Shamayah – Compass Efficiency

Critical Questions Every HR Manager Must Answer about Covid-19

Shamayah — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 10:40:00 +0000

We’re all experiencing a tough period. Most industries have been hit hard since the pandemic started and businesses have been forced to make hard decisions to stay afloat, and it came at a price. The uncertainty and fear are taking its toll. And as people can’t leave their emotions at home, they are bringing to the office and it’s effecting their ability to do their job. Your employees are suffering and with every that passes they feel the stress and pressure accumulating. Most of us had expected life to be back to normal by now – and unfortunately, that’s not the case.

Wellness programs have always been important for the well-being and productivity of employees, only now with Covid-19 investing to help your employees deal with the demands of today’s world has become high priority for the future of any company.

If something in your car is broken, the problem will become bigger the longer you wait. Or if you take it to the garage, but the mechanic doesn’t fix the source of the problem, the problem will become bigger. The same is true in your company. There is nothing that stays the same.

As the HR manager you should ask yourself these critical questions:

Is what we’re currently doing reducing fear, anxiety, and stress (as studies show that these emotions weaken the immune system)?
Are we simply following government protocols or are we actually providing the care and support our employees need?
Does the wellness program we offer bring measurable improvement in productivity and happiness?
Are we actually solving the source of optimal performance in our company, shown by results?

Nothing stays the same in this universe – Things either get better or they’re getting worse. Your company is either growing or dying. The world has changed beyond anything any of us had ever expected possible. Most HR managers, business owners and executives, are not really equipped to handle the unprecedented demand and stress on the employees and company. As the situation is getting worse and continuing, its taking its toll on your staff.

Let’s face it, everyone in the organization is doing everything they can, and are maxed out just doing their own job. Their focus is on survival. The reality is there’s not much bandwidth left to add to their plates what’s required to help employees overcome stress and create the shift from surviving to thriving – and this is costing your organization money.

According to the Headspace for Work 2020 Mental Health Trends report 21% of workers lost up to two hours of work time a day because of stress, and 24% of workers lost up to an hour of work time a day because of stress. Calculate how much this is costing you. For example, if your company has 100 employees and 21 of them lose two hours per day, that’s ten hours per week, times 21. Multiply 210 hours per week with the average hourly cost per employee, let’s say $48 per hour, that is $10,080 per week that is going out the window!! Another 24% of employees lost up to an hour a day. In the same example of 100 employees, it means that 24 people lose 5 hours per week, which is 120 hours at $48 per hour, is an additional $5,760 you’re losing every single week. So, in total the company is losing $15,840 per week, which boils down to $68,640 per month – $823,680 per year (almost a million dollars!!), due to unproductivity of stressed employees!!! And this doesn’t even calculate lost revenue, unhappy clients, damage in your reputation and other additional losses. As you can clearly see, investing in a Productivity Wellness program won’t cost you a dime – on the contrary, it will make you money.

To create an environment where everybody can flourish despite the challenging situation, requires a new approach. Especially now during Covid, it’s more important than ever before to provide emotional and practical support for your staff stay productive and your organization to bounce back and come out stronger.

Dr. Urvish K. Patel, MBBS, MPH, Research Associate in the Dept. of Neurology in New York, surveyed 5,000 employees[1] to find out what measures they were taking to de-stress and not worry during the pandemic? 70% responded, watching cable or satellite TV and 62% responded watching Netflix and/or other moving streaming apps. Obviously watching movies and TV shows is not solving the source of the problem and so the problem grows, increasing stress levels and reducing productivity even more.

For companies to thrive again, they must pivot and make employee wellness and productivity the centerpiece of their decision making.[2]

As productivity and wellness experts we’d love to help you. We design and deliver strategies, and training to make your executives and employees overcome stress and thrive again. You will save your company a small fortune in wasted expense. What’s more, everyone will love you, because you’ve helped them feel better and do better in life. They won’t feel stressed anymore, enjoy their jobs more and feel happier. And of course, everyone will respect and admire you for creating the future of the company by reducing cost and increasing profit.

[1] https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/349819

[2] https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/human-capital-trends.html

Photo by senivpetro – freepik.com

5 Practical Tactics to Instantly Boost Happy Thoughts & Productivity

Shamayah — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 10:40:37 +0000

68% of workers, age 35-44 say they feel stressed or extremely stressed
42% of workers have been diagnosed with depression or anxiety
89% of workers think their employer should offer mental health benefits

This is how stressed our employees feel according to the Headspace for Work 2020 Mental Health Trends Report.

Just like a sailboat needs its crew to give it their all to make it through a storm, companies can only make it through these challenging times when everyone is performing at their best. With the ongoing uncertainty, the financial pressure, and the fear installed by the media, it’s no wonder that so many employees say they feel stressed. This is hurting your company. Stress has a negative impact on their performance and functioning, resulting in loss of productivity.

Their fear and anxiety about what may happen next are affecting them physically, emotionally, and mentally. They are worried they or someone they love might get sick. Will they be able to pay their bills? Feed their children? Will they be the one fired next? All these concerns make it difficult to concentrate and focus on their job. Others may show up for work, but don’t really want to be there and so don’t care about how they’re doing their job.

What can you do to support your staff and help them perform better, so your company can make it through the storm and come out stronger?

Here are 5 practical ways to reduce fear and anxiety for yourself and your team:

SMILE

Smile for no reason at all and see the world around you transform. Take on the challenge of smiling for 7 days non-stop. Wake up a with a smile, brush your teeth and see yourself smile in the mirror, smile at your kids, your spouse, your coworker, smile at anyone who crosses your path.

It’s very difficult to be angry or upset with a smile on your face. And even though in the beginning it can feel very natural, keep smiling and before you know, you’ll notice how the magic of your smile not only changes your life but every person you touch.

Love and Laugh Lots

Did you know that laughter is healing? It strengthens your immune system, reduces feelings of stress, and brightens your mood. Laughter increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, which improves resistance to illness as found in a WebMD study.

After a good laugh, you get a fresh perspective on life. The good news is, it’s fun, easy, and free Watch a funny movie this weekend, and laugh until your belly hurts. Tell jokes and ask others to tell you their best jokes.

Reach Out to Others & Share Good News

Relationships are the MOST IMPORTANT thing in life. They define your happiness, health, longevity, and wealth. When we feel anxious and down, the tendency is to withdraw and be consumed with our problems. The best way to shift and instantly feel better is by reaching out to others and share joy and light.

Call your mom, your sister, your friends – find out how they are doing? Send nice messages to your high school friends, FB friends, coworkers. Let them know you’re thinking about them. Send them a smile, a hug, or a word of encouragement. If you’re Christian, reach out to your friends from the church and send them a scripture. The more you shine your light, the happier you’ll be.

Go on a ‘Bad News Diet’

Most people believe that the media is giving reliable information about what’s happening in the world. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, journalists don’t give an unbiased report of world events. They have their own agenda and are making big money spreading fear, panic, and hype, after all that’s what sells.

Give yourself a break and watch what happens when you go on a ‘bad news diet’ for 7 days. Don’t watch the news, listen to the radio, read the newspaper or pay attention to any YouTube or videos that don’t share good news. If someone starts talking to you about how bad the situation is, kindly tell them you’re on a diet – a bad news diet. And ask them, “please can you tell me something that is good in your life?” Don’t take my word for it, test it for yourself and see if you feel better.

Go Outdoors!

From a walk to the park or on the beach, hiking in the mountains, or cycling in the forest, spending time outside in nature is a great way to improve your mood and well-being. Especially as we spend so much time behind our screens and on our cell phones, it’s important to go out and enjoy nature.

There are a bunch of studies that show how beneficial it is to spend time outdoors, but really, we don’t researchers to tell us that. You know how good being in nature makes you feel, the beauty of spring leaves changing color, the sound of the waves crashing on the beach, or even looking at a starry sky. It’s just a matter of taking time and making it a priority to get outdoors to recharge and refresh.

Knowing what to do is the first step, then it’s the matter of applying and validating the improvements. The more you validate your improvements, the more successful you’ll be. When you’d love to have “your crew” be at their best, so they are motivated and equipped to carry your company through any storm, let us provide them with the training and tools they need. We love to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation. Email Results@CompassEfficiency.com.