies will “come under full-out attack in 2024”, the president of the largest US human resources organization in the US has said. “It’s going to become a hot-button issue this year,” Johnny C Taylor Jr, president and chief executive of the Society of Human Resource Management, told reporters. The national shift to be more inclusive that followed the murder of George Floyd in 2020, and the Black Lives Matter protests that followed, is already fading, he said. “We’re already seeing companies go away from it.” Following Floyd’s murder and figures that showed how hard communities of color had been hit by the Covid pandemic, companies across the US pledged to make their workforces more diverse and tackle racism. Read More Here. Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik
By Rie Parker Attracting top talent can be a challenge when it comes to building a successful organization — and then you have to retain it. Part of holding onto your staff is ensuring your employees feel valued, welcome, and respected, and one way to do this is through a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion —also known as DEI. In fact, a company’s commitment to DEI can result in even more benefits than sourcing talent and building effective teams. Utilizing a diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy can give your organization an edge over competitors and strengthen your bottom line. Let’s dig into how, and discuss nine key benefits to DE&I in the workplace . What Is DEI? Diversity, equity, and inclusion are often lumped together or used interchangeably, but these are four distinct parts. Diversity refers to a wide and varying range of groups within a community or population—think ethnicity, religion, abilities, sexual orientation, and other dimensions of diversity . Inclusion is the active engagement of all members of that community or population. Equity is the fair and just treatment of those members regardless of how they identify. And belonging , a fourth factor in many diversity initiatives, is when you feel like you can be your authentic self, no matter how different you may be from the people around you. Read More Here. Image by Freepik