Wednesday, November 27, 2019

An argument for having dogs at work because they help

An argument for having dogs at work because they helpAn argument for having dogs at work because they helpAlthough we hear about dogs in offices through the media as they spotlight companies that have embraced pets, the fact is, those workplaces are outliers.Only 9% of companies allow employees to bring their pets to work every day, according to a 2018 survey from the Society for Human Resource Management.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreStill, in anticipation of Take Your Dog to Work Day on June 21, we might find out that a dog could be the most important member of your team.Wellness Natural Pet Food surveyed1,000 pet owners and found that there is an argument for employees bringing their dogs to work increased socialization between humans (facilitated by Fido, of course), better well-being (a 2012 study said that people who brought their dog to work had lower hormonal stress l evels) fewer worries about employees pups being left at home, and above all, a new tool for recruitment and retention.Having your dog at work curbs distractionsHaving your pet at work can prevent you from being distracted by thinking about your animal buddy being alone at home. More than half (54%) of pet owners reported feeling distracted at work thinking about their pet at home. (67% Millennials felt this way, compared to just 34% of Boomers). One in three (33%) animal owners said taking care of their pet interferes with their work hours.Pet perks are a recruitment and retention toolNearly half (49%) of dog owners said that pet perks are important when considering a job offer. Among dog owners, 25% said that being able to work from home to care for a pet is important. A quarter (24%) said that having the flexibility to leave work and go home to check on or walk their dog is critical.And 18% said that ability to bring their dog to work was high on their list.People include their pe ts in all their decisions including job decisionsNearly a third (28%) of pet owners would consider accepting a job that would give them more time to spend with their pet.People demonstrated the desire to go on vacation with their pet 41% of pet owners said theyd consider planning a vacation that their animals could be a part of.A full quarter (26%) of pet owners would ever consider moving to a new house if it would make their pet happier. And 18% took it even further, saying theyd consider moving to a new town if only it made their pup happier.Pets in the workplace will improve socialization and wellbeingAre there animals in the workplace? Then the workforce should be perking up. One-third (32%) of respondents reported feeling more motivated or productive because of pets in the work environment. Pets benefit company culture, said 65% of those surveyed. They even have magical powers 75% believed that pets would help diffuse a stressful situation in the workplace.And 59% felt that their animals were the key to human socialization, responding that they would get to know colleagues better if there were pets present in the workplace.So take your dog to work on June 21 or print out this article and try to convince your boss, at least.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Friday, November 22, 2019

Inclement Weather or Other Emergency Policy Sample

Inclement Weather or Other Emergency Policy SampleInclement Weather or Other Emergency Policy SampleYou may adapt this inclement weather and other emergency sample policy for your organization and your organizations culture. But, keep in mind the potential disasters that you may experience in your city or region as you customize this inclement weather and emergency policy for your organization. You want your policy to cover all of the types of weather and other emergencies that can affect your workplace, your employees, your vendors, and your customers. Your goal is to keep them all out of harms way. Weather and other emergencies range from hurricanes to tornadoes to snow and sleet. You must prepare your geschftlicher umgang for closure when employees would experience dangerous conditions trying to report to their place of employment. You also need a policy that will alert your clients and customers when you close due to weather or other emergencies. You dont want them trying to reac h you under dangerous conditions either. Wondering about the rationale and the factors that were considered in creating this policy? Take a look at the article from which this policy was developed. Inclement Weather Policy Your company recognizes the fact that inclement weather and other emergencies can affect the companys ability to open for business and the employees ability to get to work. The safety of our employees is paramount in an emergency. No policy can cover every potential emergency, so this policy covers the most common. Fortunately, emergencies and inclement weather days are infrequent, but unterstellung are the guidelines for when they occur. Company Closure When an emergency such as these examples occurs, the company is closed. over a foot of snow falls,electricity is out,heat in the winter is not available,flooding affects transportation, orthe governor declares a weather emergency and asks people to stay off the roads. We will keep the company closed for th e briefest period of time possible. Pay for Employees During the time when the company is closed, exempt employees will receive their full salary for their normal hours worked for up to one work week. Nonexempt employees and interns will receive their hourly pay for their normally scheduled hours for up to one work week. (This means that if an employees normal work hours are 40 in one workweek, the employee will receive their hourly pay for 40 hours. If an interns normal schedule calls for 16 hours, the employer will pay for 16 hours.) No overtime will be paidto any employee. For an unlikely emergency that extends beyond one work week, at the end of the one work week, employees will be expected to use paid time off (PTO) to cover additional days that the company may be closed to ensure that they continue to receive their pay. No overtime will be paid during this time period. In return for this pay during the paid work week while the company is closed, employees are expected to w ork at home if feasible. Exempt employees will likely have the opportunity to catch up on paperwork or work online ((if power is available), They might even schedule remote meetings if other needed participants have access to a computer with power. Employees who have jobs that usually require their physical presence at work can do such tasks as developing an up-to-date job description or improving their workflow. Also, thinking about how to do your job so that your work continuously improves is another. Reading journals and books related to your work is also a fair exchange. Employees who had taken the day off will have the day subtracted from their allotted PTO as would have occurred if the company did not close. Benefits Coverage for Employees During the company closure, the employer will continue to provide coverage for all employees with the companys standard health insurance plan and other benefits such as life insurance and short and long-term disability insurance for up t o 30 days. The regulations of the insurance companies may alter the number of days and/or by Federal or state law. The benefits that are associated with physically attending work such as free beverages, free Friday lunches, and family events will not be offered during a company closure. Payment of salary or hourly wages to employees who are not at work and who have no approved management approved teleworking plan ends the day the company reopens. Notification In an emergency, managers will make every effort to notify employees by phone of the closure through departmental call trees. Local radio and television stations will announce the closing, employees will be emailed, and the closing will be posted on the website. All of these assume that all or some employees have access to electricity and phones. Employees are encouraged to own, for example, a radio that runs on batteries so that they do not lose contact with the outside world. But, in a regional power outage, recognize tha t the employers best efforts to notify employees of the closure may not work. When the employer is unable to notify employees of the closure, employees are asked to use common sense and make their best assessment of the safety and practicality of the situation. In a regional power outage, for example, employees will know that the company is likely to have no power. If 18 of snow falls, employees should come into work only if they can make it safely. No pressure is extended from this employer, at any time, that would encourage employees to take unsafe chances to attend work. Extending Employee Leave When the company closure ends, all employees are expected to report to work whether the closure ends on day two or after that. Payment of salary or hourly wages ends on the day the company reopens if the employee does not show up for work or telework, whatever is the employees normal working arrangement. Certain jobs can be worked from home if chaos continues in the region, but telewo rking for exempt employees must be arranged, on an individual basis, with the employees manager. Teleworking is not available as an vorkaufsrecht for nonexempt employees. Employees who cannot return to work at the end of the company closure must arrange additional time off with their manager. If the employee has used up PTO, he or she will be required to apply for an extended unpaid leave of absence. The company recognizes that some employees may need additional time off to repair extensive home damage, for mass transit to be available for transportation to work, and a variety of other emergencies. These will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and decisions will also be affected by the employees job requirements. Part-Day Closure If an emergency event such as inclement weather or a power outage occurs, the executive team may determine that the company will close mid-day. When the company closes mid-day, employees are encouraged to leave immediately so that the conditions do not further deteriorate and affect their ability to safely travel. Exempt employees who were, working at home with prior permission, or at the office on the day of the partial day closure, will be paid their normal salary. Nonexempt employees and interns will be paid for their scheduled hours of work. No overtime will be paid. Employees who had taken the day off will have the day subtracted from their allotted PTO as would have occurred if the company did not close. The Company Is Open, and the Employee Cannot Get to Work Individual employee circumstances may affect an employees ability to come to work. The key to assessing the situation on a case-by-case basis is the communication between the employee and his or her manager. The company recognizes that in a severe national or regional disaster, all methods of communication may be unavailable, but employees should persist, by any method possible, to reach their manager to discuss individual circumstances. All pay, leave, and attend ance policies included here will apply, regardless of the circumstances of the absenteeism. The Employee Needs Time for Repairs The company is aware that in emergencies or inclement weather emergencies, employees may lose family members. They may lose their home and all regular activities such as school and daycare. In any circumstances, all pay, leave, and attendance policies included here will apply, regardless of the circumstances of the absenteeism. The company bereavement policy will apply in the case of the death of a family member. Extended unpaid leaves of absence are available, depending on the need. Employees should communicate with their manager or his or her supervisor to make arrangements. DisclaimerPlease note that the information provided, while authoritative, is not guaranteed for accuracy and legality. A worldwide audience reads the site and employment laws and regulations vary from state to state and country to country. Please seek legal assistance, or assistan ce from State, Federal, or International governmental resources, to make certain your legal interpretation and decisions are correct for your location. This information is for guidance, ideas, and assistance.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

10 Things to Do the Day of Your Job Interview

10 Things to Do the Day of Your Job Interview10 Things to Do the Day of Your Job InterviewYouve researched the prospective employer, developed answers to commonly asked questions, and selected confidence-boosting attire. Now its time to shine on the big dayEnsure your job interview runs as smoothly as possible with this checklist of things to do the day of your job interview1. Avoid rushing.Set the alarm for a time that provides ample opportunity to get ready. Hurrying leads to stress and mistakes.2. Eat a healthy breakfast.Dont let a gurgling stomach affect your performance. Consider a meal rich with super foods that will boost your energy and sharpness. (Hint eat before dressing to avoid getting anything on your interview outfit.)3. Arrive early (but not too early).Employers will appreciate your punctuality, just dont overdo it. Showing up 10 minutes or so before your appointment is fine anything more can throw your interviewers off track or force an unprepared staff member to unco mfortably babysit until everyones ready. Hang out in your car or the neighboring coffee shop instead. (Using the washroom is also a good idea.)4. Put away your phone.Prepare to give interviewers your full attention by shutting off mobile devices before entering the workplace. This move also will prevent you from surfing/checking messages while you wait and potentially coming upon news that could upset or distract you.5. Relax.Rehearsing at this point will likely just get you flustered. Instead, use waiting moments to take a few deep breaths and think positive thoughts such as I got this or They scheduled this meeting, so they obviously see my potential.6. Be friendly to everyone.Offer each person a smile and an awesome handshake. Hiring managers often seek input from various staff members, especially in workplaces that value teamwork. How you treat the receptionist reflects on you just as much as how courteous you are to the head manager.7. Ask questions.Posing well-constructed ques tions to ask in a job interview demonstrates genuine interest. Likewise, turning your meeting into more of a conversation than an interrogation will help reduce anxiety. Use this opportunity to learn as much as you can in order to have a solid basis on which to determine how well this job meets your needs.8. Listen.While its smart to come prepared with examples youd like to share that demonstrate your ability to perform the job in question, dont get so caught up in your presentation that you forget to listen. During the course of the interview, employers can offer valuable insight into the position and what they truly want from a candidate if you take the time to absorb what they are saying.9. Understand follow-up procedures.Hopefully, your interviewer will supply information about the next steps of the hiring process. If not, inquire about the decision-making timetable. Better to clarify now than to go home and play a nerve-wracking guessing game.10. Write a thank-you note.Keep you r name top-of-mind by sending a thank-you note after your interview. Send it later that day to each person with whom you interviewed. While email is a quick, convenient way to express gratitude, consider going the extra mile by sending a mailed card. Your thoughtful, handwritten gesture might just be the extra boost needed to seal the deal.Looking for more ideas on how to shine on the day of your job interview? Check out our job interviewing tips category.