How Can We Encourage Employees to Talk About Their Mental Health

How Can We Encourage Employees to Talk About Their Mental Health Unlike a few years ago mental health is no longer seen as a taboo or an issue that is avoided. It has got celebrities and high-profile companies talking about the importance of discussing it. No one has to suffer in silence and one place where employees are being encouraged to be open about their mental health concerns is in the workplace. While some companies are leading by example, there are many who are still catching up. In our next series on corporate wellness our panelists tell us how to get the conversation started between employer and employee. Jill King When discussing mental wellbeing, emotional intelligence can help individuals empathise with those suffering and help them navigate through any emotional discussions. On an individual level, showing empathy can help employees feel more motivated to do their best at the job, but at a broader level, this devotion to the mental wellbeing of the staff will have far-reaching effects. For one, employees will feel more open to discussing problems with their managers â€" whether that be professional or personal. Managers will also be able to form a stronger bond with their employees and understand when their mental state is affecting their work and how to navigate around that barrier. Jill King,  Director of International Markets at VirginPulse. Alaana Linney Improving conversations about emotional wellbeing in the workplace is a priority as people still don’t feel able to open up to their employer in fear it will negatively impact their career, despite 1 in 4 of us experiencing a mental health issue. The responsibility lies with all of us, we all have emotional wellbeing needs that vary according to what’s going on around us. An open conversation needs to be had in workplaces, raising awareness about mental health and what’s on offer via public and private communication channels. There also needs to be a change in rhetoric away from “them” to “us” to avoid alienation and stigma. Alaana Linney, Director of Business Development at Nuffield Health. Joe Gaunt The culture of a company comes from the top and filters down.  The more that senior leaders talk and discuss these issues the more the employees will.  There are however several other challenges businesses face.   Geography and demographic variables.  An older workforce will be less likely to discuss mental health issues compared to a workforce made up of millennials and generation z workers.  And geography plays a part. Encouraging this open dialogue is easier in one central office compared to a network of field or home workers.   Effective and consistent one to ones, which allow individuals to open up in a private and safe environment will play a part in this.  If we are to truly see a shift change it must come from the culture of the company, with the directors and senior leader championing this. Joe Gaunt, CEO of Hero Wellbeing. Liz Walker A strong wellbeing strategy supports mental health just as much as physical health, and a culture of openness starts from the top. Start by implementing strong foundational policies which support and protect workers’ mental health, then regularly communicate your mental health strategy to raise awareness. Next, look at barriers to disclosure, perceived or actual. Employees may be fearful of discrimination or unaware of the resources and support you can provide. By understanding what barriers exist, you can work to correct possible issues or alleviate concerns.  Disclosure is important because it can enable people to find their way to calmer times without the need for health service involvement. Liz Walker, HR Director, Unum UK. Nick Patel An important consideration is who should employees be talking to about mental health.   Employers often expect employees to talk to them about the topic, but the stigma of mental health and concerns on what it may mean to professional development often creates barriers to dialog.   Employers committed to improving mental well-being need to provide diverse resources and outlets (external or internal) for employees to interact with.   Everyone in unique, and not everyone will feel comfortable talking with the same kind of resource.   Providing multiple resources will facilitate dialog on the topic and show employees the culture supports their needs. Nick Patel, CEO of Wellable. Lucy Tallick Sadly, with over 1 in 4 employees experiencing a mental health problem each year, the ability to support and care for our employee’s mental wellbeing has never been more important. But even with the increased awareness it doesn’t always make it easy to discuss in the work environment. To help support employees, you have to create a truly open and honest culture, arm your leaders and managers within the business with the tools to help to create an environment where it is “ok” to talk about mental health in the same way you can discuss physical health. This has to be embedded into your culture, mission and values and lived and breathed by all employees throughout the entire business. Lucy Tallick,   Head of Wellbeing at Reward Gateway. Ruth Tongue First and foremost its about creating a culture where its okay to talk and  be open about mental health conditions. Introducing awareness raising  and anti-stigma activities are a great way to do this. Then its about  ensuring all employees know what support is on offer and who they can  talk to perhaps training Mental Health First Aiders and ensuring they’re  known and visible to staff. Openness and honesty from the leadership team is essential for breaking down barriers and starting people talking. Ruth Tongue, Co-founder of Elevate. Shaun Bradley Organisations should think about proactively promoting wellbeing and indicating what resources are available. This signals to employees that it is seen as important and that wellbeing is taken seriously. The fact that there is support available will naturally encourage employees to begin to speak up. It is important that managers have a basic understanding of mental health, are trained to offer support without judgement. Employees need to trust management that they will provide guidance or at a minimum listen to issues. Managers should not be put in a position where they are offering treatment options, rather they should have information that points them towards experts whilst offering emotional support. Shaun Bradley, Director of People at  Perkbox. Sam Fromson Its all about trust. Your team need to trust that you will be there for them, uncritically and without judgement whatever they tell you. If you are having a conversation with the wider team or a training session then it can be helpful not to focus on the term “mental health”.  It’s a phrase likely to summon up images of severe psychosis, depression, anxiety or addiction. Benchmarked against these conditions people often overestimate their own levels of resilience and underestimate the impact their stress and fatigue have on their lives and those around them.  Talking in terms of mental wellbeing along with simple things like creating a culture where relaxation, ‘me time” and dedicated moments of stillness are the norm are effective ways of empowering your people to think about and manage their mental wellbeing. Sam Fromson, Co-founder of Yulife. Sammy Courtright We all go see a doctor when we feel sick, right? But when we’re feeling stressed, anxious, or down, it’s a lot tougher to talk about or seek help for our mental health. At Fitspot, we absolutely support employees taking care of their mental wellness. As part of our wellness plans, we offer many corporate stress-relief programs, such as meditation sessions, yoga classes, and chair massages, all of which can help employees reduce stress at work. We recently wrote a blog post on the importance of being mindful of your mental health, and how to address it at work if you feel overwhelmed. We suggest that people take time for self-careâ€"exercise, sleep, relaxation, whatever makes you feel good. Of course, talking about mental health issues at work is a personal decision. But if any issues begin to affect your job performance, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. To offset the cost, see if your company offers EAP assistance through your health insurance. Sammy Courtright, founder and CEO of Fitspot Wellness.

How to Do Virtual Assistant Resume Writing

How to Do Virtual Assistant Resume WritingVirtual Assistant resume writing is not as difficult as it may sound. With the internet being such a huge tool, you will be able to find thousands of applicants on the market, which means that it can be very easy to find the perfect person for you if you are not trying to hire someone for the first time.You may wonder why someone would hire a virtual assistant rather than a full-time employee. It is because of all the benefits that you will be getting. The pay scale is great, and all the other perks that you are going to get, including the perks that come with a regular employee can actually make you money.The virtual assistant can do everything that the regular employee can do, but he or she does this for a much lower fee. When the first time has been created for you, you may be able to choose a specific area that you want to cover, and then the virtual assistant will write your cover letter and resume in that specific area. It is definitely a very flexible way to go.What you will need to do is sit down and write a very detailed cover letter and resume that highlights exactly what you do for someone. If you are looking to get a job as a virtual assistant, your resume should state that fact in a specific manner. When you come up with your resume, you will be required to provide a list of the different services that you offer so that you can have something to cover in the beginning.The second part of your resume that you will need to write will be the cover letter. Your cover letter is where you make your first impression and the only chance you have of making a good first impression. If you have not hired anyone before, then your cover letter should explain why you think that the job is worth it.You may think that your resume and cover letter will be enough to get you a job, but you will be surprised by how many people will think that you are the worst candidate for the job and that the potential employer is wasting the ir time. The truth is that everyone's resume is different, and the one that you write may not be the same as another applicant. You will want to be unique to stand out from the crowd.Another thing that will help you stand out from the crowd is to be honest with your resume. When you are working with someone, you want to give the best information possible. Any mistakes that you make will just look worse on your resume, so be sure to stick to your guns when you are working with someone.One last thing that you will want to do when you are doing virtual assistant resume writing is to have all of your resumes uploaded online. This will make the whole process much easier, because now you will not have to have a lot of paperwork to deal with. This will save you a lot of time and make the whole process a lot less difficult.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Quiet That Inner Voice of Doubt

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Quiet That Inner Voice of Doubt We all have experienced, at one time or another, that tiny voice inside our head that tells us we cant do something or that were failures. But once we start listening to that tiny voice, it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. If that voice tells you, for example, that you wontgive a successful presentation, then you may decide not to even try to prepare and you actually give a rotten presentation. Beverly Flaxington, behavioral expert and career coach, says she often has heard from successful professionals that those inner voices plague them with doubt, anxiety and stress. That may be surprising because if youre successful, what do you have to be worried about? What I see is that people will often hear their mothers voice, or a teachers voice, who criticized them in their childhood and they may have never gotten over that, she says. Its much easier for them to fall into old habits and believe that theyre going to fail. Flaxington teaches such professionals how to practice positive self-talk that can turn that nasty little voice into one that is an inner cheerleader. Its not a Pollyanna outlook , she stresses, but rather one that looks at the reality of the situation and turns thatdefeatist voice into one that is positive or at least neutral. For example, lets say the boss walks by your desk and hes in a bad mood. He doesnt say hello to you, and your inner voice begins to say you (see more here)

The Non-Traditional Brides Wedding Guide

The Non-Traditional Bride’s Wedding Guide If you’re getting married soon, you’ve probably already started to think about what you want your wedding to look like. From creating a guest list to putting together color palettes, floral arrangements, and deciding on food and music, there is so much to think about when you’re planning a wedding. But, that doesn’t mean you have to go the traditional route.   With an appropriate wedding guide, you have many options. The average wedding today costs about $30,000 in the U.S. That’s a price tag some people simply can’t afford, while others just don’t want to spend that kind of money on a one-day thing. Most of that money will go to traditional photographers, videographers, caterers, and wedding DJs. But, you also have to factor in costs for things like invitations, favors, etc. It’s important to remember that this is your wedding, and it should be a reflection of you and your future spouse’s personalities. If you want something more non-traditional for your wedding, you could end up saving money and celebrating your marriage the way you really want. With that in mind, let’s look at a few ways you can put together a non-traditional wedding from start to finish. Rings and Registries The origin story behind wedding rings is one that will speak to the heart of any romantic. While different cultures have different stories, the most popular comes from the Romans. They believed the wedding band should be placed on the fourth finger of the left hand because there is a vein in that finger that is believed to connect to the heart. It’s commonly known as the “vein of love.” While wedding rings are a great way to symbolize your marriage, you don’t have to stick with traditional rings or diamonds. It starts with the engagement ring. If you and your partner have talked about getting married, it’s important to discuss what you’re looking for in an engagement ring. From cuts, carats, and colors, it should be something you’re happy to wear for the rest of your life. You might also want to look at options for a more environmentally-conscious engagement/wedding ring. When diamond mining isn’t done correctly, it can lead to soil erosion. This can lead to dust particles getting into the air and water nearby, which can be harmful to plants and animals, and can release toxic chemicals into the air. That’s why some brides are turning toward more ethical solutions for their wedding rings, such as moissanite or other types of gems that don’t harm the environment or ecosystems of the land around them. Once you have your rings picked out, another pre-wedding activity to put into place is your registry. Putting together a registry is a great way to start your marriage off with some of the essentials for your home. It’s important to build a registry that benefits both you and your future spouse. But, you can also go the non-traditional route here, too. Instead of asking for gifts, you could ask for funds to help you go on your honeymoon with sites like Honeyfund. Or, if you and your partner already have everything you need, you could ask your guests to donate to a charity you’re passionate about. Non-Traditional Ceremony and Reception Ideas From the dress to the music, you might know you don’t want to follow the traditional route, but you’re lacking inspiration when it comes to what you actually want to do. It can be hard to break away from some of the “wedding stereotypes” if you don’t have specific ideas in mind to replace them with something unique. If you’re trying to put together a unique wedding on a budget, consider some of the following ideas: Have a small family wedding, instead of a big party with hundreds of guests. Do you have a favorite takeout or pizza place? Call them to cater your event! Make your own bouquet from wildflowers, ferns, or even brooches and paper. Have the ceremony outside in a park or even a backyard. While you want your wedding to be perfect, some of the most memorable moments of your event will be at the reception. You can choose many non-traditional options for your reception, too, that your guests will be talking about for a long time. Show off your personality at your reception by trying some of these unique tips: Make up a “signature cocktail” for your wedding and have it served to your guests. Forego the cake for you and your new spouse’s favorite dessert. Key lime pie, anyone? Toss candy instead of a bouquet to your guests. Get personal with customizable items that celebrate your special day, like personalized coasters. napkins, or even table arrangements. Set up a sound system and plug in your favorite playlist instead of hiring a DJ to play the old standards. Putting Together Your Dream Wedding Your idea of a perfect wedding doesn’t have to fit a standard mold or template. Think about what you and your partner really love, and plan your wedding based off that idea. For some people, that might be Harry Potter or another popular fandom. For others, it could be a world of whimsy and fairytale-esque. Some couples might prefer a country-style wedding, while others want to go a steampunk route. Whether you’re trying to save money or you just want your big day to reflect who you are, it’s okay to think outside the box when it comes to your wedding. By working with vendors who share your vision and DIY-ing as much as you can, you can build your perfect wedding from scratch, and you’ll be able to look back on it years later and remember every detail. Keep some of these tips and suggestions in mind as you move forward in your wedding-planning process and they can help to take away some of the pressure you might feel to go a more traditional route. Congratulations, and enjoy your special day! This guest post was authored by Brooke Faulkner Brooke Faulkner is a writer, mom and adventurer in the Pacific Northwest.  She spends her days pondering what makes a good leader.   And then dreaming up ways to teach these virtues to her sons, without getting groans and eye rolls in response.

Writing Resume - How to Write One That Will Stand Out

Writing Resume - How to Write One That Will Stand OutWhen you begin writing a resume, you should always take care to follow a plan. Here are some tips to help you on the road to success.The main point is that if you want to have your resume noticed, you should start by trying to get yourself noticed. Remember that you have a resume in front of everyone. You can't expect your potential employer to be blind, but you can show them who you are. They want to get a glimpse of you so they can decide whether to hire you or not.What you need is a professional writer to help you out. Find someone that has experience writing resumes. Once you have selected a writer, ask him or her to send you samples of previous work. The next step is to choose which method you want to use for composing your resume. This includes computer generated, type-written, or handwritten.You should go for a sequence of events that will help you when you sit down to write. There should be an introduction that highlights y our background, education, and experience. This section should be followed by a summary of your qualifications.You should always write in a flow chart. Try to get a rough idea of how the resume will look like. Then, you can go ahead and copy down a few pages before you edit.A resume is only as good as your attention to detail. Even the best resume writer can only give you a minimal idea of how it will appear once it is all typed up. By doing this, you will be able to add the details that will make your resume stand out from the rest.The last thing you need to do is to proofread and edit your final draft. This is the most important part. You don't want to give a job interview to a candidate that is riddled with errors. That is why you should always make sure that you proofread your resume first before you submit it.In order to have a well-written resume, you should make sure you follow a system. You should always check the spelling and grammar of your resume before you mail it.

Points to Be KEPt in Engineering Resume Writing

Points to Be KEPt in Engineering Resume WritingIn this era of the internet, more people are making their own engineering resume. It is a great way to impress the employer as well as putting yourself in the running for a job interview. There are some points to be kept in mind while designing your engineering resume.One of the initial things to be kept in mind while designing your resume is to write down all your employment details like position, department, employers and even the dates when you have held the post. The date you have held the post should include the name of the organization where you worked. Do not forget to add your details in the right category.The other thing to be kept in mind is that it should be submitted as early as possible so that you do not end up wasting time and effort in your application process. The last thing to be kept in mind is that you need to know about the industry in which you wish to pursue a career. This will help you in drafting a good and uniqu e resume. You can always get professional help from well established companies who provide such services.Most of the time, resumes are not written accurately. This is why you need to use a professional resume writer who will not only help you with your job search but also prepare a one that is effective, interesting and easy to read. The writing skills of a writer are very important as you can get just few days to make the resume compelling enough to make the employers take a notice of your application. Thus, it is very important to have an expert hand in writing your resume.In fact, you can try looking out for any specific company providing the services of an expert resume writer. However, it is advised that you go through the resume first before actually hiring any person. After doing that, you can easily go ahead and finalize the charges.The next step to be kept in mind is that you should maintain your resume correctly so that you do not have to revise them again. It is advisable to keep your resume as good as new as it gets submitted to the organizations. But there may be occasions when you have to change it after a few rounds of sending.Writing a resume is not a simple task. Hence, it is advisable to seek the help of a professional resume writer. They can help you in keeping your resume fresh and attractive and thus help you get the desired results.While preparing your resume, do not forget to keep it as per the industry regulations. Besides, you should try to keep your resume as short as possible so that it is easily read by the HR professionals.

Why Your Career Is Floundering And What To Do About It

Why Your Career Is Floundering And What To Do About It Do you feel like your career is floundering? Like you’re bored, going nowhere fast, and really not sure what to do about it? You’re not alone! Many people feel this way, but they arent sure what path they should take. In some cases, they do know what to do, but they feel scared. It’s normal to feel scared when stepping into the unknown, whether you’re looking at ways you can improve your skill set or completely new companies that you could work for. In this post, we’re going to talk about why your career is floundering and what you should do about it. Why Your Career Could Be Floundering You’ve Lost Your Passion The first thing could be simple: you could have simply lost your passion. Losing your passion is normal, and is something that will happen to everybody from time to time. Sometimes it comes whooshing back, other times it just disappears altogether, and you’re left wondering whether it was something you said or did that made it ghost you this way. Losing your passion might not even be because your job is meaningless and your workplace doesn’t have a great culture, or anything along those lines. It could literally be a change in you. You’re Not Growing As A Person Or A Worker When we’re not working on our growth, personally or professionally, we start to feel stagnant. This is about the time we start to feel lost, bored, and find ourselves wondering what on earth it’s all for as we avoid work like the plague and scroll Facebook like our lives depend on it. Growing as a person can make you feel more fulfilled outside of work, which can make you feel better when you’re at work. It might be that you’re not fulfilled in your personal life. Maybe you could travel, find a course, or go to a seminar to help give you a boost. Growing as a worker is ideally, your employers job. They should be setting up regular training and other things that can help you to improve; it benefits the both of you. If they’re not, it could be a conversation worth having with your boss. There’s No Room For Progression Do you know that your career is a dead end, going nowhere? Knowing that you’ll be stuck in the same position until you retire is definitely a red flag. What You Can Do About It Change The Way You Think Changing the way you think can change your habits and behaviours. When this happens, you can find that you jump out of bed in the morning ready to start the day, loving everything around you! Try meditation, reading, and exercising to change the way you think effectively. Find Ways To Grow And Improve You can grow for free with resources online, but you can spend a little too. Investing in your progression is definitely in your best interests, whether you want to get your online mba in location analytics or do something simple, like improve your communication skills. Change Careers Rather than trying to fix yourself, it could be time to say bye to that soul sucking career. Listen to your intuition! Everybody has career peaks and valleys, but you should know when it’s time to make a change!

How to Target Your Resume

How to Target Your Resume Writing an effective resume means targeting your audience. It might be easier to write one resume and then send it to every job you are applying for. However, this isn’t the best way to reach your target audience. When writing an effective resume, you need to focus on the company you are applying to and the particulars of the job. An  executive resume service  can help with the task of writing a professional resume. Create a Core Resume The starting point for your professional resume will be the same for every resume you send in to a job because your core skills and past work experience won’t change. When you start building this resume, you can start with the same facts and save it to your computer so you can easily make changes for the next job you may apply for. This core resume will make up the bare bones, which can then be tailored to your exact needs as you continue through your job search. Research the Job Particulars Once your core resume is complete, the next step in  writing an effective resume  is to do some research on the job you’re applying for. Not only do you need to determine which of your skills and past work experiences relate to the job, but you also need to look at the company and its culture. This information is invaluable in helping you build a resume that will impress the right people and show them why you are a good fit for their position and their company. Customize the Core Resume Once you have this information, you can work on making the necessary changes to your core resume. The more specific you are in adding details, the more they will realize you took the time to learn about the company and the position they are offering. An executive resume service has the experience necessary to help you pull it all together and create a resume that will capture the attention of the individual responsible for hiring, increasing the chances you will land the job. Writing a professional resume  is about more than just creating one resume and copying it repeatedly for every job you are thinking about applying for.  Unfortunately, these general resumes won’t produce the impact you’re looking for. Instead, you should work with an executive resume service to create a custom-tailored resume so you can make the best first impression on any potential employer.