RUOK? In 2020
What a year to be asking the question RUOK?! Perfect timing! There certainly has been events in our country this year for this question to be asked everywhere by everyone. However, if we look at the impact in the workplace to businesses, business owners, leaders and teams it remains an important question to ask your team, colleagues and your boss! And it doesn’t matter which way you look at, from a leadership, cultural, health & safety, industrial relations or planning perspective, it’s a relevant question to ask. Let’s look a little closer;
What a time to be Leader! It is important to keep employees focused, bring them back to the vision of the organisation, give them purpose and inspire them. Ensure you lead by example in continuing to live the values of the organisation, talk to your team, empower and trust them, show care and compassion and ask RUOK? Being a strong leader will ensure performance, productivity and engagement during these tough times remain high.
Now is not the time to lose sight of organisational values. It is important to keep the culture strong to keep progressing towards the vision. Remind employees of the values, lead by example, keep them alive. And ask and encourage the question, RUOK? As what organisational values wouldn’t support that!?
Workplace Health & Safety is certainly in the spotlight in the workplace right now with many working from home, in isolation, or working with customer face to face contact, so a healthy and safe environment is important. This includes the mental health of workers who are not only carrying what is happening in the workplace but also the uncertainly with what is happening outside. RUOK? is a question high on the agenda to be asking employees to ensure the continued health and safety whilst ‘at work’.
COVID-19 hasn’t just changed things for businesses, but for individuals as well. Individuals are also having to review their own individual plans. Having to delay retirement, starting a family, working part time rather than full time, changing jobs even. Whilst these issues effect the business and HR and workforce planning, don’t loose sight of the impact on individuals and ask them RUOK?
There has been a great deal of Industrial Relations changes and activities in the workplace this year with the temporary changes to support COVID-19 JobKeeper and Award Updates. These including anything from; reducing days and / or hours, taking leave, working in different locations doing different tasks or unfortunately in some cases redundancies. Whatever the case, these are all genuinely (even if not required) a requirement to consult where the question RUOK? should be asked.
And whilst it is important for Leaders to lead, and ensure their team is ok, it would be nice if the team also looked out for their leaders and also asked them, RUOK? It’s also important for leaders to ask themselves the question as well. To create a culture where your employees would ask you, you need to lead the way by living strong organisational values that include care towards the people in the business! Whilst Business Owners and Managers may not want to cross certain boundaries with employees, if they create a culture in which employees feel safe to ask them the question ‘R U OK?’, it may just be enough of a trigger for them to think and start taking action to help themselves – just like anyone else.
At HR Business Direction, we are passionate about helping our clients get a ROI from their people and creating work environments that support and prevent mental health (they go hand in hand). This allows us to make a true difference in society – for businesses and individuals. Don’t forget, RUOK? Day this week, Thursday 10th September. Ask the question, encourage the question and refer to RUOK? website for some great resources, but remember – there is more to say after RUOK?
HR Business Direction can help to create a mentally healthy workplace. Contact us here to find out more.
Related articles: RUOK? But….; What about me?; RUOK? But where do you draw the line?; RUOK? Day 1 out of 365 isn’t enough and more
Leisa Messer BBus(HRM); GradDipIR; FAHRI; IRSQ
Managing Director | HR Strategist
leisa.messer@hrbd.com.au
07 3890 2066
www.hrbd.com.au