4 Tips to Reduce Employee Absenteeism

4 Tips to Reduce Employee Absenteeism A new report  in the UK has found that statistics show the lowest level of sickness absence since records began and while this might be good news, when employees do call in sick, sadly not all absence is genuine, no matter where in the world you are. In fact, unauthorised absenteeism has a significant impact on business productivity and this is felt more at specific times of the year like just after Christmas and especially between January and March. Neil  Pickering, Marketing Industry Insights Manager at Kronos, says: Our research shows that 24% of British workers have 5-6 of their working days disrupted by unauthorised absence between January and March, the most disrupted time of the year. Many also feel these absences are not for legitimate reasons, with nearly three-quarters (73%) accusing their colleagues of taking sick leave when they were not ill, and a third admitting taking sick leave when they shouldn’t have. While the ONS report suggests that men are less likely to miss work through illness, our research suggests that they are the most likely to fake illness (40% compared to 32% of women). This disruption can be significant for both employers and employees. Absenteeism not only means that work is not delivered as efficiently, with colleagues covering roles they are not familiar with, but the stress levels of those employees in work also increase, risking fatigue and burnout. What you can do to reduce unauthorised absenteeism: Show you care  There are a number of ways you can show your employee that you appreciate them  but sometimes all it takes is to tell them that you care. This could be as simple as just listening to them. They may not just have issues in the workplace, so letting them know they can open up to you about anything they feel comfortable talking about can go a long way. You dont even have to approach them. By having an open-door policy, it lets your employees know that they are always welcome to come and talk to you in your office. And if you can entice them in with the offer of cookies or treats that are strategically placed so they can help themselves then even better. Work/life balance Most people, on average, spend a third of their day at work, possibly more if they work shifts. But its important that they dont spend more time at their desk than they need to, so that they can have some kind of life too. Whether its to socialize or spend it with their family, while work is important, spending time outside of work is just as, if not more important. Be conscious about your employees work loads. If they are taking longer than usual or staying behind more, then instead of reprimanded them about their pace of work, it might be a good idea to re-evaluate the amount of work you are giving them. If its too much then scale it back or share it among others. Flexible working  More companies are offering this option to their employees than ever before. Giving your employees the flexibility to work from home or from an office nearer to their home, or even while theyre away from their home or the office, has great benefits. There are a number of myths about flexible working and employees being slack or less committed, but the facts suggest otherwise. In fact, flexible working can increase productivity and employee engagement  and is worth considering. Employee responsibility  Im not just talking about the responsibility an employee has to you and the business, but the responsibilities you can give them to make them feel empowered. A lot of managers say they want to empower their employees, but very few actually do it well. In fact its a buzzword often used by management, but very rarely  practiced effectively in most organizations and thats for a number of reasons. For a manager to empower their employee there has to be an element of trust on both sides. Trust from the manager that the employee can do the job and manage their time effectively and trust from the employee that they can confidently perform the task. But giving your employees the responsibility to manage their own shift patterns, or the days of the week they want to work from the office or home are just some of the ways you can help make them feel empowered. There are number of reasons employees are absent from work and while some reasons may be genuine like sickness or bereavement, unfortunately proving unauthorised absences isnt that easy. By using these tips you can help reduce the amount of unauthorised absences in your company. But if after this has been done, there are certain employees who are still not showing up for work on a regular basis, then there might be another reason theyre avoiding work.

Ive Got a Dating Website for YOU! (And just about everyone else)

Ive Got a Dating Website for YOU! (And just about everyone else) As Ive admitted before, Im a online dater. Personally, Ive had luck with OkCupid, and it aint broke, so I havent fixed it. But since Ive stuck with my one solid site, Ive missed the vast other online dating opportunities that have recently sprouted. There is seriously a dating website for EVERYONE. Beyond Match, eHarmony, ChristianMingle and JDate, here are some of the mainstream sites that are picking up speed and picking up chicks: How About We I did try this one it was a big ole fail. A dating site where users suggest a date for others to accept. With no matches being based on personality, and the range of men who want to “grab a drink” being wide, I don’t really see how this one can be successful. PoF  (Plenty of Fish) It isn’t super new but it is new to me! Doesn’t seem like anything is special about this site though. Another shirtless guy, another selfie photo’d girl… If I’m wrong… let me know! Coffee Meets Bagel  Based off of personality, you’re sent a new guy everyday and are notified via text. You can either “like” or “pass”. Alikewise Dating based on book types. If you are someone who has a book that “defines you”, this could be a brilliant site. Anyone who also enjoys  Letters to Young Poet  might have my heart. Grouper-  The site sets up the date, and then the guy and the girl each invite 3 single friends for one big group date. I’ve seen it be both really awesome or really really awkward. I think it is worth the risk. NerveDating-  A dating site without an “About Me” paragraph. WHAT!? CAN IT BE TRUE?? This site takes the nerves out of online dating and tries to make it more natural by asking normal questions… as natural as online dating can be. Only a Date-  Similar to How About We where the date is picked before the man. Again, it’s a bit terrifying to think the range in men that might show up “for a drink.” The key is to get as unique as possible with the date ideas, but that sounds like more work than an “About Me” paragraph. Cupid With Friends this site is GENIUS. No one edits their own profile, instead, their friends write it for them. Sounds like a really fun excuse for a single lady party to me! And while I’m on the topic, here are some really awesome unique dating sites as well: SeniorMatch  Everyone deserves love, even the small percentage of elderly people who are savy enough to find an online dating website. H-ype.com-  A dating site for people with Herpes. Smart! Maybe just make up a story about how you met. Veggie Date Sounds like you are dating a carrot, but it’s dating for vegetarians! The Big and the Beautiful Dating for curvy people. A “Top Model” made the site so it’s got to be good right? Geek2Geek Awe. Nothing is more romantic than writing HTML code together… Farmers Only  Standing at the alter: “I, Lauren, take you Farmer Jim and your fifty chicken, 80 cows, and 20 horses…” 2date4love  A site for those who can’t have sex. Whether celibate, sick, or whatnot. And lastly, for those of you who are disgusting or for those of you who find humor in all that the internet offers: Sugar Daddie  I don’t think I need to explain this one. Ashley Madison members are matched up with  other married people. Suspicious website names for suspicious activities… Beautiful People UGH. Just shut your mouth. You deserve this article:   Blendr/Grindr-  Straight/Gay sites that shows the geographical distance between you and another Blendr/Grindr user. These users are most often found in bathroom stalls. 7 or Better  a site for women who want to date guys that are “endowed down under”. There truly is a dating website for EVERYONE. Want more examples? Check out the Buzzfeed article here. Do you have another dating website? Do you have stories from using any of the sites above? I want to hear them! (Except for the 7 or Better stories… I really don’t want to hear those). Let’s talk. Happy Thursday y’all!

When Youre Injured and Unable to Work, Consider These 8 Careers

When You’re Injured and Unable to Work, Consider These 8 Careers The pain and suffering from an injury are compounded when they prevent you from working. If you are employed in a position that involves physical labor, any injury could put you out of work for some time, and that makes it harder to recover financially as well as physically. What’s more, your employer isn’t obligated to keep you. After your sick and vacation days are used up, the company has the option to observe its best interests and let you go. “Unfortunately, the system is backed up against the injured worker,” Dennis Liotta, of Edgar Snyder Associates told FoxBusiness. “If they are injured on the job it provides a little more protection, but for people who aren’t injured on the job, the options are severely limited.” What you do immediately after your injury could open more options for you, though. First, contact a personal injury attorney. Some laws are designed specifically to protect injured and disabled workers, including the Family and Medical Leave Act, which grants 12 weeks of paid time off to workers in mid- to large-size businesses who have been employed more than a year. There are also statewide programs that can help you get coverage even when you’re on disability. “Some employers pay for group short-term and long-term disability insurance for their employees,” says Bethany Laurence, editor of Nolo.com. “This private insurance usually pays 50% to 80% of your gross monthly salary until you can work again. Ask your HR department if you have ERISA insurance and file a claim right away.” An attorney can help you uncover all this information and establish greater security in this incredibly stressful period in your life. He or she might also file a personal injury case on your behalf that will cover your medical expenses and cost of living while you’re unable to work. If you and your attorney are unsuccessful at winning compensation to cover your injuries, you don’t have to take this lying down. Take your life into your own hands and think about pursuing any of the following work-from-home careers while you’re too injured to handle your regular job. Virtual Assistant You can earn between $10 and $15 per hour performing simple duties like replying to emails, managing calendars, doing social media, and entering data. All this can be done from home on a computer, so it requires zero manual labor. Online Teacher Companies like VIPKid and Emersion Learning pay online teachers between $15 and $20 per hour to teach English to children overseas. The hours are often odd because of time differences (between 4 a.m. and 12 p.m., typically), but it’s a great way to make a buck if you have a little teaching experience and an enthusiastic personality. Survey Taker Earn between $1 and $50 for each survey you take. Some surveys are as short as five minutes and others require a couple of hours. But your opinions are valuable to companies, and they may pay decent money for your feedback. Avoid registering for services that demand a hefty membership, because that’s counterproductive to your goal. Some of the best sites to search for surveys include: Darwins Data Swagbucks Pinecone Research Survey Junkie Paid Viewpoint Real Ways to Earn Money Online Telephone Nurse If you’re a certified nurse at any level who can no longer work on the floor due to an injury, you can still put your skills to good use through telemedicine. Remote healthcare organizations search for good nurses who want to work from home, and the pay is very good. Customer Service Representative Companies are turning to remote workers for customer service work because it helps them cut overhead spending on facilities like call centers. Some companies will pay only $8 per hour, but others pay as much as $20 for service skills and ability to work with their online systems. Freelance or Consult If you have a marketable skill that you can no longer put to ongoing use in a physical workplace, consider offering it on a freelance or consulting basis. You can set your own wage based on market rates and enjoy the benefits of working in your chosen field despite your injury. Sell Stuff Online Although “thrifting” is a hobby for many people, it could provide a full-time income for you. Shop on garage sale social pages, through Craigslist, and at thrift stores for like-new products that you can purchase cheap and resell for more. It can be a lot of fun, and your earning capacity is largely up to you! Travel Agent Travel agents earn a commission from the bookings they arrange for clients. You can do this almost exclusively from your home, and you don’t even have to meet people in person if you don’t want to. This job also comes with a lot of benefits, such as free travel, which means you could pay your bills and do what you love at the same time! Work-from-home careers can really work! Your injury doesn’t have to disable your lifestyle. You can still take charge of your income potential and be financially secure with any of these great remote jobs.

#MyStartupStory The Moment That Changed Everything - Classy Career Girl

#MyStartupStory The Moment That Changed Everything This post is a series of posts in the #MyStartupStory movement that starts November 10th. Well be sharing the real life experiences of starting a business and helping you create your brand and website copy. Learn more here. So in case we have never met and you are wondering who is this girl teaching about starting a business and on billboards, well let me introduce myself to you and tell you my journey to where I am today. This picture is my dad, my mom and me and my daughter just last weekend where I got to see with my very own eyes myself on a billboard. Yes, I had to see it to believe it. But I am no overnight success. There’s been a lot to get to where I am today. Let’s start at the beginning. So, if you are feeling stuck, I have been in your shoes. I remember what it was like when I was stuck in a job I hated (financial management). I wasn’t happy and fulfilled in my career and it was keeping me up at night.  I was so stuck and I would apply to jobs over and over again online with no luck. I blamed the economy and I was frustrated that I wasn’t doing all that I was capable of. This is monster.com and it was my friend and I absolutely hated online job searching. I just didn’t fit in my job.  I mean I was doing well and getting promoted but something was just off.  It just didn’t fit me. The problem was I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. For years, I was stuck in a job I hated.   I would literally come home crying to my husband and some weekends I just couldn’t relax because all I could think of was work and how I needed to get out of there and how much I dreaded Monday. I didn’t want to face what was on my plate on Monday morning. It was impacting my relationships because my work life was off. I couldn’t attend happy hours or social events because I had to work or I was crying about work.  I was just barely holding on. [RELATED: How to Stay Motivated When You Hate Your Job] The only thing keeping me afloat was I had picked up a side project that helped me realize what I was passionate about. I was able to teach a “How To Navigate Your Career Class” as an Adjunct Instructor at my company that I LOVED. I helped people review their personality assessments and figure out how to navigate within the company into roles that they loved so they could be happy at work. It was on my own time and I didn’t get paid for it. I had to put a lot of extra hours in but it didn’t matter. It was work that fit me. And then I realized, I wasn’t in a full-time role that fit my interests, personality, and motivations. It was such a lightbulb because I finally was learning more about myself. I realized that finance was a skill I was good at but I didn’t enjoy it. It wasn’t my favorite skill. But I loved teaching, training, and coaching. I realized that I wanted to do that for my career. I realized then that I wanted to be in charge of my own destiny and have my dream business. But I had no idea how to make that happen. So another year went by and I was still  in the same position. I got comfortable. Nice salary.  Promotions. But something was just off.  I was in limbo.  I was just making it through the days.  Living for the weekends. Letting life pass me by.  Dealing with a lot of frustrations you might be dealing with right now, lots of ideas but no solid plan, bored and stuck, don’t want to regret not being all that I was capable of being. I knew I had more to offer the world but I had a lot of fear and self-doubt. I will just settle with what I have now. A job is just a job and it pays the bills. I just have to keep doing it because I don’t have another choice. I just didn’t care. It’s so sad to think of that time in my life because I just let go.   But I knew I had a message. I knew I had a purpose. My thoughts can be found in the quotes I was posting on Instagram around that time. This photo was in 2012. I knew I had more potential than my day job. I knew I could be the boss way better. I was inspired by this quote “Your life is your message to the world. Make sure it’s inspiring.” But there was this whole other side door opening that I wasn’t aware of.  There was this door of happiness by working on my blog and growing a startup. The door to work I loved and complete personal fulfillment.  Living a life of purpose and making a difference. A career that totally fit me in this door over here.  But, I didn’t know that then just like you don’t know what is through that door for you right now. There was a step or a major leap that I needed to take. But, I almost didn’t take that step until my life took a turn and I learned what was truly important in my life. #MyStartupStory: The Moment That Changed Everything Through 2011 and 2012 when I was working and struggling to turn my blog into a business, I suffered the loss of two babies in early miscarriages. Our precious little ones devastatingly forced us each time to hope more, grow more, trust more and love more, I remember each of them by the impact they had on my life. Each of them causing a drastic change. Sparks to awaken us. They each were activators that reversed the direction we were headed. They live on now in everything John and I do, how we live our lives and in every decision we make. I learned finally in my journey to entrepreneurship full-time not to care what people thought and I suddenly had this mad determination and fierceness to change my life and the world so there was some reason and purpose for my pregnancy losses. Trust me everyone thought we were crazy when my husband and I BOTH quit our jobs to work on our business full-time but we didn’t care!! The only reason I can talk about this dark time in my life now is I have I have a beautiful, miracle daughter, Mila. (Heres her baby blog announcement). My miracle happened when I wasn’t expecting it and all happened as I was pursuing my purpose and path and let go of what was holding back in my life and making me stressed and unhappy. And let me tell you she was worth the wait. Ever since that moment I have had this fire in me. I have had a purpose. And I beg you not to let as much time go by stuck in a job that isn’t the right fit for you as I did.  Please, if you are feeling discontent in your current role, it is time. You don’t need to hit rock bottom and have a major life tragedy like mine to give yourself a jolt to make a change.  I am here to tell you that I know you can feel it if I am talking to you, your time is now.  That is why you are here today. That is why I am doing what I do with my life and in my business now. Read the second post this series here. This post is a series of posts in the #MyStartupStory movement that starts November 10th. Well be sharing the real life experiences of starting a business and helping you create your brand and website copy. Learn more here.

#59 Personal Branding Expert Series Your Message Matters with Trevor Crane

#59 â€" Personal Branding Expert Series Your Message Matters with Trevor Crane The Career Insider Podcast Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSSForEpisode 59of The CareerMetis Podcast, we will be hearing fromTrevor Crane.evalThis interview is part of the “Personal Branding Expert Series“.During our interview Trevor shares his insights on improving your personal branding by writing and publishing a book.Guest IntroductionevalTrevor Crane is an entrepreneur, author and speaker dedicated to helping you take your life and your business to the next level.For over a decade, he’s worked relentlessly to help entrepreneurs around the world re-design their businesses so they can have the time and money freedom they deserve…. without doing stuff that sucks.He has a special passion for helping service-based businesses, consultants, coaches, authors and speakers take their businesses to the next levelâ€"no matter how successful they already are.Trevor hosts a podcast, and online TV show called Greatness Quest, where he interview s extraordinary business owners and “extracts” their secrets of success so listeners can quickly apply them in their own business.Episode Summary1.Trevor starts by telling Nissar a bit about the success he found, as well as the roller coaster of a life he navigated to get there.eval2.He talks about the benefits of writing a book, as well as shares insights on branding, marketing, sales and communication.3.Trevor talks about why people should write a book, and what they should write about. He give amazing examples that frame the things that hold most people back.4.He shares 4 questions that will help people at the beginning stages of writing their book. Who is it for? What is it about? Why are you writing “My real successes happened professionally when I finally hired my first mentors”“It took me over 20 years to write my first book.”“Marketing is communication. Sales is communication”“Frame the future the way that you want it”“The book is the start, not the end ”“Your message matters”LinksTo learn more about Trevor Crane and for additional resources, you can visit hiswebsite.You can also connect with him or follow him onTwitter,FacebookorYouTube.For business and professional branding also check out NameStormers.Intro Music provided courtesy ofAccelerated IdeasEnding Music provided courtesy ofAccelerated Ideas(www.accelerated-ideas.com). Soundtrack â€"No Need to Rush

Join the first ever conference about happiness at work in India - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Join the first ever conference about happiness at work in India - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog On November 18+19 we are arranging the first ever conference about happiness at work in India?together with Les Concierges and Naresh Jain of?ConfEngine. We have just announced the schedule with an amazing lineup of speakers and workshops, including critical themes like: Finding and using your strengths at work How to have a happy career How to lead with happiness How to deal with stress and busyness Case stories from some of the worlds truly great?workplaces How to create more democratic workplaces and many, many more great topics. Speakers include: Mikael Kamber, TV news anchor and author Traci Fenton, founder and CEO of WorldBlu Tim Dorsett, Culture Ambassador at Innocent Drinks Nic Marks, Economist and founder of Happiness Works And of course myself :)?See the entire schedule here. Attendance is limited to 300 people, so better?get your tickets now. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

5 Necessary Negotiation Skills You Need - Hallie Crawford

5 Necessary Negotiation Skills You Need Its never a good idea to walk into a negotiation without being prepared. You most certainly will come out of it unhappy and frustrated. Knowing how to negotiate is a necessary skill that will help you be successful in your career, not just when it comes to your salary. Here are 5 skills to master: Research. Its important to have all the information to negotiate successfully. Find out the going rate for your job position in your area on sites like glassdoor.com. Also, take into consideration any perks your company offers you (flexible schedule, vacation time, etc) when deciding on the salary rate you want to negotiate for. Practice. Go through your negotiation pitch with a trusted friend or mentor. Ask them what they think and be open when they offer suggestions. Use power words. Avoid phrases like I think or I feel…” (Women especially have a tendency to use these phrases to not step on toes.) Take those phrases out of your sentence, or replace them with I am confident and continue with your sentence. I deserve this salary because is much more powerful than, I think I deserve this salary because Decide what you would be willing to give up. We see it in the movies all the time. Negotiators start out with a certain high number, but know they are willing to drop down to a certain amount if its necessary. Before you go into the meeting, even if you have a dream number in mind, decide how much you can realistically live with and be happy if the negotiations dont go exactly how you want. Close the loop. No matter how the meeting went, thank your superiors for their time, and determine the next follow-up steps before leaving the room.