Corporate

©2022 Workplace Safety & Prevention Services. All rights reserved. 2 When we started surveying leaders about occupational health and safety in 2019, we were on the precipice of a crisis that would forever change how we work together, and, for many, where we work. We didn't know how long it would last or how profoundly we'd be impacted by it. Nor did we realize that COVID would become a catalyst for introspection, re-evaluation and re-prioritizing at all levels—societally, organizationally, and individually. Many are still deciding what is right for them. Some employees have readily embraced remote work and others miss their peers and in-person interactions. Some decided this was the right time to shift into retirement, and many want to continue working but perhaps in a different manner than they did previously. It is clear, though, that employees who have opted to continue working want to invest their skills and expertise where they feel valued. They're looking for employers who are committed to continuously improving their health and safety practices—who will protect them from unnecessary physical and mental harm. Almost universally, respondents agreed that ensuring employees' safety and wellbeing is key to attracting and retaining talent and that a robust health and safety strategy is important to overall business success. And it isn't just our research proving this to be true. Last year, Gallup conducted a poll and asked what was most important to employees when considering a job offer. "Work-life balance and wellbeing have also increased in importance notably since 2015, with 53% of employees citing them as "very important" compared with 61% of today's workforce. Many other Gallup workplace studies from the past year highlight just how burned out, overwhelmed and stressed out the workforce is at large. Even for workers who aren't experiencing burnout, the significant increase in remote work has raised awareness about the value of job flexibility options—options that are largely here to stay." 1 We are also seeing workplace cultures shift away from a one-size-fits-all approach to be more flexible and reflective of a diverse workforce and new ways of working together. This is key. Gone are the days of making decisions as if employees are one homogeneous group with the same feelings, experiences, challenges, desires, strengths, and skills. Everyone of us is unique, and employers who understand this and embrace it are setting themselves up for success. LETTER FROM LYNN BROWNELL PRESIDENT AND CEO, WSPS LETTER

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