Summer 2024 Newsletter

July 30, 2024

Hello ~

As we bask in the glow of another iconic New England summer, August is National Wellness month, and a good reminder to prioritize the health and well-being of our employees this month – and all year round.

The KMA team has really stepped up in prioritizing self-care. In June, we challenged our team members to track their steps and miles as we walked virtually from Portland, Maine to San Diego, California. I’m proud to say that we hit our 3,217 mile goal in just over a month – much faster than expected. The challenge gave our team that extra push to get out for a walk, run or hike, and we tallied 6.5 million steps collectively! We’re doubling down and walking back to Portland by Labor Day.

Watch the KMA Summer Walking Challenge Video.

On the subject of fitness goals, we are celebrating our own athlete, Holly Lancaster (below left), who competed in the Tri for a Cure for the 5th time this year, helping to raise over $20 million to date for the Maine Cancer Foundation. Volunteering, fundraising, and showing up for our community are core to KMA, and we love sharing examples of our team members living up to these values.

“Our team, including two survivors, raised close to $5,000. The race is an amazing experience, and the cause is second to none!” – Holly Lancaster

Do you have any initiatives planned for National Wellness month? We have some ideas for you! You could challenge your employees to kick an old habit, or start a new healthy one. These goals can be as simple as drinking more water, tracking 10,000 steps each day, or getting more sleep.

But wellness is not just physical – it’s mental, and emotional health as well, and as leaders, we can support our employees in all areas. Promoting work-life balance is essential, encouraging employees to take regular breaks, utilize their vacation time, and maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life. Flexible work arrangements can help reduce stress and improve productivity. Implementing wellness programs with activities like fitness and nutrition coaching, health screenings, on-site yoga or meditation sessions, and supporting menopausal employees, can significantly contribute to the overall well-being of your team. And providing resources for mental health support, like access to counseling services, is so important in our current cultural moment.

Creating a healthy and pleasing work environment is another idea that can be game-changing. This can include providing ergonomic assessments and ergo-friendly equipment, access to natural light, and a clean, inviting atmosphere. Employees really appreciate efforts to spruce up the office environment, and establishing a committee to plan and implement an office re-design is a great way to create connection and engagement, and by setting a modest budget, it doesn’t have to break the bank.

We also find ourselves in highly charged territory with the upcoming presidential election. More than ever, the country is experiencing heightened division and anxiety. As leaders, we must ensure workplaces are safe zones from the stresses of political tribalism, while respecting differing opinions and priorities.

To get ahead of divisive politics potentially infecting your culture, consider establishing guidelines around political discussions in the workplace. This can be achieved through a statement issued from leadership, the focus of an all-team meeting, as well as consistent reminders via your internal communications channels. Encouraging employees to keep conversations professional and respectful might be straight out of your mission and values statement, as it is for us at KMA. If you would like additional guidance with developing and implementing respectful workplace policies, we are here to help.

It’s a bright spot that we also have the Paris Olympics to focus on this summer, and Team USA to unite and inspire us all. My favorite Olympic athletes are Michael Phelps, Greg Louganis and Mary Lou Retton. Who are yours?

In the spirit of embracing this last stretch of the season, I’m sharing a few photos from KMA’s summer highlights (so far). From time on the ocean and lakes, to hiking and biking, to traveling the world, to participating in triathlons and dog agility competitions, to summer sunsets and ballgames, to enjoying good food with friends and family, I’d say we are really leaning into it!