Work Human

World Gratitude Day, which falls on September 21 each year, offers us the opportunity to reflect on what we’re grateful for and show a little extra appreciation to the people we value and cherish. But, according to our September Human Workplace Index (HWI), only one-third of U.S. workers have even heard of World Gratitude Day.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has dominated the headlines since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022. The moment seemed to catapult the world into a brand-new age overnight, one where a robot could write code, draft articles, and answer any question in plain terms. For many, it felt like a work of science fiction come to life. That said, such rapid advancement can make even the most enthusiastic adopters wary.

The height of the summer is here, and with schools out and kids at home, many parents are facing additional challenges when juggling family obligations with work. Fortunately, the rise of remote and hybrid work has offered leaders an unprecedented level of empathy for working parents, and at many companies, that empathy has transformed into policy.

In the midst of a dual epidemic of loneliness and burnout, fostering belonging in the workplace has never been more important. Ensuring employees feel valued and included must be a top priority for leaders, but employees are also taking charge, rallying the support and solidarity of their coworkers through the formation of employee resource groups (ERGs).

This May’s graduating class of college students are used to the world turning on a dime. Many of them began their higher education online during the height of the pandemic, and even more have watched the redefinition of life-work balance online. All eyes are on the newest generation of workers and how they’re fitting into the current landscape of work. Leaders are worried that Gen Z employees, including the class of 2023, want different things from work than their predecessors.

For many workers, stress has become ubiquitous. Many expect that caring about their work, colleagues, and organization means they have to accept chronic stress as part of their job description. It’s so commonplace in today’s world there’s an entire month dedicated to it; April is National Stress Awareness Month. Stress can have troubling ramifications on an individual’s life; new studies show it can lead to numerous health issues like a decline in cognitive function and impaired memory and focus.

Women’s History Month provides an opportunity to step back and examine the progress and achievements of women throughout history. It’s also a crucial reminder that there is so much more to be done. As it relates to work, studies have overwhelmingly shown that women are still being left behind. We’ve seen women switch jobs and leave their companies at an alarming rate, exacerbated by the pandemic, and they remain largely underrepresented in leadership roles.

While 72% of employees have taken on more responsibilities at work, almost half (44%) of employers haven’t recognised this change Workhuman® today announced the results of its most recent UK Human Workplace Index (HWI), which surveys full-time UK employees for the most up-to-date information on topics affecting the workforce today. The findings of the survey indicate employees across the UK are feeling overworked and underappreciated, made worse by widespread labour shortages.

Recognition and reward (R&R) systems help organizations improve employee engagement and workplace culture. “R&R technology is configured to enable organizations to celebrate work anniversaries and life events and to recognize employees ‘in the moment’ for ‘going the extra mile.’ The idea is to build a sense of community by making recognition moments (and the reasons for them) visible to co-workers and to inspire others to exhibit similar behavior.

Organizations across industries have drastically shifted how they operate – not only in terms of where work gets done, but also the way employers communicate and support their employee base. The cause of these massive shifts? Crisis and uncertainty undoubtedly play a large part. And what these moments of crisis and uncertainty show us is that employees will do their best work if their company is giving the same back to them, even amidst external challenges.