On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization reported that mysterious pneumonia was sickening dozens in Wuhan, China. It would be months before I’d realize how our world and our workplaces would be turned upside down.
But come mid-March, writing blogs about employee retention felt extremely tone deaf. Never did I think I’d be sharing with you, dear reader, how to lay off employees with compassion or how leaders can share gut-wrenching news with their thousands of employees.
This has been the year nobody wanted. But 2020 has also given my job as Great Place To Work® blog editor-in-chief so much meaning.
Alongside our team of culture experts and data scientists, it has been my privilege to help you: from COVID-19 pulse survey advice to making sure your Black employees feel seen and safe in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.
Here are our most read blogs of 2020. I hope you find the advice as timeless as it is timely.
#10
7 Things You Can Do Today to Give Remote Teams Social Support
Research says social support can shield us from a variety of woes. Use these proven ways to turn up team spirit and social closeness with a remote team. Rinse, repeat.
#9
The Right Way to Survey Employees During A Crisis
There’s a delicate way to do these things. Avoid common survey mistakes and keep employees’ trust: Before, during and after you hit “send.”
#8
4 Ways Your Company Can Support Working Parents During COVID-19
2020 ushered in a new childcare crisis and “pandemic parenting” entered the lexicon. Research on working parents shows how companies that invest in employees and their families see 5.5 times more revenue growth. This is an employee group you can’t afford to ignore right now or ever.
#7
A Guide to The Discussion You Are Scared to Have Right Now
When employees are thinking about stresses outside of work, they can’t reach their full potential. Hold tough office conversations and do it with care, compassion and purpose.
#6
The Support You Need to Give Your Black Employees Today
George Floyd’s murder inspired a global awakening to the Black Lives Matter movement and the systemic racism of our institutions and cultures. Here’s how to support Black people in the workplace without adding to the trauma.
#5
What Are Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
The who, what, how and why of Employee Resource Groups.
#4
The Top 7 Workplace Factors That Impact Employee Health
A list of actions you can take today to improve employee wellbeing, this round-up is brimming with research and Best Workplaces™ examples.
#3
How to Recognize Remote Employees During COVID-19
One company shows us how 99% of employees feel appreciated – even while remote. Borrow their ideas for how to recognize employees in 2020.
#2
6 Tips to Improve Manager Effectiveness at Your Company
They say employees don’t leave companies, they leave managers. Our culture experts distilled six tips for helping your people managers excel.
# 1
Why You Need to Survey Your Employees Right Now
Is your manager not convinced an employee survey is worthy of your recession-cut budget? Avoiding employee surveys during a crisis can erode their trust, fuel anxiety and hurt your bottom line.
You are what you do – not what you say, not what you believe, not how you vote, but what you spend your time on. The Great Place To Work blog is for the do-ers, like you. So, soak up the advice of our company culture experts and keep doing good. Thanks for reading in 2020.
Meet your employees in the here and now
If you want to know how Great Place To Work® can help you create a strong company culture in 2021, reach out to us about our employee engagement and employer brand solutions.