Thursday, November 28, 2019
This is the surprising thing people say theyd do in a world where they never had to sleep
This is the surprising thing people say theyd do in a world where they never had to sleepThis is the surprising thing people say theyd do in a world where they never had to sleepWhile science says that getting less than eight hours of sleep at night can ruin your day and that thinking youre an insomniac could be negatively impacting your productivity and sleep, it turns out that theres a percentage of Americanswho think itd be desirable or very desirable to never have to sleep.That number is 65%, according to a Sleep Junkie survey, which also found that if no one ever needed to sleep, 26% of Americans would spend that time on leisure and enjoyment and 16% would toil away at a current or additional job.The research also found that almost a third - 28.8% - said theyd transform their current bedroom into an office if sleep welchesnt necessary.More than 1,000 Americans participated in the survey. Here are other findings that stood out.Americans say they would do this instead of sleepin gWhile the largest share of participants overall say theyd spend their time having fun if they never needed rest,16% also say theyd reisepass the time in the company of their family or significant other, 13% would pick up new skills or become more knowledgeable, 10% would spend time on fitness and exercise, 9% would hang out with friends, and 8% would engage in household chores and general upkeep.What we found most interesting is that Americans were as likely to spend their extra time at work as with family or a significant other, Sleep Junkie said in a statement. Its fascinating that people would choose to be at work if they had extra time. Most people assume that work is something people have to do, but wouldnt necessarily choose to do it. Our findings prove that Americans do enjoy going to work as much as they enjoy other aspects of their lives.Heres what people would convert their bedrooms intoSleep Junkies research found that although just under 30% of people would convert thei r bedroom into an office if they didnt ever have to rest, home gym was the second most-popular option at 14.8%. It said that 11.4% picked hobby/crafts room, 10.5% said other, 10% said relaxation/meditation room, 9.6% picked library, and 7% said entertainment.But whether youd rather live in a world where you never needed to sleep at all, or you cherish your zzzs above all else, one things for sure - we could all benefit from more of itNot getting enough can have extremely damaging effects on your health.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Top 10 Most Mom-Friendly Workplaces
Top 10 Most Mom-Friendly WorkplacesTop 10 Most Mom-Friendly WorkplacesTop 10 Most Mom-Friendly WorkplacesIf youre looking for a company that supports working moms, check these out.As Mothers Day approaches, more coverage is being given to the difficulties that surround working mothers. For example, even today, many companies and organizations do elend offer any sort of maternity leave, and in general, moms can find it challenging to balance work and familial demands.But today we want to highlight some companies that do understand what it takes to be a working mom and have subsequently altered their environments to give their employees peace of mind. These companies are some of the best workplaces for moms and moms-to-be.1. GoogleGoogles workplace stories are legendary endless snacks, nap rooms, free massages, etc. And moms can certainly benefit from all these things. But what really makes Google one of the best workplaces for moms is their family-leave policy. New moms get 18 weeks o f paid maternity leave, and new dads get six weeks off, also paid. Thats well above the U.S. average of six weeks for moms and none for dads. Google also provides their employees with baby-bonding bucks to help offset expenses like diapers, food, and formula during the leave. Once parents return to work, Google offers free on-site daycare for the children.2. FacebookAnother renowned Silicon Valley giant, Facebook is one of the best workplaces for moms because it offers all parents moms, dads, or adopted parents four months of paid time off. Similar to Google, Facebook offers baby cash of $4,000. In addition to these benefits that they offer to their full-time employees, last year they improved their benefits for contractors, offering paid days off and $4,000 to new parents.3. Johnson JohnsonIts fitting that a company that markets to new moms also makes plenty of time for them with their employee policies. At Johnson Johnson, new moms have been given seven to nine weeks off for m aternity leave. However, they recently updated their policy so that all new parents have an additional eight weeks of time off and it was applied retroactively. The best part about this policy is that the additional time can be taken at any time in the first year of the childs life, and not necessarily all at once. Johnson Johnson is one of the best workplaces for moms because it also provides a concierge-type milk delivery service for nursing mothers who are away on business. Surely they also get tons of free samples.4. General MillsWith women making up nearly 50 percent of their workforce, General Mills (parent of Kraft, Cascadian Farm, and many others) prides itself on investing in their employees for the long haul and being one of the best workplaces for moms. They have on-site childcare and offer discounts at nearby childcare facilities. Their employee-assistance program helps find medical specialists and childcare providers. For new parents, they offer paid maternity leave, $10,000 in adoption aid, and up to 26 weeks off after a birth or adoption, job guaranteed.5. Virgin GroupVirgin Group, founded by Richard Branson, has possibly the most generous family leave policy of all. In addition to flexible working schedules, they offer parents who have been employees for four years or more an entire year off of work paid. Those who have been there two years can do the same, but theyll receive 25 percent of their salary.6. CA TechnologiesCA Technologies is a software company that invests in a happy work-life balance for its employees. In addition to paid family leave for the birth, adoption, or placement of a child, they offer a phase-back program for parents who have been on family leave so they can transition back to work. They pay for summer and holiday camps for employees children, and they provide on-site enrollment at the CA Montessori Childrens Center for children six weeks to six years old. They also offer unlimited vacation time and allow flexibility for employees to work from home.7. AvonAvons workforce is 66 percent women, so youd expect them to be a mom-friendly workplace. They offer 10 weeks of paid maternity leave and eight weeks for adoptive parents two reasons its one of the best workplaces for women. They also provide $10,000 in adoption aid and up to $114,000 to help with IVF. Over 80 percent of their employees benefit from a flexible work schedule, meaning they can set their own hours around their familys schedules. If a babysitter cancels, no sweat Avon provides backup childcare up to 20 days a year. Plus, as a part of their Women Empowered program, employees who want to pursue higher education can receive $5,200 in tuition aid per year.8. Abbott LaboratoriesAbbott Laboratories is often on best employer lists for good reason. Their time-off package includes 12 weeks FMLA leave per year. Employees can use their paid sick time to care for a sick child, and even new employees get three weeks of paid vacation time. The y will reimburse up to $20,000 for adoption expenses, and they partner with local-center-based and home-based childcare services for employees children. Their program, called Work-Life Services, gives employees and dependents free access to confidential consultation services on topics like parenting, caregiving, financial issues, and education. And their Mothers At Work program gives discounts on breast pumps and free counseling from board-certified lactation specialists 24/7.9. ZoetisSeveral of the top-ranking execs of Zoetis, an animal health company, are also raising families, which is probably a factor in why this company is one of the best workplaces for moms. They offer flexible working schedules to their employees, 80 percent of whom take advantage of this offering. They, too, offer 15 days of backup childcare, and while they dont have on-site childcare, theyll pay $10,000 per year in tuition to childcare facilities. They also provide a 500-member Womens Council that hosts wo rkshops and webinars specifically for female leaders with families.10. humorlosigkeit YoungErnst Young has received plenty of recognition lately for its change in parental leave just this year. Theyre now offering 16 weeks paid leave for all parents. They also offer $25,000 per couple for fertility treatments, surrogacy, adoption, or egg-freezing expenses. Nursing moms will find on-site lactation rooms and milk-delivery services while theyre traveling. On-site parenting seminars are available, covering a variety of topics from exercise to discipline. 95 percent of Ernst Young employees take advantage of flexible work schedules, and if they have to work overtime, the company pays the childcare bill.Creating a mom-friendly workplace is becoming more of a priority than it has been in recent years. Although there are still strides to be made in many aspects of womens careers, its refreshing to see companies that are leading the way in becoming the best workplaces for moms. If youre a n expectant mother and your company is not on the list, make sure youve read our piece on negotiating maternity leave.If youre thinking of applying to one of these mom-friendly workplaces, we can help you out. Well review your resume for freeRecommended ReadingThe Top 4 Part-Time Jobs for MomsA Mothers Guide for Getting Back Into the WorkforceWomen in the Workplace How to Get Past the Glass Ceiling
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Use these 3 tips from experts to talk like a boss
Use these 3 tips from experts to talk like a bossUse these 3 tips from experts to talk like a bossWhen you become a boss, you notlage only need to know how to be a leader, you need to learn how to communicate like one, too. Language that was fine for you to use as an underling in the shadows is no longer appropriate when youre in the spotlight making decisions.Here are tips on how to ease the transition from employee to boss, and talk like the boss you need to be, so that you can project the confidence in your abilities that you need to succeed1) Get to the pointTo command a room, you need to make your case compelling, and you do that by being upfront about what youre arguing and keeping your words concise.Sylvia Ann Hewlett, the author of Executive Presence, says that leaders need to let go of the notes, the very long PowerPoints. Let go of the podium and make eye contact. When you let go of your communication crutches and your canned speeches, you come across as more authentic and you telegraph your executive presence more clearly. You dont confuse or waste your audiences time with jargon you want to hook their attention from the start.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreTo get to the point, you can drop polite introductory qualifiers that signal hesitance like hopefully or perhaps in your correspondences. Employees often use these qualifiers to pad their requests and signal deference to people above them. As the boss, you set the tone and make the final decisions.To talk like a decision maker, you need to use clear, active language that proves you call the shots and can think outside of specific functions or roles.Visionary leaders dont just talk about what the company is doing today, they paint a picture of what the company will be doing in the future.2) Speak in threesIf you want to convince people as a leader, break down your message into three points G overnment of the people, by the people, for the people. Thats what Simon Lancaster, a top speechwriter to politicians and CEOs, recommends in his TEDx talk on the subject.Speaking in three parallel words, phrases, or clauses is known as tricolon, an ancient Roman rhetorical device that leaders still use to this day.You put your argument in threes, it makes it sound more compelling, more convincing, more credible, Lancaster said in his talk. Its a rule that CEOs fruchtmark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs have used regularly in their public speeches. You can apply this to any business communication, and start using it in your emails, presentations, and meetings.Theres a limit to what our working memories can remember. By speaking in threes, you force yourself to choose the three most important reasons youre making a point, and you use a narrative structure that we have been conditioned to follow since nursery rhymes.As improv coach Kristin Schier notes, the rule of three also teaches your a udience to see your words as an argument worth following The first time you say something, its an incident, the second time you say something, its a coincidence, but the third time you say something, it becomes a pattern.3) Know when to speak up and when to listenIts not just how you speak like a boss, but when you choose to do so. Strategic leaders dont just blurt out their ideas they read the room and see when would be the best time to speak for maximum impact.Understanding context and picking up on social cues are what Harvard Business Review argues is key for people to develop their executive voice. Knowing or finding out in advance what your expected role is in a group forum or event can guide you in determining the kind of voice you need for that particular venue and can help ensure that you understand the context before you speak up, HBR states. When employees notice that you dont know your expected role, you come off as unprepared and this undercuts your leadership.Putting i t all togetherPutting your executive voice into action means knowing ahead of time what kind of conversation youre going into, so youre not caught off guard about what your expected role is. If youre in a room of other executives, that may mean staying silent and listening intently. If youre speaking at an all-hands to your company, that means taking the lead role and speaking your vision.With these three changes, you can learn to command and hold the attention of your employees, so that people dont just know youre the boss, they hear you as one, too.This article was first published on November 3, 2017.
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