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How Pathways at Work is Helping Prevent Burnout in the Workplace – ReadWrite

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Deanna Ritchie


Workers are feeling the burn, and not at the gym. They’re burning out psychologically, causing them to lose motivation, lose productivity — and sometimes lose the desire to stick around. In fact, turnover rates tend to increase when team members don’t have mental health release valves.

Where is all this stress coming from? Although work-related anxiety was present before 2020, COVID made it worse. Setting up impromptu offices in kitchens, bedrooms, and basements was rarely fun, especially considering the circumstances.

Workers and employers were trying to absorb the social and political upheavals that affected nearly every community throughout the entire year of 2020. Add to that a general uneasiness, and you have a fairly good picture of why Deloitte says 77% of professionals have experienced burnout.

To their credit, company leaders are taking burnout seriously. After all, no business wants its people to be frazzled 24/7. Yet trying to figure out how to help anxious, worried, overworked staffers can be a daunting task requiring effort and thought.

Overcoming challenges to a healthier, less stressed workforce

Often, the job of reducing employee stress and stressors en masse lands in the lap of the HR department. However, HR teams have other responsibilities that demand attention. This leaves them scrambling to cobble together DIY stress reduction programs with varying degrees of effectiveness. Over time, workers may start to feel like all they can do is try to manage their discontent alone.

It’s a bleak picture, but it doesn’t have to stay that way for long.

Jill Winters, the CEO of Pathways at Work, believes her organizations’ programs can be part of the burnout solution. Offering various in-person and virtual courses, Pathways at Work promotes behavioral wellness through extensive education and support for companies and their employees.

“Right now, there’s a serious divide between what employees need and what employers offer when it comes to burnout,” Winters explains. “According to SHRM, nearly three-quarters of workers want their companies to support their mental wellness. Unfortunately, almost two-thirds believe their employer isn’t living up to those expectations. Pathways at Work can bridge this gap with its high-quality resources aimed at fueling a healthier work-life experience.”

Giving burnout the boot through dynamic programming

The Pathways at Work system features a two-pronged approach designed to help organizations lower the risk of widespread burnout.

Facilitate employee and leader discussions

The first approach is to facilitate employee and leader discussions around potentially stressful topics. These can include anything from coronavirus to racial injustice. By opening the door to honest dialogues, clinicians help de-escalate situations that encourage isolation, anger, exhaustion, and tension. Having safe spaces to talk about hot-button or difficult dilemmas frees employees from the need to remain “bottled up.”

Giving employees the tools to identify and solve

The second approach involves giving employees the tools to identify and deal with their uncomfortable or unexpected emotions. For instance, many workers are mired in a cycle of compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue occurs when people begin to absorb the emotions of others.

For leaders and team members with high emotional intelligence, compassion fatigue can happen quickly. Yet, it’s such an under-discussed topic that employees may not realize the signs or how to handle second-hand feelings. Plus, it’s difficult to conquer a negative emotion if its root cause can’t be pinned down.

Innovative programming shows the path

Again, this is where Pathways at Work’s innovative programming can help. Every program encourages learning and sharing among participants by balancing lectures and group activities. Consequently, workers learn to spot warning symptoms of compassion fatigue and other indicators of emotional distress.

Treating employees with genuine compassion and concern

Facilitating discussions and providing the correct tools work in tandem to improve cultural environments, restore a feeling of positivity, and nurture worker retention.

Says Winters, “Employees no longer want to punch a clock for an anonymous employer. They want to feel part of something bigger and want to feel like they’re important parts of the whole.

Providing consistent behavioral health training satisfies workers’ emotional needs and has widespread positive ramifications for organizations, too.”

Providing relief before crises

Solving the issue of worker burnout before it reaches crisis levels may not be easy, but it’s doable—and necessary. Organizations don’t have to move forward alone, though. Instead, they can link forces with providers like Pathways at Work and improve the collective health of their teams.

Taking the inititive to provide relief before there is a problem allays fears and contributes to positive outcomes. As a result, whole companies will maintain higher performing employees disencumbered by excessive anxiety, depression, and the burn resulting from unchecked stress.

Image Credit: george milton; pexels; thank you!

Deanna Ritchie

Managing Editor at ReadWrite

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

Politics

Fintech Kennek raises $12.5M seed round to digitize lending

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Google eyed for $2 billion Anthropic deal after major Amazon play


London-based fintech startup Kennek has raised $12.5 million in seed funding to expand its lending operating system.

According to an Oct. 10 tech.eu report, the round was led by HV Capital and included participation from Dutch Founders Fund, AlbionVC, FFVC, Plug & Play Ventures, and Syndicate One. Kennek offers software-as-a-service tools to help non-bank lenders streamline their operations using open banking, open finance, and payments.

The platform aims to automate time-consuming manual tasks and consolidate fragmented data to simplify lending. Xavier De Pauw, founder of Kennek said:

“Until kennek, lenders had to devote countless hours to menial operational tasks and deal with jumbled and hard-coded data – which makes every other part of lending a headache. As former lenders ourselves, we lived and breathed these frustrations, and built kennek to make them a thing of the past.”

The company said the latest funding round was oversubscribed and closed quickly despite the challenging fundraising environment. The new capital will be used to expand Kennek’s engineering team and strengthen its market position in the UK while exploring expansion into other European markets. Barbod Namini, Partner at lead investor HV Capital, commented on the investment:

“Kennek has developed an ambitious and genuinely unique proposition which we think can be the foundation of the entire alternative lending space. […] It is a complicated market and a solution that brings together all information and stakeholders onto a single platform is highly compelling for both lenders & the ecosystem as a whole.”

The fintech lending space has grown rapidly in recent years, but many lenders still rely on legacy systems and manual processes that limit efficiency and scalability. Kennek aims to leverage open banking and data integration to provide lenders with a more streamlined, automated lending experience.

The seed funding will allow the London-based startup to continue developing its platform and expanding its team to meet demand from non-bank lenders looking to digitize operations. Kennek’s focus on the UK and Europe also comes amid rising adoption of open banking and open finance in the regions.

Featured Image Credit: Photo from Kennek.io; Thank you!

Radek Zielinski

Radek Zielinski is an experienced technology and financial journalist with a passion for cybersecurity and futurology.

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Politics

Fortune 500’s race for generative AI breakthroughs

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Deanna Ritchie


As excitement around generative AI grows, Fortune 500 companies, including Goldman Sachs, are carefully examining the possible applications of this technology. A recent survey of U.S. executives indicated that 60% believe generative AI will substantially impact their businesses in the long term. However, they anticipate a one to two-year timeframe before implementing their initial solutions. This optimism stems from the potential of generative AI to revolutionize various aspects of businesses, from enhancing customer experiences to optimizing internal processes. In the short term, companies will likely focus on pilot projects and experimentation, gradually integrating generative AI into their operations as they witness its positive influence on efficiency and profitability.

Goldman Sachs’ Cautious Approach to Implementing Generative AI

In a recent interview, Goldman Sachs CIO Marco Argenti revealed that the firm has not yet implemented any generative AI use cases. Instead, the company focuses on experimentation and setting high standards before adopting the technology. Argenti recognized the desire for outcomes in areas like developer and operational efficiency but emphasized ensuring precision before putting experimental AI use cases into production.

According to Argenti, striking the right balance between driving innovation and maintaining accuracy is crucial for successfully integrating generative AI within the firm. Goldman Sachs intends to continue exploring this emerging technology’s potential benefits and applications while diligently assessing risks to ensure it meets the company’s stringent quality standards.

One possible application for Goldman Sachs is in software development, where the company has observed a 20-40% productivity increase during its trials. The goal is for 1,000 developers to utilize generative AI tools by year’s end. However, Argenti emphasized that a well-defined expectation of return on investment is necessary before fully integrating generative AI into production.

To achieve this, the company plans to implement a systematic and strategic approach to adopting generative AI, ensuring that it complements and enhances the skills of its developers. Additionally, Goldman Sachs intends to evaluate the long-term impact of generative AI on their software development processes and the overall quality of the applications being developed.

Goldman Sachs’ approach to AI implementation goes beyond merely executing models. The firm has created a platform encompassing technical, legal, and compliance assessments to filter out improper content and keep track of all interactions. This comprehensive system ensures seamless integration of artificial intelligence in operations while adhering to regulatory standards and maintaining client confidentiality. Moreover, the platform continuously improves and adapts its algorithms, allowing Goldman Sachs to stay at the forefront of technology and offer its clients the most efficient and secure services.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Google DeepMind; Pexels; Thank you!

Deanna Ritchie

Managing Editor at ReadWrite

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

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Politics

UK seizes web3 opportunity simplifying crypto regulations

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Deanna Ritchie


As Web3 companies increasingly consider leaving the United States due to regulatory ambiguity, the United Kingdom must simplify its cryptocurrency regulations to attract these businesses. The conservative think tank Policy Exchange recently released a report detailing ten suggestions for improving Web3 regulation in the country. Among the recommendations are reducing liability for token holders in decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and encouraging the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to adopt alternative Know Your Customer (KYC) methodologies, such as digital identities and blockchain analytics tools. These suggestions aim to position the UK as a hub for Web3 innovation and attract blockchain-based businesses looking for a more conducive regulatory environment.

Streamlining Cryptocurrency Regulations for Innovation

To make it easier for emerging Web3 companies to navigate existing legal frameworks and contribute to the UK’s digital economy growth, the government must streamline cryptocurrency regulations and adopt forward-looking approaches. By making the regulatory landscape clear and straightforward, the UK can create an environment that fosters innovation, growth, and competitiveness in the global fintech industry.

The Policy Exchange report also recommends not weakening self-hosted wallets or treating proof-of-stake (PoS) services as financial services. This approach aims to protect the fundamental principles of decentralization and user autonomy while strongly emphasizing security and regulatory compliance. By doing so, the UK can nurture an environment that encourages innovation and the continued growth of blockchain technology.

Despite recent strict measures by UK authorities, such as His Majesty’s Treasury and the FCA, toward the digital assets sector, the proposed changes in the Policy Exchange report strive to make the UK a more attractive location for Web3 enterprises. By adopting these suggestions, the UK can demonstrate its commitment to fostering innovation in the rapidly evolving blockchain and cryptocurrency industries while ensuring a robust and transparent regulatory environment.

The ongoing uncertainty surrounding cryptocurrency regulations in various countries has prompted Web3 companies to explore alternative jurisdictions with more precise legal frameworks. As the United States grapples with regulatory ambiguity, the United Kingdom can position itself as a hub for Web3 innovation by simplifying and streamlining its cryptocurrency regulations.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Jonathan Borba; Pexels; Thank you!

Deanna Ritchie

Managing Editor at ReadWrite

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

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