In this episode of EveryDay ABA, Paola, Brittanny, and Leslie discuss Employee Appreciation Day coming up on March 6. The conversation explores how unclear expectations, weak systems, inconsistent feedback, and poor leadership practices create environments where employees struggle to succeed, especially in human services and ABA organizations. Drawing from principles of organizational behavior management, the hosts challenge the common belief that “people don’t want to work anymore” and instead highlight how performance problems are usually the result of broken systems, not individual motivation. They unpack the complexities of workplace relationships, the importance of clear communication and accountability, and the harm caused by performative appreciation and empty thank-yous without meaningful support. The episode closes with practical leadership strategies and actionable guidance for managers, supervisors, BCBAs, HR professionals, and business owners who want to improve workplace culture, strengthen employee performance, reduce burnout and turnover, and design work environments that reinforce the behaviors they actually want to see.

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After listening to the episode, participants will be able to:

Identify at least three systemic variables that contribute to employee performance problems in organizational settings.
Differentiate between individual-level explanations of performance and system-level explanations using principles of organizational behavior management.
Propose at least two OBM-informed strategies for improving employee performance and morale by redesigning systems related to training, feedback, and accountability.

Employee Behavior Isn’t the Problem — Your Systems Are