Changes To Expect In The Workplace After COVID-19

It’s tough to imagine going back into the office right now and having everything go back to normal. Mostly because there’s a lot of things that have improved due to the crisis that many companies are likely to keep around after things open up. So what will the new, new normal look like when the dust settles? Here’s what some shifts experts are predicting post-corona.

• Full digital transformation supported by a genuinely virtual workforce. It was bumpy at first, but more and more companies are learning how to serve their customers and clients remotely. And there’s no stopping that now. Every industry has been hit with some significant digital transformations, and it’s more likely that they’ll try to expand than go back to having no footprint in the virtual arena.

• Focus on outputs versus facetime. Expect a more significant focus on what gets done rather than when. Remote work has shown it doesn’t matter which employee gets in first or leaves last; it’s all about productivity. Experts predict organizations to move towards outcome-driven expectations with clear priorities and goals instead of discrete tasks.

•  Stronger communications. It took a crisis, but companies are taking a hard look at how they’ve been communicating internally and making some changes. For things to work with remote staff, there have to be more channels for dialogue and the tools and training to use those channels effectively. Plus, all those meetings that could have been emailed should once and for all email.

 Source: Fast Company

Half The US Wants To Work From Home Forever

The coronavirus has ruined a lot of parts of daily life, but the majority of people that are still employed agree that it has upgraded their work-life. It turns out this free trial of working remotely isn’t too shabby.

A new poll found that more than half of the people in the U.S. say they want to continue working from home following COVID-19. And the other half must still be trying to figure out how to make a Zoom account. That’s just a guess, though.

Interestingly, while every generation is into the idea of never going into the office again, baby boomers are feeling it the most. Just about 75% of the boomers said they wanted to kiss the cubicle life goodbye for good. Meanwhile, even though 80% of millennials said we’re more productive at home, only 50% of us said they’d want to work there forever. 

Despite the self-reported productivity boost, nearly two-thirds of people in the U.S. say their employers won’t allow them to keep working out of their home office.

How To Look After Your Mental Health In Isolation

You don’t need a reminder that things are rough right now, but you may need a reminder to keep tabs on your mental health. We’re all dealing with a lot of heavy stuff right now, and to make matters worse, we’ve got to work through them in isolation. So, to help you stay chill when the world is anything but, here are some steps you can take to take care of your mental health.

• Continue accessing treatment. If you have an existing mental illness, you’ve probably already gotten a message from whoever you’re working on things with about doing therapy sessions over the phone or via video chat. If not, call them ASAP. Now’s not the time to hop off the wagon.

• Acknowledge how you’re feeling. There’s no “correct” way to contact right now. A lot is going on, and whatever your feeling, whether it’s anxiety, frustration, or fear, is probably valid. An excellent way to curb those negative feelings is to find something that makes you feel productive and gives you purpose. That could mean learning a new skill, comforting a loved one, or finishing that book you’ve put off. It’s whatever works best for you and doesn’t involve scrolling through endless COVID-19 news stories.

• Create a routine. We’re still early into this new normal, so it’s probably best to create some structure to help you adjust. Keep your regular wake up time and work ethic, but add some new healthy habits like indoor exercise and drinking eight glasses of water to keep your mind and your body happy, too.

Remember, you’re not alone, even if you’re stuck alone inside. Reach out to someone and stay social. See more mental health tips HERE.

Why Workplace Culture Is A ‘Rude Awakening’ For New Grads

Dear future college grads: If you think your group projects prepared you for “teamwork” in the workplace? You’re in for a bad time. Yours sincerely, literally everyone that had to deal with the culture shock of their first job after college.

Be warned new grads: Starting your new job with unrealistic expectations is a great way to kick off your career struggling. This scenario is becoming a big problem with our generation in particular.

There is a new report, which finds that 30% of millennials have quit their job because of “career development” reasons. It seems as though going from a situation where you get an A+ for great work to another where you don’t even get considered for a promotion isn’t gelling with us.

Get ready for lack of acknowledgment for your contributions and, in some cases, an environment that’s toxic compared to former classrooms. Several companies are holding onto overly “hierarchical structures” where managers are managers, and lower-level employees are just that. People that are so low on the totem pole that they shouldn’t even make eye-contact with their higher-ups.

It’s this lack of empowerment that causes a “rude awakening” for recruits, and it’s why many of us end up sticking around long enough to “find something that looks better, and then they move on.”

So is it our generation’s fault for wanting encouraging work environments or our employer’s responsibility for not nurturing young talent? I don’t think it’s snowflaky for millennials to want upward mobility out of their career.

Millennials More Likely To ‘Ghost’ Employers

Since Millennial generation has perfected the dark art known as ghosting on Tinder, it now seems they are using those skills in their careers. According to a new survey, even though a hiring manager swiped right on them during an interview, millennials are the most likely to vanish from their jobs entirely.

Why? 

It all comes down to money. The study asked people if they'd ghost their employer if they had an offer from a higher paying job elsewhere, and it just so happens the idea of making more money is too enticing. Strange, I know.

The poll found that when offered more pay elsewhere, half of the millennials would be cool with walking out the office door and ignoring all their employer's calls. And Gen Z has their back on this technique because 50% of them also said they'd leave, too.

The research also found we're pretty bold negotiators as well. A brave 59% of millennials said they'd used a potential job offer to leverage a higher salary, and an even more daring 55% have told prospective employers that they're 'considering other offers' also though they didn't have any. 

How much of a bump in salary would you need to leave your current employer and go somewhere else?

Retention In The Age Of The Freelancers

I receive a lot of phone calls from business owners who say they are having a hard time with retention. They say things like, "All Millennials want to be consultants and freelancers. They refuse to work for anyone, and I can't compete with that."

These managers are right; there is a rise of new Millennial freelancers. Younger workers are taking charge of their lives and giving themselves an opportunity to travel and have flexibility. More often, these employees are trying their best to be participants in their own lives rather than being chained to desks at all times. 

Who can blame them? In terms of flexibility, being a freelancer is a pretty sweet gig. You get to be your own boss, make your own hours, and get into a schedule that you’ve created for yourself. 

If you want to keep your staff from trying to go out on their own, you must give your employees the power to feel as free as they would if they were a freelancers.  To be clear, I am not saying to throw caution to the wind and have no rules. However, if you make logical and purposeful changes to the more restrictive rules and decide to have an environment where the staff feels more like owners than workers you will see an improvement in retention.

Do you think it’s okay to cry at the office? Why or why not?

There’s no doubt that emotions can get the better of us on the job, but is it ever okay to show those emotions in the workplace? Well, a new survey sought to find the answer to that very question.

A new poll by Accountemps finds that 45% of people say they’ve cried at work, and it seems most bosses are okay with it, on occasion.  When asked 44% of CFOs say crying in the office is acceptable as long as it isn’t something that happens every day. However,  26% say it’s never okay because people will perceive an employee who cries as weak or immature.

If an employee is crying an abnormal amount, it may seem uncomfortable to approach them. The easy thing to do would be to assume a back story for that individual that lets you off the hook from having to talk with him or her. However, if at all possible, approach that employee and talk with them about the situation through the lense of compassion. You could be missing out are an easy opportunity to really connect and build trust  with your employee. 

Obviously, if at all possible, it is always better to control your emotions. However, tears aren’t the only emotion folks can express on the job. This same survey found that 52% of workers have lost their temper at the office.  There is not a good black and white answer to the "crying" questions. I think in this day in age; it is essential for managers to lead by example and, give people grace when needed. 

"Unhappy" At Work - Or Does Your Job Actually Suck?

When entering a new year it is not uncommon for people to start looking for new jobs, and for many, it’s because they are unhappy. With the amount of time spent at the office, the last thing you want is to be unhappy there, because without a doubt that will trickle down to other parts of your life.

So, how can you tell if you’re truly unhappy? Well, according to Fortune 500 there are three signs that may indicate you are not happy.

They include: 

• Physically – Certain habit changes could indicate you’re unhappy at your gig, like not sleeping enough, giving up exercise, eating too much or too little, or not stopping after one glass of wine after a day at work. These are all clues that something’s wrong, and while it may not be work burnout, it could be.

• Emotionally – Have you suddenly become the pessimist in your group? Or do you feel down a lot, or get angry or frustrated quickly? These are all emotional cues that may indicate you’re not happy with your job. 

• Relationally – If you’re unhappy at work, there’s a good chance you may bring your bad feelings home with you, which could affect your personal relationships. If you see your behavior changing at home towards your loved ones, it could be that you’re acting out because of your unhappiness at work. 

The article went on to say that if you are experiencing some of these signs that you might want to find another job.  I am of the belief, that in this job market if you do not have offers from new companies coming in regularly that you might want to take a different approach before putting yourself at financial risk.

Instead of job hoping to solve your happiness issues, turn the tables on the argument. Try working to fix the physical, emotional and relational issues you are seeing in your life and see if that does not improve your mood at work. The grass is not always greener on the other side on the street,  and I have yet to see a company where everyone gets along.  If you are getting more sleep, drinking less, and getting along with people outside of the office and you are still unhappy, THEN it might be a great time to move on. 

Job Titles Don't Matter Anymore

As millennials, our career paths may be all over the place, but it’s not the crisis that some make it out to be. We’re finding unconventional jobs, founding apps, and being our own business leaders. There are all kinds of things happening in the career world of millennials. And that’s cool – so much that we’re searching for an experience and not so much of a title. That’s a good thing – because people really are less and less impressed with your title.

Why is this? Because in the black and white world of a lot of our parents’ careers, our titles aren’t carrying much weight. Saying you’re the founder of an app doesn’t really clear up what you do to any of your curious relatives. Also, millennials aren’t motivated by the title anymore. 20 Somethings would much rather have a pleasant work environment than a fancy title.

More than that? Millennials believe that job titles add constraints to what your job actually is. So basically, we’re dropping the titles and doing what WE want to do!

New report reveals what hiring the wrong person can do to a company

There’s no doubt folks going on job interviews are dealing with a lot of pressure, but did you ever stop and think about the pressure put on people doing the hiring? Finding the right person for a job can be really nerve-wracking, and according to a new survey, picking the wrong candidate can be quite costly.

A survey by CareerBuilder finds that 74% of employers say they’ve hired the wrong person for a position, and such bad hires can cost companies an average of $14,900. What’s more, 37% say such bad hires resulted in less productivity, while 32% say it resulted in lost time trying to recruit and train another worker, and 31% say it compromised quality of work.

So, what constitutes a bad hire for employers? Reasons given include:

• The worker didn't produce the proper quality of work (54%)
• The worker had a negative attitude (53%)
• The worker didn't work well with other workers (50%)
• The worker had immediate attendance problems (46%)
• The worker's skills did not match what they claimed to be able to do when hired (45%) 

And hiring the wrong worker isn’t the only costly mistake employers are making. In fact, letting good workers go can cost them even more. Turns out, the average cost of losing a good hire this year was $29,600. And losing those workers could come down to how they are treated. The survey finds that while 75% of workers believe they are loyal to their employer, only 54% believe their company is loyal to them.

What Employees Really Want Over The Holidays

With the holiday season just about ready to kick into high gear, a lot of workers will likely be dealing with office holiday parties, gift swaps and more, but do they really enjoy taking part in all these activities?

Well, according to a new survey, all these holiday activities aren’t exactly what most workers love about the holiday season. In fact, for 70% of workers the thing they love most about the holidays is “time off,” followed by getting a bonus (34%). Such holiday events ranked much lower on the list with only 11% looking forward to cookie swaps and 9% excited by gift exchanges.

One thing people do love is that holiday feeling that floats through the office during the season. The survey finds that 54% of people say the “holiday spirit in the workplace” is one of their favorite things about this time of year, while 41% like that they have “happier/more generous co-workers.”

And then there’s the holiday party. While 33% of people say they look forward to the office holiday party, it sounds like a lot of people would be more than happy to do without it. The truth is, 90% of people would gladly give up the party to get a bonus ore more vacation, while 62% of employees look at the holiday party as an obligation.

Phrases To Avoid At The Holiday Meal

It is that time of year again, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Eve usually is a time pack with family. With the stress of the holidays and maybe a glass or two of wine, family gatherings can lead to tense moments during dinner conversations. We can’t stop someone else from saying the wrong thing, but we can all agree to stay away from specific subjects, so things don’t get too uncomfortable around the table. Here are some phrases we should avoid at holiday dinners so we can all have a good time.

“You should have…” - The word “should” just makes us feel the judgment and disappointment, so avoid all that negativity and use “could” instead when you can. 

“Can you believe what [insert name of detested elected official or political party here] just did?” - You know better than to bring up politics in mixed company, especially at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Unless you’re looking for a heated debate, just don’t do it.

“The best [insert holiday food] I ever had was…” - Be a polite guest, not a food critic. Holiday meals are not the time to talk about how a dish could’ve been prepared better or to compare meals you’ve had in the past. You’re better off focusing on how tasty the meal in front of you is and how much you appreciate it.

“Did you hear about…?” - It’s easy to slip into gossip mode, but try to steer the conversation back to something positive instead of dogging cousin Joe who escaped to Florida instead of coming to family dinner.

“When are you going to…” - Try not to make anyone feel defensive or put on the spot and if you’re the one in the hot seat, try to deflect with humor and a smile as you change the subject.

Be the best you this holiday season and consume responsibly. 

The Benefits Of Having A Work Spouse

Making friends at the office is important to keep your morale up, but for some people their bond with a special colleague goes way beyond just friendship. We’re talking about that person who is so close to someone that they are often characterized as a “work wife” or “work husband,” and while real-life spouses may get a little jealous of that close bond, the truth is that work spouse may be just what they need to help them survive their job.

A recent UK poll, which could easily translate here, found that 47.2% of people wish they had a “work spouse,” because they offer “support and mentorship,” and also give “advice and guidance,” as well as “friendship and companionship.”

So what benefits do such work spouses offer? Well, they tend to be the person in the office that always has your back and you can always count on, plus they give you a standing lunch partner. They're also the person who’ll keep a watchful eye out for you at the Christmas party if you start embarrassing yourself. What's more, a work spouse is someone you can go to when you need to vent about a fellow employee or boss, and will be there the one person who'll be straight with you after you mess up a project or assignment at the office. And let's face it, we all need that!

Source: New York Post 

Most People Don't Negotiate Job Offers

While salary is at the top or near the top of the list of priorities when trying to get a new job, most people don’t negotiate to get more money. Data shows that 56% of people don’t attempt to negotiate their salary when offered a job. The reason? Most of us feel uncomfortable asking for more money and are afraid the employer will decide not to hire them.

Meanwhile, 53% of employers actually are willing to negotiate salaries on initial job offers for entry-level positions and 52% say that they typically offer a lower salary than they’re willing to pay. In fact, more than a quarter of employers say their initial offer is $5,000 less than what they are actually willing to give up. In other words - there’s always room to negotiate.

When accepting a job people should ask questions about the base salary and when they will be evaluated for a promotion. You can also remind your employer about your experience and education and explain why you are worth more. Also remember there are other factors outside of salary, including benefits, vacation time, flexibility, opportunities for development and perks.

Bumble: The Millennial LinkedIn

Who doesn’t love swiping around on Bumble a little? People tend to send less inappropriate pictures than on Tinder, and you might meet someone you really like and want to just be pals with! But now, with Bumble Bizz? You can actually be swiping on people that can help you with your career world.

The version of the app is all about getting career advice and finding career mentors. And what better way to do it than when you’re already on your phone swiping? Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder of Bumble Bizz noted that people were changing their profiles based on their moods. People would say things like “Just looking to network a bit.” Even though the app is only in its early stages, women are proving interested in the app.

The app is really changing the way millennial women will start to think about networking. It’s all about getting our names and faces out there!

The Perfect Comeback To A Race-based Comment

I do not know much about the NBA. However, even I have heard about a player named Jeremy Lin. When Lin played for the New York Knicks in 2012, he was such a surprise stand out that year that the entire nation developed, “Linsanity.”  

Lin has not risen to the same popularity he achieved in 2012 and has bounced around from team to team, with five teams in as many years. However, at the end of it all, he still is a professional Asian-American basketball player in the NBA. Making Lin, one of only four Asian American players in the league,  which is pretty impressive. 

Last week another NBA player, Kenyon Martin, spoke out against Lin. This comment did not seem to be the typical banter you see in professional sports, where athletes tease each other for their play or record. Martin made fun of Lin’s for his hairstyle choice. Lin has been sporting dreadlocks as of late and Martin, in a video interview, said that someone should remind Lin that he is not black. 

Quote: 
“Do I need to remind this damn boy that his last name Lin?” Martin said in the video. “Like, come on man. Let’s stop this, man, with these people, man. There is no way possible that he would have made it on one of our teams with that bulls–t goin’ on in his head. Come on man, somebody need to tell him, like: ‘All right bro, we get it. You wanna be black.’ Like, we get it. But the last name is Lin.”

It would have been easy for Lin to feel upset get angry and strike back out against Martin. However, it seems Lin was able to take a deep breath and think it through before he sent a reply. Lin response definitely won the day. 

Quote: 
Hey man, it’s all good. You definitely don’t have to like my hair and [are] definitely entitled to your opinion,” Lin wrote. “Actually I [am] legit grateful [for] you sharin it [to be honest]. At the end of the day, I appreciate that I have dreads and you have Chinese tattoos [because] I think its a sign of respect. And I think as minorities, the more that we appreciate each other’s cultures, the more we influence mainstream society. Thanks for everything you did for the Nets and hoops . . . had your poster up on my wall growin up.”

That is a perfect reply. Lin disarms Martin’s insult and then conveys the desire to see more unity among minorities, without being insulting. Whenever someone makes fun of you, they expect a comeback. When you don’t retaliate in kind I can throw that person off a little, and they begin to let down their defenses. 

It is common in the heat of an argument, for people to stop listening for understanding and only to wait for ammunition. A person waiting to counter their opponent does not comprehend what is being said at that moment.  Lin's reply allows him to show the hypocrites in Martin’s comment, who has a tattoo with Chinese charters, without making fun or inflaming the situation. 

Always remember, if something you hear or see triggers you, making you upset and emotional, it is impossible to think clearly while you are in emotional anger.  It is always best to clear your head and remember, what message do I want to convey. Then when you have clarity of message, you can plan your response.  If all else fails, kill them with kindness. 

Stop Telling Other People To Quit Their Jobs

Sites such as LinkedIn have had a lot of posts telling you,“IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY WITH YOUR JOB, QUIT!" This statement is meant to make you feel empowered and strong. However, I would like to share why this is HORRIBLE advice.

If you read the posts, you will see a similar narrative. The author tells the reader they are in a dead-end job and work for an emotionally abusive boss.  You hear about how one day the employee decided that they have had enough and they quit their job. Common rational is to compare their situation to a toxic relationship. You hear things like, "You wouldn't stay with an abusive partner, right?” You then hear about how they have their dream job now, a much better boss, and WAY more money. This is about the time when I do an epic eye roll and say, "Well goooood foooor youuuu."

There are a few reasons why rushing to quit a bad job is a flawed idea, but let me narrow it down to just one.

The "quit today" argument is an example of bias. I have yet to see a LinkedIn post about how someone quit their job because it didn't meet their emotional needs and REGRET IT EVERYDAY.  Just because you don't hear about the people who had to move in with mom and dad or went to work at the same job they had in high school, it doesn't mean it is it not a reality.

I have work in radio on a morning show in the 5th largest market in the country. I have been so blessed to be able to work where I do and for the people I work with, but there are days when I still want to slam doors and scream, "The hell with you all. I will not be disrespected again; I quit!" However, I would actually never do that.

Why? Because none of this matters. Somewhere along the way, I decided to always look at the bigger picture. I have seen people far more talented than me in this field come and go because of the emotions. You will always have jerks in the office. The larger the office, the more likely you have jerks. I don't believe that the best way to remove yourself from jerk bosses or fellow staff members is to leave. Quitting exclusively hurts YOU. You are the one who is out of a job and now you have to go through another rigorous process of finding a new job. You are the one who is stressed out because you are bleeding through your savings.

To be clear, I am not telling you to not look for a better job if you are being bullied and mistreated. Feel free to spend your nights looking for a better job. Do take all your half days interviewing for companies that might fit your style.  

What I am saying is that there is no job that exists that is bad day-less. I have my dream job, I am getting treated well, I have fantastic work perks, and I still have b.s. to deal with on a daily basis because everyone at any job does.

Keep working and make your money. The best way to stick it to a bad boss is to be your best, despite of him or her. Always protect yourself with CYA (cover your a**) tactics and be positive.  If your boss truly dislikes you, think about how he or she must feel having to sign your check twice a month and relish in that thought.

Happy Working!

Teens Today Are Taking Their Own Path To Independent Behaviors

While we may think that most teenagers are in a rush to become adults, a new report reveals that’s actually not the case with teens these days. In fact, the study published in the journal “Child Development” finds teens are actually putting off such adult-related behaviors as drinking and sex, as well as jobs, driving, dating and more.

The survey looked at forty years of data, comparing teens today to those in the 70s, 80s and 90s, and discovered that the current crop of teens are developing independent behaviors at a slower rate than those in the past, and that goes for all economic groups and all parts of the country.

For example, comparing teens surveyed between 2010 and 2016, to those in the early nineties:

• 29% of ninth graders had sex, down from 38%
• 29% of eighth graders drank alcohol, down from 56%.
• 32% of eight graders had worked for pay, down from 63%

And for 12th graders between 2010 to 2016, compared to teens as far back as 1976:

• 67% drank, down from 93%
• 55% worked for pay, down from 76%
• 73% had drivers’ licenses, down from 88%
• 63% dated, down from 86%
• 62% had had sex, down from 68% in the early 1990s (The earliest that data was collected)

As for why, that’s the big question. While some have suggested homework and extracurricular activities are to blame, the study says that’s just not the case. Researchers do believe the Internet could be keeping kids away from driving and dating, while they also say “helicopter parenting” could be playing a role in kids' delayed adulthood.

Workplace Bathrooms Very Important To Employees

While most people take a job based on the salary, opportunity or even the perks, it seems there’s another thing that’s very important to a lot of employees - the bathrooms. That’s right, according to a new survey, the condition of a workplace bathroom is a big deal, with 89% of Americans saying it’s a good indicator of how a company values its employees.

Overall, 67% of employees say their office restrooms are excellent or very good, with biggest complaints of nearly half those surveyed being unpleasant smells, clogged or unflushed toilets and empty or jammed toilet paper dispensers. Along those lines, the improvements most people would like to see made include more touchless features, like automatic toilets, motion activated faucets, and air fresheners, while full-length mirrors, shelves for belongings and electric hand dryers are also common requests. 

How important is an office bathroom to you?

Cyberloafing Is A New Term And Most Of Us Are Guilty Of It

Psychologists have coined the term cyberloafing to describe folks using work hours for personal time online. Has your office done anything to stop employees from cyberloafing? Do you think their moves are successful?

No matter how much we know that we should be concentrating on work during the workday, it is way too easy to get distracted when we are on the computer. More and more people spend their workday doing personal stuff online, so much so that psychologists have now given the practice a name – cyberloafing.

Cyberloafing, described as using time at work for personal interest such as online shopping, following the news, checking social media and cyber surfing, is one of the biggest things affecting employee productivity, according to a new report in the “The Journal of Psychosocial Research."

The study, out of the University of Texas at San Antonio, finds that about 14% of a worker's day is spent cyberloafing, with those who do it then taking about 23 minutes to get back to their work responsibilities. Overall looking at news coverage is one of the biggest things people do while cyberloafing, with online shopping also one of the major causes of decreased employee productivity.