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Month in Review: November 2021 at The Workforce Institute at UKG

Today’s post comes to us from the Executive Director of The Workforce Institute, Dr. Chris Mullen, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP, SPHR.

Hard to believe we’re only one month away from a new year. But before we get to there, it’s worth taking a look back at the past month. Throughout November, our great board of advisors discussed several top-of-mind topics, from the recent labor shortage to the ongoing issue of mental health in the workplace.

Plus, you may have noticed that our website got a facelift! We hope you enjoy the new design. If you missed any posts, or just want to review some great conversations, here’s what November at The Workforce Institute looked like.


Exploring Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Public Sector

To begin November, advisory board member Neil Reichenberg, former executive director of the International Public Management Association for Human Resources (IPMA‐HR), took a closer look at a new report from MissionSquare Research Institute highlighting the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for public organizations, along with the multiple DEI-related challenges facing the government workforce. There are a lot of intriguing findings from this report, which also details suggested actions for public sector organizations to take. If you’re in the public sector, and/or interested in enhancing your DEI program in any industry, this is a must-read analysis.


The People Purpose Podcast: The Holiday Season is Upon Us: Considerations for the Workplace

With the holiday season comes a key question: team holiday party or no holiday party? That debate and other critical year-end decisions made up Episode 12 of the People Purpose Podcast. Join Julie and Chas as they discuss the current state of the workplace during the holiday season and some better practices for consideration, from seasonal hiring to showing gratitude for current employees.

Quick Note: With our new site design, you can now access all past (and future) episodes of the People Purpose Podcast via our podcasts page. Be sure to bookmark this page and revisit often, as new episodes drop bimonthly on Mondays, plus some surprise bonus episodes throughout the year. Better yet, subscribe wherever you get your favorite podcasts to have episodes delivered straight to your phone.


Showing Gratitude for the Frontline Workforce

The ever-so-popular and so timely “Leadership in the Labor Shortage” video series (also known as “No Suits, No Slides”) continued with another insightful conversation on the current state of the economy — and I’m not just saying that because I had the chance to personally join this one! We packed a lot into our 24-minute conversation, but the main takeaway was the importance of organizations showing appreciation for their people. As we’ve each learned firsthand, it’s been a challenging past two years. Taking a moment to show gratitude, patience, and kindness — especially for the frontline workforce — can go a long way in brightening our days.


Supporting Veterans in the Workplace

Every November, the United States recognizes Veterans Day to honor the millions of individuals who have served the country across the U.S. Armed Forces. In France, residents celebrate Armistice Day, which signaled the end of World War I in 1918, while others globally celebrate Remembrance Day to pay their respects to service members around the world. In honor of those special holidays, this post examined a few tangible ways companies can ensure they’re caring for their people, particularly veterans, active service members, and their families.


It’s a New Era for Mental Health, Wellbeing at Work

In part one of an invaluable two-part series, advisory board member Ivonne Vargas Hernández honed in on the current state of mental health in the workplace, and specifically for workers in México. For example, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 75% of the workforce in México suffered from stress. Learn what all organizations (not just those in México) can do to better focus on employee wellbeing and improve mental health at work.


Improving Employee Wellbeing — Noteworthy Examples from México

Continuing her great series on mental health in the workplace, Ivonne Vargas Hernández shared three examples of companies in México that have taken notable steps in addressing and improving employee wellbeing. In this article, you’ll read about how the México-based HR team at German automotive company Volkswagen helped implement a companywide program, how Brazilian cosmetics group Natura has promoted greater workplace flexibility among its employees, and how Mexican bank Banregio decided to offer a more holistic focus to its employee wellness program.


The People Purpose Podcast: When the Cause Just May Be the Cure: Exploring Remote Work, Burnout

Did you catch Episode 13 of the People Purpose Podcast, titled “When the Cause Just May Be the Cure: Exploring Remote Work and Burnout”? In this episode, Julie and Chas discussed whether the recent rise in employee burnout is a direct result of the mass switch to remote work during the pandemic — or whether it’s the best way to reduce it. They also talked about the role collaborative technology plays in improving employee productivity and relieving stress for remote workers.


The People Purpose Podcast: Bonus Episode: #UKGWORKS21 Recap, Chat

We concluded November 2021 at The Workforce Institute with a BONUS episode of The People Purpose Podcast, providing a recap of the recent UKG Works user conference. They say what happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas — but not this time! Chas and Julie caught listeners up on some things we might have missed from the conference, even if we attended. Be sure to check out this episode for a special look at UKG Works.

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