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July 02, 2019
Keep Your Cool This Summer With Daily Acts of Kindness
Monthly Challenge #7
If you've ever crammed into a packed, sweaty subway car on a sweltering July morning, you know that a hot morning commute can set the tone for your whole day.
Multiple studies have shown strong correlations between heat and aggression. And sometimes this aggression can be wrongfully taken out on coworkers.
Whether you walk, drive, use public transportation, or work from home, there are myriad tiny ways the heat can affect your mood - and your work.
But there's no reason you can't beat the heat and keep your cool at work!
How, you ask?
Great question! Each time you're feeling a little on edge because you're too sweaty to think straight, imagine that your coworkers/friends/family might be feeling just as exhausted and overwhelmed... think of all the things those people could do to make your day better, and then do it for them instead!
It's about seeing the good in each day, and actively looking for ways you can improve others' days as well.
We're halfway through our monthly challenges for 2019, and this month, we're challenging you to bring positivity to your office/work environment with daily acts of kindness. Below I've shared some ideas you can try out at the office or at home.
Daily Acts of Kindness Challenge - Ideas to Get You Started
- Buy a coworker lunch
- Give a compliment (stick to choices people have made or work they've done)
- Hold the door open
- Bring in coffee/breakfast to share
- Ask a coworker who's new to grab lunch
- Say hi in the hallway
- Donate to a friend's fundraiser/charity
- Watch someone's child for free
- Leave your waiter an extra generous tip
- Pay for someone's bus/metro fare if they've forgotten their card
- Help a coworker solve a problem
- Bring your neighbor's paper to their front door
- Make a meal for someone who could use some support
- Write a handwritten thank you to someone who's helped you in the past
- Give out cold water/gatorade to folks working outdoors (maybe your mail person, garbage collectors, or anyone you've hired to work on your yard)
- Volunteer
- Call an elderly relative you haven't spoken to in a while
- Share an article or post that's made you smile with someone else who might appreciate it
- Keep an extra umbrella at your desk at work so you can lend it when it rains
- Tell a coworker when they're doing well at work (this includes your peers, bosses, and those 'below' you)
- When you get good service, write a nice review or share what they did with their boss
- Text family/friends you know are going through a tough time to check in
- Post sticky notes at home/work with positive phrases
- Smile!! Sometimes the littlest things make all the difference
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So get out there, and look for a way to make someone else's day, every day.
(No need to come up with a fresh idea for each day, just do something kind for someone else every day.)
If you're competitive, enlist a friend who you can text at the end of each day to ask what they did. The friend who's completed the most acts of kindness by the end of the month wins bragging rights - and the opportunity to complete one last act of kindness by taking their losing friend out for a conciliatory dinner.
Jot down what you do each day and be sure to let us know what other great ideas you come up with!
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August 04, 2020
From Informal Mentee to Formal Mentor: How DigitalOcean’s Jessica Rothfuss Is Paying It Forward
When Jessica Rothfuss started her first job out of college, she felt a little lost.
<p>"I had no idea what was going on. I didn't grow up around corporate America and I didn't know the norms," Jessica explains, highlighting her discomfort with office conversation around childhood vacations (which her family couldn't afford) and having to navigate dress codes (when a friend told her khakis probably didn't cut it for client meetings).</p><p>With the help of some friends and informal mentors, Jessica expanded her comfort zone and figured out corporate life, developing the soft skills of persuasion and communication that she needed to navigate tough conversations. And now, decades into her career in tech and currently working as a Senior Technical Program Manager at<a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/digitalocean1" target="_blank"> DigitalOcean</a>, the cloud infrastructure provider for developers, she's come full circle, serving as an informal mentor to other women in tech and a formal mentor, as of last week, to a woman at DigitalOcean.</p><p>We sat down to talk to Jessica—who was joined on-camera by her adorable senior rescue dog—about her career path, how she's giving back and helping other women navigate the world of corporate tech, and how DigitalOcean's remote-friendly approach to work has changed the way she sees her future.</p><h3>Navigating a steep learning curve as a first-generation college student in tech</h3><p>As a first-generation college student, Jessica's opportunity set was different from her peers' from the get-go. She studied chemistry and couldn't afford to take an unpaid internship in a lab—"summers were for making money to pay next semester's tuition," she remembers—so she kept her job doing technical support for AOL. Her early exposure to tech piqued her interest, and she ended up joining a startup after graduation, working her way up to being a project manager. Later, after teaching herself SQL and enjoying it, she tried her hand as a developer. She found the work "too isolating," so she transitioned into being a technical account manager and worked at a variety of firms, from small startups to big multinational corporations, until she found the Goldilocks fit at DigitalOcean.</p><p>Along the way, as she was exposed to a wide range of work cultures, people, and problems, she built up answers to the questions she'd had at the beginning, like "Which direction should I take my career?" and "How do I approach my boss?"</p><p>Jessica now counts her soft skills, like empathetic communication, as some of the most valuable things she brings to the table. Being an outsider at first—and a fairly invisible one, because as Jessica says, "People who come from a background of lower income might not be willing to out themselves; it's not something you kind of mosey in with and say, 'Hi, y'all, I'm a first generation college student'"—meant that she had to find her way into tech from the outside. Doing so has made her especially understanding of other people.</p><p>"Tech is very relationship-based," says Jessica. "I think we could all do a lot more to try and understand where people might be coming from, because we all have different experiences, different backgrounds, and different baggage."</p><h3>Paying it forward by mentoring others</h3><p>With help from friends and from managers who have since become friends, Jessica more than made up for any gaps she had in her first few years on the job, and now she's helping others.</p><p>It started with women reaching out and asking Jessica to help them navigate the various personalities and politics of work life, she says. "One woman came to me and said, 'I see you getting these folks to do stuff that I would never guess I could actually get them to do—can you help me figure out when and how to communicate with them?'" remembers Jessica. She did that for several more women, and has since been tapped to be a formal mentor through DigitalOcean's mentorship program.</p><p>When she's mentoring other women in tech, a lot of her advice focuses on navigating the situation from the other person's perspective. "As women, we've got to toe that line. We don't want to be called too aggressive, and we also can't be too meek," she notes.</p><p>"I try very hard to put myself in the shoes of the other person. We're in tech, and there's always conflict on some level, right? Something's always changing. Someone's resisting the change. There's always something going on, and there are a lot of strong personalities," says Jessica.</p><p>She coaches her mentees to learn how their coworkers and bosses think, and to try to approach problems from their perspective. "If you can put yourself in their shoes and understand why they might be feeling a little insecure or feeling like their job's in jeopardy or feeling like they're being snubbed or that they're being taken advantage of, you can figure out how to approach them," she says.</p><h3>Five key pieces of advice for women in tech as they navigate their careers<br/></h3><p>We asked Jessica to distill some of the wisdom she shares with her mentees in order to share it with our readers. Here's what she had to say:</p><p>1. "Pay attention to everyone. If people are reaching out to you, you'll naturally figure out who you should be listening to over time,<strong> but it's always good to take in the information.</strong>"</p><p>2. "Remember that <strong>you're going to stumble and you're going to misstep and that's okay.</strong>"</p><p>3. "Some relationships can last for a really long time and serve you well beyond the current role you're in—try to be open to them. I grew up very much not trusting of people, and at some point you have to <strong>start trusting yourself to make those decisions</strong>."</p><p>4. "<strong>Find the people who are willing to help</strong>. They're always there. I have yet to enter a place where they're not, and I've entered some hostile places."</p><p>5. "And then when you're at that point, be the helper. <strong>Pay it forward and be the one to help the generation coming in after you </strong>because they're going to need it, too."</p><h3>Creating the future she wants at DigitalOcean</h3><p>Jessica has always taken an active role in planning her career. She accepted a job offer in order to work with a manager she knew she could learn from, even when that meant another cross-country move. She's said no to promotions that would cost her the work-life balance she's worked hard to establish. So when she was considering a job at DigitalOcean, she tried to see where it would fit in with her larger career and life goals.</p><p>She'd never worked for a remote-friendly company before, but loved that DigitalOcean's setup—with headquarters in New York and offices in places like Cambridge and San Francisco, and the option to work from home—would allow her to move back home to New Mexico to be closer to her mom, while still getting some face time in with the team during her trips back to California to see friends. </p><p>Coming up on her second year of working for DigitalOcean, she says it's one of the best decisions she's ever made. As a technical program manager, she manages cross-functional initiatives with lots of moving pieces, leaning on her strong communication skills to connect stakeholders between departments, document progress, and unstick problems along the way.</p><p>DigitalOcean's combination of meaningful work, positive culture, and remote-friendly policies have worked out for Jessica. "I don't know that I ever want to go back into an office, ever!" she says, laughing.</p><p><em>If DigitalOcean's culture and remote-friendly work policies sound intriguing, check out their open roles</em><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/digitalocean1" target="_blank"> <em>here</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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July 31, 2020
5 Apps Every Entrepreneur Should Bookmark in 2020
Business owners and entrepreneurs rely on more technology than ever before to get the job done. In fact, there are dozens of different ways that businesses can use technology to assist their operations. It can speed up processes, reduce the potential for human error, save companies money and so much more.
<p>In particular, apps have played a significant role in helping businesses. There are apps to help with company finances, marketing, communication and everything in between. But with thousands of business-related apps out there, which are the best ones to go with?</p><p>I'm sharing five entrepreneur approved apps that anyone starting a business should have in their back pocket.</p><h2><a href="http://disputebee.com" target="_blank">Dispute Bee</a></h2><p>Your credit score plays a very important role both when starting and running a business. If you need to get a loan or borrow money of any kind, your credit will determine your rate and what you can borrow. Low credit can hurt your company and while low credit is often earned by irresponsible spending or missing payments, there can also be mistakes on your report that are impacting your credit.</p><p>That is where Dispute Bee comes in. This software can repair your credit automatically by helping you dispute things like late payments, credit inquiries, medical debt or others. See, <a href="https://disputebee.com/article/remove-late-payments/" target="_blank">late payments can drag down your credit score</a> and make securing the money you need very difficult or expensive.</p><h2><a href="https://quickbooks.intuit.com/app/apps/home/" target="_blank">Quickbooks</a></h2><p>Accounting has <a href="https://smallbusiness.chron.com/role-accounting-business-459.html" target="_blank">a very important role</a> in the world of business. It allows you to visualize how your business is performing, helps track expenses, make payments more comprehensive while helping you prepare for tax time. Doing everything manually, without assistance can be a bit of a nightmare - thankfully, that is where Quickbooks comes in.</p><p>Quickbooks is an incredibly powerful software that's also very user friendly without sacrificing features. Within the app you can monitor and track both income, expenses, assist with invoicing, track cash flow, and give accurate reports that make it easy to see where your business is at financially. You don't need to be an accounting wiz to understand Quickbooks - it's that easy.</p><h2><a href="https://getpocket.com/" target="_blank">Pocket</a></h2><p>The Pocket app is all about saving content for later. With Pocket, you can quickly save any article, post, video or story from a wide variety of websites and apps. The content is then stored in one place making it even easier to revisit down the road, and is even available when your device is offline - talk about going off the grid!</p><p>While the idea is simple, the app is incredibly popular and can be valuable for entrepreneurs who find things they are interested in, but may not have time to check it out right away. Pocket is a one-stop-shop for all the important information you want to read, learn, and grow from, but don't immediately have the time to dive into. </p><h2><a href="https://buffer.com/" target="_blank">Buffer</a></h2><p>Want to grow your audience and community? Buffer is your go-to app. We all know that social media is an incredibly important way to engage with your audience, not to mention learn about what your target demographic is interested in right now. Unfortunately, managing your social media accounts can take a lot of time - something most entrepreneurs don't have a lot of. </p><p>Apps like Buffer will simplify your social media management strategy into one seamless interface. Buffer's tools allow you to publish and schedule content, analyze campaigns, build your community and engage with your following. The app is very clear and easy to navigate, not to mention make your social media game much more efficient.</p><h2><a href="https://todo.microsoft.com/tasks/" target="_blank">Microsoft To Do</a></h2><p>As an entrepreneur in 2020, it can be daunting to think about what needs to be done each day while prioritizing your ever growing list of responsibilities. As a result, it is a good idea to have a to-do list. While you could go old-fashioned with a pen and paper, why not use an app like To Do?</p><p>Created by the team that developed the popular Wunderlist, Microsoft To Do is an app all about keeping track of your daily duties. With the ability to share with others and between devices, this smart daily planner is not only intuitive but a must-download if you're one of those people who needs to physically "check" boxes each day. </p>
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June 25, 2020
For Employers
How Leaders Can Support Their Black Employees
A five-step framework for addressing systematic racism at work
The world has changed in the past few weeks.
We're watching corporations and organizations across the world come out in support of Black lives in droves. Many of those organizations are doing so for the first time in their history.
<p>But supporting Black people goes beyond sharing a mission statement or putting out a press release. It requires dedicated, ongoing work and resources.</p><p>As leaders in the Diversity and Inclusion space, PowerToFly has been getting questions from business leaders on what else they can do. How can they make Black employees feel supported at work? What kind of analysis should they be doing on their own processes and policies to root out systematic racism they may be perpetuating? And how can they keep these conversations about race and racism going even after the media coverage has died down? </p><p>A few weeks ago, in my role as PowerToFly's Director of Global Diversity and Inclusion, I held a chat-and-learn two weeks ago focused on how individuals could be better allies to their Black colleagues and friends. (You can watch a recording of our conversation <a href="https://powertofly.com/career/live-chats/276535-being-an-ally-to-black-colleagues-and-peers" target="_blank">here</a> and read my summary of takeaways <a href="https://powertofly.com/career/webinars/277594-how-leaders-can-support-their-black-employees" target="_blank">here</a>.) Two weeks ago, I held another webinar, this time focused specifically on what leaders—whether CEOs, executives, HR managers, or frontline team leads—can do to support their Black employees. You can<a href="https://powertofly.com/career/webinars/277594-how-leaders-can-support-their-black-employees" target="_blank"> watch a replay</a> or read on for my summary of key points and advice on the subject. </p><p>A reminder: none of what's going on right now is a Black problem. This is an American problem and even a global problem. Black people cannot end systematic racism or white supremacy, and we need white Americans and other allies to work together to end it. We need everyone in the boat with us, rowing together, if we're to see any real change. I know that fighting for that change isn't always comfortable or easy, but it's vital that we do it. It's especially important that all of you leaders, who have seats at the table to change policy and be actively anti-racist in your organizations, do it. </p><p>Thank you for joining the fight.</p><h2>A five-step framework for addressing systematic racism at work</h2><p>Most of us were taught not to discuss race, politics, or religion at work. But times are different now, and ignoring how race and racism impact work is the wrong thing to do. It's vital to address racism in the workplace not just for your employees, but also for the general public, who are noticing which companies are speaking up for what's right and which companies aren't. It'll be increasingly important in the future for leaders to commit to this change as workers and consumers alike seek to align themselves with organizations that share their values. </p><p>To aid you as you start doing that work, here are five steps you can take to start addressing racism at the workplace.</p><h3>1. Get comfortable with having candid conversations about race.</h3><p>There's no such thing as being colorblind. Saying so is problematic. We can't address the things that need to be fixed if we don't see color. Start by acknowledging that there are certain groups of people who are treated differently or haven't had the same opportunities. Start by accepting that you don't have all (or even any) of the answers, but that you're committed to working towards them.</p><h3>2. Do regular, mandatory training on inclusivity, sensitivity, and other race-related topics.</h3><p>Most workplaces have certain courses that are required, at least for managers and leaders, like sexual harassment courses or compliance training. If you want to make it clear that race is important and that racism won't be tolerated at your workplace, you need to invest in mandatory inclusivity training.</p><p>It has to be more than just a check-the-box activity. Your approach can't be, "Oh, everybody took unconscious bias training, we're good to go."</p><p>Just like anything else in your business that you really care about, you'll need to devote money and time to actively dismantling systematic oppression. That looks like monthly or quarterly workshops, having a speaker series where you invite SMEs to take on diversity topics, and investing in a D&I leader or in a resource group and partnering with them to regularly train and educate your workforce.</p><h3>3. Address systemic issues in how you hire, pay, and promote employees.</h3><p>A Black Lives Matter press statement is necessary but not sufficient when it comes to addressing racism at your company. It's a great first step, but if you don't start addressing and making changes beyond the company values section of your website, it's all for naught.</p><p>Start by looking at your salaries. Is there equity in what you're paying Black employees compared to white employees? Don't assume that there is without taking the time to analyze the situation.</p><p>Do the same for employee promotion rates. Who is moving up into bigger management jobs—and who isn't?</p><p>Look at project allocation, too. Are the same people getting the same chances to appear and present in front of executives? Are your Black employees getting opportunities to work on stretch projects?</p><p>Once you understand where the inequities are in your business, address them. These issues have deep-rooted causes and won't go away overnight. You'll need to come up with an action plan and start working against it.</p><h3>4. Review your employee referral program.</h3><p>While employee referral programs can be great, they are often not the best way to attract diverse candidates. If you have a mostly male white workforce, then your employee referrals are going to reflect that. The majority of companies don't have diverse workforces, which warrants a closer look at how these programs are implemented.</p><p>Consider running specialized referral programs through employee resource groups for underrepresented minorities. If you have a Black or Latinx group, for instance, work with your HR or Recruiting teams to source referrals from those pools.</p><h3>5. Create executive sponsorship opportunities for Black employees.</h3><p>Sponsors can make or break a career path. They can fast-track someone to a leadership role, create opportunities, and give an employee cover to try something new. But if Black employees haven't had a chance to get in front of executives—if they aren't playing golf with them, going out to dinners and lunches with them, or working with them on high-priority projects—they won't get those benefits. Add an explicit diversity focus to current sponsorship initiatives, and if none exist, create them in partnership with ERGs.</p><h3>Tips and guidance to inform your approach</h3><p>In implementing the above five steps, you may find yourself feeling unsure or uncomfortable. That's natural, especially if discussing race is something you haven't done before. Remember that to do this work well, you need to be willing to listen and to learn. Below, I've provided answers to some community-sourced questions on how exactly to do that.</p><p><strong>How can I navigate a conversation with Black employees in a way that makes them feel supported?</strong></p><p>As business and HR leaders, you might be wired to be very solution-oriented and to want to fix things for your employees. But you can't immediately fix racism or fix an employee's experience with it at work.</p><p>When talking about race with employees, do not make it about you. If an employee is talking to you about what they're feeling or going through, you can say things like, "I'm so sorry you're going through that" or "I hate that you're feeling that way" or "I care about you." Do not say "I know what you're going through" if you don't. Do not apologize on behalf of the white race or in any other way make it about what you're feeling, whether that's guilt or frustration or anything else. Just listen.</p><p><strong>How can I—or should I—check on Black employees without disrupting their privacy?</strong></p><p>Keep in mind that Black people have been taught to assimilate and blend in as much as possible, especially at work. Being called out at work specifically for being Black is not going to be a comfortable thing for many people. Do not zero in on the one Black person on your team in a meeting, for instance, and ask them how they're doing with everything that's going on.</p><p>If you are going to do a check-in, do it in a one-on-one setting. Give your employee an opportunity to give you cues. Are they bringing up what's happening in the news? Are they sharing that they went to a protest? If not, maybe they don't want to talk about it.</p><p>If you decide to check in anyway, don't direct the conversation. Tell them that you're there to help if they want to talk and that you want to know how they're feeling. But if they don't want to engage, let it go. Remember, this is not about you and what you think you need to do to be a good or inclusive leader. This is about your Black employees and what they are feeling.</p><p><strong>How can I address colleagues who have implied or explicitly stated that they are not allies?</strong></p><p>Be conscious of your energy. There are policies to create at work. There are protests to attend in your neighborhood. There are kids to raise and jobs to do. Investing time in someone who does not care or opposes who you are or what you believe in is not good for you, so minimize those debates and focus on what you can change.</p><p>That being said, don't change your message to make people comfortable. Now is a time to take a stance. If your colleagues aren't willing to do that, it might be time to leave them behind. </p><p><strong>How can a primarily white team or organization support the Black community right now, especially if financial levers like expanding hiring aren't available?</strong></p><p>It's important to move towards creating a more equitable workplace and culture even if you don't have a Black employee on your team. It's the right thing to do. Remember that allyship is essential, and that white allies can have huge influence within organizations and communities. So start with the five steps above. If you have a budget beyond that, invest it in additional D&I training. Provide resources for doing anti-racist work in-house. Dedicate time every week in your team meeting to talk on topics relevant to the Black Lives Matter movement, whether that's defining what being an ally is, learning about systemic oppression, or brainstorming ways to get involved in your local community.</p><p><strong>How can I use levers to make sure my internal and external recruiting is as diverse as possible without being discriminatory?</strong></p><p>First of all, there's nothing discriminatory about asking for a diverse slate of candidates, whether you're asking an external recruiter or an internal team. You're not promising anyone a job based on their identity; you just want to make an effort to see a range of candidates. Hiring diversely doesn't happen by chance. You don't post a job and then just see a flood of resumes that perfectly represent all races and identities. That's called the "post and pray" approach and it's destined to fail.</p><p>If you're hiring internally, start by going to employee groups and encouraging group members to apply. Ask if they have anyone they'd recommend for the position. Make an effort to ensure that people know about open opportunities and what you're looking for.</p><p>If you have a recruiter or sourcer working with you, tell them that you want to look at a diverse pool of candidates.</p><h3>Going forward</h3><p>These are tough subjects to tackle and doing so will require sustained focus and resources. Thank you for doing this work. If there's anything we at PowerToFly can do to help as you continue down the path towards becoming an actively anti-racist organization, please feel free to reach out to me and my team at answers@powertofly.com!</p>
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July 30, 2020
uShip, Inc.
Prep For Your Next Interview With These Tips From uShip Recruiter
Angie Meier, Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition Manager for uShip, shared some top-notch resume tips with us, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the interview process at uShip!
uShip is the world's first and largest shipping marketplace backed by a creative, diverse, and supported team.
"Innovation is one of our core values, so we're always looking for people that are curious to help us continue to evolve".
Interested in roles at uShip? Click here to learn more.
July 24, 2020
popular
How These Companies Are Highlighting Minority Mental Health This Month and Beyond
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health has always been important, but has been an especially important topic to focus on during these last four weeks, when people of color have continued to suffer disproportionately from COVID-19 while also fighting for racial justice all across the country.
<p>The issue is a compounding one: Black Americans are experiencing<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/06/12/mental-health-george-floyd-census/?arc404=true" target="_blank"> higher-than-ever rates of anxiety and depression</a> while continuing to have<a href="https://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/nhqrdr/nhqdr18/index.html" target="_blank"> less access to mental health services</a>.</p><p>To continue the conversation, we wanted to highlight PowerToFly clients who are working to support the mental health of the people of color on their teams. Our hope is that employees and candidates seeing these initiatives will feel supported and encouraged—and that other companies will be inspired to follow suit.</p>
<p class=""><br/></p>
Freddie Mac partners with the experts
<p>"Supporting mental well-being is more important than ever. The global pandemic and recent civil unrest have shaped an environment that is especially ripe for generating emotional stress and triggers that may exacerbate or induce mental health conditions," explains Freddie Mac manager Sarah Crump. "We are committed to a stigma-free, inclusive culture and endeavor to support employees the best we can. We developed internal campaigns to share resources—including ones tailored for the Black community and allies—from our partner the National Alliance on Mental Illness. We also have increased communications around our Employee Assistance Program and raised the visibility of our workplace counselor."</p><p><em>Learn more about Freddie Mac</em><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/freddie-mac" target="_blank"> <em>here</em></a><em>.</em></p>MINDBODY centers wellness in everything they do
<p>"Mindbody recognizes the systemic inequalities surrounding an individual's wellbeing specific to mental health, especially people of a minority demographic," says manager Morgen Monie. "We are committed to providing our employees and customers an environment where you can be your authentic self as a part of our team, or when working with our team." She highlights specific initiatives available to employees:</p><ul><li>Employee Assistance Program: paid-for visits for team members to meet with a medical professional, councilor, or advisor in topics pertaining to all dimensions of wellness.</li><li>Wellbeing Day & Volunteer Day: days given to employees to take care of themselves, their families, and give back to an organization of their choice</li><li>Free telehealth access, ensuring consistent access regardless of geography</li><li>Free virtual wellness classes taught by Mindbody team members, including yoga and meditation</li></ul><p><em>Learn more about MINDBODY</em><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/mindbody" target="_blank"> <em>here</em></a><em>.</em></p>Relativity makes it easier to ask for help
<p>"People often feel shame in admitting mental health struggles, so it's vital to normalize having open conversations about it at home and in the workplace," says Senior Wellness & HR Program Manager Cherry Mangat. "Minorities face additional barriers such as fewer resources, less dialogue and more stigma, so they're less likely to seek help. Especially today, these factors are magnified. Relativity aims to foster an environment where everyone feels welcome, safe and free to be themselves. We've focused on key areas such as launching an employee resource group focused on mental health, adding the Headspace mindfulness app, offering company-wide training, and creating a role dedicated to employee wellness."</p><p><em>Learn more about Relativity</em><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/relativity" target="_blank"> <em>here</em></a><em>.</em></p>Procore creates a culture of inclusion
<p>"As someone who struggles with anxiety and depression, I feel fortunate to work for a company like Procore that puts their employees first and encourages us to do the same for our families," says Cynthia Griffin, Senior Recruiter at Procore. "Procore's African Descent Council (PAC) has been a pivotal part of my growth at Procore and has given me a sense of belonging and community that I continue to lean on today. Through our partnerships with Joyable and ComPsych Guidance Resources, we also have access to counselors, coaching, and other interactive resources that provide us with personalized support."</p><p><em>Learn more about Procore</em><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/procore-technologies-inc" target="_blank"> <em>here</em></a><em>.</em></p>Smartsheet shifts priorities to center mental health
<p>"With work and life becoming increasingly intertwined amidst a global pandemic and the fight for racial justice, employers have a responsibility to both support and actively encourage good mental health practices among their employees," says Katie Bouwkamp, Smartsheet's Director of Global Culture Communications. "Smartsheet has made this a priority, adding several employer-sponsored benefits this year, [including] BetterHelp online counseling, a paid mental health day, and a 10-session wellbeing series. We've also made space for employees to share their own experiences and resources, including an employee-led workshop on mental health during uncertain times. This combination of employer- and employee-owned initiatives has allowed for more authenticity as we continue promoting good mental health."</p><p><em>Learn more about Smartsheet</em><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/smartsheet" target="_blank"> <em>here</em></a><em>.</em></p>PwC uses tech to support self-care
<p>"At PwC, people are given the 'green light' to talk with a trusted colleague or expert help," says a PwC spokesperson. "The firm offers a comprehensive set of benefits around mental health and well-being through their<a href="https://pwc.cm/tp/rj6_tOKmq.J-K" target="_blank"> <em data-redactor-tag="em">Be Well, Work Well</em></a> initiatives, including providing free 24/7 access to a coach or therapist through a mental health app and<a href="https://pwc.cm/tp/rj6-Vi3at.J.K" target="_blank"> new benefits</a> including executive coaches that provide 1:1 and group well-being sessions, access to meditation apps and the creation of an internal social networking community. The firm has also introduced racial trauma counseling in conjunction with the<a href="https://pwc.cm/tp/rj6_81mOw-J.K" target="_blank"> six actions</a> they are taking with respect to racial justice."</p><p><em data-redactor-tag="em">Learn more about PwC</em><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/pwc" target="_blank"> <em data-redactor-tag="em">here</em></a><em data-redactor-tag="em">.</em></p>MongoDB destigmatizes mental health
<p>"We want to break the stigma around mental health and provide employees with valuable tools and the support they need, at work and beyond, to face life's challenges," says Danielle James, D&I Manager at MongoDB. "We offer mental health programs where employees can receive confidential assistance from qualified professionals, including Employee Assistance programs, and free access to Headspace and therapy sessions. We host company and department-specific days off to support mental health, and regularly organize internal events to destigmatize mental health, including an employee panel sponsored by the CEO and educational sessions with health partners.<a href="https://www.mongodb.com/blog/post/employee-benefits-that-make-a-difference-at-mongodb" target="_blank"> Learn more about our benefits</a> and read<a href="https://www.mongodb.com/blog/post/breaking-stigma-around-mental-health-meet-yulia-genkina" target="_blank"> one employee's mental health journey</a>."</p><p><em>Learn more about MongoDB</em><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/mongodb" target="_blank"> <em>here</em></a><em>.</em></p>Autodesk recognizes the importance of mental health
<p>"Mental health is as important to our wellbeing as physical health," says Industry Marketing Manager Leona Frank. "Supporting the mental health of minority employees through robust programs and accessibility to resources recognizes the impact of racial trauma on the community. It is not easy to experience tragic and repeated examples of racial violence and injustice in our world, and then come to work and be fully present as if nothing has happened to our hearts and communities." She says that taking care of employees' mental health is "good business," noting, "Mentally healthy employees make better collaborators, can drive innovation, and are more productive. Overall, they have resiliency that allows them to respond effectively to critical business needs. At Autodesk, we are provided with tools and resources like Bravely that helps us connect with a professional coach, Flexible Leave policies, including extended paid time off, parental leave, and caretaker leave, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that give employees access to confidential assistance."</p><p><em>Learn more about Autodesk</em><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/autodesk-inc" target="_blank"> <em>here</em></a><em>.</em></p>Raytheon Technologies fosters a culture of learning through experts
<p>"Our Raytheon Technologies Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a rich resource of information and resources to assist all of our employees," says Raytheon Technologies' Kaley Young. "We have on-site EAP consultants that provide short-term, solution- focused counseling to employees and their family members on a variety of issues, including those issues that impact employees from a minority background such as the effects of racism on mental health, medical care, and housing. Additionally, the on-site consultants [teach] seminars [like] 'Having Difficult Conversations During Times of Social Unrest.'"</p><p><em>Learn more about Raytheon Technologies</em><a href="https://powertofly.com/companies/raytheon-technologies" target="_blank"> <em>here</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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