In the past couple of decades, many forward-thinking businesses have made great investments to grow and improve workplace culture as a way to enhance their work environment. New benefit resources include more relaxed workspace, flex schedules, health food cafeterias, fitness, wellness centers and the list goes on. Businesses have demonstrated to their employees that they care and want to support them with a healthy and well-rounded experience at work. But are all of these “wellness innovations” on the part of the employer being reciprocated? Are the employers “feeling the love” from their employees?
More and more, I am seeing employees who lack “caring” and don’t know how to take ownership. I am seeing a gap in commitment or “pride,” despite numerous perks. By eliminating mundane daily stresses, the thought was that the employee would be less distracted thus focusing more diligently and efficiently while forming constructive teams at work. Yet, in creating a culture that is dependent on perks, we are underlining for the individual: "Eat better, stay fit, we’ll support your personal goals.” Coming to work for the employee is evolving into “How much can I take and how little do I have to give in return?”
More and more, I am seeing employees who lack “caring” and don’t know how to take ownership. I am seeing a gap in commitment or “pride,” despite numerous perks. By eliminating mundane daily stresses, the thought was that the employee would be less distracted thus focusing more diligently and efficiently while forming constructive teams at work. Yet, in creating a culture that is dependent on perks, we are underlining for the individual: "Eat better, stay fit, we’ll support your personal goals.” Coming to work for the employee is evolving into “How much can I take and how little do I have to give in return?”
The corporate office has become a place to nest rather than a web of connection among employees. No thought from the individual, it seems, is given to the unspoken gratitude the employer hopes to receive in the way of hard earnest performance. All of these perks were designed to bring employees together. And, sadly, forgotten completely is the ability to extend one’s gratitude beyond company doors.
The founding principles of this country have been humanitarianism. If your employer is freeing up your time so that you don’t have to worry about a lot of every day stresses, then perhaps a portion of your time could be spent giving back in some form with the intention to impact someone else’s life through ALL of your daily actions – in and outside of work. Employees have become complacent to the overtures of their employers and these overtures are now being looked at as the norm. Take them away and you fear your staff will turn away. Is this a business model that has reached its end?
Everyone today talks about how they “care” about the environment, friends, colleagues, clients, children, homeless, economic distress…We can express those concerns, but do our actions support our words? I often ask the people I work with what they are compassionate about and what they truly believe in their hearts—minus the noise of technology.
How do you show people you care? When was the last time you reached out to your boss, client, friend or family member just to say hello and see how they were doing? When did you invite others to collaborate with you on a project-in a trusted environment for the betterment of a client or the company that employs you? When was the last time you thought about your actions and how your decision (or lack of decision) will impact those around you? When did you think that not communicating a project’s challenges would make things better? When did we stop weighing the human and financial impact of not communicating an important issue upfront? When did you volunteer hands-on time to help a friend move, serve at a soup kitchen, or teach a child to read? When did you last spend time visiting with family in a non-electronic environment? Caring seems to have become an empty word as opposed to the empathic root of its meaning.
My challenge to all of us is to re-evaluate our actions to make sure they are match our verbal communications. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Put this life rule into action to truly show we care and respect others. Slow down and realize that every action creates a reaction like the ripple of a rock thrown into the center of a still pond.
It is time to show we care about those around us…and for us to take the first step. Turn down the electronic noise. Look up and look around to see others around you. Spend a few moments to think about your actions, what you are doing, and how they will impact others at work, home and in your community.
