How to Support Employees at Your Food Company or Nonprofit
My new service as an ombuds, a trusted and independent resource.
I am thrilled to announce I am now offering my services as an ombuds to food companies, advocacy organizations, and others wanting to support workers.
Whether you realize it or not, your employees are struggling at work.
According to a 2022 Gallop poll, a whopping 60% of employees are psychologically disengaged from their work, also known as “quiet quitting”.
Just as troubling, 44% reported experiencing “a lot of stress” at work. And it’s not just post-pandemic fallout. Gallop found “that managers play an outsized role in the stress that workers feel on the job, which influences their daily stress overall.”
With all the challenges of recent years, the food industry is certainly not immune from potential negative impacts on both people and the bottom line.
For example, workers have made troubling allegations of abuse at Amy’s Kitchen. And the numerous “food tech” start-ups seem especially prone to treating employees badly.
As funding dries up and reality sets in, this “trend” may only get worse. For example, the plant-based egg / cell-based meat company Eat Just has had several rounds of layoffs. This deeply impacts all employees, including those left behind.
Every food company or advocacy non-profit should have an ombuds on its team.
So, what’s an ombuds? Glad you asked.
An organizational ombuds provides a safe space for individuals or organizations to discuss an issue or concern. We explore options to help resolve conflicts and bring systemic concerns to the attention of the organization for resolution.
An ombuds is especially helpful if an employee:
Is having communication challenges with a manager or co-worker.
Is experiencing some form of bullying, harassment, discrimination, or other abuse, but are not sure that they want to formally report it to HR.
Has witnessed abuse or an ethics violation and doesn’t know what to do about it.
Feels stressed out at work and is unsure how to communicate what they need.
I have spent countless hours informally counseling employees who are experiencing challenges at work, and understand first hand what they are going through.
An ombuds also benefits an organization by:
Building and improving workplace culture.
Supporting DEI efforts, including racial and social injustice.
Supporting those impacted by harassment.
Preventing bias and harassment issues from escalating.
Reducing complaint investigation time and litigation.
Addressing systemic issues to create healthier organizations.
As an attorney, I understand the need to reduce risk, and provide low-cost alternatives to resolving disagreements that make all parties feel heard and understood. Plus, I am the only ombuds specializing in the food industry and non-profit sectors.
Check out my ombuds page for additional information and contact me to discuss.