How to set boundaries with your employees

Long story short: Time to set boundaries with your employees

September 9, 2022 10:57 AM

Setting clear boundaries between work and home time can help foster healthier relationships between managers and employees. Without them, organizations are at risk for driving employees out the door.

In this week's top stories, employers feel they need to know what their workers are doing at all times, and are turning to productivity tracking software and constant Slack communications. But those methods can quickly backfire, leading to burnout and "quiet quitting" in the process.

"Quiet quitting is about setting healthy work boundaries," says Desiree Pascual, chief people officer at Headspace Health, a mental health care benefits provider. "It is a conscious shift away from hustle culture, and perhaps even a silent protest against what employees consider unhealthy workplace cultures."

CEOs also share how they're rethinking their approach to sending Slack messages after hours, and ways to build a culture of trust when and if they decide to implement productivity tracking. Setting clear boundaries today can keep your employees on your side for the long-term.

CEOs on Slack: Silence your notifications after work

According to a new study from e-learning platform Preply, over half of Americans (55%) feel pressured to check their work messages outside of hours. Additionally, 44% of respondents said they have faked an online status on a work chat app. Fifty-six percent of those surveyed also said that they have a work chat app downloaded onto their personal cell phone.

Erik Pham, CEO of online publication HealthCanal.com, tells our new EBN editor, Kristen Warfield, how the app impacts his work-life balance, and how he's learning to set better boundaries with his own time and with his employees.

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CEOs on Slack: Silence your notifications after work

A silent protest': CPO at Headspace Health explains why workers are 'quiet quitting'

Burnout has been a workplace buzzword as employees face continuous social and economic consequences from an ongoing pandemic — and now there's a new phrase to capture the malaise of employees who have hit their mental limits and are taking a step back: "quiet quitting."

Whether it takes the form of employees missing deadlines, not participating in meetings, increased absences or even general pessimism, quiet quitting is a product of companies not giving their employees the space or tools to meet their physical and mental needs, rather than laziness or apathy, says Desiree Pascual, chief people officer at Headspace Health, a mental health care benefits provider. She talks with associate editor Deanna Cuadra on how employers can better support their workers.

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A silent protest': CPO at Headspace Health explains why workers are 'quiet quitting'

How to track employee productivity without crossing privacy lines

Two years into remote work and employers still want to keep tabs on their workers and monitor their output. But online tracking isn't boosting productivity — it's only stunting it, while making employees wary in the process.

Associate editor Paola Peralta speaks with Dr. Heather Whiteman, an assistant teaching professor at the University of Washington Information School, about ways to appropriately implement a productivity tracking program. Establishing a culture of trust is a crucial first step, she says.

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How to track employee productivity without crossing privacy lines

9 questions applicants are Googling about remote work right now

The University of the Potomac recently analyzed data from Google Trends and found that the number of people searching for "remote jobs hiring immediately" has increased by 262%, compared to the same search period from 2021, suggesting that the amount of applicants on the job hunt is at an all time high.

In that unpredictable, competitive and unprecedented market, job seekers are uncertain how to approach new opportunities, and are looking for insight on everything from what to wear to a virtual interview, to how to prepare and build a stand-out resume. Here are the top questions job seekers want answers for.

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9 questions applicants are Googling about remote work right now