Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | February 7, 2022 | Worcester Business Journal 19 A cross Central Massachusetts, restaurants, retail shops and firms are facing employee shortages. With employees in the driver's seat, companies must weigh how to attract the next generation of workers, which, in the next decade, is expected to make up the majority of our labor force in the region. e COVID-19 pandemic has served as a catalyst for this workplace revolution now requiring employers to reimagine their recruitment and retention strategies. Some agencies and corporations have already identified this pool of ambitious talent ready to begin their careers, and, with the staffing shortage almost every company is facing, we turn to this new generation of emerging men and women. ere are many factors that could limit the potential growth of a company. Oentimes, the biggest risk is holding on to outdated business models and frameworks – whether relying on stale technology making your workday cumbersome or following the traditional nine-to-five office workday format. Understanding these trends, Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts has implemented work from home options, flex scheduling, and employee wellness programs placing a premium on stress reduction. ese simple, yet effective, benefits have future-proofed our organization. We are more mindful of the importance of a healthy work/life balance. We know reducing stress and creating a more calming atmosphere can result in boosted employee morale and a better work product. With nearly half of our workforce composed of young professionals, ASNCM embraces these simple methods which now makes our nonprofit competitive in the field of related industries. Young professionals seek careers that not only have rich benefits and flexibility, but also have meaning. Nonprofits and public sector employers can face even greater competition with their private sector counterparts. "We are at a time when our workforce is redefining what is important to them, and as employers, we need to take that seriously," said Patrick Lawlor who is the assistant town manager in Andover and has presented on successful multi- generational workplaces. "Successfully engaging employees is one of the greatest investments we can make in our organizations." e pandemic has bolstered remote work opportunities, providing employees with the option to live and work virtually anywhere. Preserving Central Massachusetts talent will be key to ensuring that our region remains competitive. Young professionals want to work hard, find meaning in their work, and spend time outside of work learning and growing – as individuals and professionals. As a recipient of Worcester Business Journal's 40 Under Forty award, a passionate advocate for our region of the state, and a young professional eager to make a difference in our community, I know strong partnerships within our workforce will result in economic vitality throughout Central Massachusetts. By Ronald Bernard Waddell Jr. Ronald Bernard Waddell Jr. is executive director of Worcester nonprofit Legendary Legacies. Parenting is hard; single parenting is harder; being a working single parent is hardest. These tips make it easier. 10) Be open with your supervisor. I'm not suggesting you give your supervisor an ultimatum but be very upfront about your parenting schedule and needs. 9) Have a network and say yes to support. Having family or friends when you have an emergency is a must. You can create a free night rotation so each person gets a kid-free night. 8) Create routines. Have a routine that starts the night before, including picking clothes. Have a morning checklist to ensure you don't miss anything. 7) Discuss your work with your children. It helps paint a fuller picture of what your life is like. It is a great way to discuss problem-solving. I have gotten some pretty cool ideas from my sons on business strategies. 6) Bring kids to work ceremonies or events. After one check presentation ceremony, my son Josh wanted to understand how banks work and why they gave to Legendary Legacies. 5) Carve out time for yourself. Normalize taking vacations without children. Ensure time apart to explore, enjoy, and experience your life. 4) Don't apologize for needing to take time off for children. Children have needs, and you should not feel you need to apologize for tending to them. 3) Find out their love language and show it often. I recommend Dr. Gary Chapman's book 'The five love languages of children.' 2) Give yourself grace and patience. You are accomplishing a fantastic feat – you are developing a human being. Be patient with yourself and give yourself grace. 1) Focus on quality time together. When you're with your children, be present and curious about their life. I have found the "Little Talk" cards by BestSelf Co. as great conversation starters. K N O W H O W Future-proofing our workforce A mission statement – usually part of an organization's executive summary in its business plan and posted on its website for stakeholders – is a brief message explaining a company's purpose. It can be expressed in many different ways and sometimes includes information such as how the company goes about achieving its goals. Paint a verbal picture, using questions. Entrepreneur.com says these questions can consist of queries such as, "Why are you in business?" is can describe the spark that drew you to your industry, or what you want for customers. "What image do you want your business to convey?" might be another one. Figure out how to create the picture you want customers, suppliers, the public, and employees to see. "How do you differ from competitors?" is is where you state how your company does it cheaper, better, or faster. Break it down. Susan Ward at e Balance Small Business suggests a final phase: Seeing if your mission statement captures your message, or if there is a better way to express it. A way to do this? Substitute the phrase "my company's purpose" with the name of your company, then make it more basic. For example, she said, "'My company's purpose is to grow market vegetables using organic, sustainable farming practices to give people safe and healthy food choices,' might become, 'At Earth's Bounty, we grow market vegetables in a way that's good for the earth and good for the table.'" Solicit feedback. Dras are meant to be shared. Ask colleagues and other internal shareholders for their opinions, so your mission statement is as concise and coherent as possible. "Since you'll use your mission statement for a variety of purposes, like seeking investors and engaging with customers, it's worth taking the time to ensure it's ideally worded," according to Indeed.com. 1 0 T H I NG S I know about... ... Being a working single parent BY SUSAN SHALHOUB Special to WBJ 101: M I S S I O N S T A T E M E N T S BY DAVID GINISI Special to WBJ David Ginisi is chief marketing officer at Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts. W W W

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