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A Newsletter Published by The People Group (TM)
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On a Mission to Facilitate the Creation of Great Workplaces
Healthy workplaces are good for the whole family
Dear ,
 I tend to learn much more from bad experiences than good ones. After participating in one of America's greatest business success stories, I quickly saw the wheels begin to come off the bus as our nationally recognized company's top executives were making some very poor ethical choices. With the help of a great number of team members throughout the company, we had developed a tremendous reputation as an employer of choice. Applicants were waiting for positions to come open in order to be first in line with hopes of landing their dream job in a great workplace. Employees were our best testimonial on the positive aspects of our culture. Although we were not a perfect workplace, we had a great deal going for us. But success brought changes to our executive floor. An elitist, domineering, fear-based mentality began to creep into the executive suite. Great workplaces are so very dependent on their top leaders to maintain an employee-friendly, productivity-inducing environment. The best work cultures do not run on autopilot. If the leaders begin to veer off course and make poor decisions - unethical decisions - it is a matter of time before their toxicity spreads throughout the culture. Company culture, whether positive or negative, flows down from the top. Even-tempered, ethical and caring leaders will create winning work environments. Underhanded, unethical and disrespectful leaders will yield unhealthy, toxic and disruptive company cultures. Employees who live in healthy work environments are much better off; physically, mentally, emotionally and financially. Even their families are benefactors of a well-designed company culture. With this experience in our past, I have committed myself to facilitate the creation of great work environments nationwide. That is why Anita and I are committed to the mission of The People Group. The positive aspects of building great work environments makes us realize how important it is to continue our work. Please join us in spreading the positive news about The People Group.
kevin kennemer
partner
Improving Our World One Workplace at a Time
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Great Workplaces Bravely Weather Economic Storms
by Kevin Kennemer, SPHR
The benefits of creating a great workplace cannot be more evident when the economy turns south. The U.S.
and World economies are subject to cyclical movements in both positive
and negative  directions. It is a given; there will be periods of
growth and expansion, and conversely, there will be periods of
restriction and conservation. We know with certainty that each cycle,
and the periods in-between, are coming. Companies ride high during
times of expansion, growth and spending, and hunker down during the
slow, restricted, conservative economic periods.
Unfortunately, the companies who live in a short-term world and do
not develop a long-term "Great Workplace" strategy will eventually
succumb to the enemy of average and/or economic conditions. At best,
they are only prepared for economic high times. The moment trouble
comes, however, these ill-prepared organizations eventually close their
doors.
On the other hand, companies who have conscientiously developed
"Great Workplaces" where people thrive are prepared for both sides of
economic weather conditions. They ride the waves when they are high,
taking advantage of all the good momentum. And when economic
conditions turn bad - and they will - companies with great work environments seem to ride out the
storm in a calm and collected fashion; even picking up business from
alternative sources, adding new clients, capturing untapped markets,
pulling in revenues from varied sources and innovating their way out of
the economic conundrum.
Why do companies with great work environments survive economic storms?
The people inside great workplaces make the difference because their
company truly cares for them by creating a sustainable, flourishing
culture. As a result, a majority of their energized employees are
engaged and running on all cylinders.
The benefits of creating a great workplace are numerous. As
chairman of the board, CEO, business owner or start-up entrepreneur,
the proven benefits of building a great workplace will likely make your
company a powerful force even in the most difficult of times. Why? The
benefits of creating a great workplace include:
- Higher productivity
- Higher profitability
- Better customer satisfaction
- Lower staff turnover rates
- Greater number of applicants for open positions
- Attraction of the best and brightest talent
- Less resistance to change
- Lower health care costs
- Lower workers' compensation costs
- Lower absenteeism rates
- Lower presenteeism rates
- Higher levels of cooperation
- Higher quality products and services
- Increased innovation and risk taking
- Higher returns to stockholders
Read the rest of this article
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Dealing with a Workplace Bully?
If your answer was yes, you're not alone
________________________________________________________
Dr. Gary Namie, founder of the Workplace Bullying Institute, will be in Tulsa, OK on Thursday, October 23 to speak at the OKEthics luncheon
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According to the Workplace Bullying Institute, 37% of American workers, an estimated 54 million people, have been bullied at work.  The health affects on targets of bullies is devastating while many employers look the other way. According to the Institute's research, in 62% of the cases, when made aware of bullying, employers worsen the problem or simply do nothing, despite losing an estimated 21-28 million workers because of bullying. Is this the ethical response employers should take?
Dr. Namie is a pioneer and one of the foremost
authorities on Workplace Bullying in the world by virtue of the Workplace
Bullying  Institute he directs, and the websites, precedent-setting research,
including the WBI-Zogby survey, books, work with employers, as
well as over 700 media appearances including the Wall Street Journal,
New York Times, Washington Post, Business Week, American Bar Association
Journal, Today Show, Good Morning America, and Howard Stern.
Workplace Bullying:
An American Business Moral DilemmaTulsa, OK - Marriott Southern HillsThursday, October 23, 2008
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.Guests only $30 per person - includes lunch! OKEthics Members only pay $20 per person Register for the OK Ethics Event
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blog
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During Economic Bust, Best Companies Don't Burden Employees
By providing financial security
in what some are calling a recession, 10 growing companies have earned
acclaim for standing by their employees.
An independent panel of benefits experts selected "The Principal 10 Best Companies for Employee Financial Security - 2008," in large part for finding ways to maintain and expand benefits rather than slash them.
The Principal 10 Best for Employee Financial Security
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