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Creating a Work-Life Balance in an “Always On” Workplace

Employee Wellness, Flexible Work | Nov 16
work life balance - illustration of person skiing

Working from home can give many benefits to employees, including flexibility and time for their personal life. However, it also brings some drawbacks that you should seek to avoid. You need to think of remote work as a skill. One thing to avoid is the “always on” culture. In this culture, the staff can’t separate work from their personal lives, which can cause stress and, eventually, burnout. That’s why we devised the best ways to improve your work-life balance for an “always-on” workplace. Read on to discover the challenges of working remotely and how to combat them. What Challenges Can Working Remotely Present? 💻 In this blog, we will mainly focus on how remote working makes it hard to “switch off”. However, you should be aware of the multiple challenges you may face working from home. In a survey by Gartner, only 30% of companies said that maintaining their culture was their biggest concern regarding remote workers. Instead, they have other concerns. For example, when working from home, it’s easy to fall into the trap of reduced productivity. This can result from a number of factors. Source: Gartner Here are some other challenges you may face if you work from home: Feeling lonelier because you’re in a more isolated environment. Misunderstandings with colleagues due to communicating digitally rather than in-person. Higher cybersecurity risk at home. Lack of access to the same equipment you use in the office. If you work in a different time zone to the company, it can be challenging to schedule meetings and meet deadlines. Your manager may over communicate with you or micro-manage while you work from home. This may make you feel like you aren’t trusted. How to Create a Work-Life Balance While Working from Home Although there are many problems you can face while working from home, switching off is one of the hardest. When your home becomes your work environment, every part of your house can remind you of work if you let it. To help you combat this, here are some of the best ways to establish a work-life balance when you work from home. Managing Work Stress By Setting Up A Schedule 🥵 You should establish a regular schedule, just like you would if working from an office. A defined timetable can help you maintain a consistent pattern of work and designate non-work hours. It can also help you manage your workload. An alternative to a timetable is a task list with completion times given to each task. If you discover that you frequently work past your scheduled hours, change your schedule to suit your working day better. You won’t have to put in a lot of overtime this way. Keep in Touch with Your Team 📳 Regularly inform your team members of your working hours now that you have a daily routine. Remember to set your status during working hours if you converse using a messaging app. You may also make an online calendar to keep track of the team’s working hours. Doing this is extremely useful when your team members are across many time zones. Another option is to create a balance by having a hybrid working schedule; you work from home some days and at work on others. You can communicate with your team this way if you all work in the same area.  According to a study by Statista, over 68% of employees prefer a hybrid setup. This statistic applies to every age demographic, from Gen Z to Baby Boomers. Establish a Work-Only Area at Home 💺 Working from anywhere you like is tempting when you have free reign of the house. You might work from the couch on some days and the kitchen counter on others. Although it could seem like the ideal situation, it can lead to distractions and a poor work-life balance. Adjust the workspace to your needs instead. Set limitations and only allow yourself to work there. Setting boundaries on where and when you conduct business can prevent work from encroaching on your free time. You must also make many considerations when establishing a work-only area at home. Discover Hobbies to Do After Work 🚴 Working remotely occasionally can make it difficult to leave the home office. Therefore, find interests you love to make it simpler. Your days can become monotonous if you don’t have personal time to break up the work week. Consider painting, joining a gym, or simply going outside for fresh air. You could even arrange a weekly game night with family and friends for some social time. A pastime not only helps you maintain a healthy work-life balance, but can also teach you new things about yourself. Also, making time for your hobbies by adding them to your schedule is essential. Don’t just hope that you’ll have enough time for them. Time Your Breaks In an Airtasker survey, the highest percentage of remote employees (37%) said that taking breaks often is the best way to stay productive while working at home. When things at work become difficult, it’s simple to become overburdened and worn out. With this in mind, take breaks throughout the day to safeguard your physical and mental health and work-life balance. Source: Airtasker Although they need not be long, breaks should involve getting up from your desk and moving about. Take a break from your job to grab a new cup of coffee from the kitchen, or stand up and stretch. In either case, taking breaks should help you maintain a healthy work-life balance. Practice Mindfulness Techniques at Home 🧘 Sometimes, taking breaks might not be enough to destress you completely, so trying mindfulness techniques is an excellent alternative.  The most popular choice is to meditate, which, in its simplest form, is sitting quietly and clearing your thoughts.  There is no guide to excellent meditation; you just need to clear your mind and avoid distractions. Meditation and mindfulness aren’t for everyone, but they are worth trying because they can help with stress management. Even if

Jumpstart-Your-Business-Through-YouTube-Channel

How to Jumpstart Your Business With a YouTube Channel

How to Jumpstart Your Business With a YouTube Channel Are you considering launching a YouTube channel for your business? Given that over 2.6 billion YouTube users are worldwide, it’s wise to take advantage of the network’s enormous potential. YouTube channels allow you to obtain visibility online and share your material with the rest of the world. It’s critical to have an online presence in addition to a YouTube channel. For example, a website can link to your YouTube channel and be a resource for potential customers. Continue our guide for a complete list of steps to help you create and maintain a YouTube channel for a business. Pros and Cons of YouTube Channels for Businesses YouTube can be a brilliant tool for your business, but it has downsides.  Here are the pros and cons of using a YouTube channel. Pros of a YouTube Channel You can incorporate links to your websites There is no cost to starting a YouTube channel You can share your business YouTube videos with your followers It can help show leadership in your field It can widen your exposure and reach Cons of a YouTube Channel You have limited control over distributing videos There is no guarantee that anyone will see your videos Other users can use your tags to promote information you don’t want people to see The 13 Easy-To-Follow Steps to Create a YouTube Channel We’ve broken down the basics of setting up a YouTube business channel to make this process easier for you. To begin a YouTube channel, follow these simple steps. 1. Begin With The Fundamentals YouTube makes setting up your company channel relatively simple, so do that first. Getting your new channel up and running only takes a few clicks. Starting a YouTube channel for your business is as easy as the following steps. 2. Build a Strong Online Presence 💻 Ensure you have a comprehensive online presence to support your YouTube channel after the basics are in place.  Many people will want to discover more about you when they discover your channel, so they may look at your website and other social media accounts. YouTube can be an excellent place to convert subscribers into buying customers because of the site’s massive popularity. A survey found that YouTube is Australia’s joint most popular social media platform along with Facebook. Source: Genroe Ensure your website is up and operating so these people can locate it. With pre-made templates, you can rework an existing one to match your new YouTube channel’s look and feel. The next step is to create or redesign your page on another social networking site in a similar fashion. 3. Fill in The “About” Section To inform viewers about your web presence, you need to fill out the “About” section. Fill up your profile and channel description. You’ll see this choice after creating a channel. In this part, explain who you are as a company and what your channel is about. You may also use this space to connect to your website and any other social media accounts you have, like Instagram and Facebook. Many people will see your channel description, so make the most of the space you have. 4. Use Your Art to Express Yourself 🎨 A giant banner at the top of every YouTube channel displays the channel name. Because it’s your profile picture, you’ll want to maximize this opportunity to showcase your business. It doesn’t matter if your cover photo is elaborate or simple. Just make sure that your brand is the main focus because it will be the first impression someone has upon entering. Fortunately, many various materials are available to help you make a start. Also, you could hide meaning in the image to make your followers think and remember it. YouTube advises submitting your cover photo at 2560 x 1440 pixels with a 4MB maximum file size. You may also use YouTube logos to advertise your brand on your website’s banner. 5. Know Your Audience In the case of a YouTube channel for your business, there should be no problem finding material for your videos, as there are many ways to approach them. Using video tutorials to teach your consumers how to use a difficult product may be an excellent strategy. A 2022 survey found that 6.6 million unique Australian viewers watched promotional content. You can also use videos to display excellent feedback received from your clients. You can show reviews and film testimonials to expose your audience to more material. Remember your business’s target audience while developing your YouTube content strategy. An effective inbound YouTube marketing strategy will attract new consumers. Customers who feel they are the focus will be more likely to inquire about your company’s offerings. 6. Make a Channel Trailer 🎦 You’ll want to make a YouTube channel trailer to accompany your channel image. Channel trailers allow new viewers to get a taste of your content.  It is possible to introduce yourself, your company, and the type of material you will produce in the future.  Before you make the trailer, you must have all the necessary equipment. You will also need all this equipment to make YouTube videos. 7. Make Your First Official Video and Post It Online After the trailer, you can release your first video. After shooting and editing your video, upload it. On the right-hand side of the screen, you’ll see an upload button when you log into your YouTube account. 8. Make Your Channel Search Engine Friendly 🔎 Your YouTube videos need a title, description, and tags when you post them. Don’t scrimp on these components if you want people to find your video. YouTube has its own set of settings for optimizing your video for search, just like SEO for your website. Use keywords to describe the video and your company in these parts to the best of your abilities. 70% of Australian YouTube viewers watch what YouTube’s algorithm suggests, so getting it right is important. You’ll be able to observe what

Memorable-Brand-for-Your-Business

How to Make a Memorable Brand for Your Business

Creating a brand identity from the ground up is no easy feat. What do you want people to think of your business? Will it strike a chord with the right audience? These questions and more should inform your approach. And by the way, a brand is more than just a logo!  In this guide, we’ll cover exactly how to create a brand identity for your firm. Whether you simply have a business idea or are considering a rebrand, here’s what you need to think about. What Is A Brand? 🤔 The fundamental question at the center of it all is: what exactly is a brand? Investopedia defines a brand as “a product or business that has a distinct identity in the perception of consumers.” Most people talk about “brands” and “branding,” but might not understand what it means. It’s often used interchangeably with “logo” and “packaging”, but there are more elements to a brand than that. Simply defined, your brand is what people think about when they see or hear of your business. As a result, it’s crucial to get your branding right. How to Create a Memorable Brand Creating a brand is one thing; creating a memorable one is a different story. You need to develop a strong identity and create a consistent line throughout all your messaging. Here’s how. 1. Choose a Brand Personality With any business, it’s important to get the brand personality right. A strong personality helps customers identify with your business and connect with it on an emotional level. Consider what adjectives you would use to describe your brand. Are you funny and personal, or serious and professional? When you know your brand, you can design everything around the personality. For example, choose a blue, muted color palette to reflect a serious law website. Or, pick playful, bright tones for a fun app (think Duolingo). Here’s how you can think about your brand personality: Look at your competitors: What are other companies in your industry doing? You might want to stand out, but sometimes your industry calls for a specific tone. Consider your product and audience: If you offer accounting services, chances are you want to be serious. However, if your target audience don’t know anything about accounting, then you can consider a friendly, approachable tone.> Ask people: Consult your family, friends, and employees when making branding decisions. They might pick up on things you’ve missed! With your brand personality, you should design logos, colors, and fonts that are easily recognizable. They should also reflect your personality well so that those unfamiliar with your brand instantly know what you’re about. A signature color can increase brand recognition by 80%, so it’s important to get this right! 2. Choose a Memorable Name Naming your company is hard. We know—we’ve been there. You might think you should name it after something personal and meaningful, right? Well, if you’re naming your business after a random childhood memory or what you did last summer, we have *news* for you: You’re doing it wrong. Customers will frequently meet your brand’s (company) name as the initial part of your brand. It’s critical that the name be unique, genuine, memorable, and long-lasting to resonate with your target audience. It should stick in their thoughts 🧠, develop and sustain consumer trust, and stay relevant as your business grows. 46% of customers would pay more to buy from a brand they trust, which is why it’s important to come up with a name that resonates with your target audience. Source: Salsify Your name doesn’t need to state what you do. To tell that story, you’ll employ other branding elements. 3. Define Your Values Your values are the core principles of your business. These beliefs guide every decision you make and every action you take as a company leader. 4. Translate Your Purpose Into A Mission Statement 📝 When you know your purpose, you can translate it into a mission statement. This is an action plan for achieving your purpose. When writing one, consider why you started your company and what you hope to achieve in your industry or the world at large. Your mission statement should be easy to understand. You can post it on your site or include it in your employee handbook so it’s clear to everyone. Your mission statement should inform your brand strategy. It’s at the heart of everything you do, so refer back to it frequently. 5. Grow Your Online Presence 🧑‍💻 These days, it’s essential to grow your business online. 60% of the global population uses social media, many of them every day. It’s an invaluable market to help you reach your target audience. Here are just some of the advantages of marketing online: More customers: Drive web traffic to your business and boost your sales with online ads. There are thousands of potential customers waiting if you know where to find them. Plus, it’s easy to narrow down and reach your target audience. Brand recognition: With strong visual branding, you can increase recognition and awareness. If your branding is consistent across your website and social media, customers will begin to recognize you. Trust: As customers see your brand over and over, they build a relationship with you. With this increased trust, you can make more sales and build loyalty. It’s important to learn how to keep your brand consistent across all marketing materials. Doing so creates a positive and consistent brand experience every time a customer encounters you. 6. Create with Passion You might feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of details to consider. It’s true that there’s a lot to think about. However, if you create from the heart 💕, then it’s easier than you think. In the long term, refer back to your mission statement. Why did you create your product or service? As you think about your core identity and values, you can stick to your true brand personality. The visual elements will follow suit. 7. Keep Yourself Fresh You know what they

A-Guide-on-How-To-Properly-Use-Facebook-To-Market-Your-Business

A Guide on How To Properly Use Facebook To Market Your Business

A Guide on Using Facebook Marketing for Your Business 📲 Facebook is an effective platform to promote your business. But do you have any idea how to use it well? Customers are buying from social media more now than ever. Therefore, you must learn how to use social media marketing to resonate with them. In fact, 30.3% of Australian customers purchased online products via social media in 2022. Source: Savvy Our comprehensive Facebook marketing guide will tell you everything you need to know to market your business on Facebook correctly. Read below to learn more! What is a Facebook Business Page, and What Can You Use it for? A Facebook Business Page is similar to a free website where businesses can increase their online presence. The main difference is that companies can use Facebook’s high-quality marketing features.  Like a personal profile on Facebook, companies can use the business page to share updates, get notifications, send and receive messages, and interact with other users by liking, commenting, and sharing content. The most popular brand pages on Facebook have over 1 million followers. Therefore, you can build a larger audience for your business with the right strategy. What Are the Benefits of Using a Facebook Business Page? A Facebook Business page is an inexpensive way to gain and maintain customers and improve sales.  Here are some of the other crucial advantages you can get from it. 1. Engage With Potential and Current Customers As mentioned, you can use the Facebook Business Page to exchange messages with your audience.  The main reason to do this is to share information about your business and post reliable and helpful content. For example, to provide a new announcement regarding a product or answer a common question from your audience. Applying the proper techniques will increase customer awareness and engagement with your page. 2. Know More About Your Audience Facebook Business pages provide you with audience insights and demographics. You can then use those to develop an excellent demographic marketing strategy and improve the targeting of your campaigns. For example, when you market a product to an under 25s audience, focus on the features that will benefit them the most. You can also find statistics on the ages and demographics that use social media the most and integrate that into your strategy. 3. Decrease Marketing Expenses Creating a business page is free, and you can access various marketing and analytics features for a minimal amount. Since there are many Facebook users, having a business page also helps you reach a large audience for a low price. An April 2023 report found that 81.9% of Australia’s population uses Facebook, giving you a huge potential audience. Source: Napoleoncat 4. Enhance Web Traffic 🚦 Since you can link your website to your page, people can visit it, driving traffic. When they visit your site, your audience can quickly check out your products and services. Additionally, the marketing on your Facebook Business Page may convert interested customers into ones who purchase from you. 5. Boost Search Engine Optimization 🔍 Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the enhancement of your website to increase visibility when people look for products or services in search engines. Having a business page helps improve your rankings in queries. When writing content for your business page, balance meeting SEO requirements (including crucial keywords, for example) and creating memorable and helpful content. Things You Should Do During and After Setting Up a Facebook Business Page Setting up a business page is straightforward, but there are many things that you should do after that. Below is what you should do during and after setting up a Facebook Business page. 1. Create a Facebook Business Page It’s easy to create your own business page if you have a personal profile. Here is a guide on what you should do: Open Facebook your personal profile using a desktop. Click Create at the upper part of the homepage. Click on ‘Page’. Choose a name for your page. Usually, this will be the name of your business. Choose a category that suits your page (linked to what you sell). Include business information like contact details and address. Click the ‘Continue’ button. Add a profile photo to your Facebook page, then click next. Insert a cover photo onto your Facebook page, then click next to look at your finished page. 2. Set up a Facebook Business Manager Account Facebook Business Manager is a crucial marketing tool to separate your Business page from your personal profile. You can use it to run and monitor ads, manage accounts, and organize your marketing strategy. Here is a guide on what you should do to create a Facebook Business Manager Account: Visit business.facebook.com/overview. Select ‘Create Account’. Enter your business name, personal name, and work email address. Select ‘Next’. Indicate business details like your business address, name, and more. Click ‘Submit’. 3. Include Ratings and Reviews It’s important to have reviews because people usually read those before engaging with a business. Currently, 98% of Australian consumers read online product reviews before purchasing. Here is a guide on how to set up reviews and ratings: Go to ‘Settings’. Visit ‘Templates & Tabs’. Click ‘Add a Tab’. Click ‘Reviews’. Move the tab to the upper left side of your business page. Source: Capterra 4. Optimize your Business Page Since many businesses use Facebook for marketing campaigns, doing things that will help you stand out is necessary. Here are some tips to optimize your business page. Upload a Great Profile and Cover Photo 🖼️ Images can be a powerful and memorable element to add to your business page. When uploading a profile photo, ensure it displays your business name, colors, and logo. Make it easy to recognize and use it on all social media platforms. Adding a cover photo will grab your audience’s attention. Display a simple image that has a focal point. You can also add your company’s tagline, contact details, and employees’ photos. These will increase the audience’s engagement with

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How Can We Support Mental Health at Work?

According to Corporate Wellness Magazine, 84% of workers have experienced mental health problems in the last year. Like becoming physically unwell, employees can experience bouts of mental illness, or they may have longer-term issues. Mental health can affect a person’s job, and vice versa, so it’s important for employers to know how to navigate these issues sensitively and effectively. It’s challenging for businesses to keep up morale when faced with these issues. In fact, 81% of Gen Z and 68% of millennials who left their jobs last year did so for mental health-related reasons. So, morale aside, it’s in the best interest of employers to do something about the mental health epidemic. What can businesses do? Here’s how to support your employees’ mental health at work. Source: Corporate Wellness Magazine What Should Businesses Do? Mental health can negatively affect employee performance at work 📉. On a more human level, you never want to see your employees suffer. That said, mental health is a challenging issue. There’s no cut-and-dry method for dealing with it because it looks different in everyone. Furthermore, everyone deals with their mental health differently. That said, there are things that businesses in all industries can do to support their employees when challenges arise. Employers should make an effort to put the required assistance in place. This includes fostering an environment where employees feel able to talk about their mental health if they choose to, without putting pressure on them to do so. You can also reduce the risk of mental health issues arising by reducing stress on your employees. 9 Ways to Improve Employee Wellbeing Here are nine ways employers can support their employees to reduce the risk of mental health issues and assist workers when issues arise. 1. Structured Support System Sometimes, life happens. Whether it’s bereavement, financial stress, or mental illness, some struggles are unavoidable. When these issues arise, it’s important that employees know where to turn. Make sure managers and team leaders know how to handle these conversations with their team members. Provide a framework for the conversation, with training so that managers know how to address the issue and if they need to inform anyone else. Furthermore, arrange periodic 1-to-1s, creating a chance for employees to bring up any issues. It’s important that they feel safe to do so. 2. Look For Signs ⚠️ When handling mental health conditions, it’s essential to catch them early. Businesses and employees should learn the warning signs of employee distress. It’s also crucial to learn how to respond when a worker discloses a mental health issue. HR teams and managers should be trained and reminded about these warning signs. That way, when an issue arises, it can be addressed quickly before it escalates. 3. Create a Schedule and Leave Requests Flexibly 📆 Stress is a big part of mental health. Having flexible work options gives employees the space they need to work on their own terms, leading to better productivity. 92% of millennials have identified flexibility as a key factor when job hunting, so it’s vital to provide it if you want employees to be satisfied and stick around. Source: Equality Human Rights You should consider: Allowing employees to work from home, at least optionally Providing flexibility for appointments, childcare, and personal emergencies Providing leave for employees with mental health issues Employees who are over-worked and undervalued may experience burnout. This negatively affects productivity, morale, and can lead to high turnover rates. Consider implementing software like Tommy 🐶 to help with scheduling. 4. Implement Employee Assistance Programs 👷‍♀️ Many employers provide employee assistance programs that help workers resolve issues. This can include signing up for employee therapy programs to help them self-regulate and cope with stress. Some businesses even have programs that help employees deal with alcohol or substance abuse, child or elder care, financial or legal issues, and traumatic occurrences. 5. Bring People Together 🫂 Social interaction has a positive effect on psychological wellbeing. Finding a way to bring the team together is essential, especially if your team often works from home. Employers should find ways to hold regular meetings, either in-person or online. This keeps everyone in the loop and also gives them a chance to interact. Aside from formal meetings, it’s great to encourage more relaxed chats. Consider virtual coffee meetings for employees who work from home. In-person, you can foster a positive work environment with team-building exercises and socials. You should make participation voluntary to prevent people from being pressured. Social interaction is beneficial to one’s psychological well-being. Managers should find ways to hold regular meetings with their teams, either electronically or in person, if time and resources allow. 6. Revise Current Workloads 📝 If employees are pushed to capacity at all times, they can easily become burned out. Managers should be aware of workloads and given time to manage the tasks of their team members. Be prepared to make temporary or situation-specific adjustments related to people’s schedules. Planning software can help you visualize tasks and make quick adjustments. 7. Provide Counseling 🗣 Many firms are starting to provide counseling as a regular part of their employee benefits. It helps to ensure workers are mentally healthy, whether they have specific problems or not. You can sign up for virtual counselling for employees with software like Spill, or hire someone for your HR department. Again, participation should be optional so that nobody feels forced. Source: The Human Capital Hub 8. Set a Good Example ✅ Managers can influence staff to prioritize their health and wellbeing by setting a good example. It’s important to take allocated time off, encourage open communication, and update your team on your own efforts to maintain your health. When the company introduces new wellness initiatives, make sure to spread the word to your employees, too! 9. Create Vital Wellness Programs 🏃‍♀️ Wellness programs can help employees develop coping mechanisms. They often cover many areas of life, from physical health to financial literacy. With these programs, your employees can learn

Addicted-to-Marketing

Reasons Why Business Owners Love Small Business Marketing

For your small business to succeed in a competitive industry, place a lot of business budget towards marketing. According to marketing experts, you should use 5-15% of your overall revenue for a marketing budget. If you’re a small business owner, you need to understand the value of marketing. The more you learn about marketing, the more you’ll understand why you need to budget so much for it. Continue our guide to small business marketing for eleven reasons why marketing is essential for small businesses to succeed. 1. Informs People About Your Business With a fantastic product or service, you may think your firm can easily stand apart from your competitors and get to consumers. Contrary to popular belief, this is not the case! A total of 30 million small companies operate across the country. Companies, even exceptional ones, can suffer because of this lack of attention. For small firms, marketing is essential since it enables the public to become aware of a company’s existence. You can place your small business on the map using your marketing efforts. Also, you don’t necessarily have to pay to market your business on search engines. Many consumers find new products on search engines, but the organic results are often more appealing than the paid ones.  Organic search provides 5.66% more opportunity than paid search. Source: Prosperity Media Also, once you inform people about your business with marketing, keep the channel of communication open. Find online reviews to see if your customers have further questions about your products or services, and work that into your marketing strategy moving forward. 2. Educates Consumers About Your Offer 🎓 You will likely spend almost all your waking hours experimenting with your company’s products or services. You are intimately familiar with them and fully grasp how they operate. However, that won’t automatically translate to your customers. People who could benefit from your products and services may not be aware of them. Marketing can educate your customers about the value of your products and services and convince them to buy from you. In marketing, you must focus on what your product and service can provide the customer. Rightfully so, consumers’ number one priority when buying a product is finding one that will benefit them. Specifically, the unique features of your product or service are the ones that will grab consumers’ attention. Small businesses can benefit significantly from inbound marketing, especially when attracting new customers. Using content, social media, and other platforms to educate consumers about their products and services lets firms reach a wider audience. For example, social media is an excellent tool to market to consumers, communicate with them, and create a feedback loop for your product or service. 3. Builds Confidence Between Your Company and Your Clients 🤝 You cannot buy loyalty from customers; you must earn it. In business terms, a consumer purchasing a product from you once doesn’t automatically make them a loyal customer. Customers will more likely be loyal if they fully understand and respect your brand and values. Small business owners must cultivate a loyal audience for their brand to be as successful as possible. Your customers must return to your firm frequently to purchase your products and services for you to be successful. Doing this necessitates a level of trust between you and your customers. They must believe you give them the best products or services at the most reasonable costs. You can build trust between you and your customers through effective marketing. Using marketing strategies, businesses can build customer loyalty and increase sales by establishing a relationship of trust with their customers. Below are some of the best marketing strategies to build customer trust. 4. Teaches You About Your Business Target Market Depending on your products or services, you may already know your target market when starting your small business.  However, in some cases, you may discover you misjudged your target audience. Knowing your audience is essential to create products they love and will buy. Marketing is the key to giving you all the best information about your target market. Moreover, knowing the exact type of people who love your products can inform future products and marketing. You can group customers by age, income, location, and lifestyle. An example determining your target market is seeing who responds the most to your marketing efforts and utilizing this information to re-target your products or services. Customers may provide priceless insight into the quality of your products and services when you use marketing to solicit their opinions. Small firms, in particular, find social media marketing an invaluable resource for soliciting client feedback because they get it quickly and in large volume. 5. Gives a Boost to Your Business Sales 💸 To succeed as a small business owner, you must first focus on making money. You want to provide your clients with as many goods and services as possible. If you sell your items or services correctly, you can generate sales. The more people that know about them and understand their value, the more you’ll be able to sell them. Here is how marketing can help you to boost sales: More customers will be aware of your products. Marketing your products effectively can generate interest from customers and make them want to buy them. You can target specific types of customers you designed the product for. Marketing will help customers remember your brand and commit to return purchases. Marketing will potentially upsell products to customers; they might buy more than they originally intended. Marketing can make customers aware of your website, meaning online shoppers will be more likely to buy from you. You can retain customers for future purchases by marketing your loyalty program or newsletter. Create seasonal promotions that target a need in a specific season; a coat in winter, for example. 6. Makes Your Business Relevant Every Time Whether you’re just starting your business or introducing a new product or service, getting people interested in your brand shouldn’t be too challenging. You will

no-call-no-show

How to Handle Employee No-Call, No-Shows

Does sudden employee absence stress you out? They may have their reasons, but it can still be costly for you and your other employees. This is especially true when they don’t call to let you know they’ll be missing work. Sometimes, there’s no way around a no-call, no-show incident. After all, an employee might have an emergency regarding family members, or get into an accident and be unable to call. However, you can implement a policy that minimizes the risk of no-shows. Here’s how to develop a no-call, no-show policy, and why you need one. Disadvantages of No-Call, No-Shows The CDC says that absenteeism costs US employers $225.8 billion every year in productivity loss 💸. It’s, therefore, crucial to limit the random days off that your employees take. In particular, it’s important to avoid no-call, no-show incidents where possible. Source: CDC Frequent cases can lead to a variety of issues, including: Decreased productivity due to missing an employee Low morale and extra strain on working employees Negative financial impact May decrease customer satisfaction For the sake of your financials and the wellbeing of your other employees, it’s vital to try and prevent no-shows. How to Deal With No-Call, No-Shows You can limit the number of employee no-call, no-show incidents with certain measures. Namely, with a clear policy for no-call, no-shows, employees will know where they stand and what to do in case of emergency. Keep in mind that your policy must stand in line with all current employment laws. Here’s how to create and keep a policy. 1. Understand What a No-Call, No-Show Is 🤔 Firstly, you need to understand your legal rights and those of your employees. Law Insider defines a no-show, no call as absenteeism from scheduled work without calling. These incidents are not regulated by federal law, but most employees can terminate employees for this behavior. However, there are exceptions you should be aware of. Check the laws in your state to see where you stand. For example, in Washington State, employees are entitled to one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours they work. Some employees may be covered for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) leave, or Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave. You don’t want to end up in a situation where a former employee sues you for wrongful termination, so it’s important for you to understand their rights. 2. Create a Policy 📝 Create a policy to include in your employee handbook. The policy should cover a variety of issues, including: Your policy for personal days, last-minute sick days, and emergency leave, including how many days employees are entitled to each year How employees can request time off The protocol for taking a day off in case of an emergency The policy should also define what a no-call, no-show is and the consequences of it. That way, employees won’t be able to abuse the system because they understand what the consequences are. You can consult with a lawyer to devise a policy that avoids all potential issues. 3. Inform Everyone 🗣 Even with a handbook, some employees won’t read it. Alternatively, some will read it but won’t understand the policy. You should have a meeting to explain the policy and answer any questions your employees may have. Then, when you’re done explaining, ask them to sign a document stating that they understand the policy. This can prevent issues in the future. When onboarding new employees, make sure you discuss this with them and are prepared to answer questions again. Encourage them to sign a document as well. When employees understand the policy, they will continue showing up for work when possible because they understand the consequences. 4. Enforce the Policy 🚨 Even with a policy in place, not everybody will follow it. However, thanks to the disciplinary actions laid out in the employee handbook, you can enforce the policy fairly when an employee doesn’t show up. Speaking of which, consistency is key. No matter who the employee is, you need to treat the issue fairly. For example, if you have a zero-tolerance policy, then everybody who breaches the rules should be fired. However, if your policy gives employees at least two chances, then everybody should receive these chances. Consider giving employees a written warning for the first instance. Terminating an employee is never pleasant, but it’s even worse if you feel that they are being unfairly fired for sick leave. Other employees might take note of this, too, which can create a tense and hostile work environment. By enforcing the policy fairly, you can create an environment where employees follow the policy and morale is maintained. 5. Improve Scheduling 🕐 Absences can be caused by poor scheduling. Staff may have conflicts in their schedule, so you need to optimize the process for your employees. You can ensure things run smoothly by using software like Tommy. This allows employees to see their schedules, swap shifts, and request time off with ease. The result is a team that works together well, understands their entitlements and requirements, and can be productive. 6. Make an On-Call List ☎️ Unfortunately, no-call no-shows will happen from time to time. As a result, it pays to be prepared. Depending on your line of work, you might want to create an on-call list for when an employee fails to show. Make a clear procedure on how the on-call list works so there won’t be any confusion. Ensure your staff on the list are available to work on the schedule. You may want to provide some benefits to help motivate them. Prevent No-Call, No-Shows with Tommy 🐶 Employee no-call, no-shows can be bad for business. You need to avoid them where you can, and MyTommy is here to help you do just that. With easy employee scheduling software, you can improve morale, reduce absenteeism, and help your business run more smoothly.  Do you need help with your scheduling? Find out more here! How to Handle Employee No-Call, No-Shows Disadvantages of

DCAA-Timekeeping

How to Comply With DCAA Timekeeping Guidelines

If you win a government contract, it’s crucial to comply with the regulations imposed on you. The Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) has stringent guidelines in place that you should study if you have a defense contract. To help you out, here’s a guide to being DCAA-compliant and improving your timekeeping. DCAA Timekeeping Requirements ⏳ The DCAA provides financial and advisory services to federal entities like the US Department of Defense (DOD). It regulates contract audit services to ensure all contractors pass the requirements, checking that each dollar used was appropriately allocated. As a result, the DCAA mandates timekeeping compliance for its contractors. Knowing how to do it properly is essential for audit purposes; read about the DCAA timekeeping requirements below. 1. Make a Policy That Complies With DCAA 📝 Write a policy document noting the actions to comply with DCAA. This includes noting labor distribution and a way to document hours and dollars by employee, project name or job code. Make sure the policy is complete, thorough, and easy to understand. 2. Tell Everyone About the Policy 🗣 You also need to ensure everyone knows the policy. It’s crucial to inform all staff and supervisors and update them if there are changes. Provide annual training about time-tracking to remind everyone of the policy. 3. Track Time Every Day 🕜 Employees must submit timesheets every day and should not do so in advance or at the end of the week. For accuracy, consider using a time tracking software that automatically reconciles information and performs timesheet approvals. That way, there is little room for error. 4. Compute Labor Cost 🧑‍💻 DCAA determines your project cost based on the number of working hours. Ensure you calculate labor costs based on time. 5. Record Overtime and Paid Time-off 🌴 There are two types of overtime: Uncompensated: Applies to employees with a fixed salary who are not compensated for additional hours. Unpaid: Applies to employees who are paid per hour. Their overtime is compensated. Both types must be recorded for DCAA compliance. Furthermore, you must record paid time off, including: Vacation Holidays Sick leave Bereavement leave Failure to do so may be considered labor accounting fraud. 6. Record Tasks and Projects 🗄 DCAA audits also require a record of tasks and projects. If you use software, select an option that reminds staff to indicate the project they are working on. 7. Take Note of Changes or Corrections ⛔️ If you must change the time-tracking document, indicate the change, the reason behind it, and the time and date it was made. This should be approved by a supervisor. 8. Employees Must Sign Off Entries 👍 If your business uses an automatic time-tracker, your employees should personally sign off the time entries to ensure they’re aware of their working hours. Or, use a time-clock kiosk. 9. Review and Approve Time Records ✅ When your employees approve the timesheets, they should submit them to their superiors for approval. Remember, time records become legal documents, so check them carefully. 10. Separate Timekeeping and Payroll 💵 Keep timekeeping and payroll separate, even though they’re connected. Non-compliance is an offense called “labor discharge” that can result in a maximum of 5 years in prison. Have separate teams to handle payroll and timesheets. Furthermore, employees shouldn’t adjust their time data to suit payroll capacity. DCAA Timekeeping Checklist This handy checklist will help your business remain DCAA compliant. Timekeeping Procedures Keep timekeeping separate from payroll. Implement a clear policy for submission and approval of data. Keep everyone aware of the policy, procedure, and requirements. Give continuous training to ensure awareness. Preparing Timesheets Everyone in the company must track time (whether they’re part of the government contract or not) to produce a thorough audit trail Employees must record working hours themselves, including overtime and paid time off Time should be logged daily and indicate the task or project worked on Timekeeping Policies Superiors cannot fill up a timesheet unless the employee is on paid leave or is gone for a long time The employee and superior must review and approve the timesheet Appoint a system administrator to review timesheets and check for errors. Record reasons, date, and time for each change. Publish timesheets every month or more frequently. Be prepared for random inspections. Timekeeping Systems There are two types of timekeeping systems: manual and automatic. Automatic systems include software, and they’re useful for businesses with more than three employees. They reduce the room for error and can help you ensure DCAA compliance. Conduct research to help you choose the best software for DCAA-compliant timekeeping. One option is Tommy. It can help you with DCAA compliance with an automated time-tracking system. You can select a package depending on your needs and budget, ensuring you get the best software for your needs. Improve Your Timekeeping with Tommy 🐶 DCAA guidelines require government contractors to maintain an accurate record of the time their employees spend on contracts. If your business has a contract, it’s a good idea to maintain accurate records of all work completed for all employees in the business in case of an audit. You can use an automatic time-tracker like Tommy to keep your records up to scratch. Just make sure all your staff are aware of the time tracking policy. Thankfully, with Tommy, recording time is easy! Maintaining compliance doesn’t have to be time-consuming and stressful. Take the hassle out of it with Tommy. Check out our features here. How to Comply With DCAA Timekeeping Guidelines DCAA Timekeeping Requirements 1. Make a Policy That Complies With DCAA 2. Tell Everyone About the Policy 3. Track Time Every Day 4. Compute Labor Cost 5. Record Overtime and Paid Time-off 6. Record Tasks and Projects 7. Take Note of Changes or Corrections 8. Employees Must Sign Off Entries 9. Review and Approve Time Records 10. Separate Timekeeping and Payroll DCAA Timekeeping Checklist Timekeeping Procedures Preparing Timesheets Timekeeping Policies Timekeeping Systems Improve Your Timekeeping with Tommy

Workplace Conflict & How to Handle It

Workplace Conflict: How to Handle It

Even in the healthiest workplaces, conflict can sometimes arise. It’s simply the nature of humans working closely together! In fact, 85% of employees experience conflict at work. However, resolving workplace conflicts quickly and smoothly is essential because a tense working environment can lead to decreased productivity. If you can learn to resolve conflicts well, your workplace will benefit. Your employees will feel safe and valued, and creativity can flourish. That said, addressing conflict is a learning curve. Let’s talk about how you can handle six types of workplace conflict. 1. Working Styles 😡 Everybody has a different manner of working. When two colleagues work closely together, they might clash based on these different styles. Conflict occurs when they become irritated with one another. Example: Employee A has been assigned to a task working with Employee B. A prefers to work alone, but B doesn’t mind group work and is enthusiastic about the task. A likes working close to the deadline, but B prefers getting things done ahead of time. As a result, they spend more time arguing about how to complete the task than doing the task itself. 💡Resolving a Working Style Conflict Encourage employees to see things from another point of view before acting. As a manager, you can sit both employees down and encourage them to come to a compromise. 2. Expectation-Based Conflict 📅 Sometimes, an employee does not meet expectations. It can be disappointing when a worker misses deadlines frequently, doesn’t turn up to work, or stops completing their tasks to a high quality. Example: An employee has started handing in their timesheets late. This affects departmental performance and also means that other employees are receiving their paychecks late. It causes tension among the team and also between the manager and the employee. 💡Resolving an Expectation-Based Conflict As a manager, active listening is essential when managing conflict. The employee could be failing to meet expectations due to a number of factors, so it’s important to approach the conflict from a place of understanding. Gently remind the employee of their duties while acknowledging their perspective. 3. Interpersonal Conflict 🫂 Sometimes, people just don’t get along. Colleagues sometimes dislike each other for a variety of reasons. As a manager, this is a challenging conflict to tackle–you can’t force people to be friends. However, you can foster a healthy workplace where people are professional and civil. Example: You might enjoy your job and get along well with most people, but one person on your team rubs you the wrong way. It could be opposing views outside work or the fact that they leave their food in the office fridge until it goes off. Either way, you often experience conflict, affecting your joy for work. 💡Resolving Interpersonal Conflict With interpersonal conflict, there may be emotions involved. Managers may have to bring in professional mediators that can prevent these situations from escalating. Furthermore, if you know that two employees don’t get along, try to avoid making them work together. 4. Task-Based Conflict 📝 Sometimes, disagreement over a task can be positive. Some back-and-forth over the best course of action can help you reach a good outcome. However, with disputes that escalate, they can also cause a problem. Example: In the weekly team meeting, a colleague suggests a solution to the latest problem. You don’t think it’s the best idea to benefit your client, so you raise this concern. However, they double down, and the discussion quickly becomes heated. 💡Resolving Task-Based Conflict If you are part of the conflict, step back from the issue to stay calm–don’t get dragged into the argument. Managers can put a pin in the discussion, encouraging a break or returning to the discussion at a later point. Encourage collaboration between the team to find a solution that suits all parties. 5. Discrimination 🏳️‍🌈 Discrimination is one of the most serious workplace conflicts. It might be a sign of a toxic workplace culture, so it’s something that your company should have zero tolerance for. Remember that discrimination can come in numerous forms, from overt insults to indirect comments. Example: Employee A has been working at the company for 10 years but has missed out on promotion several times. This time, they know that the other candidate was less qualified and experienced. Feedback from management was vague and unhelpful. As a result, they are worried that the decision was based on prejudice. 💡Resolving Discrimination Conflict Discrimination is a job for Human Resources (HR). If you are a small business without a HR division, consider bringing in external support to address the issue. If you were a victim of discrimination, ask a manager you trust for support in this process. 6. Creative Ideas Conflict 🎨 If your job involves some creativity, there will likely be the occasional clash between employees. Strong creative opinions can lead to arguments. Similar to task-based conflicts, it’s important to recognize that every contribution has value. Example: You work at a content agency creating social media campaigns for clients. You are working on a TikTok campaign for a client and are concerned about reaching the right target audience. However, the colleague you’re working with is much more focused on the aesthetics of the video, and you don’t feel they’re striking the right tone. You feel that they’re dismissing your ideas too quickly, causing tension. 💡Resolving Creative Conflict You can resolve a creative conflict by acknowledging the other person’s point of view. As creatives, you can both work together to find an innovative solution. If you feel that your colleague is being difficult, involve a third-party observer or manager to help you come to a resolution. More Ways to Handle Conflict Like a Pro There is no one-size-fits-all approach when attempting to resolve conflict. Even after identifying the sources of conflict, you might need to develop a novel approach. Here are some extra tips and tricks to help you. Devise an employee manual: If everybody knows the ground rules for a healthy and positive workplace, you can

We Procrastinate and How to Stop It

Why We Procrastinate and How to Stop It

Have you noticed your tendency to dawdle and put off tasks until the very last minute? Maybe you’re feeling under pressure about the amount of work you need to get done. Avoiding tasks until they’re due is called procrastinating, and it’s something that affects a wide variety of people. From college students to the workforce, plenty of people suffer from procrastination issues. Fortunately, there are things you can do about it. You’re not doomed to feel stressed forever! To get to the bottom of the issue, it’s important to understand why you procrastinate. Then, you can figure out how to avoid it. In this guide, we’ll explain why people procrastinate, and how to avoid it in the future, helping you accomplish your goals one step at a time. What Is Procrastination? 🤔 Procrastination is the act of postponing your choices or actions without real reason. It can be a symptom of wider mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, plenty of people without other health issues also find themselves procrastinating. According to psychologist Piers Steel, those who don’t procrastinate are high in a personality trait called conscientiousness, which also means they are self-disciplined, persistent, and responsible. Procrastinators, on the other hand, may lack care or simply have poor time management skills. Unfortunately, procrastinating can have some serious disadvantages over the long run. Disadvantages of Procrastinating Procrastinating can cause people to miss their goals or feel more stressed. Here are some of the worst effects: Worse grades for students Worse quality work for employees Low mood Stress and anxiety Gastrointestinal or immune problems Generally, it’s better to get your tasks done on time and avoid these consequences. Active vs. Passive Procrastinator There are several types of procrastinators. Some researchers split them into two groups: active and passive. Active: Delays the task intentionally because they feel that they work best under pressure. Passive: Avoid the task because they have trouble making decisions and acting on them.  Reasons for Procrastination 📝 When you understand why you avoid pressing tasks, you can learn to motivate yourself and remain organized. There are many reasons why people practice task avoidance. Here are six of the most common. 1. Vague Goals 🥅 Without goals, you won’t be able to motivate yourself. And yet, a whopping 92% of those with goals fail to achieve them! Why? Because they’re vague. Set yourself some goals to focus on so you can motivate yourself to achieve them. 2. Indecisiveness 😟 Sometimes, we overthink things and struggle to come up with the best course of action. This is a huge cause of procrastination, so it’s something you should try and tackle if you have tasks to be getting on with. 3. Impulsiveness 🏃‍♀️ Active procrastinators may rush to complete their tasks because they believe that pressure helps them perform well. On the other hand, many workers find themselves distracted by other tasks or activities. If you impulsively abandon one task in favor of one you find more enjoyable, it can cause problems down the line. 4. High Expectations 🏔 Some people postpone tasks because they are afraid of failure. Having high expectations of yourself can create pressure, meaning that you feel too anxious to begin and creating high levels of stress. 5. Deadlines 📅 If the deadline is far away, you may not feel that the task is priority. However, deadlines can creep up on you quickly, so it’s best to avoid letting them build up. Poor time management skills like this can create a lot of stress when deadlines are fast approaching. 6. Mental Health Problems 🧠 As mentioned above, procrastination can be a symptom of a larger problem. In the case of broader mental health problems, a doctor can help you decide on the best course of action. Simply setting realistic expectations and learning time management may not be enough on its own, so it’s worth consulting a professional. How to Stop Procrastinating Studies show that chronic procrastinators may suffer as a result of their habits. For example, one 2022 study found that university students with severe procrastination issues experienced more psychological issues such as anxiety and insomnia, and lower quality of life overall. As a result, there are some long-term benefits to preventing task avoidance. Here is a step-by-step guide you can use to address the issue. 1. Have an Accountability Partner About 20% of adults are chronic procrastinators. In other words, you’re not alone. Find a buddy who’s also struggling with task avoidance and pair up to hold each other accountable. You can even find a friend who’s super organized to keep you on track and teach you some extra time management skills. Source: American Psychological Association Ensure it’s someone you trust and who you will be honest with, or this step won’t really work. 2. Establish Goals It’s important to set goals that will keep you on track. Without goals, it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture and give up before you get very far. However, with realistic goals in place, you can work toward them and improve your self-esteem along the way. Try setting SMART goals to ensure they’re realistic: SpecificMeasurableAchievableRelevantTime-bound 3. Figure Out The Problem You won’t be able to overcome procrastination if you don’t understand the reason behind it. Remember, there are many reasons for task avoidance, so you need to figure out which one (or ones) applies to you. It could be your levels of stress, for example, creating anxiety that leaves you paralyzed when it comes to decisions. In this case, you need to take a step back, recharge, organize, and prioritize your tasks. 4. Create and Implement a Plan When you know what the problem is, you can create a plan. Your step-by-step plan should include techniques for overcoming task avoidance at different points, including solutions for different triggers. Share this plan with your accountability partner to keep you on track. Then, track your progress and improve

Technology-is-Changing-the-Healthcare-Industry

What Impact is Technology in the Healthcare Industry Having?

Technology is essential to the healthcare industry. Without it, advancements in patient care might not be possible.  But how did they change the industry as we know it? Also, what impacts are these changes bringing to the healthcare industry? Here in this article, we will list the different technologies altering the healthcare industry and their benefits. Read about them below! What is Digital Transformation in Healthcare? 🖥️ Digital transformation in healthcare is identifying a healthcare organization’s current and future needs and implementing technology solutions. Since each organization is different, the digital transformation changes per business. There’s no stopping digital transformation, so the time is now to inform yourself of new technology in the healthcare industry and adapt to it. What Are the Disruptive Technologies That Are Changing Healthcare? The healthcare industry is a massive beast, so there are many gaps that technology is filling so it can improve it. Understanding the technology you will use going forward in the industry will help you adapt to it and move forward. To give you a start to understanding digital transformation in the healthcare industry, here are 9 crucial healthcare technologies. 1. Remote Patient Monitoring Tools 🤢 Organizations can offer better, more personalized care using remote patient monitoring (RPM) tools. It can also reduce unnecessary visits because patients only need to visit the hospital during critical conditions. These RPM tools include: Oximeters. Biosensors. Sweat meters. Exercise trackers. Fitness Trackers. Blood Pressure Monitors. Electrocardiogram (ECG) Monitors. These tools collect, monitor, and analyze health data for better patient outcomes. They also help the healthcare industry save a lot of money. They saw massive use during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, here is the conclusion of a study about virtual patient monitoring tools during the pandemic. Source: The National Library of Medicine 2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Artificial Intelligence presents massive changes to the healthcare industry by providing numerous benefits to patients, healthcare workers, and organizations. Here are some advantages they can get: Chatbots and robots – can answer inquiries and assist people with tasks. Diagnostic tools – used for diagnosing health issues. Risk calculators – identify potential health risks in people. Administrative software – to help reduce time-consuming tasks. Machine learning algorithms – reduce the drug development cycle. Pattern recognition – can provide personalized therapies depending on the genes and lifestyle of the patient. Computer programs – can offer highly accurate diagnoses and drug combinations. However, there are risks of people in the healthcare industry relying on AI too much moving forward. Here is a quote to suggest how we should move forward with AI in the healthcare industry. 3. Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices provide high-quality care by giving healthcare options to people with limited mobility and isolated communities.  For example, IoMT devices can provide the following: Remote patient monitoring. Early diagnosis tech for patients. Telehealth support. Emergency response triggers. And more. They also help save money by enhancing access to diagnosis, treatment, and preventative care. It is another technology people became adequately aware of during the pandemic. It is a growing technology that the healthcare industry will rely on more and more. Source: Medical Device 4. Telehealth and Remote Care Because of the pandemic, the demand for telehealth and remote care increased to avoid going to the hospital unless necessary. Health organizations must adapt to this trend because it might not go away anytime soon. Before offering these to their patients, they must also ensure they comply with their country’s laws and regulations. 5. Data Usage 📈 By using software that can collect and analyze data, health organizations receive the following benefits: Decreased medication error – by checking the patient’s electronic health records, healthcare workers can identify possible medication errors. Best client care – you can use the stored health information to provide the best patient care. Preventive care – helps reduce the number of people returning to the hospital. Better staffing – healthcare organizations will know how many staff they need per shift. Improves medical research – you can use the data to enhance treatments and produce necessary medicinal drugs. It can also identify patterns in diseases and illnesses. Any healthcare organization has to abide by specific data collection laws in Australia, such as the Data Availability and Transparency Act 2022 and the Australian Data Strategy. 6. Smart Implants These bio-implants have diagnostic capabilities and therapeutic benefits.  They promise better efficiency in regenerative medicine and improved outcomes in patient rehabilitation. They may even provide a cure for specific disabilities thought to be incurable. 7. Employee Wellness Apps 🤳 When discussing healthcare, we shouldn’t only consider the patients but also the welfare of healthcare workers. Because how can they take care of other people if they can’t care for themselves? That’s where employee wellness apps come in! Through using these apps, the employees will have more control over their health and have greater satisfaction. The apps will also save money and reduce employee turnover. Below are some of the features you can find on employee wellness apps. Health assessments will help healthcare staff understand their health status and any potential health risks they are encountering or will encounter. Personalized plans based on individual health attributes. These plans will include recommendations and tips for exercising, nutrition, and more. Activity tracking functions like distance tracking, step counting, and calories burned in a certain period. Nutrition tracking functions like dietary advice based on the food you input into the app. Mental health support, like tips to reduce stress and access to high-quality mental health resources. And much more. 8. Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR and AR) Virtual and augmented reality were originally for entertainment; they also have various healthcare applications. For example, you can use virtual reality to train healthcare workers. It can enhance retention, reduce skill fade, and help complete procedures faster. Mental health organizations also use VR on patients. Below are some results from a test to use virtual reality for therapy.  “Most participants perceived VR to be

How Introverts and Extroverts

Introverts and Extroverts During the Pandemic

Since the pandemic caused most people to stay at home, people think introverts were in paradise, and extroverts weren’t doing well. But is that the case? Read below to learn how introverts and extroverts dealt with this crisis. Also, learn tips for everyone in the spectrum that you can use in post-lockdown life How Did Introverts Deal with the COVID-19 Pandemic? 📖 An introvert is a trait characterized by introversion: a reserved or quiet person who prefers spending time alone and is contemplative. People expected that introverts would work better from home during this pandemic. However, this was not the case. Introversion connects more with uneasiness and dread. The uncertainty of this crisis was tough for them. For many introverts, the lockdown was a welcome change from normal life, and a chance to stay home. However, it quickly became isolating. Source: Bloomberg Introverts also found it challenging to return to the office. They often hide their frustration and bottle it up, increasing their anxiety when returning to their original working environment. Introverts will avoid social situations and activities. They will find small talk awkward, and they might be unable to say anything. They might even be sensitive and misunderstand what people say to them. However, there are reports to show that the mortality rate was lower for introverts than for extroverts during the pandemic. Our Tips for Introverts After the Pandemic Don’t keep your emotions to yourself because they might bottle up. Ignoring your feelings will not help or make them go away. If it’s hard for you to return to the office, plan what you should do to increase your happiness. Tell your boss so they understand your situation. Use self-help resources or ask for help from professionals if needed. How Did Extroverts Deal with the COVID-19 Pandemic? 🥳 An extrovert is a personality trait characterized by extroversion: a normally outgoing and unreserved person who enjoys and seeks out social engagement. Extroverts fared better in this pandemic than introverts—extroversion links with optimism, positive emotions, and resiliency. However, extroverts prefer socializing and working with their office mates rather than at home. They can handle working from home, but it can also increase stress and anxiety. When they got a chance for social connection, they often forgot the safety protocols and hygiene requirements; this can cause regret. For example, drug taking in the party scene increased, according to a UNSW report. The number of people taking ketamine jumped from 43% to 52% in their study. Source: The New Daily Our Tips for Extroverts After the Pandemic Be cautious about what you say. When you’re excited, you might overshare or mention sensitive topics to others. Be responsible for how you celebrate events. Try to avoid overdrinking liquor and consumption of drugs. Take care of yourself by washing and sanitizing your hands, following safety protocols, and being sensitive to others when socializing. Show social support. Tips for Introverts and Extroverts After the Pandemic Here are some tips that introverts and extroverts can follow now that the pandemic is over. Connect With Others Virtually and In Person to Maintain Consistent Communication 👭 Extroverts might automatically connect with their friends and family through social media and meet-ups. However, introverts might be more reluctant to do so. However, introverts must connect with their loved ones so their mental health will not diminish. Extroverts might organize parties or meetings with several people. Meanwhile, one-on-one communication will work better for introverts. Also, eat with your family, have a movie night, or do something else with your loved ones so you don’t feel alone. Social interaction is essential for great mental health. Keep Yourself Occupied with Tasks and Activities Although most entertainment is now available (clubs and concerts, for example), you may still need something else to entertain you at home (not including remote work). You can read a new book, learn a unique skill, or study a foreign language. Keeping yourself busy will enhance your outlook and give you a sense of purpose. But try not to overdo it and tire yourself. Go Outside to Exercise or Relax ☀️ You should go outside occasionally. Sunlight and fresh air will help uplift your mood. You can go for a walk, travel on a bike, or work in your garden.  Here are some examples of what you can do outside to keep yourself occupied. Final Thoughts on Introverts and Extroverts During the Pandemic The pandemic was hard on everyone, and we all dealt with it in our own way. Now that life is returning to normal, remember that you may still feel the effects of extended isolation, so follow our tips to keep busy and see your loved ones. Remember that you are not alone if you are an extrovert or an introvert.  Head to Tommy if you need more help adjusting to work after the pandemic. A Look at Introverts and Extroverts During the Pandemic How Did Introverts Deal with the COVID-19 Pandemic? 📖 Our Tips for Introverts After the Pandemic How Did Extroverts Deal with the COVID-19 Pandemic? 🥳 Our Tips for Extroverts After the Pandemic Tips for Introverts and Extroverts After the Pandemic Connect With Others Virtually and In Person to Maintain Consistent Communication 👭 Keep Yourself Occupied with Tasks and Activities Go Outside to Exercise or Relax ☀️ Final Thoughts on Introverts and Extroverts During the Pandemic

Choosing the Right Employee Engagement Platform for Your Business

How to Choose an Employee Engagement Platform

Employee engagement is one of the most important aspects of any business. Happy and engaged employees have better productivity and will likely commit to the company for longer. Using an employee engagement platform is the best way to improve this in your business. But how do you know which employee engagement platform is right for your business? So many options are available, and it can be challenging to decide which is best. That’s why we will discuss employee engagement platforms’ different features and benefits to help you choose the right one.  Read below to learn what to look for in an employee engagement platform, how to choose one, and more. What Is an Employee Engagement Platform? An employee engagement platform is an online space where all company members can interact with each other.  The main aim of these platforms is to build company relationships and culture to enhance performance, retention, happiness, and well-being. They do this with various features and systems that involve employees much closer in the company’s mission. Additionally, it has features that help employees immerse themselves in the company more, increasing their engagement level. Qualities To Look For in an Employee Engagement Platform When selecting an employee engagement platform, there are many things to consider. There’s more than one way to engage an employee. Before choosing an employee engagement platform, research the aspects that matter most to you. Doing this gives you a clearer sense of what you want. To help you out, here are the qualities and functions you should look for in an employee engagement platform. 1. It Should Have a User-friendly Interface 😀 You should ensure that the software you choose will be easy to use and navigate.  A user-friendly interface includes: A great design – the layout must be simple, with minimal clutter on the screen. Also, buttons, fonts, and colors must have a consistent look; otherwise, it’ll look visually confusing. Solid navigation features – these include menus that are easy to navigate and a panel to find the section of the platform you want quickly. Optimized design features for mobiles and tablets (a mobile app, for example). Spacing between text and features – this reduces the platform’s visual clutter. A search function – a good search function should include comprehensive suggestions and filters so you can find what you want/ Correct text size – if the text is too small, employees will find it hard to read.  Accessibility functions – it needs these for employees with disabilities. An example of an accessibility function is text-to-speech. If it is over-complicated, doesn’t perform well, and doesn’t fulfill needs, your employees won’t be happy using it.  2. Survey One way to learn more about your employees and your company is by conducting surveys (regular pulse surveys, for example). Here is an example employee engagement survey in Australia. Source: Mercer It will help you know what’s going on and what measures you can take to improve the business’s current situation. It will also help you understand how your employees perceive their working environment and culture. It’s beneficial to see if there are wider concerns from your workforce. It can also be a helpful tool if you want help making a major decision in the company. So, consider this function when choosing employee engagement software. 3. Measurement 📏 You won’t know what to improve in your company if you can’t measure the metrics. That’s why the platform should measure these metrics and use them as a benchmark for future measurement. Metrics you may want to measure include: Employee engagement metrics. Employee performance (for an employee performance review). Employee productivity. Employee attendance. Employee development. And much more. Doing this lets you know if your strategies effectively make improvements or changes in your company. 4. Segmentation People are not all the same. That’s why segmentation should be a vital function of the software.  It will help you ask the best questions to your intended audience. You’ll then learn a lot from the feedback you’ll get from them. You can customize segmentation based on teams, for example, or target team members working on specific projects. Doing this means that you always ask relevant questions to relevant people. 5. People Analytics To help employers make staff decisions, analytics should be in place. Employers can use analytics to see their whole workforce (managers and employees), so they know who is performing well. They could then act accordingly based on what they see. Don’t think of this as a tool to segment a workforce, but one that can bring all employees closer together. For example, if one person isn’t performing as well as others, focus on their development to bring them up to a better level. Also, people analytics can help drive value for the business; Thomas Rasmussen states: “The idea is quite simple, the people analytics basically shows you what works in terms of driving value, in terms of reducing cost, in terms of improving customer outcomes but typically those findings are a bit high level, so it will show you where there is value.” 6. Goals 🥅 Goals are essential to achieve success. Remind everyone of them so they can strive to fulfill them. If the platform has this function, people can set, monitor, finish, and evaluate goals for the whole company. Doing this improves accountability and alignment in your organization. 7. Recognition Employees like credit for their hard work. If they are accountable for their failures, they will want recognition for their successes. Having a platform that can do that will be useful for you. When you show your appreciation to them, it will do the following. 8. Adaptable 📱 When you choose a platform, consider your employees’ devices. It would be more accessible if they could use the platform on different devices, such as: Mobiles. Tablets. Personal computers.  Also, consider if it can adapt to your employees’ various needs and functions. Additionally, having the features and functions of an employee engagement platform on their phones may make employees

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