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Managing Remote AND On-Site Workers? Tips to Ease the Tension

Posted on April 28, 2023November 27, 2023 by Alison Jones

In March 2020, COVID threw our world into chaos. Many companies are still dealing with the effects of this chaos, particularly in the areas of supply chain, cost, and labor issues. Another business challenge brought about by COVID is the split between remote and on-site workers.

For companies in which ALL employees are able to work from home, there are many productivity challenges that need to be navigated to make the remote work arrangement successful. But these issues are magnified when some employees are allowed to work from home and others must report to the office – often against their will.

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Managers: Five Ways to Give Your Employees More Autonomy!

Posted on April 18, 2023November 27, 2023 by Alison Jones

Work-life balance may seem like a fairly modern concept. But the truth is that employees have been fighting for work-life balance for many, many years. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, when manufacturing was the primary industry, the average manufacturing employee logged 100 hours per week. (Wow – we think we have it rough!) At that time, there was a loud cry to reduce the number of hours worked.

The influences and circumstances may have changed over time, but employees have always sought to find that elusive balance between bringing home the bacon and actually being home to enjoy the bacon.

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Leadership Dilemma: Do Employees Want More Autonomy Than Ever?

Posted on February 26, 2023November 25, 2023 by Alison Jones

The COVID behavioral experiment is one that will certainly be analyzed for years to come. Although it was not conducted intentionally, individual responses to COVID have become a laboratory for studies and observations on human behavior, interactions, personality traits, and societal norms.

As a student of psychology and an organizational development coach, I am doubly intrigued by human behavior and how it exhibits itself in the workplace, especially after a defining event with the magnitude of COVID. In this blog, I’d like to focus on the impact COVID has had on the human need for autonomy in the workplace. Next week I’ll cover some suggestions for what managers can do to recognize this need and to respond appropriately in the workplace.

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Got the Home Office Blues? Five Tips to Restore Your Sanity

Posted on February 10, 2023November 25, 2023 by Alison Jones

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In January 2022, 60 Minutes aired an interview on the rise of telework. During this interview, Karin Kimbrough, LinkedIn’s chief economist, provided a startling statistic: one in seven jobs is now remote. Even more startling? This ratio was 1 in 67 pre-COVID pandemic.

In case there was any doubt, telework is here to stay.

I’ve worked exclusively from a home office for over 25 years. When I began back in 1997, it felt very risky. The internet was just taking off, and technology was nowhere near what it is today. I didn’t even have a cell phone. On top of that, I was leaving my very secure, very traditional job at the Department of Justice in Washington D.C. to work for a company with no office space and a landline as my primary form of communication. Part of me wondered what I was thinking.

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Five Simple Stress Busters

Posted on June 19, 2022November 25, 2023 by Alison Jones

In my last blog, I discussed some of the science behind stress. We all know that stress can take its toll on our physical and mental well-being. Research continues to probe the ways stress is linked to disease and can shorten our life span. And it can certainly make our remaining years less enjoyable.

So what can you do about stress? Of course there are a whole slew of suggestions on wellness and time management skills to help prevent some of the stressors before they even occur. Proper nutrition, regular exercise, a solid support network, a positive mindset, and sleep are all vital. But not all stressors can be predicted or planned around. Here are some simple tips to reduce stress via physical activity and healthy eating choices when you find that you are feeling unusually anxious or ready to shut down.

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