Resiliency: why do we want it and how do we get it in the workplace?

With the growing concern of mental health issues taking its toll on workplaces, HR departments are considering how they can respond. Can HR teach employees to have more grit or greater resiliency to workplace stressors?
What is workplace resiliency? It is the employee’s ability to bounce back or respond to workplace challenges, changes and setbacks.
Ernie Philip a Senior Vice President at Xerox Canada believes workplace resiliency training is key to an organization’s success. Many studies have illustrated that organizations with greater resiliency have lower absenteeism, better engagement and happier workers. According to Ernie Philip: “Resilient people are happier and have higher life-satisfaction.”
Click here to read about workplace resiliency from Ernie Philp’s perspective.
It may be time for HR Departments to consider resiliency training as part of the overall wellness initiatives.
Discussion Questions
- Develop a presentation on the components of a workplace resiliency training program.
- Imagine your organization has just implemented a resiliency training program. What matrices would you recommend to evaluate the resiliency program?