Apr. 28, 2018 "Sound advice for a sound sleep": Today I found this article by Denise Devaeu in the Edmonton Journal. It's about sleep affecting work, but it can affect all parts of your life:
Sleep is becoming an increasingly rare commodity for many of today’s workers, and business performance may be suffering as a result.
According to a new study by Accountemps, surveying more than 500 workers, nearly four in 10 professionals (39 per cent) say they often lose sleep over work. The major culprits are overwhelming workloads (46 per cent), business problems they simply can’t get out of their heads (46 per cent) and strained co-worker relationships (21 per cent).
The fallout from this is more than the health risks that go hand in hand with exhaustion. Lack of sleep can be equally damaging to workplace morale. It can lead to increased errors on the job, absenteeism, disruptive behaviour with co-workers and project teams, decreased productivity and substandard quality of work.
It can also turn co-workers against each other. “When relationships become strained and work is not getting done, co-workers will begin to resent the person suffering from stress because it can increase their workload,” says Janet Candido, a Toronto-based HR expert and principal, Candido Consulting Group. “Lower morale and poorer performance can end up costing the company money.”
Business leaders, for their part, need to be aware of employees’ signs of stress so they can act accordingly, Candido notes. These include excessive tiredness and moodiness, showing up late or not at all, a lack of interest in their work and/or co-workers, or a reduction in the amount of work generated.
There may also be a notable decrease in interest in their physical appearance, indicated by weight gain/loss, poor hygiene or dressing poorly. “These could all be signs of excessive stress or lack of sleep.”
There may also be a notable decrease in interest in their physical appearance, indicated by weight gain/loss, poor hygiene or dressing poorly. “These could all be signs of excessive stress or lack of sleep.”
There are a number of ways employers can help their staff – and themselves – improve their odds of sleeping better at night.
— If an employee shows signs of feeling overwhelmed and stressed, talk to them about possible options, such as adjusting deadlines, bringing in extra help or sharing their workload with others.
— Provide collaborative tools and resources that will help workers be more effective and keep business goals on track.
— Educate employees on the impact of sleep deprivation on their work and health.
— Encourage workers to take advantage of self-management webinars, or offer stress-relieving perks such as a yoga membership or meditation classes.
— Lead by example. Join with employees in health and wellness seminars and group activities. “Employees take their cues from the leadership team,” Candido says.
“If the leadership team demonstrates respect for a reasonable work/life balance, employees will feel they can do so as well. If the leadership team are hard drivers, employees will behave accordingly. If the leadership team come to work despite being sick and/or constantly work late, employees will feel they have to as well.”
“If the leadership team demonstrates respect for a reasonable work/life balance, employees will feel they can do so as well. If the leadership team are hard drivers, employees will behave accordingly. If the leadership team come to work despite being sick and/or constantly work late, employees will feel they have to as well.”
— Allow time for exercise or personal breaks. A bit of fresh air and sunshine in the middle of the day can help restore balance.
— Encourage staff to leave on time and to not email after hours.
— Establish a comprehensive wellness program that covers everything from health and nutrition to exercise and stress-management techniques. “It offers an easy way for employees to participate without making it appear they are weak,” Candido notes.
— Provide private spaces within your environment where workers can rest or refocus, or even take a 15-minute power nap.
— Encourage employees to use employee assistance programs as part of a wellness program. “These are barely used, but they are confidential and provide a myriad resources,” she says.
— Where insomnia seems to be a constant struggle, have the employee see a doctor or consult with a sleep clinic to determine if there are any underlying problems.
Ultimately, the issue is less about stress management and more about culture, Candido says. “Trying to manage stress without addressing the culture that gives rise to the stress is a temporary solution at best.
If the organization has a culture of expecting their employees to work excessive hours, they will do so. In this environment, employees will be afraid of being seen as weak, not hard workers or worse, of losing their jobs.”
If the organization has a culture of expecting their employees to work excessive hours, they will do so. In this environment, employees will be afraid of being seen as weak, not hard workers or worse, of losing their jobs.”
My opinion: I like it because it's about health.
Oct. 11, 2018 "Study names popular startups for employees": Today I found this article by Denise Deveau in the Edmonton Journal:
Despite what many think, not all startups are struggling to find top tier talent these days. LinkedIn recently released the first Canadian edition of its 2018 Top Startups list. The study names the most sought-after startups where professionals want to work and stay, based on the actions of 14 million Canadian LinkedIn professionals.
While tech companies accounted for many of the Top 25 companies, the list also includes an eclectic mix of food and beverage, research and marketing standouts.
Daniel Roth, senior editor for LinkedIn in New York City, says this is the first year they have released a Canada-specific version of the startup study. “In determining the top companies we measure their interest in the company when a job is posted, and retention once they are hired.”
He notes that overall, top Canadian company listings tend to be heavily weighted on the banking side. “In the U.S. it’s a lot of big tech companies, while in the U.K., retailers top the startup scene however, has its own characteristics, hence the need for a dedicated study, he explains. “We wanted to make sure we were capturing younger companies that are having a massive impact on the economy."
To determine the results, LinkedIn looked at four pillars: engagement with non-employees (e.g. people following the company or its employees), the number of applications for job listings, the rate of a company’s employee growth, and how well they can attract talent from top companies. “If you are pulling talent from some big players, that’s a real signal these companies are making a massive impact,” Roth says.
He cites three common elements that stand out among the top companies. First is engaging employees to share content online. “Writing and sharing thoughts on their areas of expertise can build a company’s profile in a very authentic way. Applicants care about what managers are like and what they think. Your people should be visible and be heard.”
Second is clear job descriptions that showcase the company mission and the expectations within that role.
The best companies are also those that follow up with every person that applies, Roth notes. “In a tight labour market, companies need to be responsive. No one wants to feel they dropped into a black hole.”
Sandra Ugrin, director of people experience at Coinsquare, the No. 2 company on the LinkedIn list, after Wealthsimple, says as the company has grown, there has been no shortage of great candidates to choose from. She attributes that to really strong engagement online and a staff that enjoys sharing, reporting and retweeting what goes on within the company.
A company like Coinsquare, a digital currency trading platform, can offer exceptional career opportunities, Ugrin believes. “People can help to grow the business and their career at the same time. We think about a job as an opportunity where you are paid to learn, and can come to work every day knowing you are doing something meaningful.”
Ample Organics, which ranked seventh, is a developer of compliance reporting software for the cannabis industry. CEO John Prentice observes there are a lot of people today looking at cannabis as the next great career opportunity. Most are around retail or production. “However, not everyone interested in the industry wants to touch the plant. A lot of software developers want to be part of it as well.”
He says Ample’s job postings elicit a large number of responses. A recent posting for an executive assistant position for example, received more than 250 applications.
The quality of applicants for senior roles is equally impressive. “We’ve had people from IBM and Shopify, as well as investment bankers and healthcare company executives,” Prentice reports.
Having just crossed the 100-employee mark, Ample is aiming to increase staff to 150 toward the end of the year. As part of its hiring efforts, it also engages in a lot of outreach within the tech community though different startup organizations, and encourages employees to post reviews on Glassdoor.
As Roth notes, some might think that companies offering such perks as ice cream or ping pong are drawing cards. “When we ask professionals, that’s not what they value. They want to feel invested in a company that has some kind of purpose. The rest is just window dressing.”
Many candidates see rapidly growing startups as a means to acquire additional skills and experience, he adds. “People are leaving Wall Street to work with companies like Wealthsimple or Coinsquare because they want to take on new challenges. They want to work for companies with some kind of purpose. It’s a hugely attractive proposition for them.”
Click here for a complete list of the 2018 Top Startups in Canada.
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