CT SHRM Virtual Leadership Conference Employee Relations Wellness

CT SHRM Virtual Leadership Conference Employee Relations & Wellness October 16, 2020 Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com

Employee Relations What HR Needs to Know Before 2021 Discussion Topics • • • A stroll down memory lane Back to reality – 2020 External Influence vs. Internal Control Organizational & individual impact What has not changed Preparing for 2021 Proactive strategies - Lessons from Crisis Management Mental wellness strategies Questions Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 2

A Stroll Down Memory Lane Remember When (or Imagine)… • News was at 6: 00 pm & TV was off air at 2: 00 am • Everyone lived near the worksite • Work began when you walked in the door and ended 1 when you walked out • Change was rare and planned well in advance • There was no laptop, internet or cell phone Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrolutionshr. com 3

Fast Forward to 2020 The New Normal • 24/7 news & social media • Global workforce & economy • Work 24/7 from any location – courtesy of the laptop, internet & cell phone • Continuous change & uncertainty • External influence vs. internal control • From water fountain to fire hose Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 4

External Influence vs. Internal Control • Global marketplace & competition • Industry consolidations (M & A) • Broad focus on bias, discrimination, and inequity • Rapidly-evolving employment laws & regs • Increased frequency & intensity of crisis events • Heightened political climate • And then came COVID-19… Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 5

Organizational Impact Employee Relations & Risk Mitigation • Legal/regulatory compliance • Understanding today’s business, workforce & customer • Organizational values, culture & alignment • Workplace policies, practices & priorities • Walking the talk in the age of social media • Net Promoter Score – Internal and External Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 6

Individual Impact The Human Factor • Change = stress & anxiety for many • Humans, snowflakes & unicorns - no two alike • Unique responsibilities, wants, needs & expectations • Life is not fair and the human experience is not equal • Individual actions & reactions based on life experience Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 7

What Has Not Changed The Fundamentals • Human nature & human behavior • Employer right to determine policy (largely) and acceptable workplace standards • Employment at Will doctrine (largely) • Role of HR/ER – functional expertise, business acumen, change management & proactive risk mitigation Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 8

Preparing for 2021 What We Know • Continuous change is the new normal • Workplace is a microcosm of society – good, bad & ugly • Human behavior is complex and conflict-prone • Change can create stress & anxiety, which impacts effective coping, functioning, and productivity • Organizations that fail to adapt to changing needs and expectations will lose competitive advantage Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 9

Preparing for 2021 What We Don’t Know • Nature/timing of change(s) impacting the workplace (social, economic, industry, crisis events) • Supreme Court – Nominee and judicial decisions impact • Election results & impact • Employment law/regulatory landscape changes • New opportunities/disruptive innovation Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 10

Proactive Strategies Lessons from HR Crisis Management • Anticipate conflict & crisis • Plan, prepare, tabletop exercise, revise & educate • Institute proactive threat management programs • When conflict or crisis occurs (immediate response) • SOG – Stop/breathe, Oxygen mask, Gather facts • ADCA– Assess, Determine, Communicate, Act Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 11

Mental Wellness Strategies Staying Well in a World of Unknowns • Acknowledge & validate your stress - stop the stigma • Adopt healthy behaviors and activities to mitigate stress • Seek support & treatment if struggling with symptoms of a physical or mental health condition or stress; and encourage other to do the same • Encourage employers to offer mental and physical health, wellness, and stress management programs, work-life balance perks, and supportive workplace policies Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 12

Review Workplace Policies & Practices • Reduce the impact of organizational practices on mental health conditions (including stress) • Ensure the work environment is supportive of employees living with, or caring for those living with, mental health conditions • Offer benefits and resources equal to those for any other health condition • Walk the talk – policy and behavior/action alignment Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 13

APPENDIX Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 14

Mental Health – Workplace Risk Factors • Most risks relate to interactions between type of work, organizational and managerial environment, employee skills and competencies, and support available for employees to meet work requirements. • Access to evidence-based treatments has been shown to be beneficial for depression and other mental health disorders. • Because of the stigma associated with mental health disorders, employers need to ensure that employees feel supported and able to ask for support in continuing with or returning to work, and are provided with the resources necessary to do their job. Source: Quoted from Mental Health in the Workplace Information Sheet, WHO Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 15

Mental Illness Definition & Causes Definition A disorder of the brain - the body’s most important organ • A health condition like heart disease or diabetes • Causes • Trauma • Chemical imbalances in the brain • Biological, environmental, social, and/or cultural factors Source: Quoted from Mental Health Connecticut (www. mhconn. org Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 16

Mental Illness – Impact Statistics • 1 in 4 people will experience a mental illness at some time during their life 1 • Half of all mental disorders begin by age 14; threequarters by age 242 • Costs for treating patients with chronic medical conditions accompanied by mental illnesses and addictions can be two to three times higher than those without these disorders 3 1 Source: Quoted from Mental Health Connecticut (www. mhconn. org) Quoted from www. mentalhealthfirstaid. org, Rubina Kapil, 2/6/2019 3 Source: Quoted from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) 2 Source: Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 17

Mental Illness - Global Economic Impact • Globally, an estimated 274 million people suffer from depression, one of the leading causes of disability, with many also suffering from symptoms of anxiety • Depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy $1 Trillion (USD) per year in lost productivity • For every U. S. dollar in scaled up treatment for common mental disorders, there is a return of $4 in improved health and productivity • Workplaces that promote mental health and support people with mental disorders are more likely to reduce absenteeism, increase productivity, and benefit from associated economic gains Source: Quoted from Mental Health in the Workplace Information Sheet, WHO Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 18

Mental Wellness Resources Your employer’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Help. Guide – Coronavirus Help (2020) https: //www. helpguide. org/home-pages/coronavirus-mentalhealth. htm UNUM Mental Health in the Workplace, May 2020 Update https: //www. unum. com/about/newsroom/2020/may/2020 -mentalhealth-report-update) Mental Health Connecticut (www. mhconn. org) comprehensive Resource Guide http: //www. mhconn. org/education/resources/ National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) CT (860 -882 -0236) www. namict. org Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 19

Mental Wellness Resources (Cont’d) Help. Guide - Emotional Intelligence Toolkit; Jeanne Segal, Ph. D. , Melinda Smith, M. A. , and Lawrence Robinson, October 2019 https: //www. helpguide. org/articles/mental-health/emotionalintelligence-toolkit. htm Mental Health in the Workplace, Information Sheet, World Health Organization (WHO), May 2019 https: //www. who. int/mental_health/in_the_workplace/en/ CDC Mental Health in the Workplace, April 10, 2019 https: //www. cdc. gov/workplacehealthpromotion/toolsresources/workplace-health/mental-health/index. html Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800 -273 -8255) www. suicidepreventionlifeline. org Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 20

Mental Wellness Training Mental Health First Aid (www. mentalhealthfirstaid. org) NAMI Family to Family https: //www. nami. org/Support-Education/Mental. Health-Education/NAMI-Family-to-Family Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 21

Questions? Email: Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com Web: www. lrsolutionshr. com 22

Thank You! Lissa Robinovitz, SPHR Founder & President Lissa@lrsolutionshr. com www. lrsolutionshr. com 860 -729 -1218 23