It’s impossible to care too much! 

 

Over caregiving is one of the easiest actions to justify to ourselves. We rarely see these behaviours as intrusive or negative because they all come with the best intentions. 

The business can still run without you! 

 

But what if that’s what I’m afraid of? 

 

In a world where everyone lives online and on their phones, switching off from work is no longer a case of just not coming into the office that day. Resisting the temptation to quickly check your emails and the team WhatsApp group “just in case” is getting less and less easy. 

Whether you’re counting down the days until the long weekend or you are dreading another long enforced break from working as you are unsure what you are going to fill it doing, bank holidays are an essential break for many in the UK. 

 

The Book Chained to the Desk by Bryan E. Robinson describes workaholism as the ‘best-dressed and least-recognized addiction’. The bank holidays can at times feel like a disruption in our weekday routine and workplace rhythm, but they are so important for our mental health. And here’s why… 

There’s a common misconception, that in order to be in a codependent relationship, you need to be romantically involved with the person who’s manipulating you. But the truth is, codependent relationships can take many different forms. Any relationship can be manipulated by narcissistic desire and caretakers who feel the need to protect them. 

 

Even in the corporate world these relationships are everywhere. And, if the codependent personality is being guided by a nurturing leader, they can be an absolute asset to your business. But, if this person is a narcissist, it can have a detrimental impact on; 

 

When I was working in offices, creating a culture that cares seemed far less complicated than it does now. Checking in on people and asking how their evening was as they came into the office, impromptu chats around the water cooler and picking up on those little signs in behaviour when people were having off days. 

 

But now that people are working here, there and everywhere and most catch ups being held over Zoom, it can feel like these little moments that connect us and create opportunities for maintaining that caring culture are few and far between. 

 

Arranging a virtual coffee over Zoom just doesn’t seem to have the same open and spontaneous feel to it. 

 

So, is there a way to maintain a caring culture in your organisation where most people are hybrid or remote working? 

Becky* has been with her current employer for 11 years now. She’s worked her way up in the company and now manages a small team in a large firm. 

 

She’s the first to offer help when it’s needed, first to take on those horrible tasks that have been put off for a while because no one wants to do them, and first to jump in and cover when someone's sick. 

 

But behind closed doors, Becky is totally overwhelmed with her current situation. 

Is social anxiety holding you back from connecting with people? 

 

It can sometimes feel a bit like the overprotective best friend you never asked for and frankly now can’t get rid of. 

 

You share with them your dreams of travel and job promotions, of working back in the office and you mention the email from Alice in accounting inviting you to staff drinks on Friday night. 

 

At first they sound excited for you. But the more they talk about it, the more overwhelming it all starts to feel.  

The new normal is a term that’s been thrown around a lot over the last few years… 

 

 

But the thing is, things still don’t feel very normal. In fact, in some ways, things now seem less clear - less testing, less restrictions to protect others if a person has covid and less mandatory transparency. 

The success of most businesses comes down to the people who work in it. When they’re performing at their best, the business will perform at its best. 

 

But, when your team's energy is being drained by factors outside of the workplace (such as health concerns, political concerns and family matters), it’s unsurprising that this could have a massive impact on your business. Deadlines can slip, productivity can drop and the overall quality of your product or service can be impacted. 

We’ve known for a long time that this day was coming… 

 

The day when masks are no longer compulsory in public spaces and isolating if you test positive for Covid is down to personal judgement. But, after a year of being told that these masks and isolation periods are essential in keeping us safe, it’s not surprising that we are not feeling safe. 

Valentine's day can be a tough one at times, not least when you’re spending it in the office. Whether you’re the one receiving a huge bouquet of roses at your desk or you have come into the office to distract yourself from the whole valentines thing, there’s always a huge mist of expectation, judgement, anxiety, and sometimes resentment surrounding the day. 

 

Presenteeism is one of those pesky problems which lurks in the shadowy corner of the office. It’s often overlooked because, on the surface, someone can just seem to be really committed to a job or focused on a project. But how can you tell the difference between commitment to a job and presenteeism? 

 

Here’s 4 tell-tale signs to keep a close eye out for…