By andrewwalsh
Employees in ABC Community Services comfortably bring up concerns while leaders and managers model open communication. However, workers still feel stretched. For example, Jane, a program coordinator, absorbed John’s workload a year ago after he left the organization. When Jane expresses feeling stretched thin, she is encouraged to practice work-life balance and is reminded that … Continued
By andrewwalsh
Jane, a respite worker, is meeting with her manager, John, for a regular one-on-one check-in. John asks, “How are you doing?” Jane shares that she’s feeling overwhelmed. Sam, her co-worker, is currently on leave, and she’s been covering their shifts and responsibilities on top of her own. John responds, “When I was a respite worker, … Continued
By andrewwalsh
Workplaces are made up of people, and people’s experiences can change over time. As a supervisor or manager, you may notice changes in a worker’s behaviour, wellbeing, or performance and wonder what might be going on. These situations can be difficult to navigate, especially when health concerns, mental health, substance use, caregiving responsibilities, financial stress, … Continued
By andrewwalsh
In many organizations, worker input is routinely collected, yet it does not consistently translate into visible or sustained change. This gap between input and action can undermine trust, weaken engagement, and limit the effectiveness of participation initiatives. This article examines how organizations can move beyond input collection toward structured approaches that enable meaningful influence. Community … Continued
By andrewwalsh
A support worker finishes a challenging shift helping several chronically unhoused individuals secure housing. Nothing went wrong on paper. Appointments were kept, applications submitted, and no incidents occurred. Yet, on the way home, they replay decisions in their mind, “Did I advocate enough? Could I have connected them with more resources?” There’s no one to … Continued
By andrewwalsh
Content advisory: This article includes discussion of traumatic events commonly encountered in community social services, including suicide. A youth outreach worker responds to a call about a youth in crisis. When they arrive, emergency services are already on scene. The situation is stabilized, but distressing details emerge: the youth was found after a suicide attempt. … Continued
By ellie
Compassion is an important part of creating healthy, supportive workplaces. It involves noticing when others are struggling and responding with understanding and care. Equally valuable is self-compassion: the practice of treating ourselves with the same patience and kindness we offer to those around us. By recognizing our own challenges with kindness rather than judgment, self-compassion … Continued
By ellie
Consider the following scenario: Sarah is a newly appointed assistant director working in film production. During a busy shoot day, she has a disagreement with a crew member about how an extra shot should be scheduled in order to stay on timeline and meet production deadlines. The exchange feels tense and afterward, Sarah notices a … Continued
By ellie
In the arts and entertainment sector, stress can be a feature of your working life. Stress isn’t always negative at manageable levels; it can sharpen focus, spark creative problem-solving, and support learning and growth. Healthy stress can build resilience over time and even activate the same energizing chemistry in the body as excitement, helping you … Continued
By ellie
A case manager starts the day with multiple complex cases. By noon, two urgent situations arise, documentation piles up, and breaks are skipped. There is no clear guideline for what counts as a manageable caseload, and the day ends with unfinished tasks and lingering anxiety. No traumatic incident occurred, yet the structure of the job … Continued
