Co-Creating More Respectful Workplaces

?? I’ve Been Thinking…

…maybe it doesn’t need to be fixed. Maybe it isn’t broken. Maybe I discovered it while it was in the midst of a metamorphosis. ??

?? Stories to Help You Drive Change

Here are my shares for this week:

SPECIAL NOTE: If you hit a paywall, go to Google Search, enter the name of the publication and something about the story (author, title, subject) to get a link that may bypass the paywall. And hey, if you like the publication, consider subscribing!

• World Gratitude Day is this Saturday, September 21. What are you grateful for? If you’re grateful for a person, do they know it? Tell them!

• Lenovo tops Fast Company’s 2024 list of the best companies for innovators. Four of the top 10 are outside the US. Check it out and be inspired.

• If you’re looking to improve your workplace culture and encourage others to join you, be sure to visit A Better Paradigm’s resources section. It’s an expanding directory including lists of better workplaces events and consultants offering support via coaching, programs, assessments, and more.

• Trend alert: more workers in their 20’s and 30’s are taking early retirement. But wait, it’s not what you think. These people are spreading their retirement fun throughout their lifetimes, living more frugally in the present so they can enjoy the kinds of experiences that previous generations saved for their retirement years. It’s called “microretirement.” You know I love people making worklife better for them, read about it via The Wall Street Journal.

• The Wall Street Journal is reporting salaries for new hires in both white collar and blue collar professions are below last year’s levels. Their take is this follows the layoffs from earlier this year and is taking advantage of people being more nervous about finding work. Good details in the full article here.

• “One survey found that?69% of workers say?their boss has a greater impact on their mental health than their doctor or their therapist, about the same effect as their partner. And a second survey suggests that?87% of people?believe they have worked for a toxic boss.”?As we work to eradicate toxic workplaces, we need to be aware of the effects of toxic bosses. This from Fast Company points to common traits of toxic bosses and what to do if you find yourself working for one. Check out my blog post on this topic for more on healing hostile workplaces.

• What if you just gotta’ quit that workplace? You just resign, right? Well, in Japan there’s a shortage of workers and bosses have been making resigning challenging. Enter “Exit,” the company that will do your quitting for you.

• Altruists are good to have around. Not just in positive workplaces but pretty much everywhere. Here’s why.

?? You Never Know… Dyslexia

This was eye-opening for me: more than 40 million adults in the U.S. have dyslexia, but only about 2 million of them receive a diagnosis. What is dyslexia? It’s a learning disability that makes it challenging to read, write, and spell. It has nothing to do with intelligence. But undiagnosed, it can lead to challenges academically and in the workplace.

Why is this on my radar? Within the last 4 months, 3 people close to me have shared that they have dyslexia. I had no idea. When they shared, they talked about how they learned they had it (some as children, some not until they were adults) and when they learned, it explained A LOT. Because you don’t know what you don’t know, they often think what they’re seeing is what everyone sees. So, they struggle to read, write, and spell and think there’s something wrong with them that they don’t “get it.” A diagnosis is often a HUGE relief because it says, yes, there is something wrong and there are lots of workarounds once you know what you’re dealing with.

If you or someone you work with have problems proofreading, make frequent errors with written instructions, and/or have challenges writing, undiagnosed dyslexia may be involved. There’s no cure but there are lots of resources for reducing the challenges.

?? Do Good Spotlight: W!se

When you transition into adulthood, there are so many things you have to learn on the fly… what insurance do you need? How much of my paycheck should go to rent? I just started work… I need to think about retirement now? W!se is a groundbreaking educational nonprofit that provides financial education, college and career readiness programs, and services to students, educators and at-risk adults. Learn more about their work: W!se.

?? Noteworthy: Premium Recovery Experts

Is your company spending at least $70,000 a year on Workers’ Compensation insurance? According to Premium Recovery Experts, you have a 75% chance of receiving a refund due to mathematical errors and mistakes made by your insurance carrier from previous audits. Want to find out about free support to help get that refund? Contact Bobby Giurintano at Premium Recovery Experts to learn more.

?? On a Personal Note

Literally a personal “note” this time. Guess who got her first guitar this weekend? Yep. And I’m a 100% novice. It’s part of my mission to learn to read music and play an instrument, something that’s eluded me since I took drum lessons in a bid to attract the attention of a certain boy in grade school. No ulterior motive this time, I just want to learn something completely from scratch. Any tips on good places to start? I’ve heard about Marty Music and JustinGuitar so far…

?Until Next Time…

Wishing you pathways to peace in these chaotic times. Reach out if you need anything, including just someone to deeply listen.

Niki