Happy Holidays from a Distance: Remote Office Parties and other Fun Ways to Safely Celebrate the Season
The office holiday party was once a source of dread and endless internal jokes. But this year, as the coronavirus pandemic leaves us largely unable to celebrate the season together, many people are longing for those ‘good old days’. You may not be able to recreate your company’s traditional holiday festivities but there are still […]
Eileen’s Lesson: When Barbie tells you that you need a break
Happy holidays! This time of year, I am always reminded of toys. Many (many) years ago, I was tasked with giving a presentation on dressing professionally. I decided that I wanted a visual aid and that a Barbie doll would be the ideal prop. At the time, I did not own a barbie, have children, […]
America’s Remote Workforce: Key Considerations for Inclement Weather Policies amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
For many Americans, the living room has become the new office. As companies continue their virtual operations and adjust to a new normal, remote work is becoming a long term business strategy. Google, Microsoft, and Twitter are among the industry giants that have rendered their work-from-home policies permanent. And it’s not just the big guys. […]
No, my husband is not a convicted criminal!
I really liked my mailman, Michael Jackson. I was sad to see him retire, but when he retired, another fabulous mailman, Michael Jordan, took his place. Yes, those really are their names. Of course, my mailmen aren’t the only ones who share names with famous people. I did a LinkedIn search on the name “Brad Pitt”, […]
Five Post-COVID-19 Employee Benefits Your Business Can’t Afford to be Without
It’s hard to imagine, but one day the COVID-19 pandemic will be behind us. In this new normal, the employee benefits your company offered in the past may seem stale and out of date. Remote work, for example, was once a sought-after perk but it’s become commonplace amid the health crisis. As businesses plan to […]
Eileen’s Lesson: Get a Fresh Perspective from Someone on the Outside
A few years ago, I was driving my car on the beltway and I heard someone’s car alarm go off. I figured that it must have been a car on the road alongside me, as the sound never decreased in volume. I shook my head and thought to myself, ‘Who drives their car and doesn’t […]
What Employment Laws Apply To My Remote Employees?
COVID-19 has forced dramatic changes to the way America works. As businesses grapple with the decision to continue with a remote workforce or bring employees back to the office, employers should be aware of the impact a remote workforce has on company payroll and benefits. Regardless of where your company is located, the employment laws […]
Reopening Your Office Safely: Essential Practices for Businesses
After months of closures and remote working, businesses are gradually resuming onsite operations. As companies across the nation cautiously get back to work, they need to strike a delicate balance between their existing processes and what’s necessary to accommodate a new normal. How can organizations remain functional while keeping employees and customers safe and preventing […]
Do you know who’s listening?
In my pre HR life, I had a job that, due to carpooling, I arrived super early. As luck would have it, several co-workers also had the same situation. As a result, we would get together in the kitchen and have coffee long before work started. One day, someone brought out a Cosmo poll thinking […]
Five Secrets to Building a Resilient Remote Workforce
When crises strike, resiliency becomes an invaluable asset. It’s the stuff that allows us to adapt, recover, and grow stronger from adverse situations. In the workplace, resilient teams generally have greater clarity of purpose, stronger connections, and a can-do attitude. They’re optimistic, aligned to the needs of internal and external stakeholders, and they get things […]