The employee burnout conundrum Viewpoint careers advice blog

The employee burnout conundrum It is a worrying trend for many â€" the concept of employees burning out (effectively being unable to cope with the demands that are placed on them in their work and home lives) is becoming a common problem. And it is a situation many businesses are now having to confront. According to research by Willis Towers Watson, 42 per cent of workers have suffered from stress or mental health issues at some point, and one in three believes their job impacts negatively on their mental wellbeing. This is having a direct influence on their ability to do their job as well as their health; more than a third (36 per cent) struggle to get a good night’s sleep because of work, the research found. Reasons behind rising employee burnout One reason why this is more of an issue now than in previous generations is because of the impact of technology, and particularly the fact that smartphones now mean it is possible to be “always on”. This is most likely to be a problem with younger employees; a survey by Bupa found that 82 per cent of millennials check their work emails first thing in the morning and last thing at night, with 40 per cent feeling they should do so while sick, and 32 per cent while on annual leave. “The kind of pressure we have now through technology didn’t exist before, but it’s evolved very quickly and created a workplace culture in which we have very little opportunity for genuine downtime,” says Isabelle Campbell, a Wellbeing Consultant for CABA, a charity which helps the wellbeing of chartered accountants. “A lack of downtime, as we all know, inevitably leads to burnout as we’re left incapable of stepping away from our work or escaping our professional lives.” In many industries stress is a bit of a badge of honour, and people don’t recognise that burnout can impact their happiness both at home and at work Dr Jonathan Passmore is Director of the Centre for Coaching and Behavioural Change at Henley Business School. As well as technology he identifies a further two reasons behind the increasing prominence of burnout: globalisation, meaning employees in some sectors often have to work across different time zones, and a wider trend for people to work longer hours. “There are studies from Norway and most of Western Europe, the UK and the US which show that people’s working hours are going up,” he says. “There’s evidence that some individuals are working more than 60 hours a week and at those levels then you do see significant impacts on health.” These problems can be compounded by what is going on in our personal lives, including the growing issue of caring for elderly relatives as people live longer, says Jennifer Liston-Smith, Head of Coaching and Consultancy at My Family Care, which works with major employers to help them get to grips with the factors that can cause burnout. “Over time, we can end up with an excess of cortisol, the hormone associated with a sustained battle against pressures,” she says. “Alongside the well-known physical effects there can be a strong impact on mental wellbeing. Initially we can feel panicky â€" in fight or flight mode too much of the time â€" and when it’s prolonged, we can start to feel overwhelmed.” How HR can combat employee burnout HR professionals have an important role to play in helping to tackle the issue of burnout and its causes. A good starting point, says Dr Mark Winwood, Director of Psychological Services at AXA PPP Healthcare, is to create a workplace culture where people are encouraged to live healthy and active lives, and where there is support should they struggle. “For this to work, strong leadership, line manager buy-in and a commitment to wellbeing is key” he says. “This could involve, for example, addressing the often counterproductive effects of constant overwork, by focusing on performance output rather than hours worked. This approach will give people the confidence of knowing that a break or getting away from work in good time is well earned.” But organisations need to take the time to understand the issues that are particular to their own workforce, warns Dr Thomas Calvard, Lecturer in Human Resource Management at University of Edinburgh Business School. “It could be that 80 per cent of the burnout comes from 20 per cent of particularly difficult issues,” he says. “It may be a culture of presenteeism, long working hours or frustration of pointless paper work that distracts people from what they love about their work.” Presenteeism â€" either physical or virtual â€" is a particular problem, he adds, and organisations need to make it clear that they are not expected to reply to emails out of working hours or at weekends. There have been some measures taken to enforce such policies more generally. Volkswagen famously set its servers not to forward on emails to employees out of working hours, while in France workers have the right to disconnect from work, with companies of more than 50 staff having to draw up a charter outlining the hours when staff are not supposed to send or answer emails. Passmore, though, is not convinced of the need for employers to take on such a role. “There are wider process issues that organisations can think about to discourage their employees from always working,” he says. “Then, alongside that, there are some positive steps that organisations can take, such as mindfulness training and providing opportunities at lunchtime where people can step away from their desk and do something positive such as going to the gym or to a yoga session.” It’s also important to educate employees as to why it’s important to stop using smartphones after a certain time so they can get a good night’s sleep, he adds. There are other tools available to HR in helping to develop a culture where employees are less likely to burn out. “Flexible working hours can give employees a sense of control over their work and home lives, which can be beneficial for productivity and bolster their resilience in the face of burnout,” says Winwood. But employees need guidance on how to use such freedom, he says, particularly in setting clear times when they are not working. Taking breaks Making sure employees take their full annual leave entitlement is also good practice, so they can get some clear downtime away from work. “I still hear stories from UK and particularly US companies where it’s regarded as a sign of weakness if you take your full entitlement, and you’re seen as not being committed,” says Stephen Bevan, Head of HR Research Development at the Institute for Employment Studies. Sabbaticals are another option, he says, although he warns these need to be offered to everyone including high-flyers, so they are not seen as a means of pushing someone out of the workplace. The issue of burnout has also come to the fore recently in Asia, following the suicide of a Dentsu employee who had a mental breakdown last year. Tokyo’s Labor Standards Inspection Office ruled that overwork led to the death of Matsuri Takahashi. Local media reported that she had worked in excess of 105 hours of overtime in a month. Spotting the warning signs Companies also need to get better at spotting the signs of stress or burnout and consider how to deal with any cases when they do occur. Training line managers to identify the warning signs through mental health first aid courses is a good starting point, says Bevan, as individuals can then be directed to appropriate support. “Managers who have been on these programmes say that, if someone didn’t look like they were concentrating or came to work looking at bit untidy, they would previously have had a word about their performance, but now they know there may be a problem with their home life or their health,” he says. “It allows the line manager to be the canary in the mine to spot the early signs.” Providing access to help is the next stage. Often support will be available through employee assistance programmes, usually accessed through private medical insurance plans or cash plans, but dedicated support services are also available. Procter Gamble, for instance, makes use of My Family Care’s Speak to an Expert service, which puts employees in touch with professionals who can provide advice around a range of issues which could be causing stress. “It could be anything from understanding their options for helping children sleep better, to opening up the big conversation about care with an elderly relative, to managing aspects of their own work-life balance,” says Liston-Smith. “This kind of thing can stop people tipping over into burnout: catching their burning issue before it becomes debilitating, and keeping them in the zone where they feel equipped and coping.” Culture of care Sometimes, though, the employer culture itself is the problem. Willis Towers Watson’s research found that the main reason people do not disclose a mental health issue, cited by 41 per cent of those who had failed to do so, was concern that it would affect their job prospects, while 38 per cent were worried that management or colleagues would not understand. “In many industries, including finance, stress is a bit of a badge of honour, and people wear it without recognising that burnout can impact their happiness both at home and at work,” says Campbell. “This is a real developmental issue for both organisations and employees alike. How can people possibly open up about mental health issues if they feel that they should be thankful for heavy, and often unreasonable, amounts of work?” Ultimately, though, organisations will have to confront the issue of workplace stress and employee burnout, because they cannot afford not to. Bevan raises the possibility of employee health being treated in the same way as succession planning by investors. “I can’t think of a better business argument for private sector organisations than your rating as an investment going down if investors regard the health of your workforce as a risk rather than an asset,” he says. “It’s likely that over the next 20 or 30 years employers won’t have a choice about this. They will be compelled to look at it, because it’s the only way they can keep their workforce productive.” Warning signs of office burnout Becoming cynical or critical at work Lacking the energy to be consistently productive at work Lacking satisfaction from achievements Feeling unmotivated at work A change in sleep habits or appetite Unexplained headaches, backaches or other physical complaints Source: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care If you enjoyed reading this Hays Journal article, you might also be interested in the following blogs: Trailblazing firms lead the way on  mental  health How to  switch  off  (and encourage your teams to do the same) 5 things that motivate your employees more than money How’s your well-being? More than “fine” I hope? Establishing an effective middle management tier

Examples of Real Estate Specialties

Examples of Real Estate Specialties Examples of Real Estate Specialties In a competitive market like real estate, it literally pays to think strategically about your career. One of the most fundamental tactics you should consider is finding a niche or a specialty that suits you, your region, and your business goals. What are the Major Areas of Real Estate? Before we get into various specialties and niches, lets talk about the broad categories real estate professionals typically fall into: Residential sales Commercial sales Property management These categories are too broad to be considered a true specialty or niche; theyre more like areas of practice.   Since each area requires a relatively different skill set, most real estate professionals choose one area to focus on.   Some certainly make a transition between areas, but its rare to do more than one at a time. Residential Real Estate Specialty Residential Sales Agents (or Brokers) facilitate the sale of single-family homes between individuals or families. Residential real estate is the largest area of practice. It also has the lowest barrier of entry. No college degree required, just real estate pre-license courses. Commercial Real Estate Specialty Commercial Sales Agents (or Brokers) facilitate the sale of office buildings, retail centers, and other commercial properties between businesses or real estate investors. The deals are bigger but take longer, and commercial agents are usually expected to have at least a four-year degree in business, finance, or a similar field. Property Management Specialty Property Managers arent in the sales game at all.   Instead, they handle the day-to-day business of rental properties on behalf of the property owner. They protect the property owners investment and manage the financial return. These properties could be commercial (like stores in a mall) or residential (like apartments in a complex). Property management requires a brokers license in most states.   The path to becoming a property manager varies, but most property managers earn a degree and/or special certifications. Why Niche Down? Each major area of real estate covers a broad range of property types, so agents tend to narrow their focus to a particular specialty or niche. Niching down allows you to become an expert in one area. Youre also able to conserve marketing resources.   You can target specific keywords for web marketing or focus your mailers on a neighborhood, for example.   Specializing also increases referrals by focusing your brand.   Youll become known as the go-to for your specialty. How to Choose Your Real Estate Specialty You can concentrate on a particular type of property or a particular type of client. Unless youre in a sparsely populated area, youll probably end up doing both. If your property- or client-based niche is abundant enough, you might consider narrowing your focus geographically. A geographic niche is when you farm a particular neighborhood, development, or part of town by focusing all your marketing in that area. Choosing a specialty isnt like marriage ­ ­â€"your focus can (and probably will) change over time.   A few things to consider: What do you find interesting? What can you get excited about? Whats geographically appropriate? What exists in your area? What exists in your area that no one is marketing to? What are the empty niches? Examples of Property-Based Real Estate Specialties A common approach to specializing is to focus on a particular type of property. Here are some examples. New Construction Specialty New construction homes present a unique set of challenges and considerations in residential real estate. Youll face different problems and pitfalls than resale homes, so its an area rich in opportunities to become an expert. New construction can also be its own specialty in commercial property, for the same reasons. Luxury Property Specialty The rich really are differentâ€"and so is their real estate. Whether were talking about residential or commercial property, the luxury market is infinitely, but just as difficult to break into.   It requires an entirely different approach to networking, marketing, and mortgaging. Land Development Specialty In order to broker sales of raw or developable land, you need to understand a broad range of issues that impact development value, from politics to ecology. Farms, Ranches, or Equestrian Properties Sometimes commercial (as a land subspecialty) and sometimes residential (for small family operations), properties used for agriculture and/or horse stabling require specialized knowledge to value and market them properly. Green Real Estate Specialty Green real estate is growing all the time, both in residential and commercial sectors. It requires understanding and enthusiasm for cutting edge green technologies. Other Examples of Residential Real Estate Specialties There are many other residential specialties based on property use or unique features. Single-family homes are a popular specialty that often requires niching down.   Condos, townhouses, and duplexes present their own challenges, as do mobile homes and parks. Vacation homes or second homes require a unique approach to sales and marketing. Or, you could focus on becoming knowledgeable about special elements like waterfront property, historic value, or smart homes. Other Examples of Commercial Real Estate Specialties In commercial real estate, you have specialties like office buildings, industrial property, retail space or shopping centers. Multifamily residences (like apartment buildings or complexes) fall under commercial real estate. Hotels and various types of short-term rentals present other niches. Then youve got oddballs like self-storage properties, medical complexes, parking lots and garages, or mineral, air, and water rights.   Theres also business brokerage, which involves selling not just real estate but all the business assets that go with it. Examples of Client-Based Real Estate Specialties Another way to focus your practice is to specialize in a particular type of client. Seller Representative Specialty Agents who focus on clients selling property are known as listing agents, sellers agents, or seller representatives. Seller representatives exist on both the residential and commercial sides of real estate. Its a very popular approach.   And since not all buyers hire their own agent, you may end up the only agent on the saleâ€"that means more money for you. Thats only one of the advantages of being a sellers agent. Buyer Representative Specialty As a buyers agent or buyer representative, youre an advocate for the buyer alone. On the upside, that means less engagement time, since buyers are ready to close a deal much faster.   On the downside, being a buyers agent means splitting the commission with a sellers agent, always. A buyer representative specialty can be residential or commercial. Representing buyers can be a big specialty, depending on your market.   You might choose to niche down further. For example, you could choose to specialize in first-time home buyers. Investor Client Specialty If you specialize in real estate investors, youre dealing with clients who buy, sell, and own property for financial gain rather than an interest in using the property themselves. Investors may be interested in residential property, commercial property, or both; regardless of the property type, investors will probably prefer a commercial agent educated in business and finance. There are multiple approaches to real estate investing, which provide opportunities to niche down. Demographic Specialties As Baby Boomers downsize their homes, many agents have focused successfully on their particular needs. Youll also hear buzz about specializing in the particular needs and marketing tactics for Millennials as many of that generation step into homeownership. These tactics seem innocuous enough but beware the legal ramifications of marketing to particular demographics. Specialization and The Fair Housing Act When marketing towards any niche, you need to be very careful to avoid violating The Fair Housing Act (FHA), which prevents discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, and family status.   Some states, like California, have their own legislation that protects additional classes. Complying with the FHA can be more complicated than it appears on its face. Many things that seem like smart marketing (advertising a listing as family-friendly or perfect for empty nesters, for example) are actually against the law. So is trumpeting crime statistics, racial demographics, or potentially even school district rankings. Accidentally violating the FHA is just as illegal, so you should be conscious of the dos and donts. Any method of specialization â€" whether based on geography, client type, or property characteristics â€" has potential pitfalls for violating the FHA. Knowledge is Power Before you can pick a specialty, you have to tackle your pre-license courses and pass your licensing exam.   If youve cleared that hurdle, theres always continuing education requirements. Our real estate packages let you complete your requirements online and at your convenience.   Plus, youll learn more about fair housing and dip your toe in various specialty topics to see what catches your interest.   Start today!

Using a Performance Resume Template

<h1>Using a Performance Resume Template</h1><p>A execution continue format is an incredible device to assist you with featuring the best characteristics in a specific vocation zone. It can even assist you with landing your position in that specific field, however how would you know which one to choose?</p><p></p><p>Templates are generally not made for each and every employment opportunity. On the off chance that you were imagining that they would, at that point you should stop right now since you're off-base. Pretty much each and every individual who goes after a position has just been interviewed.</p><p></p><p>The employing administrator may have approached the individual who went after the position what they loved about the meeting and what they could enhance. You can either simply make a rundown of what you like about the meeting or you can concoct a decent sounding rundown of your qualities. In either case, it assi sts with having the option to sum up your meeting execution in a couple sentences.</p><p></p><p>The execution continue format should assist you with thinking of an extensive rundown of visual cues about your expert achievements. Make certain to keep them brief however direct with the goal that they show up expertly composed. I generally use visual cues to clarify why I think an individual is equipped for the job.</p><p></p><p>Using a presentation continue layout permits you to alter every individual visual cue. This makes it simple to feature the most significant properties about you, for example, your past abilities, your aptitude, and whatever other extra abilities that you have learned since you begun your vocation. In the event that you are great at a specific activity, you can expound on what it was that improved you than the other applicants.</p><p></p><p>It is a smart thought to make a diagram and mark th e entirety of your abilities on it. At the point when you need to go after another position, you can take a gander at your graph and perceive what number of aptitudes you have and afterward take a gander at all of your qualities comparable to your shortcomings. When you get a new line of work that you can genuinely exceed expectations at, it will assist you with handling that job.</p><p></p><p>To get familiar with utilizing a presentation continue layout, you should look at my article regarding the matter. Or on the other hand you can simply go on the web and start your own list.</p>

You should subscribe to our Youtube channel - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

You ought to buy in to our Youtube channel - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog We are truly near 1,000 endorsers on our Youtube channel which will open some new highlights in Youtube so might you be able to help us out and click here and buy in to the channel? Much obliged to you :) The channel has a huge amount of famous recordings on joy at work and we routinely include new ones. Here are three of our top choices: 5 astounding outcomes from the study of joy at work Two basic and modest approaches to make your workers more joyful Bliss at take a shot at an atomic submarine Much thanks to you :) Much obliged for visiting my blog. In case you're new here, you should look at this rundown of my 10 most famous articles. What's more, on the off chance that you need increasingly extraordinary tips and thoughts you should look at our bulletin about bliss at work. It's incredible and it's free :- )Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related