U.S. companies have entered that awkward stage. Like young teenagers with a crush, they look uncertainly across the room and wonder what their next move should be. Insist employees come back to the office? Tell them their office days are over? Mandate some days on, some days off? Leave it up to individuals or teams? […]
diversity & inclusion
Is Your Diversity Program Stuck in the Block Corner?
“Diversity” is the kindergarten of inclusion: it’s all about numbers and colors. Not to knock kindergarten, but the question of how many of one group or another your organization has, while important, is the least interesting question. And to focus on race and/or ethnic background, with maybe a smidgen of gender thrown in—is to severely […]
The Secret to Innovation?
Q: How do you promote innovation? A: You listen. To everyone. At the recent “Great Place to Work For All” summit, an annual event sponsored by Great Place to Work (GPTW), the focus was on inclusion. Speaker after speaker drew a direct connection between everyone at the organization feeling heard, and business innovation. Note that […]
Know Which Employers Are Most Supportive of Aging Workers? Neither Do I!
Isn’t it time for a “best employers” list that puts older workers front and center? Think about it. There are lists of best companies for women, for millennials, for supporting diversity. For people with disabilities, for dads, for parents generally. So where is the list for employees who are nearing the end of their careers—or […]
This New Year, Resolve to Improve Your Employee Communications
We’re told that employees in mission-driven organizations are more engaged. But surely this applies only if the employees, themselves, feel they have a role to play in achieving that mission—which can’t happen if they are routinely kept in the dark. A robust, mission-driven organization requires robust employee communications. Today, when Google, smart phones, social media […]
Challenging Truisms, Fostering Inclusion
Last week Working Mother Media held its annual conference, now called the WorkBeyond Summit (this year’s theme: “Transform to Innovate: What’s Next?”) The event, which culminates in a gala dinner honoring organizations on the Working Mother 100 Best Companies list, brings together representatives from these and other companies as well as research and advocacy groups and […]
