It's September. I have had a bittersweet reaction to this time of year for a few decades. It used to be the advent of the fresh school year, everything was new again, and I couldn't wait to see what was in store for all of us.

For the last decade or so, "wellness" has been a buzzword of sorts in the workplace. It began with organizations working towards helping employees achieve a more positive physical state of wellness. But as we all now know, wellness is all-encompassing, with physical, spiritual, and emotional elements as well. A broader look at wellness certainly must include mental health issues. Wellness has become a goal for the workplace. And it is a big one.

Traditionally, people think about career planning in conventional ways. Climbing the corporate ladder has some universal themes that nearly everyone recognizes. Developing a plan for where one wants to be in one, three, or five years is standard. What credentials and education are necessary to hit those goals? What benchmarks must be met?

I once heard it said that technology is the best, and worst thing that has ever happened to our society. I would have to share that I absolutely agree with this contradictory statement.

It can be argued that the workplace is in a constant state of transition. And that would not be an inaccurate statement. Not only does the workplace constantly evolve, but people grow and change. In an ideal world, there is ample room for growth within an organization so that talent can be nurtured and flourish without losing the best and brightest employees. It is very important to plan and implement programs to ensure success for employee growth. It is an investment that will yield great benefits for the organization.

You have attracted the candidate of your choice. Congratulations! Have you taken the next step? Are you actively working to retain your talent? If this critical step is overlooked, there will be a high price to pay. Top talent will always have choices and opportunities to go elsewhere.

We have all seen the disturbing news coverage of workplace emergencies. Some are natural disasters, involving weather and circumstances that cannot be foreseen. Some occur through negligence....