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A Connected Workforce: Strategies for Addressing Loneliness in All Roles

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A Connected Workforce: Strategies for Addressing Loneliness in All Roles

In the bustling hum of a crowded workplace, loneliness can still cast a silent shadow over certain employees, dimming morale and productivity.

While a packed office might seem immune to isolation, specific roles—think remote IT specialists, night-shift supervisors, or high-pressure executives—can leave even the most dedicated workers feeling disconnected.

We posed a vital question to HR visionaries and business leaders:
Which roles are most vulnerable to employee loneliness, and what HR strategies can effectively combat this hidden challenge?

Drawing on insights like Gallup’s 2024 report, which links workplace connection to a 20% boost in engagement, their innovative solutions—from targeted mentorship programs to inclusive team-building initiatives—offer a powerful playbook for fostering belonging and reigniting workplace camaraderie.

Join us as we uncover the roles at risk and the strategies that bring employees back into the fold.

Read on!

Lisa Lohmann
Founder, LáFora

Lisa Lohmann

‘All the lonely people, where do they all belong?’ sang the Beatles 60 years ago. Turns out, loneliness isn’t just about being alone. It’s just as real in remote work as it is in packed offices.

And one group feels it most: leaders. Managers and executives often report feeling isolated. Why? Leading teams, making tough calls—it’s not something you can easily share. Add to that the fact that most leaders don’t have managers to guide them, and the usual team-building events aren’t really built for them. Between workloads and maintaining authority, they rarely join the Friday drinks or trivia nights.

So what’s the fix? According to Harvard Business Review, company-sponsored activities can ease workplace loneliness. And for leaders specifically, there’s one standout solution: leadership offsites.

Offsites are 2-5 day retreats where leadership teams can step away from the office noise to strategize, connect, and actually talk. These aren’t about PowerPoints and packed schedules – they’re about creating space to connect. Space for real conversations, honest challenges, and (yes) even friendships. From workshops to team challenges to relaxed dinners, offsites break down the barriers that isolate leaders.

Investing in leadership offsites shows you care about your leaders. And when leaders feel supported, they show up stronger for their teams. Fixing loneliness isn’t just about wellbeing – it’s about creating a workplace where everyone thrives, starting from the top.

Tonya Ladipo, LCSW
Founder and CEO of The Ladipo Group

Tonya Ladipo, LCSW

Loneliness stems from a sense of disconnection. We can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely, which only intensifies our feelings.

Employees who report to multiple departments but lack their own dedicated team often feel isolated. Remote workers are also at a risk for loneliness, especially in organizations where other roles are hybrid or in-person.

Here are a three HR strategies to help combat loneliness in the workplace:

Schedule regular, casual check-ins with team members to foster connection beyond work-related conversations. A simple 30-minute coffee chat, guided by a few questions, can help bring people together. Ask people to share their favorite TV shows or play a work-friendly version of Two Truths and A Lie.

Create structured opportunities for roles that are inherently isolated. Have employees attend department meetings for adjacent departments and teams. This is another opportunity for connection that also allows a new perspective of the work, which will also likely generate new ideas.

Encourage participation in Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). Joining ERGs promotes a sense of community while enjoying company-sponsored events.

Creating connection is the key strategy to combat loneliness at work and in life!

Iqbal Ahmad
Founder & CEO, Britannia School of Academics

Iqbal Ahmad

Certain positions such as leadership roles and senior managers, within an organisation, are naturally more prone to loneliness, even in a busy workplace. It is natural for them to feel isolated as they cannot share their challenges with their subordinates. Remote workers are also more likely to feel disconnected as there is no team interaction in their daily routine.

HRs can address these challenges with practical strategies to create a real connection. Regular check-ins or informal meetings regarding the current situation of projects can provide a space for employees to talk about the challenges they are facing.

Cross-departmental collaborations, or organising social events within the organisation also enhance the interaction between employees at the workplace. Regular team dinners and lunches will also help to bring the remote workers out from their dens to enjoy some time with colleagues.

Small actions like encouraging feedback, creating peer groups, or just making everyone feel included can make a big difference in reducing loneliness and building a stronger team.

Samantha Taylor
Business Consultant, LLC.org

Samantha Taylor

Loneliness in the workplace often impacts people who have jobs where they work by themselves or do not talk much with others. Remote tech workers, night shift employees, or team leaders handling individual projects can feel lonely even if the workplace is very active.

This I see many times in my over 12 years of helping businesses make strong teams.

HR can do something about this. They can implement a buddy system and pair workers with mentors to help get on a personal level. Organizing project collaborations from different departments is also a good idea. Managers should check how staff are doing with these projects. Social events, both online and in person, can help people feel included.

I always tell companies, they need to try hard so everyone feels like part of the team. Saying thanks for good work is a very important thing. Happy employees=higher output. Companies should value inclusion.

Dr Kevin Huffman
CEO, On the Rocks Climbing Gym

Dr Kevin Huffman

People who perform unique tasks in their job roles encounter specific difficulties when trying to connect with other employees.

For instance, a data scientist who studies advanced algorithms may find it hard to make connections with marketing and sales staff. Specialized knowledge and unique work may create social barriers meaning these professionals have trouble connecting with others at work.

Those who work remotely alongside office-based colleagues still feel disconnected from others. Technology helps us communicate but lacks the full depth of human interaction experience.

Employees who work remotely often fail to participate in casual employee bonding sessions and miss spontaneous team interactions that take place in shared offices.

Leaders in charge often feel disconnected from others despite their influential position. The demanding nature of their work separates them from their coworkers.

Gareth Hoyle
Managing Director, Marketing Signals

Gareth Hoyle

Communication is key: If you work predominantly from home, it’s important to remember to keep in touch to combat loneliness, however, even some people working in an office can experience loneliness. 

As a leader, being present helps you to create a workplace culture built on openness and collaboration, which is essential in any remote or in-person office to combat loneliness. So, celebrate everyone’s successes, no matter how big or small, keep everyone involved and remember to have your door perpetually open. 

While being present in day-to-day meetings reminds your team that you’re there to help, make sure you’re having dedicated check-ins too. This could take the form of a one-on-one video call if you’re a remote worker, a weekly team catch up or a monthly in-person review. All of which can help remote employees feel more connected. 

As remote workers, make sure that we have a face to face catch up with a coffee and/or lunch and spend the day working together at least once a month, wherever is convenient for those meeting up, to help us feel less lonely in a fully remote workforce. 

Encourage socialising: Encouraging your team to chat with one another outside of work hours can boost morale and combat loneliness. Whether it’s a night out, a team meal or simply a call that isn’t about work, I think it’s important for my team to feel like they know each other outside of the workplace. At Marketing Signals, we try to make sure we all meet up twice a year, once in winter and once in summer and then individual teams and managers try to meet up regularly too.

But it’s not just social events that can build a sense of belonging and reduce the risk of feeling lonely. After the weekend, we all make sure we’re catching up on calls to ask how it went to develop a more personal connection. While it’s not always possible or practical to build small-talk into every single meeting, make sure you’re seizing the chances you have to make each other feel connected by simply asking how everyone really is.

Taking calls with the camera on: We tend to make sure that when we’re on calls, we’re using our camera so that we can see each other. This helps maximise communication, and engagement, reduces loneliness and ensures the team are all focused on the call rather than trying to multitask. Seeing the person you’re talking to encourages a more authentic human connection and with a remote team, can help them feel less alone. 

Don’t be an absent manager: In straightforward terms, don’t be an absent manager. There might be a lack of face-to-face contact for those working flexibly, but that doesn’t mean you can’t develop a formal structure that makes regular contact a priority. 

Ensuring every individual at each location has what they need to be successful, whilst making yourself available when they need additional support is essential. This will ultimately help keep remote employees engaged and ensure they feel supported and less alone, despite not working face to face all the time.

Michael Franco
Organizational Development Consultant, Quokka Hub

 

Michael Franco

In my experience with eNPS surveys, individual contributors and leadership roles are the most prone to feelings of loneliness.

The individual contributors feel loneliness due to the independent nature of their work.

Leadership can feel lonely due to the separation that occurs because of the decision-making duties and unique responsibilities.

The best solutions I have seen achieve results are mentorship programs, group leadership development programs, and informal coffee chats.

Mentorship programs foster connections, the L&D leadership programs create community among leaders, and the coffee chats encourage casual conversations across teams.

Shawn Boyer
CEO & Founder, goHappy

Shawn Boyer

Deskless workers often feel left out without access to things like company emails or regular updates from their employers. This can lead to feelings of loneliness, which impacts how engaged and motivated they are.

But HR leaders can change that through simple strategies like regular check-ins, celebrating wins, and asking for feedback can make a big difference.

Tools like goHappy make it easy to keep frontline workers in the loop, helping everyone feel connected, valued, and part of the team.

David Case
President, Advastar Group

David Case

In general terms, I would say that middle managers are often prone to feeling isolated or lonely because of their unique position within a company’s hierarchy.

The people they work with most often will typically be their direct reports, which limits their access to colleagues they can confide in. Even if they generally get along with their teams and have a good rapport, the fact that they’re in a position of authority adds distance in these relationships.

On the other side, they’re not on a peer-to-peer level with upper leadership, either, and opportunities to engage and collaborate with other middle managers who could serve as workplace friends are often limited.

This creates an environment where these individuals are often at high risk for feeling isolated.

One strategy that can be very effective for combatting this isolation is to organize peer-to-peer groups where middle managers across the organization can connect. These could be organized meet-ups or something more like an online forum or chat group.

Another excellent option is to establish a mentorship program that partners middle managers with individuals from senior leadership, which can help to break down the barriers between leadership levels, providing more open communication and giving middle managers another source of support.

Rachel Tuma
Director, HR & Payroll Services, CESA6

Rachel Tuma

I believe the truth is no matter how many people are around us each day from a remote finance person to the outgoing salesperson who seems to know everyone, it’s possible for anyone in any position to feel lonely.

At CESA 6, a 2024 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award winner, we ask employees as part of our gallup engagement survey if employees have a best friend at work.

We use this data to support events like virtual pet day, wellness competitions, and a Souperbowl (soup competition) to encourage team building and foster a positive environment where employees can develop social connections based on their interests to eventually find that best friend at work.

The HR Spotlight team thanks these industry leaders for offering their expertise and experience and sharing these insights.

Do you wish to contribute to the next HR Spotlight article? Or is there an insight or idea you’d like to share with readers across the globe?

Write to us at connect@HRSpotlight.com, and our team will help you share your insights.

Recent Posts

Stopping the Blame Game: How to Build a Responsible Workforce

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Stopping the Blame Game: How to Build a Responsible Workforce

Blame-shifting in the workplace can erode trust, tank morale, and stifle growth, yet it’s a persistent challenge for many organizations.

With studies like Gallup’s 2024 report showing that high accountability cultures boost employee engagement by 27%, fostering responsibility is more critical than ever.

We reached out to HR visionaries and business leaders to tackle a pressing question:

What are your go-to solutions for improving accountability within your workforce?

From implementing transparent goal-setting frameworks to fostering psychological safety, their practical strategies and real-world insights offer a blueprint for transforming blame into ownership.

Dive into their expert advice to unlock a more empowered, productive workplace.

Read on!

Trayton Vance
CEO & Founder, Coaching Focus Ltd

Coaching Culture Replaces Blame With Accountability

When blame becomes the norm, growth takes a backseat.

It’s a pattern we see all too often. A deadline gets missed. A mistake slips through. Fingers start pointing. Suddenly, it’s less about solving the issue – and more about dodging responsibility.

Blame can feel safe in the short term. But over time? It chips away at trust. It fuels defensiveness. And it stalls progress.

Here’s the truth:
When blame takes over, learning stops. People hold back. Morale dips. And innovation? It fizzles.

So, how do you break that cycle?

By building a coaching culture that champions accountability – not blame.

In a coaching-led environment, mistakes aren’t seen as failures to hide. They’re seen as opportunities to learn and grow.

Here’s how coaching flips the script:

1. It shifts focus from blame to ownership: Our coaches support individuals in asking the right questions: What was my part in this? What can I learn from it? What would I do differently next time? Accountability becomes internal – not imposed.

2. It encourages curiosity over criticism: Instead of jumping to conclusions, teams learn to pause and explore what happened. That space creates understanding – and stronger, more resilient solutions.

3. It empowers leaders to model the way: Leaders stop reacting and start coaching. They become role models for calm reflection, honest feedback, and clear expectations. And when leaders own their part? The ripple effect is huge.

4. It builds psychological safety: When people feel safe to speak up, take risks, and admit when something didn’t go to plan – that’s where true accountability lives. Coaching nurtures that safety. It creates space for honesty without fear.

The result?

A workforce that doesn’t hide from mistakes. They learn from them.

They bounce back stronger.

And they hold themselves – and each other – to high standards because they want to, not because they’re afraid not to.

Nurdes Gomez
Director of People Operations, eMed

Accountability Thrives In Trust, Not Fear

Shifting blame can quickly erode trust and collaboration within a team. For me, improving accountability starts with creating a culture where people feel safe owning both their wins and their mistakes.

I’ve found that clear expectations, regular feedback, and modeling accountability as a leader go a long way. You need to be honest when you or your team makes a mistake, own it and fix it. People will always respect you for being forthcoming and working towards constant growth.

I also believe in focusing on solutions rather than finger-pointing. When someone drops the ball, it’s an opportunity to ask, “What can we learn from this?” and “How can we prevent it next time?” That reframing fosters growth, not fear. But just as important is making sure people know that trying something new isn’t failure–it’s learning. I always encourage a mindset of try, assess, and pivot. That’s how growth happens–through curiosity, experimentation, and reflection.

When we create space for people to explore new ideas without fear of blame, they feel empowered to take initiative and learn from the process. Accountability then becomes less about avoiding mistakes and more about continuously growing–together.

Max Shak
Founder & CEO, nerDigital

Clarity And Trust Foster Accountability Culture

Accountability isn’t just a leadership ideal–it’s a cultural foundation. At Nerdigital, we’ve worked hard to build an environment where ownership is expected, respected, and reinforced daily. Shifting blame might be easy in the short term, but in the long run, it erodes trust, stalls progress, and kills team momentum. One of my biggest priorities as a leader has been creating conditions where accountability becomes the norm, not the exception.

The first step is clarity. A lot of blame-shifting comes from vague expectations or undefined roles. So we start with alignment–every team member knows what success looks like in their role, what they’re responsible for, and how their work ladders up to the bigger picture. When people understand their impact, they take more pride in their performance.

But accountability doesn’t thrive in fear–it thrives in trust. We’ve created a culture where mistakes aren’t punished but debriefed. When something goes wrong, we don’t look for someone to blame; we look for what we can learn. That shift opens the door for real ownership. People feel safe admitting when they’ve dropped the ball–and that honesty becomes contagious. It also makes it easier for us, as leaders, to coach in real time rather than letting issues fester under the surface.

One thing I personally do is model it. If I miss something or make a misstep, I own it–publicly. That vulnerability from the top sets the tone for the rest of the team. It says, “We’re all human, but we’re also all responsible.” And it reinforces the idea that accountability isn’t about perfection–it’s about integrity.

We also use regular retrospectives, not just for projects, but for how we function as a team. What worked? What didn’t? Where can we improve individually and collectively? It’s not a blame game–it’s a growth loop.

Improving accountability isn’t about control–it’s about empowerment. When people feel truly seen, supported, and trusted, they start showing up not just for the task, but for the team. That’s when accountability becomes second nature. And when that happens, culture strengthens, performance improves, and everyone grows together.

Tyler Harper
Co-Founder, Homegrown Storage

Clear Roles Encourage Ownership And Growth

Improving accountability starts with setting clear expectations and creating a culture where ownership is encouraged and modeled from the top down. At Homegrown Storage, we’ve found that when roles, responsibilities, and outcomes are clearly defined, it becomes much easier for team members to take ownership of their work.

One of our go-to solutions is regular check-ins that focus not just on performance but on problem-solving. We ask team members to reflect on what went well, what didn’t, and how they plan to improve. This shifts the focus from blame to growth. We also make it a point to recognize accountability when we see it–publicly acknowledging when someone takes responsibility and works to fix an issue helps reinforce that it’s a valued trait.

When mistakes happen, we treat them as learning opportunities rather than reasons for punishment. This creates a safe space for honest reflection and encourages continuous improvement. Over time, this approach builds trust, strengthens morale, and fosters a more resilient, responsible team.

Kritika Kanodia
CEO, Write Right

Leading By Example Cultivates Accountability

Improving accountability within a workforce starts with creating a culture of trust and transparency. At Write Right, I’ve found that leading by example is one of the most effective strategies. When I hold myself accountable, it sets a tone for others to do the same.

I make sure that responsibilities are clearly defined from the start–everyone knows their roles and expectations. Regular check-ins are crucial for staying on track and making adjustments as needed. If an issue arises, I focus on problem-solving rather than blame. Encouraging open communication and allowing space for honest discussions about mistakes fosters a learning environment instead of a blame culture.

One key practice I implement is having “ownership meetings,” where team members share successes and also areas where things didn’t go as planned. This helps people take responsibility without fear of punishment, knowing it’s a learning opportunity.

By nurturing a culture of mutual respect and ownership, employees begin to see accountability as a part of personal growth and success, which ultimately leads to improved morale and a stronger, more cohesive team.

Steve Faulkner
Founder & Chief Recruiter, Spencer James Group

Workflow Platforms Enhance Accountability And Efficiency

When each team member’s work is clearly documented and tracked, it becomes much more difficult for employees to shift blame or sidestep accountability. This doesn’t require micromanaging every task. What has worked well for us at Spencer James Group is making effective use of a workflow management platform to assign tasks, monitor progress, and give managers visibility into their teams’ work at a big-picture level.

What I appreciate about this solution is that it strengthens accountability while also improving efficiency and communication across the team. Everyone knows exactly what stage each project is in and who is responsible for it. Once a task is complete, it can automatically move to the next step in the process, reducing the risk of delays or missed steps.

This kind of system also fosters peer-to-peer accountability. It gives team members visibility into each other’s workloads, allowing them to check in, offer support, or collaborate when someone falls behind or needs help to meet a deadline. Ultimately, utilizing a workflow management platform increases transparency around every team member’s tasks and responsibilities–and transparency and accountability go hand in hand.

Anita Roach
Founder, Safe & Sound Workplace Alliance

Trauma-Informed Approach Transforms Accountability

Blame-shifting is often seen as a character flaw or a lack of professionalism–but in trauma-informed workplaces, we pause to consider: what’s underneath the behavior? The instinct to deflect blame can, in fact, be a deeply ingrained trauma response. For individuals who have experienced environments–personally or professionally–where mistakes led to punishment, shame, or loss of safety, self-protection becomes a reflex. Shifting blame becomes a way to survive, not sabotage.

This doesn’t mean we excuse the behavior. It means we understand it, so we can change it.

Accountability is not about blame. It’s about building safety, trust, and integrity through aligned actions and transparent systems. In Safe & Sound: Cultivating a Whole-human, Trauma-informed Approach to Employee and Employer Well-being, I introduce the Seven Agreements, a set of actionable commitments that help organizations operationalize trauma-informed values. Among them, Uphold Accountability is foundational.

In a Safe & Sound workplace, accountability is approached not as a tool for control, but as a mechanism for healing and empowerment. It reinforces the message: “You are believed. You are protected. We stand behind our commitments.”

This shift requires organizations to:

Create clear and consistent structures for accountability that avoid ambiguity and arbitrariness.

Model transparency at all levels, especially among leadership, to demonstrate that accountability is reciprocal–not hierarchical.

Build relational trust by acknowledging mistakes, offering repair, and demonstrating that accountability is about growth, not punishment.

This Agreement doesn’t exist in isolation. It is upheld by others–especially Allow and Accept Humanness, which ensures that employees feel safe enough to admit mistakes without shame, and Be Mindful of Actions, Behaviors, and Their Impact, which helps us recognize how unaddressed harm can perpetuate silence, blame, and fear.

In organizations where accountability is upheld in alignment with these Agreements, we don’t see blame-shifting as often. Instead, we see employees who take ownership of their work, raise concerns earlier, and engage in repair when things go wrong. Why? Because they trust the process and feel psychologically safe.

Modeling the behaviors, embedding them in policies, and providing training that helps teams understand accountability not as discipline, but as care can shift behavior from one of blaming to one of accountability.

Marissa Daskalakis
Small Business Owner & Chef, Fete Fraiche

Family Meal Review Depersonalizes Feedback

We’ve transformed accountability in our kitchen by implementing a practice borrowed from Michelin-starred restaurants called “family meal review.”

After each event, our entire team gathers to taste leftover components and discuss both successes and shortcomings openly, focusing on the food itself rather than individual performance. This product-centered approach depersonalizes feedback while maintaining clear standards.

When issues arise, we ask “what happened to the dish?” rather than “who made the mistake?” This subtle shift encourages collaborative problem-solving rather than defensive positioning.

By consistently modeling vulnerability–beginning with leadership acknowledging our own missteps first–we’ve created a culture where accountability becomes about collective improvement rather than individual blame, resulting in remarkable quality improvements and nearly eliminated staff turnover.

Austin Benton
Founder, Speaker Drive

Ownership Maps Shift Culture From Blame To Clarity

One of the most effective ways I’ve found to improve accountability–especially in a team where finger-pointing starts creeping in–is to remove the fog. At our speaker agency, we made one simple change: we replaced vague to-do lists and generic job titles with ultra-clear ownership maps. Every project now has a visible owner, not a “team” owner–one person, one face, even if the work is shared.

What that did was quietly shift the culture. It’s not about blame anymore, it’s about clarity. When someone knows their name next to a task, they think differently. And when something does go sideways, the conversation shifts from “who messed this up?” to “what process let this through, and how do we fix it next time?” Blame fades when people feel safe owning things–even the mistakes.

Accountability isn’t built by pushing harder–it’s built by creating systems that don’t let people hide or panic. Clear roles, honest post-mortems, and a culture where owning up gets you more respect than deflecting ever could–that’s how you build real accountability.

James McNally
Managing Director, SDVH [Self Drive Vehicle Hire]

Celebrating Accountability Reduces Blame Culture

At SDVH, I focus on leading by example and making accountability a core part of our culture. My team needs to observe me taking responsibility in all situations as a CEO because it demonstrates leadership through ownership, and that trickles down.

We also make it a point to celebrate accountability across departments. If a team member steps up to solve an issue or drive a project forward, we recognize that publicly through team shoutouts and internal comm. Our organization has seen a major reduction in blame culture alongside an increase in team morale because of this reinforcement strategy.

The HR Spotlight team thanks these industry leaders for offering their expertise and experience and sharing these insights.

Do you wish to contribute to the next HR Spotlight article? Or is there an insight or idea you’d like to share with readers across the globe?

Write to us at connect@HRSpotlight.com, and our team will help you share your insights.

Recent Posts

DEI Rollbacks: HR and Business Leaders Unpack the Consequences

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DEI Rollbacks: HR and Business Leaders Unpack the Consequences

The corporate world is at a crossroads as major companies like Walmart, Meta, and Disney scale back their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, citing shifting priorities and political pressures.

But what does this retreat mean for workplaces, employee morale, and business success?

We went straight to the experts, asking HR trailblazers and business leaders to weigh in on the critical question:

What are the potential outcomes of dialing back DEI efforts?

From risks like increased workplace bias and talent loss to opportunities for reimagining inclusion strategies, their candid insights—grounded in data like McKinsey’s 2023 report showing diverse teams boost performance by 35%—offer a roadmap for navigating this complex shift.

Join us as we unpack the real-world implications and what’s at stake for the future of work.

Read on!

Kim Clark
DEI Communications Speaker & Consultant, Kim Clark Communications, Inc.

Scaling Back DEI Risks Brand Damage

In short: Brand reputation damage. “Optics” backfiring. Unwanted attrition. Trust in leadership is sinking. Increased discrimination without the protections that DEI provides organizations. Still won’t be protected from intimidation and litigation threats.

It is extremely dangerous to pull back on legal, productive DEI work. This makes companies more vulnerable – not less – to legal issues and would be going in the opposite direction that employees, customers, shareholders, and society are going. Core to a company being sustainable is staying relevant and scaling back on useful, legal DEI work will make companies less relevant.

This is the time to protect your people. The ones doing the intimidation do not care about your company, or your employees, or your customers or your revenue. You do. If you’ve done a comprehensive audit of your DEI work according to applicable laws, all you’re doing with DEI work is living up to your mission, vision, and values. Your actions are in integrity with your statements.

To message this in a way that each audience can understand, I recommend using The DEPTH Model from the book, The Conscious Communicator.

Nurit Hattab
Consultant, DEI & Culture Change, The DEI Code

DEI Is Essential For Everyone’s Success

Scaling Back DEI initiatives? Here’s what’s at stake for everyone:

It affects all of us – Life is unpredictable. At some point in our lives, we all become “diverse” – through health challenges, caregiving roles, or unexpected life shifts. We need systems that can see us, support us, and help us thrive. DEI isn’t about “others”; it’s about all of us, in our full humanity.

DEI is not about labels – it’s about people. The real focus is on recognizing and valuing uniqueness. Scaling back DEI initiatives sends the wrong message: that people’s individual needs, strengths, and growth areas aren’t seen or supported. That erodes the human side of work and your attractiveness as an employer.

It’s about building organizations that work for everyone – Research shows that environments fostering belonging empower all employees -not just those from historically excluded groups. The result? Stronger collaboration, better decision-making, and improved outcomes.

In a knowledge economy, the difference is your competitive edge – When you stop creating spaces for different voices, perspectives, and ways of thinking, you risk losing the very innovation that drives growth -whether it’s a warning you didn’t see coming or a game-changing idea.

Why you scale back matters -If DEI programs are paused to be refined, aligned with legal frameworks, and improved–great. If they’re stopped to avoid discomfort or complexity, everyone loses. Avoiding difference is not a strategy–it becomes a liability.

System adaptability is still key – DEI practices help organizations evolve – updating outdated systems and unlocking fresh thinking. That’s not a “nice to have”; it’s business-critical in a fast-moving world.

While scaling back DEI initiatives may address certain legal or political concerns, it also introduces serious risks – around equity, reputation, and long-term org. effectiveness. Companies that step back too far may unintentionally send a message that people’s individual experiences and strengths don’t matter.

That’s not just a cultural loss–it’s a strategic one.

Brett Ungashick
CEO, OutSail

Scaling Back DEI Undermines Growth

As a professional HRIS expert, I see the scaling back of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives as a potentially short-sighted move that may undermine long-term organizational growth and employee engagement. DEI is not just a social initiative–it directly impacts recruitment, retention, and performance. Data shows that diverse teams are more innovative and productive, and organizations with inclusive cultures experience higher employee satisfaction and lower turnover rates. When DEI efforts are deprioritized, businesses may lose these strategic advantages.

From an HRIS perspective, DEI metrics are vital for tracking organizational health and equity in the workforce. Reducing focus on DEI initiatives could lead to less visibility into workforce disparities, affecting everything from promotions to pay equity. Systems that capture and analyze DEI-related data help leadership make informed decisions, ensuring fairness and compliance with equal opportunity laws. Scaling back can hinder progress, especially if the underlying analytics and accountability mechanisms are removed or weakened.

Moreover, the message sent to employees when DEI is scaled back can be demoralizing, particularly for underrepresented groups. It may lead to decreased trust in leadership, lower morale, and diminished feelings of belonging. This can result in a disengaged workforce, reduced collaboration, and even public reputation risk–especially in today’s environment where social responsibility matters to both employees and consumers.

In the long run, organizations that step back from DEI may find themselves less competitive in attracting top talent. Younger generations entering the workforce are more diverse and increasingly value inclusion and equity as core workplace values. Rather than retreating from DEI, companies should aim to integrate it more deeply into their HR technology systems and business strategies–making it measurable, actionable, and sustainable.

Austin Benton
Founder, Speaker Drive

DEI Rollback Makes Companies Easier To Ignore

Imagine you’re building a soccer team. Not just any team, but one meant to win tournaments, attract fans, and actually matter. Now, if everyone on that team plays the same way, thinks the same way, and trained under the same coach… sure, things might feel smooth at first. But the team becomes predictable. Easy to read. Eventually, you lose to teams that know how to bring in different styles, weird plays, unexpected moves. That’s what happens when companies scale back DEI.

I’ve worked in marketing for a speaker agency, and let me tell you–when events start sounding like echo chambers, people stop listening. DEI brings in voices with different life experiences, ideas you wouldn’t have come up with on your own. And when companies cut that out because it feels “too political” or “too risky,” they lose edge. It’s like benching your most creative players because their style is different. Sure, it’s quieter… but also less powerful.

Long story short: pulling back on DEI might make things look neat for a while, but in the real world, it just makes you easier to ignore.

Paul DeMott
Chief Technology Officer, Helium SEO

Shift DEI From Policy To Action

For organizations looking to create a tangible, measurable impact in DEI, one of the most effective steps is to shift from policy creation to actionable, data-driven initiatives. This means setting clear, measurable goals tied to DEI outcomes, like hiring targets, career advancement opportunities, or retention rates for underrepresented groups.

Rather than just relying on broad statements, organizations should establish a system for tracking progress. For example, using employee surveys to measure inclusivity, reviewing hiring practices to ensure they are equitable, and analyzing promotion patterns to identify gaps. These actions allow leadership to see where they’re succeeding and where they need to improve. Regularly reviewing this data and making adjustments in real-time shows a commitment to real change, not just lip service.

Accountability is key–setting up DEI champions at different levels within the organization to lead the charge can also make a difference. With tangible goals and data behind them, organizations can build a DEI culture that has measurable, lasting effects on the workforce.

Sheena Yap Chan
WSJ Bestselling Author, Sheena Yap Chan

DEI Rollback Harms Team Morale

One unexpected consequence of a DEI rollback I observed was a noticeable decline in team morale and collaboration.

When leadership deprioritized DEI initiatives, it sent an unspoken message that inclusivity and diverse perspectives weren’t valued. This led to underrepresented employees feeling unsupported and hesitant to share their ideas, which stifled creativity and innovation.

The rollback also created silos within teams, as trust and psychological safety diminished across the organization.

What I learned from this experience is that DEI isn’t just a program or initiative-it’s the foundation for building resilient, high-performing teams. When inclusivity is sidelined, it impacts everyone, not just those who are directly marginalized. Organizations thrive when all employees feel valued, heard, and empowered to contribute authentically.

This experience reinforced my commitment to advocating for DEI as a non-negotiable priority in any workplace, as it directly influences the health, success, and sustainability of the entire organization.

Aimie Ye
Director of Marketing, Centime

Embed DEI In Performance Management

One practical step organizations can take is embedding DEI into performance management–tying leadership bonuses or promotions to specific, measurable DEI outcomes. It forces accountability beyond good intentions.

For example, you can track inclusive hiring metrics, retention rates for underrepresented groups, or team-wide participation in bias training and mentorship programs. If DEI goals are treated like revenue or operational KPIs, they’re more likely to drive real behavior change.

At Centime, we’ve seen the difference when DEI isn’t siloed under HR but is part of how every team operates. This means empowering ERG leaders with actual budgets, inviting diverse voices into product and marketing reviews, and analyzing whether vendor partnerships reflect your values.

DEI can’t be a checkbox–it has to be a lens through which the entire organization makes decisions.

Maurice Harary
CEO & Co-Founder, The Bid Lab

Scaling Back DEI Risks Long-Term Reputation

Scaling back DEI initiatives might bring short-term gains, but the reputation of brands that do so might suffer in the long run.

I’d advise organizations to carefully consider what they have to gain– and weigh that against what they’d have to lose by doing so.

There’s plenty of research out there that shows the most successful companies are the ones that are the most diverse. It makes sense to me that you’d want your workforce to reflect your target audience– which is everyone in your niche!

Doug Crawford
President & Founder, Best Trade Schools

Track DEI Success For Real Outcomes

One practical step an organization can take is to start tracking and measuring the success of its DEI initiatives in a way that connects directly to real outcomes. This could mean collecting data on hiring, promotions, and retention rates across different demographics.

Beyond just having policies in place, it’s essential to understand how those policies are influencing the workforce in tangible ways. This helps ensure that DEI efforts are not only surface-level but are actually contributing to a more inclusive and equitable work environment.

Joseph Commisso
Owner, WeBuyHousesQuick.ca

Scaling Back DEI Has Long-Term Consequences

Scaling back DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives may seem like a way to cut costs or avoid controversy, but it can lead to serious long-term consequences.

Without these efforts, organizations risk losing diverse talent, lowering employee morale, and weakening innovation due to a lack of varied perspectives. It may also hurt a company’s reputation, especially with younger generations and socially conscious customers who value inclusivity.

In some cases, pulling back on DEI can even lead to legal and compliance issues if protections and fair practices aren’t maintained.

Overall, while cutting DEI programs might offer short-term relief, it could cost much more in the long run in terms of talent, trust, and performance.

The HR Spotlight team thanks these industry leaders for offering their expertise and experience and sharing these insights.

Do you wish to contribute to the next HR Spotlight article? Or is there an insight or idea you’d like to share with readers across the globe?

Write to us at connect@HRSpotlight.com, and our team will help you share your insights.

Recent Posts

The Stay Interview Landscape: Implementation and Alternatives

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The Stay Interview Landscape: Implementation and Alternatives

Organizations approach employee retention in a variety of ways, and the use of stay interviews is no exception. 

Some companies have embraced stay interviews as a core component of their talent management strategy, while others have opted for alternative approaches. 

In this post, we explore this diverse landscape, gathering insights from HR and business leaders across different industries. 

We asked them to share their experiences with stay interviews: those who conduct them detail their program’s objectives, frequency, core questions, and designated interviewers; those who don’t explain the factors that led to that decision. 

Their responses offer a valuable perspective on the strategic considerations involved in choosing the right retention strategies for your organization.

Read on!

Ashish Gaur
HR Consultant

Understand Employee Motivations Through Stay Interviews

We recognize the importance of employee engagement and retention. Stay interviews are valuable tools for understanding employee motivations, concerns, and expectations.

Why: They help identify factors that enhance job satisfaction and address potential attrition risks proactively.

When: Typically conducted annually or biannually, or when key talent shows signs of disengagement.

What: Discussions focus on career growth, work environment, challenges, and suggestions for improvement.

Who: Conducted by HR or direct supervisors to foster open and constructive dialogue.

If you’d like to explore best practices or implementation strategies, I’d be happy to share insights based on my experience in HRM and employee engagement.

Angela Heyroth
Principal, Talent Centric Designs

Conduct Engagement Chats Regularly

Stay interviews are intentional conversations you have with your employees about what they like about your organization, what they may need changed in order to continue growing or staying motivated, and if they are feeling valued.

I like to encourage all people leaders to have them at least annually, rather than reserving them for when there is a turnover crisis or you think someone is about to quit. 

By scheduling them on a recurring basis (annual, biannual, or quarterly) and calling them something like “Engagement Chat,” “Career Check-in,” or “Touch-Base Conversation,” it becomes less focused on a checkbox and more focused on getting feedback from the employees to ensure that the environment continues as one in which they can engage and be challenged, as well as help them see how great they are doing and how well a match they are to the company so they don’t consider leaving. 

Whatever you call it, it should be clearly different from a standard one-on-one or a performance check-in.

Some great questions to consider are:

What have you felt really good about accomplishing so far this year?

How close does this role match your dream job?

What’s been your worst day so far this year and how can I make sure that’s not repeated for you?

What talent do you have that I can better leverage?

Ann Kuss
CEO, Outstaff Your Team

Integrate Stay Interviews Into One-On-Ones

Stay interviews are one of the most valuable yet underrated retention tools.

We don’t treat them as formal sit-downs but integrate them naturally into one-on-ones and key milestones. This way, employees feel comfortable sharing real insights rather than rehearsed answers.

Every manager in our organization is equipped with a framework to ask the right questions, listen actively, and identify patterns across teams.

The goal isn’t just to understand why people stay but to spot early warning signs before they consider leaving.

A few things that make these conversations effective: timing matters–we avoid scheduling them during high-stress periods or major deadlines. We also group insights across teams to implement meaningful changes instead of treating feedback in isolation.

The key? Undivided attention and follow-up. If employees take the time to share, they need to see action.

Stay interviews work when they lead to real improvements — not just another checkbox in HR’s playbook.

Gearl Loden
Leadership Consultant & Speaker, Loden Leadership + Consulting

Act on Stay Interview Insights

At our organization, we believe that listening to employees isn’t just good leadership–it’s smart strategy.

One of the ways we do this is through stay interviews.

Our team visits each campus and facility, meeting one-on-one with a select group of employees who have been with us for at least three years.

These candid conversations go beyond surveys, uncovering what truly matters to our employees–why they stay, what keeps them engaged, and where we can improve.

And we don’t just listen–we act.

Thanks to the insights gained from stay interviews and employee surveys, we’ve made meaningful, employee-driven changes.

We’ve revamped how we communicate our benefits program, introduced an employee gym, increased sick day payouts, and added bereavement days to better support our team.

These changes have made a difference.

Since implementing stay interviews, we’ve seen higher engagement, stronger retention, and a workplace culture that people want to be part of.

One long-term employee recently shared, “Knowing my feedback directly led to real changes makes me feel valued in a way I haven’t experienced elsewhere.”

If you’re not conducting stay interviews, now is the time to start.

Listening and acting on employee feedback isn’t just about retention–it’s about building a workplace where people thrive.

Max Shak
Founder & CEO, Zapiy

Foster Continuous Engagement

At Zapiy, we believe in open, ongoing conversations with our team, but we don’t conduct formal stay interviews in the traditional sense. Instead, we focus on continuous engagement through regular one-on-one check-ins and team feedback loops.

Why? Because we want to catch small frustrations before they become big reasons to leave.

We’ve found that when employees feel heard only once a year in a structured “stay interview,” it can feel like a formality rather than a meaningful dialogue. Instead, we foster an environment where feedback is always welcome, whether it’s in a structured meeting or a casual chat.

That said, if I were to implement stay interviews, I’d prioritize:

When: Every six months, to identify trends early.

Who: Every team member, with direct managers leading the conversation.

What: Honest discussions about job satisfaction, growth opportunities, and any roadblocks.

My biggest concern with formal stay interviews is that they can sometimes feel too little, too late.

If leaders are waiting until an interview to address engagement issues, they’ve already missed critical moments to listen, act, and retain great people.

Nikita Sherbina
Co-Founder & CEO, AIScreen

Head Off Problems with Stay Interviews

We conduct stay interviews at our organization and they’ve become a big part of our employee retention strategy.

The “why” behind them is simple: we want to know why our employees stay with us, what motivates them and what could make their experience even better. This helps us head off problems before they become turnover.

We do stay interviews during performance reviews or after a big milestone like a year with the company.

The “what” is about job satisfaction, work environment, team dynamics and areas for improvement. We ask about growth opportunities and if they feel valued and supported.

As for the “who”, the interviews are usually conducted by the employee’s direct manager or HR depending on the individual’s comfort level. We make sure it’s a relaxed non-judgmental conversation so employees feel safe to share their feedback.

These have helped us reduce turnover by highlighting areas that needed attention like better communication or more development opportunities.

They’ve been huge in building our company culture and making employees feel heard and appreciated.

Austin Benton
Marketing Consultant, Gotham Artists

Use Casual Coffee Check-Ins

We don’t do traditional stay interviews–frankly, they feel too much like performance reviews in disguise.

Instead, we have casual “coffee check-ins,” spontaneous, low-pressure chats where employees can genuinely share what’s going well and what’s getting under their skin.

These happen every quarter, no forms, no formalities, just authentic conversations. Managers initiate these, but anyone can request one anytime.

We’ve found this method opens up honest dialog far better than scheduled, structured sit-downs.

The informal setting lets people relax, speak freely, and actually voice what matters–rather than checking boxes to satisfy HR.

Mohammed Kamal
Business Development Manager, Olavivo

Boost Retention with Stay Interviews

Stay interviews are proactive discussions aimed at boosting employee engagement and retention.

They help organizations enhance retention by identifying factors that keep employees satisfied, pinpoint areas for improvement in the work environment, and strengthen relationships to foster loyalty.

By gauging employee sentiment early, managers can address potential issues before they escalate, creating a more inclusive and committed workplace.

Michael Kazula
Director of Marketing, Olavivo

Enhance Engagement with Stay Interviews

Stay interviews are discussions between managers and employees aimed at understanding the reasons for employee retention and identifying areas for improvement.

Unlike exit interviews, which focus on departures, stay interviews seek to enhance satisfaction and engagement, particularly crucial in the affiliate marketing sector where retaining skilled professionals is vital.

These interviews not only help retain talent but also foster enhanced employee engagement through active feedback.

Alex Cornici
Writer, Cheap Places To Go

Retain Talent with Stay Interviews

Stay interviews have become a cornerstone strategy for our organization to retain talent and ensure employee satisfaction.

Essentially, these interviews serve as a preemptive strike against potential employee turnover by allowing us to address concerns and gather feedback in a constructive manner.

We typically conduct them annually, providing a comfortable space for employees and managers to discuss current job roles, career aspirations, and potential areas for improvement within the company structure.

The “who” of these interviews often includes department leaders and HR representatives who are trained to conduct these sessions effectively.

They’re particularly keen on understanding the employee’s personal engagement and commitment levels, gauging their feelings toward the workplace culture and career development opportunities available within the organization.

This open dialogue helps us to tailor professional development more accurately and enhance job satisfaction, fostering a more committed and content workforce.

In conclusion, incorporating stay interviews has markedly improved our employee retention rates and workplace morale, proving to be an invaluable tool in our HR practices.

The HR Spotlight team thanks these industry leaders for offering their expertise and experience and sharing these insights.

Do you wish to contribute to the next HR Spotlight article? Or is there an insight or idea you’d like to share with readers across the globe?

Write to us at connect@HRSpotlight.com, and our team will help you share your insights.

Recent Posts

Creating a Mindful Workplace: Perspectives from HR and Business Leaders

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Creating a Mindful Workplace: Perspectives from HR and Business Leaders

How are HR and business leaders navigating the increasingly important conversation around employee well-being? 

Are concepts like mindfulness, well-being programs, and even spirituality finding a place in the modern workplace? 

And if so, what are the tangible results? In this post, we explore these questions through the lens of experienced leaders. 

We’ve asked them to share their personal opinions on incorporating these elements into the work environment, to detail any initiatives their organizations have implemented, and to assess the impact on both employee well-being and key organizational outcomes. 

Their insights provide a practical guide for organizations seeking to create a more supportive and fulfilling workplace.

Read on!

Christopher Falvey
Co-founder, Unique NOLA Tours

Christopher Falvey

I’m all for anything that can help people focus. Putting an effort into mindfullness, for example, applies to one’s personal well-being as well as their efforts for the company. This is nothing but a win-win.

When it comes to spirituality, I always want people to leave religion out of the workplace. So you’ll want to make sure you do stray towards religious talk.

But any co-worker should appreciate any efforts one does to make themselves a better person in general.

Kristine Gentry
CEO, Culture Grove LLC

Kristine Gentry

I worked with a client who suddenly announced to his team that they would have to start arriving 30 minutes early every day to do a guided meditation.

He told them their first day back in January after the holidays and said that beginning the next day, they would need to arrive earlier to meditate.

This was not well received by the employees.

Some felt like it violated their religious beliefs and stated that they already prayed every morning on their own time. They did not want to be forced to meditate.

Others were upset for more practical reasons – suddenly arriving 30 minutes earlier meant difficulties for their personal schedules and dealing with babies and children in the morning.

Others noted that this arrival time meant they must drive during the height of commute time in their city and had to leave up to one hour earlier to arrive on time.

The goal of the morning meditation was to bring the team together and start the day off on a positive note; however, the impact was added hardship and led to increased disengagement from the team.

Zita Chriszto
Clinical Psychologist, Dubai Psychology

Zita Chriszto

Mindfulness, well-being, and spirituality play significant roles in workplace effectiveness.

In a preliminary study, it was found that mindfulness training had promising results in productivity. People who are able to take care of their mental and physical well-being tend to be less susceptible to burnouts.

On the other hand, spirituality may have to be approached more sensitively.

The most important thing to consider is that it is imperative that the different religions of employees are respected in the workplace and no discrimination takes place.

When employees can authentically express themselves and feel safe doing so, they tend to be more productive and fulfilled.

Jessica Munday
Co-Founder & Head of HR,  Custom Neon

Jessica Munday

At Custom Neon, we strongly advocate for mindfulness and well-being practices in our workplace. I am passionate about getting the most from our team and ensuring that our employees are happy.

We’ve integrated Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs into our in-house training, emphasizing belonging and self-actualization as important factors for our team.

Our initiatives include diverse activities such as yoga sessions, sound baths, and community volunteering, creating opportunities for our team to relax and connect on deeper levels. 

On building our new office, we also chose a layout that would enhance camaraderie, a basketball court, break-out areas, and also individual spaces for when people want to work alone. 

Sharing my own experiences with burnout publicly within the team has helped destigmatize mental health issues, encouraging openness and support across all levels and offering confidential free counseling has been profound, increasing engagement, trust, and overall well-being, which in turn has driven better organizational outcomes.

Jenni Kovach
Chief People Officer, IGS Energy

Jenni Kovach

A people-first mentality is at the core of what we do at IGS and listening to our employees and enhancing benefits accordingly is key to our 95% employee satisfaction rate.

In recent years, we heard a need for greater access to mental health and well-being support.

In response, we made our largest investment in people development with Positive Foundry’s BetterYet program, which focuses on skills like emotional intelligence, mindfulness and resilience to help our team thrive.

Since implementation in 2020, we’ve seen an 86% increase in the (self-reported) personal well-being of employees and had employees tell us that it’s changed their life, saved their marriages, repaired relations with children and more.

We’ve also introduced Lyra, which provides employees, dependents and partners with 12 free mental health visits each year, free access to Headspace and encouragement to participate in Mindworx, an IGS Community for discussing mental health, sharing resources and combating stigma.

Alexandra Suchman
CEO & Co-Founder, Barometer XP

Alexandra Suchman

I believe mindfullness and well-being practices are critical in the workplace, and not just at the individual level.

So much of our success at work is related to how we feel about our colleagues and leaders, and the levels of mutual trust, respect, and collaboration we experience.

These relationships need to be nurtured.

Play is an extremely effective tool that allows colleagues to practice mindfulness in how they relate to one another. It provides an opportunity to reflect on how individual strengths and perspectives emerge during games, and helps develop profound understanding of each other’s motivations and communication styles.

These shared insights build trust and ensures that teams bring out the best in each other and are better prepared to work through challenges.

When employees have better relationships, they are more engaged in the work, more accountable to one another, and more invested in shared goals and objectives.

Karen Kossow
Self-Care and Resilience Coach for Autism Parents, OutOfYourOrdinary

Karen Kossow

I’ve seen firsthand the difference mindfulness programs can have on employees. Especially those navigating challenges in their personal lives which make it difficult to focus on their work. 

When employees voluntarily participate in mindfulness or well-being initiatives, they feel like their organization cares for them. This positively impacts not only their desire to do good work, but their ability to do it.

Human beings are not machines. We can’t divorce ourselves from personal problems and struggles as soon as we log on to work. 

Mindfulness and meditation are simple, effective, science-proven methods. They help employees focus, reset their nervous systems, reduce stress, and feel better.

Well-being initiatives create happier, healthier, more resilient employees, and better outcomes for organizations.

Leslie de Graaf
Owner, Everthrive Counseling

Leslie de Graaf

As a therapist and business owner, I’ve learned that prioritizing well-being practices isn’t just important—it’s essential.

In my practice, we emphasize mindful scheduling to ensure we take care of ourselves while serving our clients.

This means setting realistic daily caseloads, building in time for bio breaks, eating lunch and snacks, and completing notes without feeling rushed.

These practices help prevent burnout and foster a more focused, present mindset during sessions.

Encouraging small, intentional habits like stretching between appointments, taking deep breaths, or stepping outside for a quick reset creates a sustainable work rhythm.

The impact? Better outcomes for clients and a healthier work-life balance for therapists.

When we care for ourselves, we model the balance we encourage in others, creating a ripple effect that benefits everyone involved.

Jason Hennessey
CEO, Hennessey Digital

Jason Hennessey

Mindfulness and well-being are integral to our agency culture.

One initiative we implemented was a “Mindful Mondays” series, offering stress-management workshops and yoga classes.

This created a space for employees to recharge mentally and physically.

The ripple effect has been remarkable: fewer burnout cases, stronger engagement, and improved project outcomes.

Mindfulness isn’t just a trend—it’s a strategy for sustainable success.

Aaron Wertheimer
Marketing Copywriter, Marketing Reel

Aaron Wertheimer

My workplace is very supportive of mindfulness, well-being, and spirituality.

Our CEO practices meditation and runs daily, and he even gave us the option to invest in an exercise-based subscription where we could receive funds to enroll in a gym membership to support our physical and emotional well-being.

The outcome of both a weekly debrief meeting at the end of each week, the gym membership, and giving us the days off for religious holidays we’d like to observe has resulted in happier employees who have stayed with the company for more than two years, a more productive organization, and a more efficient system for work.

Employee morale is also high, and our team enjoys engaging in friendly banter back and forth between meetings and work projects.

I credit the above-mentioned outcomes to our management’s forward-thinking processes about mindfulness, spirituality, and well-being.

The HR Spotlight team thanks these industry leaders for offering their expertise and experience and sharing these insights.

Do you wish to contribute to the next HR Spotlight article? Or is there an insight or idea you’d like to share with readers across the globe?

Write to us at connect@HRSpotlight.com, and our team will help you share your insights.

Recent Posts

On-the-Job Training Strategies: What Works and Why

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On-the-Job Training Strategies: What Works and Why

How are leading organizations maximizing the impact of their on-the-job training programs?

What methods and delivery formats are proving most effective in today’s dynamic work environment? 

And what lessons have been learned from past challenges or less successful approaches? 

To answer these critical questions, we turned to the experts. 

In this HR Spotlight post, we’ve compiled insights from seasoned HR and business leaders, asking them to share their experiences with on-the-job training. 

They reveal the methods and formats they’ve found to be most effective for their workforce and, crucially, discuss the previous shortcomings or challenges that informed their current strategies. 

Their responses offer a valuable perspective on the evolution of OJT and provide practical guidance for organizations seeking to optimize their training programs.

Read on!

Hugh Dixon
Marketing Manager, PSS International Removals

Hugh Dixon – PSS International Removals

When it comes to training our team, hands-on experience is paramount.

Our staff, who are often expats themselves, undergo thorough practical training, as we believe nothing compares to real-life scenarios.

We pair this with interactive online learning modules that cover key concepts related to international shipping, customs regulations, and client communication.

This format helps reinforce knowledge while offering flexibility for our staff to learn at their own pace.

In the past, we faced challenges with inconsistent service quality and a lack of understanding of the nuances involved in international relocations.

The training mix we use today evolved from those early struggles, where we realized that theory alone wasn’t enough for effective learning in such a practical field.

Odelle Joubert
COO, Dentaly Go

Odelle Joubert – Dentaly Go

On-the-job training has to be as sharp and efficient as the work we do.

No fluff, no endless PowerPoints.

All we need is what actually helps people become better at their jobs.

We throw new team members into actual cases early, with structured shadowing and guided execution.

They don’t just watch, they do.

We refine in real time, cut the unnecessary steps, and focus on what actually moves the needle.

We used to overload information on people before they even had context. Theories used to drive our training and retention were terrible. Now, we teach in bite-sized, need-to-know bursts and reinforce it with immediate application.

Someone learning how to vet a clinic? They assess real cases on day one, not week three.

It’s fast, effective, and keeps us moving forward without hand-holding.

Dr. Ximena Hartsock
Founder, BuildWithin

Dr. Ximena Hartsock – BuildWithin

We use competency-based apprenticeships to upskill incumbent employees and bring in new talent.

When we see potential in a team member for a more complex role, we invite them to learn it through an 8–11 month apprenticeship, gaining hands-on experience while receiving direct, constructive feedback.

Apprenticeships offer flexibility.

In a traditional promotion, if a strong employee struggles in a managerial role, we risk losing a valuable individual contributor.

With an apprenticeship, however, the focus is on supporting the transition while ensuring a good fit. If the role isn’t the right match, they can return to their original position without stigma or career setbacks.

Similarly, we use apprenticeships to attract non-traditional talent, including non-degree workers, career changers, and seniors, while simultaneously cultivating talent early.

For example, our co-founder first joined my previous tech company as a sophomore in high school.

Apprentices are incredibly loyal, they have grit, and the humility to keep improving.

Caitlin Gardner
Professional Speaker & Facilitator, CaitlinGardner.com

Caitlin Gardner – CaitlinGardner.com

The most effective on-the-job training methods are when the leadership team carves out dedicated time and brings in an outside expert.

Some teams call these an off-site and what I love about these is they are well planned, have an agenda, offer key takeaways, have dedicated time for workshopping a challenge, and hold the team accountable with follow up two weeks after.

Many leaders botch this last part – they focus on onboarding, but fail to bring in inspirational speakers, exciting themes to reinforce a message, and can’t seem to garner true buy-in, activation and alignment.

I have 20 years as a PR and Communications expert helping support in-house HR functions at Fortune 500 companies and now facilitate these types of workshops for my clients – many are HR leaders who like to bring in outside expertise in person, champion a rally cry theme and include virtual follow ups with small teams.

This formula leads to success so off sites aren’t just a nice team bonding memory, but true strategic tools for leaders.

Lukman Arief
Geophysical & Commercial Manager, Hidrokinetik Indo Pacific

Lukman Arief – Hidrokinetik Indo Pacific

As a geophysical bid manager, training geologists and geophysicists in bid proposal development is challenging because it requires both technical and commercial skills—something not traditionally taught in university programs.

The most effective training methods include curriculum-based learning, mentorship, and hands-on practice, in that order.

Curriculum-based training introduces key concepts like bid structure and pricing strategies, keeping the content easy to understand initially, so that trainees can grasp more complex examples later on.

Mentorship is crucial in bridging the gap between theory and practice by pairing junior team members with experienced mentors for personalized guidance, feedback, and the transfer of tribal knowledge.

Finally, hands-on practice, such as contributing to live bids under strict supervision, solidifies learning.

This process needs regular weekly 1:1 check-ins to track progress and address roadblocks.

In summary, the curriculum offers the ‘why,’ mentorship provides the ‘how,’ and hands-on experience builds confidence and competence for when they eventually work independently.

Natalia Szubrycht
Marketing Specialist, Klik Lekarz

Natalia Szubrycht – Klik Lekarz

Effective on-the-job training requires a blend of hands-on experience, digital learning, and mentorship.

In my experience, microlearning modules combined with interactive workshops work best.

Short, targeted training sessions keep employees engaged without overwhelming them, while real-time application ensures knowledge retention.

One challenge we faced was the lack of engagement with traditional long-form training. Employees struggled to find time for lengthy courses, and knowledge retention suffered.

To address this, we implemented a mix of video-based learning, peer coaching, and AI-powered personalized learning paths.

This approach allows employees to learn at their own pace while still benefiting from collaborative and practical experience.

Austin Rulfs
Founder, Zanda Wealth

Austin Rulfs – Zanda Wealth

On-the-job training is best for my team when it’s experiential and hands-on, and includes a combination of real-time feedback and peer-to-peer learning.

We use shadowing and mentorship, where new employees can learn from experienced staff members firsthand. It assists them in getting familiar with work and tasks at their own pace while being mentored.

Before, we were struggling with non-interactive remote learning processes. Our employees struggled to remember information from long online modules.

That’s when we knew that we had to integrate digital learning tools with hands-on application at work.

The blended model has worked better by validating core concepts through hands-on application. It’s given a more interactive and efficient learning experience for all.

Dr. Alex Roig
Founder, Dr. Weight Loss

Dr. Alex Roig – Dr. Weight Loss

Opting for a more interactive approach, I’d recommend health professionals in our workforce focus on hands-on coaching and peer mentorship.

These methods are most effective because they allow us to provide practical guidance, and our team gains real-world insight during peer mentorship sessions.

By involving experienced professionals in training, we ensure that newer team members learn personalized coaching approaches, which strengthens our service at Dr. Weight Loss.

When our staff learns by doing, they can apply techniques effortlessly, considering the individual’s unique wellness journey.

By integrating methods like hands-on coaching, we create a dynamic learning environment that fosters continuous improvement and encourages personalized care in weight loss and wellness.

Josh Ladick
Owner, GSA Focus

Josh Ladick – GSA Focus

As a professional experienced in government contract navigation and integration, I witnessed the effectiveness of on-the-job training regularly by implementing varied techniques.

Comprehensive policy manuals help new hires understand roles, and they work alongside curated workshops for learning regulations and compliance, providing a thorough training framework.

We use virtual workshops and task-based programs to ensure everyone stays updated and gains hands-on experience, cementing their knowledge through practical exercises.

When employees can see real outcomes through case studies, they understand why each step matters. This leads to better application of knowledge in real-world scenarios.

My experience spans nearly two decades in helping B2B SaaS companies and others succeed in government programs.

By focusing on the ever-evolving demands of the industry, I’ve ensured our training methods remain relevant and influential, thereby supporting workforce readiness and performance optimization.

Joshua Odmark
Founder, Local Data Exchange

Joshua Odmark – Local Data Exchange

Opting for a more tailored approach, I’d recommend tech leaders like myself consider a blend of mentoring and hands-on projects for effective workforce training.

Our company integrates hands-on project-based learning with mentorship programs to ensure our team acquires practical skills and expert guidance, allowing them to engage with real-world scenarios while having a support system for transferring knowledge.

Practical experience, combined with expert insight, enables our team to develop solutions and adapt quickly to new challenges. This is because every task they tackle fuels competence and innovation, boosting their performance directly as they continue learning.

With over a decade of expertise in SaaS, focusing on creating seamless user experiences and transformative software, I understand the impact of effective training firsthand.

Tailoring our methods to fit both individual and team needs ensures we stay agile and competitive in our industry.

The HR Spotlight team thanks these industry leaders for offering their expertise and experience and sharing these insights.

Do you wish to contribute to the next HR Spotlight article? Or is there an insight or idea you’d like to share with readers across the globe?

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