Could CEO Dan Price’s Unorthodox Approach to “The New Normal” Cultivate Workplace Harmony?
Leah Borski
?? Certified NeuroHealth & NeuroLeadership Coach | Writer | Trainer | On a mission to help sensitive high achievers accomplish more without burning out. Follow me to get brain hacks for hustle-free high performance.
This Seattle-based CEO of Gravity Payments gained folk hero status a few years ago when he announced his plan to pay all his employees a $70,000 minimum wage.
His outside-the-box approach to business reaches beyond salaries, however.
Price has spoken out on LinkedIn about his small business' Covid vaccination policy. He shared that he is happy with his choice to get vaccinated, alluding to his belief that vaccination is best.?
But he isn’t forcing his definition of what’s right into the workplace: "If people don't want to get vaccinated, that's their choice. They should get tested regularly to ensure they are not potentially putting someone else in danger."
He shared that his unvaccinated staff have been "super considerate with masking, social distancing, working from home, and frequent testing," adding, "they do tend to take additional precautions at work out of respect for others."
This approach has the potential to become the final nail in the coffin of the old, ineffective “carrot and stick” leadership methodology.?
Neuroscience shows that providing control over choices cultivates both cooperation and caring in the workplace.?
Here’s how Price’s example works in the hidden parts of our brains:
1. Promotes collaboration
When people experience trust, the brain produces Oxytocin (a feel-good chemical). [1] It motivates cooperation. [2]. It also fosters positive emotions and neutralizes fear, meaning mental energy can become focused on cohesive, solution-based measures instead of operating from emotion-based reactivity. This benefits mental and physical health outcomes, business accomplishments, and a positive company culture. [3]?
2. Extinguishes stress
How do you feel when receiving arbitrary directives? “Trapped,” “powerless,” and “invisible” are some responses that may come to mind. This universal human reaction leads directly to stress, which accounts for 75% of doctor visits in the US alone.
Fear and anxiety—two notorious hallmarks of stress—are also top contributors to illness, including severe Covid outcomes. [4]
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Freedom of choice (while considering others) supports employees’ health and your bottom line by mitigating stress-related healthcare costs, absenteeism, and risk of employee anxiety and discontent.
3. Establishes inclusivity
Shelving the debate disrupts the ”us vs them” mindset. It demonstrates that all team members and their needs matter. This is crucial, as the feeling of exclusion leads to significantly more job dissatisfaction, quitting, and health problems.?[5] ? ?
For all business owners, the question isn’t whether to enforce employee vaccinations.
This only contributes to attitudes which are unsupportive of a harmonious workplace environment.
The better question to ask is this: "How can I empower my employees to make the right choice for themselves, while also cultivating a culture of caring for the safety of all?"
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