EDITION 831
17 AUGUST 2020

As another week slips by, here are 10 things which caught my attention and may have escaped yours. This newsletter is sent to 50,000+ subscribers each Monday at 10am. Please share on social media and forward to your colleagues and friends so they can subscribe, learn and engage. I'd be very grateful if you did.

1. How to know if you are acting like a pushover. You have to get along with others to get things done, right? Yes, to a degree. You want to be cooperative, but you don’t want to be seen as a pushover. Watch out for these signs that you’ve taken being the good person too far – chances are that if you’re feeling these things, other people are noticing them as well. [READ MORE]

2. The voluntary redundancy dilemma. Should I stay or should I go? That's the question workers ask themselves when voluntary redundancies are being offered. As pandemic-affected sectors turn to voluntary redundancies to cut jobs, you should consider the following aspects before making a decision. [1] A redundancy payout should cover a six-month job search. [2] Consider how happy you are in your current role and how mass redundancies may change your job, and team culture. [3] Check to see if there are job openings in your area of expertise. [4] Speak to a friend, or even a professional to help you make your decision. If you need help, askten. Editor

3. The UK in recession. The UK is officially in recession for the first time in 11 years, after figures showed the economy slumped by 20.4% between April and June. A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of economic decline; there had been a 2.2% drop in GDP in the first quarter of 2020. The country has now lost 17 years of growth, shrinking to the size it was in the second quarter of 2003. Among leading economies, the UK has fared the worst, with a larger second-quarter slump than Spain (18.5%), France (13.8%), Germany (10.1%) and the US (9.5%). Financial Times

4. Brits in no rush to return to woks. It’s taking British workers longer to return to their normal workplace than their counterparts in continental Europe, according to Morgan Stanley research. Working from home continues to be widespread in the UK, where only 52% of employees have headed back to their place of work. This compares to 85% of workers in France, 76% in Germany, 75% in Spain and 74% in Italy. The survey, conducted in mid-July, also found that 82% of workers in the five countries would like to keep working remotely, but only 17% would want to do so five days a week. The Telegraph

5. Employment falls by biggest amount in a decade. Employment in the UK fell by the largest amount in over a decade between May and July, official figures show. Employment decreased by 220,000 on the quarter, said the Office for National Statistics. This was the largest quarterly decrease since May to July 2009, it added. Unemployment has not surged as much as feared, because large numbers of firms have put employees on the government-backed furlough scheme. But economists say the full effect on employment will not be felt until the scheme ends in October. BBC

6. Why awful managers get their jobs. Toxic bosses can make life miserable for even the most resilient of employees. How do they get - and keep - their jobs in the first place? It's all about perspective. Many abusive managers can turn on the charm, especially when their superiors are near. To identify these bad apples, company leaders need to talk to these managers' current and former direct reports. And when hiring a manager, leaders can include employees who will report to this new hire. Having supportive managers can lower team quit rates and boost productivity. Editor

7. Achieve better work/life balance. Two thirds of workers are ready to make big sacrifices in order to pursue a career that enables them to spend more time at home, according to new research. Researchers surveyed professionals who are currently working from home and asked how they feel about returning to their workplaces. Respondents voiced concerns that returning to the office five days a week would have a negative impact on their newly improved work-life balance. Nearly a third (32%) of those surveyed said they would move to a different industry in order to hang on to a decent work-life balance, while one in five would take a 10% pay cut and others would accept a more junior role. The Times

8. Demonstrating work results while WFH. The rise of work from home means it's harder than ever to stay visible in front of your colleagues and bosses. Above all, you may want to demonstrate to your manager that you are productive and contributing proactively. Here's what you can do, according to experts: [1] Take initiative. [2] Keep your manager posted about results you've tracked and what more needs to be done. [3] Take on a challenging assignment. [4] Find chances to share your knowledge and experience with your team. [5] Take care of your mental health. Editor

9. Helping staff with pandemic stress. While employers bringing staff back to the office are putting Covid-19 protections in place, they should also plan for the mental strain of the pandemic. The stress of sudden changes to everyday life and impact of the virus has seen a rise in people turning to their workplace for support, and has prompted firms such as PwC to update bereavement policies for current circumstances. Economic instability is also likely to play a role in people’s stress – employers should actively offer mental health support as people may not feel secure asking for help. Wired

10. The bottom line. The average Briton spends six hours 25 minutes watching television and online video every day – approximately 40% of their waking hours. Metro