With workplaces across industries seeing the costs of poor employee well-being including reduced productivity, decreased organizational health and even compromised safety it's no surprise top researchers are turning their focus to solutions that can drive meaningful change.
That's why the highly anticipated Haskayne Business Exchange is returning for its third installment, Healthy Workplaces: The Human Cost of Systemic Failure, on March 4 at The Grand in downtown Calgary.
Those interested in leading workplace transformation are invited to explore the latest insights on creating healthier environments in a series of 10-minute presentations by Drs. Hossein Piri, Samantha (Sammi) Dodson, and Justin Weinhardt all PhD.
Karen Radford, past president of TELUS and former EVP and chief transformation officer at Enbridge and recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, will host the event and follow each talk with an industry panel Q-and-A. The panel will include Danielle Larivee, vice-president of the United Nurses of Alberta and former MLA, and Valerie Prather, LLB'88, partner and co-head of health practice at Bennett Jones; a third panellist has yet to be announced.
The semi-annual exchange, launched last year, has quickly become a vital forum to solve some of society's most pressing issues through academic discovery and practical application. Building on the success of past events Skepticism and Sustainability and The Intersection of Business and Digital Worlds the exchange continues to offer attendees expert insights in another dynamic and engaging conversation with top researchers from the University of Calgary's Haskayne School of Business.
Multiple perspectives offered to foster workplace health
"In a world of constant digital distractions, I want to share research-backed strategies to harness our attention and boost focus to achieve a state of sustained, meaningful productivity," says Weinhardt, who will dive into the cost of workplace distractions, exploring the myth of multi-tasking and the science behind attention spans. His presentation will provide practical, research-backed strategies to improve focus and productivity in the modern workplace.
Dodson, meanwhile, will highlight systemic failures in supporting victims of workplace harassment, sharing new research on how managers can foster more compassionate environments amidst methods that worsen abuse.
"Organizations are encouraging reporting systems as the solution to addressing harassment, but reporting can actually make things worse by leading to retaliation from co-workers," she says.
Piri will tackle "alarm fatigue" in health care, where excessive and unnecessary alerts can desensitize clinicians and jeopardize patient safety. His talk will propose smarter, more intuitive solutions for streamlining critical alerts in high-stakes environments.
"When clinicians can't trust the warning system, patient safety is at risk. This isn't just about a broken system; it's about the limits of human attention in an age of relentless notifications," says Piri.
Join us
Doors open at 4 p.m., with the main program running from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m., followed by a networking reception. Tickets are available now in limited quantities and range from $29 for students to $79 for general admission.
Whether you're a business leader, or someone passionate about workplace well-being and business, the exchange offers an invaluable opportunity to gain perspective and network with like-minded professionals.
For tickets and more information, visit Haskayne Business Exchange.
