We sat down with Matthew Elson, CEO of SHE Softwares to discuss implementing safety programs, and a positive safety culture for workers. Below are excerpts from that conversation.

Safety and health pros have been known as teachers, among many roles, for decades and decades. But it’s a touchy subject and the role doesn’t get the attention it serves. Why?

A sturdy foundation is essential in construction to ensure the stability and integrity of the entire building. Similarly, when managers take the time to get to know their employees, they establish a solid foundation of trust and lay the groundwork for optimal performance. 

Complacency exists in workplace safety, but is it the right accusation?

Investing in the mental and emotional well-being of employees is not just a compassionate approach but a strategic imperative for any organization.

The foundation of an inclusive workplace is recognizing and embracing its evolution. That means re-defining inclusion organization-wide to instill a more modern and all-encompassing mindset.

Rather than just reacting to workplace injury issues, we can take proactive steps to prevent them.

Nearly 20 percent of U.S. workers experience bullying in the workplace and 19 percent witness it, according to a national survey conducted by the Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI). The survey defined workplace bullying as “repeated mistreatment of an employee by one or more employees; abusive conduct that is: threatening, humiliating, or intimidating, work sabotage, or verbal abuse.” Although the WBI survey was conducted in 2017, the problem has not abated; in a 2019 Monster.com survey, nearly 94 percent out of responding employees reported being bullied in the workplace. 

It’s vital to help alleviate these outside stressors so your employees become more engaged and productive in all phases of life.

 In the age of customer-centric business models, it's easy to overlook the fundamental role of employees in driving business success. Here's one company's story utilizing a focused approach to enhance employee engagement.

OSHA investigation finds operator of three Massachusetts waterproofing contracting companies could have prevented an employee from dying in February 2024 when part of a foundation broke and fell.

With over 25 years in business, we're utilizing our expertise to provide a variety of new partnerships that are tailored to the unique needs of employers of all sizes.

70% of workers say financial stress is their most common form of stress. The Foundation provides free and low-cost resources to help your employees improve their financial literacy and plan for long-term financial success.

The complaint alleges TDS required Network Specialists to work overtime in order to complete all their work but failed to pay overtime pay for the overtime hours worked.

Scientist Dario Crosetto is currently in talks with the Italian government for the realization of two 3D-CBS devices capable of effective early cancer detection in the whole body with a two-minute, safe, low-cost test.

American CPR Care Association, a leading online CPR certification platform, is proud to announce a significant milestone in its journey, having earned the trust of 350,000 businesses and brands.

Year-end is a time to thank employees for their dedication throughout the year. Some managers send emails or give out cards recognizing their work. However, in addition to this, it's possible to go a step further to please employees.

The Complaint alleges that Apple failed to include the value of vested restricted stock units (RSUs) when calculating hourly employees' overtime rates for overtime hours they worked.

Jay's Kitchen, located in Goldsboro, NC, is proud to announce a new community program aimed at recognizing local heroes and supporting Wayne County employees.

The Corporate Whistleblowwer Center says, "If your bank-employer was involved in bigger Paycheck Protection Program Loans in 2020-2021 and there was no due diligence on the loans, give us a call at 866-714-6466 to discuss whistleblower rewards."

Company honors the "warm" moments with its annual appreciation for employees nationwide.

Charley Worley Pivots From the Big Insurers to Embrace Innovation

Hwang Pil-su stated, "For a company to grow, excellent products, capital, and talented employees are essential. However, many employees experience psychological barriers that prevent them from fully utilizing their abilities in the workplace."

The campaign features video interviews that showcase the motivations and milestones of the India Sweet Master employees as well as guests' memories at the restaurant

Award-winning human capital management (HCM) provider, PNI•HCM, adds the Encompass Group's industry-leading recruiting services to their suite of full-service HR solutions to help clients improve hiring and retention.

John Macomber, senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and a veteran of the real estate industry, was studying ways to make workplaces safer for employees long before the Covid-19 crisis hit. Now that issues like air and water quality are top of mind, he is encouraging organizations to think more holistically about the buildings in which they operate, balancing cost efficiency and even eco-friendliness with investments in improvements that boost health. Studies show this will not only stop workers from getting sick; it will also enhance productivity, which ultimately helps the bottom line. Macomber is the author of the book “Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity”.

Debbie Cohen and Kate Roeske-Zummer, cofounders of HumanityWorks, are sounding an alarm bell for employee retention. Record numbers of people are quitting their jobs due to burnout and better opportunities. Those resignations leave their former colleagues burdened with even more work and a sense of despair. Cohen and Roeske-Zummer argue that employers should re-recruit their existing employees and even think of them as customers. And the two consultants outline steps managers can take to openly appreciate those employees and keep a positive culture. Cohen and Roeske-Zummer wrote the HBR.org article "With So Many People Quitting, Don’t Overlook Those Who Stay.”

Even in a slowing economy, the battle to attract and retain talent persists. But employers need to look beyond what people are currently demanding — whether it’s higher salaries, more stock options or the flexibility to work from home. Studies show that, over the long term, employees also find value in aspects of work that they overlook in the short term, such as community and opportunities for growth. Professor Amy Edmondson and INSEAD associate professor Mark Mortensen offer up strategies for a holistic talent acquisition and retention strategy that incorporates more lasting benefits, even if workers aren't asking for them right now. Edmondson and Mortensen are the authors of the HBR article "Rethink Your Employee Value Proposition."

It’s a reality that more employees are discussing their mental health in the workplace. And proactive leaders can serve their teams better by listening and responding. At the same time, managers can’t play the role of a therapist or the HR department. Counseling psychologist Kiran Bhatti and University of Cambridge leadership professor Thomas Roulet argue that following the basic practice of cognitive behavioral therapy can serve managers well. The researchers explain the mental-health first-aid tool, how managers can help employees address emotional distress and negative behavioral patterns, and how that can strengthen the work culture and ultimately the business. Bhatti and Roulet wrote the HBR article, “Helping an Employee in Distress.”

Many managers struggle with initiating difficult conversations around an individual’s subpar performance. Often, leaders wait way too long to sit down with an employee who isn’t meeting expectations. Leadership coach Jenny Fernandez says that increasing the frequency of feedback and consciously developing better relationships with direct reports help make these conversations easier to start. And she shares how the right preparation, tone, and open-minded approach lead to more effective discussions that improve not just the one-on-one relationship, but also team morale and turnover rates. Fernandez is the author of the HBR article "How to Talk to an Employee Who Isn’t Meeting Expectations."

Unwelcome employee turnover can create big problems for managers, teams, and organizations, so it's important to understand the real drivers of attrition. New research from Ethan Bernstein, associate professor at Harvard Business School, and Michael Horn, cofounder of the Clayton Christensen Institute, points to a host of push and pull forces that cause workers to jump ship and also outlines better retention strategies. They are the coauthors, along with Bob Moesta, of the HBR article "Why Employees Quit" and the book Job Moves: 9 Steps for Making Progress in Your Career.

We live in an age of data. But having powerful tools to gather employee feedback doesn't mean you’ll get powerful results. It’s challenging for executives to turn that feedback into substantive action. New research from Ethan Burris, professor of management at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin, sheds light on how to weed through all the data, make sure workers feel heard, and turn employee insights into real results. Burris is a coauthor of the HBR article "What Companies Get Wrong About the Employee Experience."

A New York appellate court ruled that an employee of a staffing service provider could not pursue a civil remedy against her employer’s client for injuries she sustained. Case: Miolan v.

A New York appellate court upheld an arbitrator’s determination that a Workers' Compensation Board employee was properly terminated for misconduct. Case: Matter of Henry v. New York State Workers' Compensation Board, No.

A New York appellate court ruled that an employer’s video surveillance footage of an injured worker did not establish that he ever made a false statement about his condition. Case: Linane v.

The Delaware Superior Court upheld the denial of coverage for an Amazon employee’s back surgery, finding that his workplace injury did not necessitate the operation. Case: Hoskins v. Amazon.com, No. N23A-06-004…

The Rhode Island Superior Court upheld a denial of accidental disability retirement benefits to a former Department of Motor Vehicles employee. Case: Williams v. Employees’ Retirement System of Rhode Island, No.

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals overturned the denial of a university employee’s claim for injuries from a collision with a jogger as she walked along a public sidewalk…

The District of Columbia’s highest court overturned a finding that an injured worker was not an employee within the meaning of the Workers’ Compensation Act. Case: Sanchez Lopez v. DOES, No. 22-AA-0765,…

The Illinois Appellate Court ruled that the Public Employee Disability Act does not prohibit an employer from withholding taxes from a worker’s benefits. Case: Bitner v. City of Pekin, No. 4-23-0718,…

A California appellate court ruled that the Privette doctrine shielded a general contractor from civil liability to a subcontractor’s injured employee. Case: Luna v. Crane Development Corp., No. D081692, 09/20/2024, unpublished. Facts:…

A divided Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that an employee who injures a colleague must be acting within the course and scope of employment when the incident occurs to receive the…

The Maryland Appellate Court rejected a dispute over whether an injured worker qualified as a public safety employee due to a lack of jurisdiction. Case: Clifton T. Perkins Hospital v. Frierson, No.

The Oregon Court of Appeals upheld the summary dismissal of a SAIF employee’s claim she that was terminated in retaliation for reporting unlawful conduct.   Case: Cuddigan-Placito v. SAIF, No. 760.

The Oregon Court of Appeals upheld the denial of a school district employee’s claim of injury to her wrist. Krista Wilson worked for the Saint Helens School District as a special…

An Ohio appellate court upheld the dismissal of a public university worker's civil suit against his employer for injuries from a fall on a campus walkway. Case: Marzan v. University of…

A Louisiana appellate court upheld the summary dismissal of a municipal employee’s suit against her employer for her injuries from a fall allegedly caused by the city’s negligence in maintaining…

BOSTON, Massachusetts, USA -- Monday, December 4, 2023 -- The Free Software Foundation, today, highlighted its participation as a charity in the 2023 Combined Federal Campaign, which is focused on human rights this week.