Your PA EDition for April
The Power of Flexibility: Collective and Conscious Care Within the Working Landscape
In recent years, we’ve seen alarming examples across the world where people have worked themselves to a point of no return. For example, in Japan, they even have the term ‘karoshi’ to describe ‘death attributed to overwork’.
In 2018, South Korea legislated against the phenomenon of ‘gwarosa’ or ‘death by overwork’, and the Chinese introduced the term ‘guolaosi’ for overwork-induced suicide.
Yet death by overworking should not be such a common feature of our modern society, where words are created to describe it.
As I write this, I am acutely aware that April is International Stress Awareness Month , highlighting the impact of workplace stress on employees, business owners, and businesses. Stress is a common workplace issue that can arise due to a weighty workload, tight deadlines, management, personal life, and more. It can negatively affect our mental and physical health and decrease productivity and job satisfaction.
It can also lead to burnout, causing an adverse impact not only on employees but also on the business. It often creates a vicious cycle that can take a toll on the overall team, leading to staff turnover and, ultimately, the loss of valuable people and talent.
Working together towards success for everyone requires us all to promote and encourage mental and physical well-being as a priority. At PA EDitorial, I feel passionate about this – my team, their well-being, and our collective success.
With this in mind, the timeliness of Royal Assent for the Flexible Working (Amendment) Regulations 2023 , coinciding with International Stress Awareness Month, hasn’t gone unnoticed, and it seems fitting to discuss the two events collectively.
Business owners and managers can take several decisive steps to combat workplace stress. One of the most effective is adopting a flexible working model, which strikes the perfect balance between collaboration and autonomy. With flexible working, teams can quickly adapt to changing circumstances and individual needs, resulting in a more productive and successful workplace. As CEO of PA EDitorial, I have seen the outstanding results of this within my team.
Business owners and managers must look after their teams, and flexible working should not just be an option, but an essential element of staying ahead of the game in business and people management. Embracing this change is the key to unlocking the full potential of the modern work landscape and the humans within it.
Flexible working encourages teamwork and collaboration to boost productivity and autonomy while sustaining a more stress-free work environment.
This model promotes a healthy work-life balance, personal autonomy, and sustainable working habits, in turn fostering a happier, more motivated team poised to deliver outstanding results. It’s a win-win situation, making it an excellent choice for those seeking to create a positive and inspiring work culture.
As per the new regulations, employees will now have the right to ask for flexible working arrangements from their first day of employment. These can include working hours, patterns, and locations, such as part-time work, flexi-time, term-time work, compressed hours, adjusted start and finish times, and working from home.
This is a positive step toward greater productivity and professional and personal success for everyone involved. I’m proud that PA EDitorial is already on this path as a collaborative business and that I have a talented team working – with flexibility – around me.
Thank you for being part of PA EDitorial’s success.
Until next month, look after yourselves and your teams.
Lizi Dawes - CEO PA EDitorial
Spotlight
We love to celebrate our team members, especially in the ‘Spotlight Section’, so you have the opportunity to meet them.
领英推荐
A slightly unusual Spotlight today, a sad day for us, as Paula?Potter?leaves her role with PA EDitorial.?Paula has managed all her journals with dedication and expertise throughout her time with PA EDitorial (and for several years before that directly with OUP) and has consistently received excellent feedback from editors and publishers alike. ?However, her commitment to her journals has shone through even further during the time she has spent handing the journals over to new VEOs, providing comprehensive notes and passing on as much of her knowledge and experience of the journals in order to ensure the transition runs as smoothly as possible.? This has been incredibly appreciated by all involved.?It has been a pleasure to work with you Paula, you will be missed but we are grateful for everything you have done during your time as a freelancer with us.? All of us here at PA EDitorial wish you a very happy early retirement and the best of luck with your future endeavours.
Blog Corner
Here is a taster of this month's blog - Changing Trends in Academic Publishing: A Glimpse into the Future.
You can read the full article by clicking the button below:
"Academic publishing is a dynamic field that is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of researchers, scholars, and readers."
Key Events
The 8th World Conference on Research Integrity will be held from June 2-5, 2024, in Athens, Greece.
EMUG 2024 – The Editorial Manager User Group Conference will be held from June 12-13 2024, in Boston, US.
SSP – Society for Scholarly Publishing 46th Annual Meeting will be held from 29th – 31stMay, 2024, Boston, US
Latest News & Research
A recent study published in 爱思唯尔 's Brain, Behavior, and Immunity journal suggests a diet high in fat and sugar during adolescence could negatively impact memory well into adulthood. The study in rats links these diets to reduced levels of acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter for memory.
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