The Trauma of Library Work; American Libraries, January 22, 2022

Carrie Smith , American Libraries;  The Trauma of Library Work

Study looks at how to better support mental health on the job

"Fisher is now the principal investigator for “Trauma in the Library: Symptoms of PTSD Among Staff and Methods for Ensuring Trauma-Informed Care,” an Institute of Museum and Library Services–funded study of the effects of workplace trauma exposure on library workers. She and Lauren Alexa Gambrill, research manager of the study, presented their preliminary findings during the Ideas Xchange session...

As the study moves into later phases, Fisher and Gambrill are looking to identify where people are most vulnerable. “We definitely need more representation from survey participants,” said Fisher. The study is particularly looking to identify how those who have corresponding or overlapping identities, such as LGBTQIA+ or minority status, are impacted by their experience of trauma and their rate of trauma, Gambrill added.

More information on the study and a link to the survey can be found on the Trauma in the Library website."

The public library is the latest place to pick up a coronavirus test. Librarians are overwhelmed.; The Washington Post, January 19, 2022

Julie Zauzmer Weil , The Washington Post; The public library is the latest place to pick up a coronavirus test. Librarians are overwhelmed.

"Melanie Huggins, the president of the American Library Association’s Public Library Association, said library leaders have been eager to turn their buildings into test distribution sites: “We’re in neighborhoods. We know these communities. We know the people that are walking in the doors.”"

Employees are tired, stressed and burned out. That's why I give mine 'wellness days.'; NBC News, December 28, 2021

 Daniel Freedman, NBC News; Employees are tired, stressed and burned out. That's why I give mine 'wellness days.'

Sick days raise the question of whether someone is really ill or just shirking work. These can be used for whatever workers think will improve their wellbeing.

"Some 5,000 years later, we need to modernize how we support worker health — though companies that have yet to offer even basic paid sick leave should finally catch up to the ancient Egyptians. Instead of merely continuing to compensate workers once they are ill, we need to rethink time off to keep employees healthy.

That’s why my company has renamed “sick days” as “wellness days.” The aim is twofold: to remove any stigma that comes from taking sick days — and, insidiously, discourages taking them — as well as to redefine time away from the office to boost employees’ well-being."

Our Favorite Management Tips of 2021; Harvard Business Review, December 30, 2021

HBR Editors, Harvard Business Review; Our Favorite Management Tips of 2021

"Another year, another set of challenges and responsibilities for managers to tackle. Hybrid work, the Great Resignation, mass burnout — on and on. Each weekday, in our Management Tip of the Day newsletter, HBR offers daily tips to help you better manage your teams — and yourselves — through this period of profound change and uncertainty. Here are 10 of our favorite tips from 2021...

How to Give Critical Feedback — Remotely

Giving critical feedback is one of your most challenging responsibilities as a manager — and if you’re working remotely, it’s even harder. How can you update your approach to giving feedback in a WFH world? Here are some key steps to keep in mind:

• Start by asking questions. You need to understand your employee’s perception of their performance before expressing yours.
• Show specific appreciation before laying out criticism. They’ll be more likely to be receptive to your feedback if they trust that you value them.
• State your positive intentions. Something as simple as “I’m in your corner” can go a long way.
• Clarify and contrast. “I’m saying X, I’m not saying Y.”
• Ask your employee to state their key takeaways from the conversation.

We’re all under intense stress from the pandemic. Taking care to deliver your feedback with clarity and sensitivity will help people focus on the reality of your message, even in a remote environment.

Adapted from “Giving Critical Feedback Is Even Harder Remotely,” by Therese Huston"

What to Do When You Can’t Control Your Stress; Harvard Business Review, 2/20/14

Srini Pillay, Harvard Business Review; What to Do When You Can’t Control Your Stress:

"A recent study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Raio and colleagues (September, 2013) explains why, when your stresses build up, it becomes more difficult to get your anxiety under control. In a well-designed experiment, investigators found that people who had acquired a conditioned fear response (think Pavlov, or if that’s too obscure, think of “boss-panic” or “board meeting-freeze”) were able to suppress these associations and calm themselves down only if they did not enter the situation under stress. If they were already under stress however, this threw the “fight or flight” system off, and controlling their thoughts was much more difficult...

The moral of the story then is this: If you are having a stressful day at work or come to work in an irritable frame of mind and have to enter a potentially anxiety provoking meeting, “reset the needle” on your brain’s anxiety center by closing your eyes for 5 minutes and trying out the breathing technique I described above. It will likely be much more successful than trying to talk yourself out of your anticipatory anxiety or impending freak-out."