As cases rise and COVID-19 continues to spread, more Americans are losing their jobs, and businesses wonder how they will survive another shutdown. Employees who are working remotely are also struggling with their temporary working environments, and many of these workers are juggling work with their children’s virtual learning schedules as well. Our country is waiting impatiently for the moment when we can finally put the stress, fear, and uncertainty behind us and move forward.
After such an unprecedented year, there is no better time than Thanksgiving to take a step back from the chaos and reflect on who and what we are thankful for. This is something we do with family and friends around the dinner table on Thanksgiving Day, but Thanksgiving will look a little different this year for most. With advised restrictions on travel and limits on gathering sizes, Americans may not be celebrating Thanksgiving in their traditional ways.
With this in mind, it’s important for both employers and employees to remember that now more than ever, a positive and uplifting company culture can have a great effect on the well-being of coworkers. This is whether you’re in the office or operating remotely.
A Southwest News Service research study recently found that remote workers say they do not feel appreciation from their leaders as they work from home. It revealed that over half of the respondents working remotely feel underappreciated, even though many are working 70% harder than ever before. This leads to a lack of motivation, for everything they do seems to go unnoticed.
Expressing gratitude in the workplace can benefit both employers and employees. It can provide emotional, social, personality, health, and career benefits. It increases psychological well-being, enhances positive emotions, and improves relationships. It can make people more effective managers, reduce impatience, and improve decision-making. It can also help people find meaning in their work and reduce turnover.
As we move through the holidays and into the new year, employers should be mindful of how they communicate with their employees and take time to share their appreciation for each worker. They should also encourage their employees to practice communicating their gratitude, whether as a team or alone on their own time.
For more information on the benefits of gratitude and the most significant research findings, visit positivepsychology.com.
Experienced Employment Law Attorney, Mediator, Arbitrator, Investigator, Legal and Media Commentator
Angela Reddock-Wright is an employment and labor law attorney, mediator, arbitrator, and certified workplace and Title IX investigator (AWI-CH) in Los Angeles, CA. Known as the “Workplace Guru,” Angela is an influencer and leading authority on employment, workplace/HR, Title IX, hazing, and bullying issues.
Angela is a regular legal and media commentator and analyst and has appeared on such media outlets as Entertainment Tonight, Law and Crime with Brian Ross, Court TV, CNN, ABC, CBS, Fox 11 News, KTLA-5, the Black News Channel, Fox Soul – The Black Report, NPR, KPCC, Airtalk-89.3, KJLH Front Page with Dominique DiPrima, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the LA Times, Yahoo! Entertainment, People Magazine, Essence Magazine, the Los Angeles Sentinel, LA Focus, Daily Journal, Our Weekly and the Wave Newspapers.
Angela is a member of the panel of distinguished mediators and arbitrators with Judicate West, a California company that represents the gold standard in dispute resolution. She also owns her own dispute resolution law firm, the Reddock Law Group of Los Angeles, specializing in the mediation, arbitration, and investigation of employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other workplace claims, along with Title IX, sexual assault and misconduct, hazing and bullying cases.
For more information regarding resources for employers, businesses, and employees during this time, connect with Angela on LinkedIn for new updates, or contact her here.
This communication is not legal advice. It is educational only. For legal advice, consult with an experienced employment law attorney in your state or city.
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