Category: Brandpoint Business & Finance

2024-05-06T09:01:00

(BPT) – Chase’s fourth annual Digital Banking Attitudes survey explores the ways consumers are using their mobile banking apps and digital tools to manage their finances, as well as how often. For example, users are increasingly monitoring their credit scores, booking travel, and finding offers and discounts. Read on to learn more.

2024-05-01T08:09:00

(BPT) – Time is money, and there’s a premium: Americans say their time is worth $240 per hour, on average, according to new research from Empower, a financial services company. Based on a standard 40-hour week, that puts the perceived value at $499,200 per year — nearly eight times higher than the average U.S. salary of $59,384.¹ One third of people set the price at under $50 per hour, though 1 in 4 Millennials value their time at over $500 per hour — the highest of any generation (just 6% of Boomers name that rate).

Many Americans are racing against the clock when it comes to financial goals: half think they’re running out of time to save for retirement, even though 44% say they started putting money away early enough. Another 43% wish they could go back in time to start saving sooner, and half (48%) would rather have a longer retirement period with less money, than retire later in life with more.

People may be further along than they think. According to Empower Personal Dashboard™ data, the average 401(k) balance clocks in at $291,810 and for people in their 50s approaching retirement age, the number jumps to $580,259² — one key measure of overall personal savings and investments.

Additional key findings:

• Spending time wisely: The average price of 60 minutes varies: Millennials say it’s worth $328.84 per hour, followed by Gen Z at $266.92, Gen X at $215.90 and Boomers at $137.19. Based on this study’s findings of how Americans value their time, two hours of meetings at work cost close to $500 per person; catching nightly Z’s costs nearly $2,000 a day (or close to $60,000 a month).
• Less is more: 1 in 4 people (26%) are willing to take a 15% pay cut to gain more free time. 40% would rather pay to make life easier right now than to save and have more money later and more than 2 in 5 say outsourcing household tasks gives them a better work/life balance (41%).
• Cost of convenience: 36% would rather pay more to get an item delivered instead of driving 10 minutes to get it. A third of Gen Z (30%) would pay up to $5,000 per year to save time not doing everyday tasks like cleaning and yard work, and 36% of Millennials would shell out up to $10,000 for someone to take on in-house chores and cook meals.
• AI to save time: 21% would use AI to recommend money moves to plan for retirement, help pay bills on time (25%) and make a budget by examining personal financial accounts (23%).
• Time on money: 26% would spend $5,000 per year to have someone else manage their long-term financials, investments, and savings. More than a third of Americans admit to procrastinating money tasks like paying their bills.
• Clocking in: 44% say they wish they could work part-time, but can’t afford it. More than a third (32%) say they want to start their own business, but don’t have the time.
• The luxury of time: 6 in 10 people (63%) “feel wealthy” if they have enough time to spend with family and friends. Nearly a third feel comfortable taking on debt if it buys more free time (29%) or a memorable experience (29%). Nearly 2 in 5 say saving time is more important than saving money (37%).

Sign of the times

Americans are having to work alongside the wider economy on their journey to hit their goals. Though 30% of adults are not keeping track of any financial “signs of the times,” around a quarter are keeping an eye on shrinkflation (24%), as product sizes get smaller for the same or more cost. It can be a struggle, as more than 3 in 4 Americans believe they’re doing as much as they can to save money while shopping (76%). Some 22% of Americans are also keeping track of their ability to retire and when (22%), as nearly half (48%) worry about how they’ll pay for expenses once they’re no longer working.

Americans are watching the strength of the job market (21%), and cryptocurrency (19%). The same amount are keeping an eye on volatility in the stock market. Compounding gains can play an essential role in building wealth and 3 in 10 people say they would have invested in a popular stock if they could go back in time.

The time is now

Time is of the essence as people work toward streamlining their lives and focusing on what matters most to them, amid commitments across work and home that can affect their financial happiness. More than half of Millennials (52%) and 37% overall think saving time is more important than saving money.

For many, getting advice early on is key: nearly 1 in 5 would have worked with a financial professional sooner. Overall, Americans remain optimistic, with 78% saying it’s never too late to start focusing on your finances.

Methodology

Empower commissioned the “Time is Money” survey, which is based on online survey responses from 2,204 Americans ages 18+ and fielded by Morning Consult from March 11-14, 2024.

1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dec 2023. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.

2 Anonymized user data from the Empower Personal Dashboard™ as of March 2024.

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2024-04-25T07:01:00

(BPT) – Since joining Aledade in 2022, Coal Creek Family Medicine, a small independent practice in Louisville, Colorado, has used Aledade’s proprietary population health tool and in-practice support to close care gaps and enhance quality care delivery.

“Being a member of Aledade has encouraged us to keep working toward quality care and make sustainable changes in our practice. Aledade has been the most supportive and involved partner we have encountered,” said Lisa Talamantes, M.D., physician owner of Coal Creek Family Medicine. “We have learned a lot about our practice through Aledade’s robust data collection and reporting. Aledade has helped us to look at ourselves more critically and to find ways to improve our care.”

Coal Creek Family Medicine’s story of success corresponds with the experience of so many of Aledade’s 1,900-plus member primary care practices, clinics and health centers throughout the United States.

The nation’s largest and most successful enabler of physician-led value-based care, Aledade continues to draw more physicians to its unique, clinician-empowered model. In just 10 years, Aledade has formed partnerships with 20,000 physicians and clinicians in 45 states and the District of Columbia to serve nearly 2.5 million patients. Aledade also offers more than 200 value-based contracts across Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and nearly every national payer.

And just this year alone, Aledade has added to its network more than 400 new primary care practices, clinics and community health centers, as well as more than 60 health plan contracts.

“For more than a decade, we’ve been partnering with primary care physicians across the country in their transition to value-based care,” said Farzad Mostashari, M.D., co-founder and CEO of Aledade, Inc., “so they can do more not only to help their patients and better serve their communities, but also to make sure their practices and health centers thrive.”

Right for doctors, patients and society

Aledade’s mission — to do what is right for doctors, patients and society — is at the core of its physician-led model. Through this proven, scalable model, which includes cutting-edge data analytics, user-friendly guided workflows, health care policy expertise, strong payer relationships, and integrated care solutions delivered, Aledade empowers physicians to succeed financially by keeping people healthy.

As a result of joining Aledade’s ACO, Pershing Health System went from owing Medicare money at the end of the year to earning shared savings in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. The Brookfield, Missouri-located practice is using those earnings to plan for future projects, expansions and more staff in just two years.

“With our growing clinics, we are hoping to earmark some of the shared savings to expand our walls in the future,” Schwager explained.

Nation’s top-performing ACOs are with Aledade

The physician- and patient-first approach is increasingly attractive to independent practices like Columbia Medical Practice in Howard County, Maryland, which needs the same level of resources offered by large, health system-owned ACOs, but wants to retain ownership of their practices.

“We took the opportunity to be part of a health system ACO, but learned we needed more support that recognized our priorities in independent care,” said Sohail Khwaja, executive director of Columbia Medical Practice. “The support we received from Aledade in the first three months was exponentially greater than what we had ever seen before … We’re getting the support. We’re getting the funding. We are getting the resources we need to take care of our patients.”

This investment in the success of its members has yielded tremendous results for Aledade’s ACOs. Among the top 10 Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs in the United States, five are Aledade ACOs. Those five include a large, suburban practice, a small, micro practice and rural practices focused on a predominantly minority population, underscoring the fact that Aledade empowers all kinds of practices — city, rural; large, small, etc. — nationwide.

Aledade ACOs continue to outperform other tenured ACOs in quality scores and Medicare shared savings. To wit, practices within Aledade’s ACOs have generated more than three times the savings rate of non-Aledade practices, while also delivering quality scores nearly 4% better.

With those stellar performance results, physicians like Laura Theis, M.D., president of Central Coast Family Care in Santa Maria, California, are passionate about continuing their value-based care journeys with Aledade as their partner.

“(Participating in value-based care with Aledade) has definitely been an additional source of income, and not a small one. It’s been viewed very favorably by the physicians, and it’s brought the entire staff a better understanding of how we can affect the patient experience,” Theis said. “More and more Medicare and commercial insurances are moving away from fee-for-service and toward a value-based platform. Aledade does an excellent job of supporting that, and I hope our practice continues to thrive and continues to grow in this partnership.”

Is your primary care organization ready to explore value-based care with a partner committed to your success? Visit https://info.aledade.com/get-started to get started.

2024-04-24T08:01:00

(BPT) – By Sarah Acton, Chief Marketing Officer, BILL

National Small Business Week rolls around once a year, but the impact that these businesses have on our livelihoods, families, communities and economies is astounding. In fact, 99.9% of American businesses are small and midsize businesses (SMBs). They are engines of our U.S. economy, and essential job creators — accounting for two out of three of all jobs created in the last 25 years, and employing more than 62 million Americans.

But SMBs are more than just the cornerstone of our nation’s economy. These entrepreneurs are also incredibly innovative, resilient and successful. One of my favorite parts about my job is the opportunity to speak with, and learn from, these entrepreneurs.

Whether you’re just starting out, or you’re running an established business, here are some of the best tips and advice I’ve learned from SMB leaders on how to be resilient and successful.

1. Harness the Power of Your Network

Don’t underestimate the strength that lies in your network. Knowing when and how to ask for help is a superpower. It’s about building bridges, fostering collaboration, and embracing the collective wisdom of your community.

Take Kreyòl Essence, a skin and hair care brand that harvests castor oil from Haiti. They were catapulted into the national limelight after their appearance on Shark Tank. While that was an incredibly valuable experience, Stéphane B. Jean-Baptiste, COO and Co-Founder, told me that a real key to success for them was building their network. They looked to their network for advice on everything from how to beef up their supply chain to what to expect when you’re scaling quickly.

Their network also led them to BILL, which helped them automate and streamline their financial operations. “Your network is a treasure trove of knowledge and solutions; reaching out can transform your business,” Stéphane told me, demonstrating that effective networking can lead to solutions that drive growth.

2. Maximize the ROI of your most valuable asset – YOU

Almost every SMB leader I speak to started their business because they want to serve their customers with amazing products or services. That’s what they want to spend their time on — not managing the back-office or getting bogged down in manual processes. The key to success for many of these leaders has been embracing technology to be more efficient and productive.

Co-CEO and Co-Founder Brenden Martin of Joe Coffee is a great example of an innovator in this space. Joe Coffee created point-of-sale and mobile ordering software for small coffee shops. Their technology is helping local cafés compete with corporate giants by giving them advanced technology to better serve their customers.

Brenden’s advice for other businesses: “Do the boring thing first, because you need to put all your focus on building what your customers want. Any time and attention that’s not going into that, you’re failing.” This is one of the reasons why Brenden also partners with BILL, so he can leverage technology to automate their financial processes, reduce manual workload and allow the company to focus on core business growth areas.

In a competitive environment, technology can be a strategic advantage for businesses. Whether you’re leveraging technology like Joe Coffee to help better serve your customers, or BILL’s integrated Financial Operations Platform, these innovations can be an unlock for success and growth.

3. Be Flexible and Ready to Pivot

Running an agile business isn’t just about adjusting to changes. It’s about actively embracing the opportunity to pivot when the situation calls for it. It’s this ability to swiftly shift directions that keeps a business dynamic, relevant and resilient.

Take Dagne Dover, a fantastic business designing problem-solving bags. When they were hit with the unexpected challenge of the pandemic right after opening their New York City retail store, they didn’t just adapt; they transformed their setback into an opportunity for connection and support. They reshaped their product line to suit the ‘new normal’ — less focus on travel and office bags, and more focus on promoting handy fanny packs to carry masks and hand sanitizer for quick errands.

COO and Co-Founder Deepa Gandhi recently told me, “We are always thinking about what day-to-day, week-to-week needs can we address? What’s our customer not using our product for?” This pivot wasn’t just a strategic move — it was a heartfelt response to their customers’ changing lives, strengthening their bond with the community. As Deepa told me, it’s helped them build loyal customers for life.

4. Build a Team That Grows Together

If you have a great idea, you can build a business. If you also have a great team, the possibilities are endless.

Every business leader I talk to emphasizes the importance of their team. The strongest teams are not necessarily the ones with the most experience or the biggest salaries — great teams are ones that grow together, that believe in the mission, and share your passion to serve customers.

How do you build a team for success? McKenzie and Colby Bauer, founders of Thread Wallets, gave great advice. Like many small business owners, initially they took on multiple roles, from customer service to product design. However, McKenzie realized the power of delegation: “I was doing so much, but I learned it’s crucial to ‘Do what you do best, and hire out the rest.’” This approach not only allowed them to focus on their strengths, but also fostered a team dynamic where everyone plays to their strengths. This has helped them build their company’s reputation for quality and innovation.

Every Journey is Different, Every Journey Matters

For me, National Small Business Week is an opportunity to honor the incredible contribution these businesses make. As a former small business owner myself, I know that running a business is never easy — but it’s an incredible journey that should be celebrated.

At BILL, we’re more than just observers of their incredible entrepreneurial spirit; we’re active participants, offering the trusted financial tools that small businesses need to thrive. We champion small and midsize businesses and work hard every day to support their journey — because we know just how hard they work every day for us. So as we celebrate the spirit of small business, let’s embrace these lessons, and take inspiration from their innovation, resilience and contribution. To learn more, visit bill.com. Here’s to the indomitable spirit of small business owners everywhere!

2024-04-23T10:01:00

(BPT) – While eating healthier, working out and spending more time with family and friends are big priorities, 87% say their top goals in 2024 are related to money, according to research from Empower, a financial services company. Read on to learn more about Americans’ top financial goals and some strategies to make them happen.

2024-04-18T09:15:00

(BPT) – Sustainability has been a buzzword in the business world for years, with many businesses looking for different ways to introduce “green” products to a market that is demanding them.

According to internal data from global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce platform Alibaba.com, Request for Quotations (RFQs) containing terms such as “sustainable,” “eco-friendly,” “biodegradable” and “renewable” are up 23% year-over-year (YoY). Growth in these inquiries has occurred across industries, including apparel and accessories (61% increase YoY), kids’ toys (30% increase YoY) and electronic components (26% increase YoY).

The issue for many businesses, especially smaller ones, is some product markets are becoming oversaturated with sustainable products and setting yourself apart can be difficult. So how can you help your business stand out compared to competitors? It starts with expanding your sustainability efforts beyond the product itself.

Start with sourcing: Sustainable supply chains elevate sustainable products

With the crowded market for sustainable products, small-business owners can set themselves apart by making their entire sourcing operations sustainable. How many times have you placed an order that came in an unnecessary amount of extra packaging that you just ended up throwing away? Is a sustainable product really sustainable if its packaging isn’t, or if the supply chain to get it to customers creates considerable pollution? By considering these potential issues and adapting your supply chain to address them, your business can do more than create a sustainable product — it can be a sustainable business.

How can you implement sustainable practices into your supply chain? Turning to online sourcing platforms to help identify sustainable sourcing partners can do a lot of the work for you, including:

• Simplifying the process of sorting through potential suppliers: B2B e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba.com have features that allow you to add search filters to narrow down sourcing options and identify suppliers that fit the specific profile you are looking for.
• Providing ways for suppliers to verify their sustainable practices: These platforms also provide prospective suppliers with ways to verify their sustainable practices, including listing any certifications or sustainability data that can help you identify the right sourcing partner.
• Connecting small businesses and suppliers directly: B2B e-commerce platforms help you identify potential sourcing partners, and some platforms like Alibaba.com provide you with a direct channel to communicate with suppliers to find your match and begin sourcing sustainably. By connecting directly with suppliers, you can more easily ask about their materials, manufacturing processes and certifications to ensure that they fit the profile you are looking for.

How to tell people about your sustainable business

Crafting your sustainable product line and supply chains is important, but equally important in standing out amongst your competitors is effectively marketing your product and sustainability practices. While tactics might differ based on the types of products you are selling, there are a few key considerations as you go to market your products:

• Leverage the information your suppliers provide: With all the information that suppliers can provide on B2B e-commerce platforms, you have the information you need to show consumers how your product and business are sustainable. By sharing this information with your customers, you demonstrate transparency around your sourcing practices to help consumers trust that your product is truly sustainable.
• Make it digestible for the average person: When marketing the sustainability aspect of your product and business, it is important to make sure you are using clear, accessible language that can be understood by all consumers. Your sustainability messaging can only set you apart if your customers understand what it means, and making it accessible can help further build trust with your customers by increasing transparency.
• Show your customers how your product benefits them: When a customer is making a purchasing decision, their choice ultimately boils down to deciding which product benefits them the most. Make sure that you are marketing your product or business in a way that communicates how the product benefits them both personally and how their purchase means they are making a difference for the environment.

At the end of the day, differentiating your sustainable business from competitors requires you to ensure that your entire operation is sustainable, and communicating your sustainability efforts in a way that your customers can understand. While the physical delivery of sustainable products is important, giving customers the peace of mind that they are making full-circle sustainable choices to help the world is equally crucial to building and maintaining your consumer base.

2024-04-17T08:01:00

(BPT) – The homebuying process can be overwhelming, especially for first-time homebuyers. It’s important to understand the real facts about the process and the resources available to help you achieve homeownership.

2024-04-11T12:03:00

(BPT) – Thinking about moving? Consider Michigan, which offers great jobs, an even better cost of living, economic opportunity and welcoming communities. Its stunning natural landscapes and vibrant urban environments also inspire the quintessential work-life balance. Singles and young professionals looking to boost their careers, families looking to put down roots or individuals looking to find community can find it in Michigan — all with proximity to 3,000 miles of freshwater coastline.

Learn more about these top five reasons to live, work and play in Michigan.

1. Access to great jobs

Whether you’ve just embarked on your career or are a seasoned professional ready to advance in your field, Michigan offers plenty of job opportunities. The state’s cutting-edge, high-tech industries like EV/mobility, clean energy, life sciences, medical devices and engineering, design and development, are all looking to hire.

Michigan is also home to 18 Fortune 500 company headquarters, and more companies are relocating to the state. Join the state’s momentum to help fuel innovation and pave the way for a brighter tomorrow.

2. Cost of living

Affording basic living essentials has become harder in recent years. Even with a great job, it can be hard to pay all your bills and have money left over for relaxation and entertainment. In Michigan, your paycheck can go further. Unlike other tech hubs, Michigan remains one of the most affordable places to live. With a cost of living approximately 10% below the national average, you can spend more of your hard-earned cash on hobbies and experiences.

Michigan is especially attractive for those looking to buy a home, with housing costs 10% lower than the national average. Consider a cozy lakefront cottage, a downtown loft or a family-friendly suburb. Or choose two with the great cost of living.

3. Abundant natural resources

Outdoor lovers rejoice! You can enjoy outdoor adventures every season in Michigan. Four Great Lakes surround the state’s two peninsulas, offering endless opportunities for water recreation like fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, boating and more. No matter where you are in Michigan, you’re never farther than 6 miles from a lake, river or stream.

When you need a break from beach life, Michigan offers pristine skiing, snowmobiling, climbing, biking, hunting, camping and hiking terrains. Quench your thirst for wine from the vineyards in Traverse City and take in awe-inspiring views — like the Northern Lights — in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

No matter what kind of outdoor recreation you prefer, Michigan’s abundant natural resources have a little something for everyone year-round.

4. Vibrant nightlife

Nightlife entertainment abounds in Michigan! At night, the party is just getting started in Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit.

Music lovers, from Motown fans to EDM devotees, can find a concert or festival across the state. Catch the dancing bug? Many Michigan downtowns offer live music and dance clubs playing electronica, 90s hip-hop beats and soul-stirring jazz melodies.

Foodies will have a veritable feast of choices. Gourmands can whet their appetites with Michigan classics like Detroit-style pizza, coney dogs, Mackinac Island fudge, pasties, breakfast cereal, tart cherries and crisp apples. Plus, many cities offer craft breweries and distilleries where you can talk with friends late into the night while enjoying delightful, innovative drinks. Grand Rapids, Michigan (AKA “Beer City USA”), is known as the craft beverage capital of the U.S.

5. Welcoming communities

Inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword in Michigan. The state’s leaders have enacted laws to protect the state’s most vulnerable communities. In Michigan, you can belong, no matter who you are or where you come from.

The state is home to people from all walks of life, especially in cities like Grand Rapids and Detroit. Michigan welcomes people from all backgrounds, races, ethnicities, genders and sexual orientations. The state also celebrates its local Indigenous tribes and embraces growing immigrant communities.

Want to learn more about Michigan? Visit TheMichiganLife.org. There, you can find job opportunities and see how affordable it is to live in this beautiful state of opportunity.

2024-04-10T10:33:00

(BPT) – By Holly O’Neill, President, Retail Banking

Social media has become a hub of personal finance advice, giving rise to countless trends from soft saving to loud budgeting to cash stuffing. On TikTok alone, #FinTok has amassed over 4.9 billion views. If the abundance of content is any indication of people’s curiosity around personal finance content, it’s clear consumers are eager to build healthier financial habits.

The sheer amount of content can make filtering through the noise a challenging task. This spring, welcome the beginning of a new season and take part in America Saves Week (April 8-12) by reviewing a few tried-and-true savings tips that will make you more financially savvy. Here are a few to get you started:

1. Build a budget.

Budgeting is a life skill that puts you in control of your finances. If you’ve fallen behind in some financial areas or you’re just not sure where to start, creating or reassessing your budget will never steer you wrong. A realistic budget that changes and grows as you do will help you plan, save and achieve your financial goals.

The first step is to get a handle on reviewing your monthly spending and determining where you’re overspending and ‘undersaving.’ After you get a better understanding of your cash flow, start and set a budget using the 50/30/20 rule. Begin by taking 50% of your after-tax income to cover needs, like rent and utilities; 30% to wants, like those new sneakers you’ve been eyeing; and 20% to be put into savings. If this method doesn’t fit your financial lifestyle, adjust your percentages to fit your current priorities.

2. Save toward a goal.

Saving without a purpose can feel overwhelming. Whether you want to put your kids through college, purchase a home that you can grow into, save up for retirement or check a destination off your travel bucket list — the best way to achieve any of your financial goals is by understanding your why.

Set specific savings goals with a plan for how to meet them. Break up long-term goals into short-term milestones to focus your efforts on more reachable targets, while bringing you closer to your overall goal. And don’t forget to reward yourself and celebrate your wins along the way!

To get started, you can take the America Saves Week pledge by identifying a savings goals and create a simple saving plan that works.

3. Automate your savings.

While saving money takes discipline and there are no “get rich quick” schemes, you can make things easier by automating your savings. After all, the key to building savings is to make it routine. By setting up automatic transfers, you can consistently grow your savings without even thinking about it.

Once you’ve identified your desired savings amount (see tip number one), ‘pay yourself first’ by automatically diverting a portion of your paycheck directly to savings. Consider digital tools like the Bank of America Keep the Change^® program — it rounds up the price of every debit card purchase to the next dollar and automatically adds that to your savings account.

4. Embrace a learning mindset.

April is Financial Capability Month, and there’s no better time than the present to refresh your financial knowledge. Break through the noise on social media and take control of your financial well-being by getting a little bit smarter every day about budgeting and saving, paying down debt, investing and more.

A strong foundation of financial literacy means you don’t have to worry about money on a day-to-day basis and that you can pursue your goals and take advantage of opportunities — all while living within your means. Bank of America’s Better Money Habits^® is a free financial education platform that provides practical, easy-to-understand knowledge about smart money habits.

Building good financial habits is a continuous process, so while you may not find your footing overnight, it’s important to celebrate small achievements along the way! Starting the spring season with a refresh and sticking to tried-and-true savings strategies will put you well on your way to financial success.

2024-04-09T08:01:00

(BPT) – By Nicola Soares, president, Kelly Education

Chronic absenteeism has become a pervasive issue across multiple employment sectors driven by several factors, including personal and family health challenges, stress and burnout. This problem is notable in the education sector, where consistent, strong educator-student relationships are crucial.

The 2023 Kelly Global Re:work Report revealed that nearly one-third (28%) of surveyed talent was ready to leave their jobs within a year, highlighting a mismatch between workforce expectations and organizational realities that may worsen absenteeism. This holds particularly true in the education sector — a field predominantly staffed by women, who often shoulder additional caregiving responsibilities for children or the elderly. Educators are increasingly taking time off to prioritize their personal responsibilities as well as their health and well-being. Such dynamics raise absenteeism risks and mark a pivotal moment for educational workforce stability.

A Heritage Foundation report illuminates the significant learning loss affecting students due to chronic teacher absenteeism, which impacts academic and nonacademic student development. This trend paints a troubling picture of the cascading effects of teacher absenteeism, highlighting the need for strategic, proactive measures to address this growing concern and safeguard the future of education.

For school administrators, it is challenging to find positive ways to address frequent absences, but adopting proactive strategies from the business sector can help mitigate absenteeism, underscoring the need for adaptability and preparedness in maintaining educational excellence amidst challenges.

Provide a culture of support

In an urgent call to combat the educator shortage, it is essential to highlight the critical role of a supportive work environment. Research across sectors underscores that employees, including teachers, are more engaged and consistently present when they feel valued by their organizations. Embracing a “whole educator” approach, akin to the holistic “whole child” perspective in education, schools should consider implementing comprehensive wellness programs, providing mental health resources and creating a more inclusive community that fosters a sense of belonging and participation in decision-making. Such measures bolster educator well-being and enhance the overall educational climate, leading to improved student outcomes.

Foster open communication

Open communication between school administrators and educators is critical in addressing the root causes of absenteeism. Encouraging educators to voice their concerns and challenges allows school leaders to identify patterns and implement targeted interventions. Regular check-ins and feedback sessions further nurture a sense of community and commitment. Moreover, adopting a supportive stance towards staff members’ personal hurdles, coupled with facilitating more compassionate and effective solutions, cultivates an environment of trust, effectively reducing stress and burnout. Such flexibility is vital, especially in today’s job market, where flex time is increasingly becoming standard. Employees should have access to both passive and proactive channels of feedback and communication.

Be prepared for absences

Even in the most positive, supportive workplaces, absences will happen. The Re:work Report underscores that resilience in businesses — and by extension, educational institutions — often hinges on the strategic employment of contingent workers to introduce much-needed flexibility.

Schools can tap into a vast pipeline of qualified substitute teachers, paraeducators, tutors and therapists by forming partnerships with specialized staffing providers such as Kelly Education. This eases the administrative strain of managing and recruiting specialized personnel and ensures the continuity of high-quality education. This approach addresses the immediate challenges posed by teacher absenteeism and contributes to a broader solution, emphasizing the urgent need for collaborative efforts between the education and private sectors to navigate the current educator shortage crisis more effectively.

Encourage continuous education and upskilling

The key to retaining and attracting talent is the investment in continuous professional development, which offers educators opportunities such as online training, collaborative projects and mentorship programs. These initiatives enhance educators’ skills and boost their job satisfaction and commitment, which is crucial in combating absenteeism and ensuring a dedicated workforce. Moreover, integrating stress management and resilience training prepares educators for how to handle professional pressures more effectively.

In an era where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing industries globally, lies another example of a lesson education leaders can learn from the business sector. By training educators to master AI tools, we can dramatically alleviate administrative tasks, thereby unlocking opportunities for deeper, more meaningful educational interactions. This approach does not only streamline operations but also fosters the adoption of innovative teaching techniques that significantly enhance student learning outcomes. This strategic focus on upskilling underscores the urgent need for a modernized professional development framework that aligns with the evolving demands of the education sector.

The challenge of teacher absenteeism is significant, but not insurmountable. It is paramount to recognize and value educators by creating an environment that respects their needs and addresses their challenges. Through such concerted efforts, we can build a more robust and adaptive educational workforce equipped to offer high-quality, uninterrupted learning experiences. In doing so, we not only safeguard our children’s futures, but also affirm our collective commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders, thinkers and innovators.

Learn more about ways to make school administrators’ days easier at https://www.kellyeducation.com/youreasyday.