Time and Attendance Blog, Workforce Management Software

Is Your Company Practising Ageism Unknowingly?

Ageism is the practice of discriminating against someone because of their age. While some companies have made strides toward more transparency, accountability, and inclusivity there is still a lot more that can be done.

It is also not uncommon to hear that many companies post jobs with subtle and not so subtle phrases, reminding older workers that they need not apply. One explanation is that some companies, believe naively, that older workers; lack energy, are uneducated or unintelligent because of their age.

According to an article by Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) Hiring in the Age of Ageism while HR professionals and talent recruiters might not intend to exclude older workers, the words used on their jobs postings say otherwise. The tech industry (while not the only one) have been accused of posting job ads designed to exclude older workers.

Below is a list of 7 common phrases (from the SHRM article) used, in some job postings that screams out; older workers, please don’t apply:

Digital Native: May discourage qualified applicants who didn’t come of age with digital and mobile tech—even some as young as their 30s.
High-Energy: Often a euphemism for young.
Ninja/Guru: These trendy buzzwords are likely unfamiliar—or unappealing—to older candidates.
GPA of 3.5 or higher: Sends the message that you’re looking for employees at a life stage where these assessments remain relevant.
Overqualified: Since experience often correlates with age, this term can be used to mask age bias.
Meals included: Implies an expectation that workers don’t have a family waiting for them to come home for dinner.
Bad cultural fit: Can be problematic if your culture is overtly youth-oriented.

Ageism often begins with the hiring process. Every company has certain criteria when it comes to hiring, and HR and talent recruiters tend to hire people with certain traits. And, while that may not necessarily be a bad thing hiring managers should be aware of the value and benefits of a diverse workforce.

About ATS
ATS offers a broad portfolio of time and attendance solutions that streamlines the collection, calculation, and reporting of employee hours for workforce management and eliminates the manual tasks of payroll preparation, increasing efficiency and reducing errors in corporate payroll departments.

Ageism, HR, Society for Human Resources Management, Talent Management

To Return or Not Return to the office: A Conundrum for Business Leaders

Essential workers including; warehousing and distribution, grocery and healthcare to name a few, have been going to their respective workplaces throughout the pandemic. And, while COVID-19 vaccination efforts have picked up, some office workers remain apprehensive about returning to the office. Business leaders on the other hand, are also struggling to chart the new normal.

closeup of a young man in an office holding a briefcase and a surgical mask in his hand

If your company is contemplating a return to the office here are 5 tips from Kate Bullinger and Emily Caruso’s article The Return-to-Work Paradox.

1. Consider the perspectives of your people through deep listening: While many leaders have strong preferences for getting people back into workplaces, the majority of employees do not feel the same way. After a year of alternative work arrangements, our research shows that 85% of employees currently working from home are satisfied with their job. Of those, 82% say that they would like to continue working from home rather than going to their place of work every day.

More than half of the people we surveyed would go further to request to continue working from home if vaccines aren’t mandated by their employer, with 4% considering leaving their job if they are forced to go back without a company policy that requires vaccination.

Therefore, actively listen to your people and ensure you are hearing from different populations via surveys, “ask me anything” sessions, and direct outreach.

2.Understand the key drivers of vaccine hesitancy to address them in an inclusive way: On the other end of the spectrum, there are many reasons why people are hesitant to get the vaccine. Understanding these reasons and how they vary among audiences is important for addressing them.

For example, many people question the safety and efficacy of the vaccines and are concerned about potential side effects. Some are responding to mixed messages from government leaders. And the history of exploitation and neglect that people of color and other minorities have experienced at the hands of the medical establishment cannot be ignored. By understanding the intersection of health and racial equity, you can ensure DE&I is embedded into employee vaccine communications.

3.Seek to meet people where they are, with the information they need:

Except for hardcore “nevers” (approximately 15% of the adult population), most skeptical or hesitant people are open to changing their mind. Accurate information from trusted sources is key to reaching this group. People seek leadership, science, and medical-based opinions.

More people are turning to friends and family when it comes to making their own health decisions, which highlights the importance of accurate, understandable and shareable information as part of grassroots communication efforts.

To reach employees with a clear and accurate message, create an employee engagement campaign to educate about the vaccine and promote vaccination. Equip managers — the No. 1 channel for reaching employees — with the information that they need to best support the campaign.

4.Explore alternative ways to promote vaccine adoption: Because of the tensions between those people who would feel more comfortable with a vaccine and those who are more reticent, leaders should focus on incentivizing versus mandating vaccination. While there is a precedent for requiring health screenings across sectors, particularly in those with large populations of front-line workers, requiring employees to get vaccinated, even with the overwhelming evidence about the efficacy of the vaccine, may be seen by some as an overstep of privacy or worse, backfire completely.

Some incentives include covering administration or transportation costs, providing time off or additional pay, and including vaccines in health resources already offered through employee assistance and/or or workplace wellness programs.

5.Evaluate what’s driving the need to return to workplaces: Pushing people back to work before they are ready, and before other social systems — like the reopening of schools — are in place could have a significant impact on morale, productivity, and even retention. Instead and when possible, companies are better off remaining flexible with their workplace policies. When not possible, employers should be clear about the criteria that went into the decision, which should at a minimum include observance of local and national public health guidance.

Bottomline: While some employees may be itching to get back to the buzz of a busy office environment and mingling with their co-workers, others may be worried about seeing and coming into contact with their colleagues. In the end, these concerns- and others, will likely shape the way business leaders plan to reopen.

To learn more about ATS cloud computing HCM application, go to our website, where you can download a demo. To reach us by phone, call: 866.294.2467.

Covid-19, Distribution, Essential Workers, Grocery, Healthcare, Productivity, Warehousing

Are Companies Going To Embrace A Hybrid Workforce Post COVID-19?

Pre Covid-19 some companies resisted conversations that included a hybrid model of employees splitting time between the office and home. The coronavirus pandemic has likely changed this way of thinking. In fact, companies, like Google, Twitter and Facebook have extended remote working for their employees. But, as more people are inoculated with their first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine what could a post-pandemic working world look like?

Here are 5 tips from an article, by David Finkle titled 5 Job PerksYou Should Provide in a Post-Pandemic Climate:

“Trust: This past year was a stressful one for leaders and employees, and the one thing that most workers seek right now is a transparent and trustworthy leadership team. How and how often you communicate makes a huge difference in employee comfort level, and will allow your team members to do their best work. This is especially important when working with a remote team. Focus on being transparent about the health of your business and, if necessary, any challenges or hurdles.

Connection: Working remotely can be a challenge for many employees, and they may struggle to feel connected to their co-workers and the team as a whole. Try to get creative by giving them unstructured options to socialize with one another. Virtual pizza parties and scavenger hunts have all been used by business owners to help their team feel more connected during these strange times.

A better Work-from-home experience: The sudden shift to remote work last year left many workers struggling to find a place to call their own. They may be writing reports from the kitchen table, handling client calls from the garage, and taking Zoom meetings from their bedroom. Their technology may be outdated, and they may struggle to do their best work. One of the best perks you can give your team right now is an upgraded, comfortable workspace. Subsidize equipment. Upgrade computers. Help purchase ergonomic furniture. All of these things can help make an employee’s day more pleasant and make them feel appreciated.

Healthcare: This is a big perk right now. The pandemic brought health care to the forefront, and many employees found themselves with subpar or no coverage. Having a comprehensive employer-provided health care plan is at the top of the list for many job seekers right now.

Wellness: Wellness goes a lot further than just employer-provided health care. It encompasses mental and emotional health and for many even financial health. Consider offering therapy benefits and meditation or yoga memberships as a good start. Another perk would be to help your employees with financial wellness. Have a financial planner do a series of webinars for your team members offering guidance on how to manage their money, save for retirement, or create a budget. Have a tax expert help your team choose the right deductions now that they are working from home”.

Bottomline: Not all jobs can be done remotely. Distribution and warehousing, healthcare and grocery store workers are amoung the few who needs to be onsite to perform their duties. Many workers in the tech sector are accustomed to working remotely, as some employers will likely maintain the telecommute arrangements or move to a hybrid model. And finally, jobs that had already been trending toward remote work before the pandemic are the ones, least likely to return to the office.

Coronavirus, Covid-19, Facebook, Google, Healthcare, Twitter, Wellness, Work-from-home, Zoom

Are HR Leaders Ready For The Future Of Work?

Today’s HR leaders have a lot on their plate. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, they are constantly re-examining— recruiting, software scalability, emerging skills, the impact of analytics, the employee experience and much more as business disruptions, reset key work trends.

Companies are also undertaking digital business transformations that are changing their operations and internal capabilities. Automation and cost reduction opportunities-without compromising business value, is no easy feat— yet, most HR leaders are tasked with doing just that. So, how should companies pursue cost optimization without compromising quality, while maintaining service excellence? The answer; ATSTimeWorkOnDemand built in the cloud.

Benefits of ATSTimeWorkOnDemand includes:

Accrual Benefits Administration
From managing remote workers, to complying with regulatory changes, ATSTimeWorkOnDemand HCM accrual benefits strategy adapts to changing times. When coupled with employee self-service module, it allows your organization to make use of time—off plans that match your policies, including eligibility, accrual frequency and carryover. Automatic accruals and reporting allow for proactive planning and approvals with user-friendly self-service workflows.

Automate Performance Management and Shift Differentials
Eliminate the hassle of tracking hours by hand or guessing when employees arrive at work. ATSTimeWorkOnDemand automates the entire process so you don’t have to rely on spreadsheets or timecards. ATSTimeWorkOnDemand empowers managers and HR professionals to automate employee information including: shift differentials, workforce planning, performance bonus, overtime equalization, and data integration, all from a single suite.

Optimize Workforce and Reduce Payroll Errors
Eliminate the hassle of tracking hours by hand or guessing when employees arrive at work. See a rapid return on investment by reducing payroll processing errors and overtime costs- while simplifying the way you manage everyday requests, tasks and updates with ATS automated workflows, reminders and notifications features.

Analytics and the Employee Experience
ATSTimeWorkOnDemand redefines how your people consume and interact with their HR department. Whether your employees need to request time off, change personal information, request a shift change —all of this information will be at their fingertips.

Unparallel Support
You’ve invested in ATS HCM software to make your business more efficient, cost-effective and competitive. ATS support helps you get the most out of that investment, by providing the assistance you need, when you need it. ATS Support provides technical assistance and support resources to help you maintain your ATSTimeWorkOnDemand solution.

While COVID-19 has now made working from home the new reality for some employees- it is also posing new compliance challenges for HR leaders. Whether your business operates in one region, province or across Canada, accurately capturing employee data as a complete snapshot of hours worked is essential to gaining deeper insights to current and future business imperatives— and help shape the organization strategy and create competitive advantage.

To download a demo, go to our website. And to reach an account executive by phone, call: 866.294.2467.

What Are Some Crucial Business Lessons Learned During The Global Pandemic?

The COVID-19 global pandemic turned our workplaces and the world, at large on its head a year ago. Business meetings and tradeshows were held virtually while travel was limited or cancelled completely. Employees who traditionally drove to work found themselves working from home, for the first time–while also juggling, caregiving responsibilities.

Whether you are a CEO, CFO, HR or other business executive, here are the ten crucial business lessons we can all learn from Thom Dennis article for The HR Director:

Measure output not hours. Many businesses have been measuring productivity through the number of hours put in. The pandemic has taught many of us that it matters less how long it takes for someone to do a task and more that they get the job done effectively. Self-employed and small business owners have been working successfully in this way for decades.
Know and show your people are your most important asset. Treat all colleagues with compassion, respect and gratitude, and in return they will show loyalty and work hard. Showing your workforce that you appreciate them will increase job satisfaction which will in turn maintain staff retention rates, boost productivity and morale.
Global without travel. Whilst the pandemic has put a stop on most international and domestic travel, businesses have never worked more globally thanks to working remotely, video and audio conferencing, chat, webinars, and social media. These solutions are a far more cost and time effective and ultimately productive way to work as long as they aren’t depended upon entirely – human contact still has an important part to play, particularly for promoting creativity and innovation. Whilst borders are almost closed, global reach has never been more possible.
Inclusion is an absolute, not a tick box. Countless times in the last year we have seen huge national and global movements standing up for what they believe in despite the pandemic. A business that sees the importance of diversity and inclusion of different races, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, physical abilities, religion and socio-economic status, and celebrates those differences, creates an environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves, bullying and harassment are absent, and people thrive.
Promote health sustainability. The pandemic has made us understand how important but fragile our health and wellbeing is. Reconceptualising health policy is vital. Don’t just follow the guidelines, go over and above. Find out what your employees need, and bear in mind that individuals may well have contrasting needs. Be clear about the importance of physical and mental health.
Promote a speak up culture. Open communication is key to combating systemic problems at work, such as bullying. Where possible, remind colleagues to share their feelings and troubles at work, and be a role model in this way. Be empathetic, actively listen and show care for their wellbeing to help your employees to speak up and feel that they are truly being heard.
Trust, don’t micromanage. With employees having to work remotely, companies have been forced to place their trust in their staff more than ever before. Micromanaging your workforce damages employee trust, leads to burnout and increases employee turnover rates. Trust is key to all aspects of business success including employee retention, loyalty and increased engagement, productivity and empowerment.
We are not in the office but relationships matter. Even if we are physically not in the same building, an absence in communication or the social side of working as colleagues is damaging. Making the effort to reach out to support colleagues, work collaboratively and maintain relationships will help keep the company thriving, encourage creativity and keep morale at a high.
Flexibility and agility are vital. Flexibility increases staff wellbeing and job satisfaction. Giving your employees the option to choose their ideal schedule and setting within reason, allows leaders to show they understand and care that we all have additional important personal commitments and responsibilities. People also work better at different hours of the day – don’t we want them to work when they are most productive? Having internal procedure in place to acknowledge we don’t have to all be “at work” at the same time will benefit the business in terms of employee experience, innovation and ultimately growth.
Place importance on work / home life balance. Burnout is a real problem. During the pandemic it has become worse for many, particularly for mothers who work, but the forced circumstances also highlighted to many what they aspire to and what is important to them. Act decisively on changes that need to be put in place, consider the different spaces, circumstances and equipment people have at home. Working from home was put in place as an emergency solution but is here to stay in one format or another.

CEO, CFO, Covid-19, Health, HR, Remote Work, Wellbeing

Want To Appear Powerful At Work? Use These Words

The old adage that words matter is true. But these words, should be devoid of jargon, clichés, and confusing statements so, that we are conveying— what we actually what we mean, when talking to each other. The continued use of jargon when communicating with our boss and colleagues, in the workplace —and at times, with our customers can come across as insincere.

If you want to sound powerful and convey what you truly mean when talking to colleagues, Gwen Moran has some tips in this article: These 7 phrases can help you sound more powerful at work:

“Here’s what I can do for you-“Rather than saying ‘I can’t’ or ‘I’m not able to,’ when you’re declining a request, focus on the positive,” says communication expert Renée Evenson, author of Powerful Phrases for Effective Customer Service. Instead try, “Here’s what I can do for you.” That way, you’ve set a boundary with your client or colleague about what you’re not able or willing to do, but you’ve also indicated that you’re willing to find a workable solution.
I’ll find out-When you don’t know something, it’s usually a good idea to say so instead of bluffing. However, if you’re in a leadership position or dealing with customers, the people asking are going to want more than that from you. Instead of just shrugging off the inquiry, say “I’ll find out for you,” Evenson suggests. “This gives [the person asking] an assurance that you care enough to go one step further to get the right answer,” she says.
Can you-It’s not uncommon to preface a favor request with “I know how busy you are . . .” or “I hate to bother you . . .” But that immediately puts you at a disadvantage because you’ve assumed that you’re creating a burden. Instead, assume there is not a problem and drop this from your language, says communication expert Linda Larsen, author of True Power: Get It, Use It, Share It. Just ask for what you need and assume that the person will let you know if the request is too much and respectfully decline.
Let’s solve this-In a world filled with vague, wishy-washy words, “address” is one that public speaking coach Joel Schwartzberg would like to see dropped. “I see a lot of speakers say, we’re going to address this issue. What does that mean? That means they can write about it, talk about it, have dialogue, right? But that doesn’t specifically mean you’re going to solve that problem or take action,” says the author of Get to the Point: Sharpen Your Ideas and Make Your Words Matter. Instead of saying, “We’re going to address this situation . . . ” try words like solve, fight against, or reduce, which communicate action.
I’m glad you like it-For some people, dismissing praise is a knee-jerk response. If they receive a compliment, they water it down by saying, “It was nothing . . .” or “It could be better . . .” Those responses not only make light of your work and ability, but they are dismissive of the person giving the compliment. Instead, thank the individual genuinely and add, “I’m glad you like it,” Larsen says.
I want to help-Telling someone to calm down is almost a guarantee that they will do anything but calm down. Larsen recommends validating the individual’s feelings and assuring them you understand. “I can see you are upset, and I want to help” is a better option.
I’m happy I was able to help-There’s nothing wrong with saying “you’re welcome” when someone thanks you. But saying something like “I’m happy I was able to help you” is more powerful because it leaves a positive impression with the individual that you went the extra mile to help, Evenson says”.

Bottomline: Language is a powerful force in our everyday impromptu conversations. And because there are more chances to use them, the small words and phrases we use, every day at work, can have a positive or negative impact.

Customer Service, words, Workplace

Grocery Stores Have Reintroduced Pandemic Pay For Essential Workers

Two of Canada’s largest grocery stores have reintroduced lockdown/pandemic pay for its workers, a move, that is likely to be followed by other grocers.

A recent press release by David Brown Canadian Grocer, reads in part: “

“Longo’s—which operates only in Ontario where a stay-home order is in effect for four weeks—announced all permanent front-line staff working in Longo’s stores and distribution centres, and for Grocery Gateway, Central Kitchen and Market Café would be receiving a $2 increase. Assistant store managers, department managers, team leads and supervisors in operating roles will not receive the $2 wage increase, but will receive a special weekly bonus.

Read: Canadian grocers and their supply chains unlock business value with ATSTimeWorkOnDemand

Before and during COVID-19 ATS customers, including: food production, grocery, healthcare, manufacturing and retail — have used bonus payments, (commonly referred to as shift differential or premium pay) for both hourly and/or salaried employees. ATSTimeWorkOnDemand shift differential allows a company to accurately apply them to things such as: shift starting and end times, time worked on certain hours or days, or shifts rendered in a particular role or location.

Our customers use ATSTimeWorkOnDemand for shift differentials/premium pay in the following scenarios:

Evening shifts
Overnight shifts
Weekend shifts
Bonus: pandemic or lockdown pay
Holiday shifts
Shifts outside an employee’s typical schedule
Ongoing coverage of an undesirable shift

By using ATSTimeWorkOnDemand, your organization will benefit from harmonized processes and increased role-based experiences across all devices resulting in:

Workforce Productivity and Manager Experience: streamlines payroll costs and is available anytime, anywhere, both online and on mobile devices. The application delivers an engaging experience that drives user adoption across the workforce, giving companies the ability to streamline time-entry and approval processes.

Analytics: delivers end-to-end insight into HR, payroll, and time-tracking processes. Get real-time reporting into actual labor costs and actionable insight with embedded analytics at the point of decision-making.

Real-Time Calculation: A robust, enterprise-grade calculation engine delivers real-time calculations and information on overtime, double time, vacation, shift differentials and more, prior to the payroll run.

Platform Extensibility and Data Integration: A modern technology infrastructure, seamlessly integrated with foundational applications employees use every day. Cloud-native, with open APIs, and extensible — mold to your business and easily adapt as it evolves. ATSTimeWorkOnDemand enables organizations to integrate time clock data with inbound/outbound integration to import clock-in/outs).

More Control: Managers can override rate during time entry and correct time off. For multiple jobs, approvals can be routed separately to each manager, eliminating approval delays.

To learn more, go to our website and download a demo. And, to reach an account executive by phone, call: 866.294.2467.

Read: Increased Functionality: ATS Enhances Its Time and Attendance Shift Differential Premium Pay Codes

Read: ATS Releases Contactless Biometric Face Recognition Time Clocks With Temperature Reading Capabilities

Analytics, Food Production, Grocery, Healthcare, HR, Lockdown Pay, Manufacturing, Payroll, Premium Pay, Retail, Shift Differential, Time Clocks, Time-Tracking

Is Your Team Experiencing Video Conference Fatigue With Too Many Meetings?

Before COVID-19 the seemingly, always-too-long and dreaded meetings took place around a conference table with colleagues. Today, many businesses have adopted remote work because of COVID-19 pandemic, and for the most part, those meetings— have shifted to virtual video conferencing with popular platforms like; Microsoft Teams, GoToMeeting and Zoom amoung others.

But can these constant video meetings become “excessive,” when for example, a telephone conference would suffice?

A recent blog by David Dye for SHRM titled, Too Many Meetings: How to Free Your Team to Build, Create, and Thrive offers a few tips that are worth considering when planning your next team meeting. These tips include:

“Make Every Meeting Count
If you’re having a meeting to discuss the meeting and then to follow up on the meeting, you can free up time by consolidating. Socialize ideas and provide people the information they need asynchronously. At the end of every meeting, take a few minutes to schedule the finish and ensure everyone knows who is doing what, and by when.

Engage your Team and Ask “How Can We…?”
You’ll find willing thought-partners when you ask your team for their ideas. Use your asynchronous channels to ask “How can we meet less?” (Please don’t have a meeting about meeting less—it’s unnecessary until you have some concrete ideas to discuss.)

Think First, Then Meet
This will help your introverts and cut down on the number of meetings and make the meetings you do have more productive. Solicit ideas ahead of time. Give people time to think about what might work. They’ll likely be more creative when on a walk than staring into a computer camera. Once you’ve collected ideas, establish your success criteria, and then meet to prioritize or make a decision”.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Gartner survey of 127 HR, legal and finance professionals said they “intend to permit remote working some of the time as employees return to the workplace. For many organizations with employees working both onsite and remotely, adapting to a new, more complex hybrid workforce is the challenge as how people work together to get their job done evolves”.

Bottomline: Some companies will do some sort of hybrid remote work after the coronavirus pandemic, while others may adopt it permanently. A virtual meeting via videoconferencing is a powerful way to make use of technology— and will likely become part of the future, but it should be used in appropriate doses. In fact, as a manager, try switching it up, by having a phone conference for your next meeting—and see how it impacts team engagement and morale. You might be pleasantly surprised.

About ATS

ATS offers a broad portfolio of time and attendance solutions that streamlines the collection, calculation, and reporting of employee hours for workforce management and eliminates the manual tasks of payroll preparation, increasing efficiency and reducing errors in corporate payroll departments.

Thousands of organizations across North, Central and South America and Europe- including more than half of the Fortune 500 – use ATS TimeWork OnDemand, Workforce Planning, Employee Scheduling HR and payroll solutions to manage their workforce. ATS cloud services offer rapid deployment, support services, software updates, and enhancements; and consulting and training services.

Coronavirus Pandemic, Covid-19, Gartner, GoToMeeting, HR, Microsoft Teams, Remote Work, Technology, Zoom

Cloud Adoption During COVID-19 And Beyond

Several years ago, the mere mention of using time and attendance through the cloud was met with hesitancy and at times, worry. And, some across the IT world, gave tepid oks to the cloud, in part, because they were worried that it would take away their jobs as it removed the need to manage an on-premise solution.

Fast forward to today in a world of remote work while battling COVID-19 and companies continue to swarm to cloud computing solutions, embracing it like never before. And, now it appears, that cloud computing has become all the more significant for companies both small and large- because it diminishes operational expense, brings elasticity, speed, easy deployment and rapid ROI.

The other part to this shift in cloud adoption, has to do with a swath of employees working remotely, because of COVID-19. This shift illustrates employees no longer need to be tethered to desks or physical locations to clock in/out and/or request time-off– even though, there is still nothing quite like sitting at a table with a bunch of people to commiserate and solve problems.

In conclusion, beyond 2021 and the coronavirus pandemic, companies will continue to rely cloud computing solutions like- ATSTimeWorkOnDemand for payroll, time and attendance, HRIS, talent management, employee self-service to track, manage and contain costs. The fear factor around cloud adoption, appears to have disappeared and, that is a benefit to all of us.

To learn about ATS cloud computing solutions, go to our website. To speak to an account executive, call 866.294.2467.

Cloud Computing, Covid-19, Employee Self-Service, HRIS, IT, Payroll, Talent Management, Time and Attendance

Does Burnout Say More About The Manager and The Workplace Or Its Employees?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. In essence, managers should look for the signs of workplace stress and adjust their expectations of employees accordingly. And while, it may feel like a herculean task for some managers, considering we’re all living in a COVID world, there are steps managers can take to prevent— or at the very least curtail, this occupational phenomenon.

Adam Weber insightful article titled, ‘The Real Reasons Why We’re Not Curing Burnout’ offers some compelling reasons why employees may experience burnout. These reasons include:

1. Working beyond capacity- Employees must feel capable of putting needed time and physical, intellectual, and emotional energy into their work. Burnout can happen when work expectations exceed an employees’ capacity. It’s worth noting that individuals experiencing capacity-related burnout may not necessarily be putting in longer hours. Burnout can also happen when the job demands more emotional energy than an employee has to give. For example, someone dealing with a demeaning or overly demanding client, co-worker, or manager for an extended period of time is at risk of burning out, even if they’re clocking out at 5 p.m. on the dot every day.

2. Lack of company support-Employees must feel their company is providing them with the necessary emotional and psychological resources for them to invest in their individual roles. Without that, people will feel like they don’t have what they need to succeed. And when you’re playing a losing game, it doesn’t take long for demoralization to descend into burnout.

3. Not enough rest-Workers must feel comfortable taking time off — but not just paid time off. People also need opportunities on a daily and weekly basis to rest and recharge, whether that means actually taking a lunch break or not checking email on the weekend. We don’t have an endless supply of energy and focus. The more we use, the more depleted those tanks become. Burnout happens when you fail to replenish those tanks for weeks, months, or even years.

4. Lack of role clarity-Employees must have a clear understanding of what their roles entail — and what they don’t. When someone doesn’t have that clarity, they also don’t have clear expectations, which means they probably don’t understand how their daily tasks actually impact the business. It’s easy to see why that would be demotivating and lead to burnout.

5. Low psychological safety-Workers must feel comfortable approaching their manager for help without fear of negative consequences. In organizations with low psychological safety, burnout is often left to fester because people are afraid to tell someone how they’re feeling. That’s why, too often, the first time a manager hears that an employee is burned out is in the exit interview. So many companies lose high performers to burnout because they’d rather quit than risk looking weak.

Bottomline: Some employees may not even understand the effect that burnout can have on their work performance and effectiveness. A proactive manager who recognizes the early signs, can help employees fend off burnout by encouraging wellness and will, in all likelihood— reap the benefits of a happy and productive workforce.

To learn more about ATS go to our website to download a demo of ATSTimeWorkOnDemand. And, to reach an account executive by phone call, 866.294.2467.

Covid-19, Productivity, Time-Off Request, World Health Organization (WHO)

Is Your Company Practising Ageism Unknowingly?

To Return or Not Return to the office: A Conundrum for Business Leaders

Are Companies Going To Embrace A Hybrid Workforce Post COVID-19?

Are HR Leaders Ready For The Future Of Work?

What Are Some Crucial Business Lessons Learned During The Global Pandemic?

Want To Appear Powerful At Work? Use These Words

Grocery Stores Have Reintroduced Pandemic Pay For Essential Workers

Is Your Team Experiencing Video Conference Fatigue With Too Many Meetings?

Does Burnout Say More About The Manager and The Workplace Or Its Employees?

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