The National Labor Relations Board has ruled that Amazon illegally fired two employees after they publicly spoke about how the company could do more to protect workers during the pandemic and fight climate change. The NLRB stated that a complaint could be filed if the company doesn't settle the case, while an Amazon statement said, "We support every employee's right to criticize their employer's working conditions, but that does not come with blanket immunity against our internal policies, all of which are lawful."

Mentors, sponsors and allies are vital to "help people understand what their potential is" and improve diversity, equity and inclusion in the workforce, said Dana Lodge, chief financial officer of Everest Insurance. Companies must ensure that top leadership is supportive of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and help middle management overcome unconscious bias regarding employees and job candidates, Lodge said.

Investing in an external outplacement program to support workers leaving the company can ensure that restructuring doesn't disrupt the workforce, that it boosts morale and helps turn outgoing employees into company ambassadors, Connor's Fraser Silvey writes. "[T]oday's leaving employee can be tomorrow's customer and decision-maker," Silvey warns.

Organizations having trouble keeping top employees should consider reevaluating their financial wellness benefits to help reduce turnover. A recent FinFit study found that employers offering a financial wellness program had better staff retention rates, lower turnover costs and significant per-employee savings.

Perfectionism can be unhealthy if it limits a person's ability to achieve their goals or if other areas of life are neglected, says assistant professor of social work Sha-Rhonda Green. However, using perfectionism to overcome challenges and learn from mistakes while setting realistic expectations can bring balance, Green says.

I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 33 years old. While I have, for the most part, embraced the disorder -- even calling it my superpower -- I struggle frequently with perfectionism, a common symptom of ADHD. It can paralyze my productivity, if I’m not careful. It’s taken almost two decades but I now know how to let go of unrealistic standards, focus on what actually matters and be satisfied with excellent effort. I still battle it, but I win more times than I lose.

Don’t miss what Dr. Sha-Rhonda Green says about perfectionism today in our HR Leader story. There’s a good chance that you have a star on your team who struggles with this. Understanding it may help you support that person in a way that lets their star shine.

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