While employees have long had concerns about their workplace environment, they were “sort of undercover,” says Kimara Mayberry, the president of the Society for Human Resources Management’s Detroit chapter. “People are feeling more empowered to come forward.”
And while the pandemic forced employers to tackle immediate concerns and institute drastic adjustments, they now realize that they have to take a more proactive approach to addressing workers’ concerns and move away from always being reactive, Mayberry said. “Setting up positive environments where your leaders are trained to listen effectively, they understand the signs of toxicity, and they are addressing them in real-time,” she said of what companies should be doing.
Mental health is a big focal point for employers’ proactive efforts now. “We’re seeing the trends where they are bringing in experts that can help train their leadership on how to foster those environments and how to be active listeners,” Mayberry said. “And how to create those environments where they can have real-time conversations not just once a year, annual reviews.”