Five tips for fostering employee gratitude

Work is not a traditional topic around the Thanksgiving table. But companies, managers, and employees can all contribute to an office environment that will have people feeling appreciated this holiday season. With a little bit of understanding and flexibility on how we think about office life, companies can make sure that their employees have something to be grateful for all year round.?

1 . Cut back on the meetings.

• “Meetings Are Miserable ” by Arthur C. Brooks. One of the most straightforward paths to happiness at work is to fight against the scourge of time-consuming, unproductive meetings at every opportunity.
• “This Is What Happens When There Are Too Many Meetings ” by Derek Thompson. Why a 9-to-10 is the new 9-to-5
• “The Wasted Workday ” by Bourree Lam. “Employees of large companies report spending more than half of their time at the office on emails, meetings, and tasks not laid out in job descriptions.” (From 2014)

2 . Think outside the benefits box.?

• “Finding Jesus at Work ” by Emma Green. Why are more and more companies offering access to chaplains as an employee benefit? (From 2016)
• “Perks and Recreation ” by Megan Garber. In Silicon Valley, a new wave of tech companies tries to enforce fun. (From 2012)

3 . Office workers running mail rooms and stocking seltzers are often overlooked. Make sure they feel appreciated.

• “The Hidden Work of Keeping an Office Running ” by Bourree Lam. Debra Leonard-Porch, an administrative professional for more than 35 years, reflects on her career and the pride she finds in her work. (From 2016)

4 . Burnout is a real problem, not just a buzzword. Listen to your employees when they say they need a break.

• “What Managers Can Do About Burnout ” by Caroline Mimbs Nyce. “Folks don’t leave jobs; they leave managers,” says Jakada Imani, the CEO of the Management Center.
• “To Work Better, Work Less ” by Cody C. Delistraty. Toiling away for more hours diminishes productivity. Why do so many do it anyway? (From 2014)

5 . The relationship between work and motherhood is always complicated, but there are ways to accommodate the particulars of parenthood.

• “The Professional Women Who Are Leaning Out ” by Olga Khazan. The competing demands of work and motherhood have some white-collar women choosing part-time work—and loving it. (From 2021)
• “Moms Who Cut Back at Work Are Happier ” by W. Bradford Wilcox. The doing-it-all discussion ignores the fact that the happiest women are making sacrifices at work to spend more time at home. (From 2013)

Thanks for reading, and Happy Thanksgiving! I’ll see you next Monday.

— Kate Lindsay

Last Word

“Burnout needs to be recognised as a medical condition. Until it is, medical professionals will not look for it which makes it harder to prevent.” —Chris Burrett, responding on LinkedIn to “What managers can do about burnout ”

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