Helping Employees Overcome Obstacles: A conversation with Mark Peters

Everyday across the globe, people bring their whole selves to work.  They bring every experience from the moment they are born to the moment before they walk in the door each day.  All of it. The good, the bad, the traumatic.   The stuff they bring can be called the Social Determinants of Health.  The determinants are big buckets of factors – environment, genetics, individual behaviors, social circumstances and medical care – that influence an individual's ability to be healthy and THRIVE.   Recognizing these factors influence one's ability to focus and engage at work or even just show up at work opens up a door of possibility for employers.  Employers who provide "benefits" to employees as part of a compensation package are uniquely positioned to provide resources and support that can help to address the factors that can be barriers to an individual who is trying to remain employed. My guest for this episode is Mark Peters, CEO of Butterball Farms, Inc. Mark recognized a long time ago, he could choose to learn about his employees' issues or ignore them and not play that role.   He learned quickly – everyone benefited when he and the organization decided to come alongside their employees to help struggling employees find resources they needed to help them keep their jobs and care for their families.  In 2003, he organized a pioneering group of CEOs and community leaders to found The Source, a not-for-profit organization that has helped hundreds of workers navigate personal challenges that interfere with their jobs. Listen in as Mark shares many of the lessons he learned along the way, actions organizations can take today to better understand the challenges their employees face and steps leaders can take to provide support that leads to reduced turnover and increased employee happiness.  Connect with Mark Peters Instagram: i_3leadership Facebook: i3Leadership1 LinkedIn: i-3 Leadership Connect with Susan Morgan Bailey Email: [email protected]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanmbailey/