Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Powering Through the Holidays: How to be a Glutton for Productivity

With the holidays coming up, you probably have a lot going on. The festive period is great for spending quality time with family, attending work parties, and eating great food. It can also, however, be the cause of a significant slowdown in your productivity at work. With so much going on, it can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of the season. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can boost your productivity and make sure you get things done during the holiday period.

Switch off distractions around you

Technology can be a great help in boosting your productivity at work, but it can also be a huge distraction. The internet, cell phones, and social media can be the bane of worker productivity. These things are constantly vying for your attention-- a text from your best friend, an email, and “likes” on your latest Facebook post. It may seem like these disruptions aren’t a big deal, but think about it: the number of texts you receive throughout the day adds up. Each disruption means you have to spend time refocusing and re-engaging in what you were working on before.

If you feel you are easily distracted by the technology around you, try using one of the many browser extensions that enable you to block certain sites or turning your cell phone off. Even knowing that you won’t be disrupted by the sound of notifications on your phone will be a big help in letting you focus on the task at hand.

Beware the myth of multitasking

There has long existed a myth about an “efficient” worker as one who is handling multiple tasks at once. We may believe these people are successfully taking care of multiple items all at the same time. In reality though, this is impossible. The human brain is actually incapable of focusing on multiple things at once. Instead, when people think they are multitasking, they are actually switching from one task to another very quickly and spreading their attention thinly across those tasks. By focusing instead on one task at a time, you are far more effective and efficient in getting work done.

Working through your tasks

To get through your work, it helps some people to have some kind of system. There are many productivity systems out there like Getting Things Done, Personal Kanban, and the Pomodoro technique. Finding the right one for you is often a case of trying different ones out and seeing which work best. You can even take certain aspects of one productivity system that work for you and combine them with aspects of others. Whatever method you choose to work through your tasks, it’s a good idea to start by making a list of things you need to accomplish. A list of your tasks enables you to see exactly what needs to get done and prioritize it effectively based on its importance and when it’s due. More advanced users often make different categories of lists. For example: items that need to get done, items they are waiting for responses on, and more long term project-related items. However you decide to do it, the most important things about a productivity system is that it works for you.

Take care of yourself

When on a productivity kick, it’s tempting to try to do everything. Don’t fall into this trap-- it can actually be counterproductive. People will stay later at work for longer hours to try to get more accomplished. This is a great way to burn out quickly and actually end up accomplishing less. Instead, you need to take care of yourself if you want to be productive. Exercising regularly is a great way to ensure you’re in peak physical health. By exercising, you improve your stamina to be able to get through the day, improve your mental health and ability to handle stress, and reduce illnesses that keep you out of the office. Taking care of yourself also extends to the workplace. Even though you’re working hard, be sure to take regular, short breaks. Breaks allow you to decompress and clear your mind before getting back to working through your tasks.

Constantly improving productivity

Working more productively is a constant effort to come up with different systems, processes, and tricks to create the ideal mindset and environment to get things done. Taking the time to implement some of these tips as a starting point will go a long way to keeping you on track through the excitement and distractions that come with each holiday season.

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Friday, November 13, 2015

Hiring and Drug Screenings: What HR Needs to Know

Substance abuse by employees is a serious issue for many companies. Drug and alcohol abuse impact work productivity and also cause employees to be absent more often.Impairment on the job is a significant safety risk. To combat these problems, some workplaces implement drug-free policies and institute these policies with drug testing. HR departments can choose to include drug testing as part of their pre-employment screenings, and they can also enforce random drug tests for current employees. However, drug testing is controversial and can be costly.

How can HR departments determine whether drug testing is right for the company? It’s important to examine the pros and cons before deciding to use drug testing in the workplace or as part of a pre-employment screening process. Here are some of the factors you should consider.

Drug testing can be expensive

Before implementing a drug testing initiative, it’s important to think about how the costs will impact your company. The most common type of drug screening is urinalysis, and the reason it’s so common is because in addition to being a non-invasive method, it’s generally the least expensive. Paying for a lab to test the samples still must be factored into your budget. The cheapest option is a non-specific screening, which can show false positives. In order to obtain the most accurate results, a follow-up test should be done after a positive screen. Many organizations save costs by performing only the initial screening, but this can cause them to lose out on great applicants whose tests resulted in false positives.

Despite the cost of accurate drug testing, it is true that employees who abuse drugs can also cost the workplace in the long term if they are unable to perform on the job. Therefore, using drug testing as a part of your pre-employment screening process may be worth the expense in order to weed out applicants who will ultimately cost the company more in the long term.

Drug testing may invade privacy

Some individuals and organizations object to drug testing because they view it as an invasion of privacy which has resulted in many court proceedings. If you require drug testing as a pre-employment screening, applicants who object to the test can simply not apply. However, current employees may be offended by implementation of random drug testing and feel that they are not trusted, which can damage workplace morale. If employees did not initially agree to a drug test as a condition of their hiring, they may choose to contest it in court. Ultimately, you need to determine whether drug testing is worth the invasion of privacy--and the possible costs of legal action if employees raise issues on these grounds.

When risks are high, drug testing can be necessary

While costs and privacy concerns may be reasons not to implement drug testing, there are some instances where HR departments determine that the cons are outweighed by necessity. In workplaces where there is a high risk of injury, impairment may cause a much bigger problem than lost productivity and absenteeism. If employees are operating machinery or driving vehicles, it’s especially crucial to take measures to avoid accidents caused by drug use.

Ultimately, the choice to implement drug testing as a pre-employment screening or as a routine practice depends on the resources and needs of your organizations. No matter what, the goal of all pre-employment screenings should be to find the best people for your workforce. If your HR department determines that drug testing is the best way to ensure a productive, healthy, and safe workforce, then the pros may very well outweigh the cons.

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Monday, November 2, 2015

Updating the Business Casual Dress Code

A business casual dress code can mean vastly different things to different people. Not too long ago, employees wouldn't think twice about wearing their most formal and professional-looking clothes to the office no matter where they worked. These days though, employers are much more relaxed about what they allow employees to wear, and changes in styles of clothing, accessories, and tattoos have had a big impact on how younger generations dress for the workplace. As a result, the term “business casual” can mean a whole host of different things. While it’s great that restrictions have been relaxed and attitudes shifted so people have the opportunity to be more expressive with their appearance, it’s important to know where to draw the line. Let’s take a look at some things you should consider so you can make sure you don’t stand out in a bad way at the office.

What does a business casual dress code actually mean?

Unfortunately for employees, the vast majority of companies describe their dress code as "business casual," but the term means different things to different people. We've all heard those stories of people showing up for their first day of work with what turned out to be completely inappropriate attire and feeling it took them months to recover from the shame. It becomes especially difficult if you’re someone who has tattoos, piercings, or anything else that might be considered outside the "norm."

When it comes to clothing, more casual or expressive styles popular in recent years outside of the workplace have permeated into it. Trends like skinny jeans and hoodies have had an impact on what people now wear to work. While it’s acceptable to add some of these elements to your work wardrobe, you need to be sure not to cross the line. Ensure whatever you wear covers enough skin and isn’t likely to cause a distraction for your colleagues.

Hair, beards, piercings, and tattoos

A company’s ideas about a business casual dress code often extends beyond the clothes you wear. You also need to think about other parts of your appearance including hair, body piercings, facial hair for men, and tattoos. If you have a hairstyle that is unusual-- perhaps it’s partly shaved or has vibrant streaks of color-- you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t become a distraction to your colleagues or any customers you may come into contact with.

If you are a man who likes to sport a beard, make sure it is well kept. In this day and age, beards can be long, but try to ensure yours has clean lines and is consistently trimmed so that it appears even. Like unusual hairstyles, scraggly beards and beards that are dyed unnatural colors will likely become an unwanted distraction.

Body piercings and tattoos have also become increasingly common. One study by the Pew Research found that around 40% of people aged 18-29-- the generation commonly referred to as "millennials"-- have at least one tattoo. Attitudes vary among employers as to whether piercings and tattoos are acceptable in the workplace-- though they are trending toward being more acceptable as their popularity increases. If you do have tattoos, make sure any tattoos you have that are visible don’t display any profanity or nudity and couldn’t possibly be considered offensive in some other way. Also remember: some workplaces allow employees to have piercings or tattoos on certain parts of the body, but not others, such as the face or the neck. If you have a tattoo like this or are considering getting one, it’s something you’ll want to keep in mind.

What to wear to a job interview

Perhaps the biggest and most nerve-wracking time you worry about dressing appropriately is when you have a job interview. First impressions are important, and you want to make a good one. Potential employers will definitely be looking at how you present yourself to get a sense of how well you understand the culture and expectations of the company and the industry.

Chances are, though, you don’t yet have a great sense of the culture at a company and what the acceptable dress is. In this case, it’s a good idea to dress in a slightly more conservative style. While your interview attire can certainly have a modern, updated look, be sure to take into account your interviewer's expectations for the role. Depending on the industry you’re applying for, a suit and tie for men and a pant suit for women may be expected. While situations vary, this is one instance when showing up in jeans and a hoodie likely won’t do you any favors.

If you do have an extreme hairstyle, tattoos, or piercings, you have a decision to make. Either you can wear them as you would ordinarily, or you can tone them down if you think they might be frowned upon. If you go with the second option, consider too whether you want to ask questions about the company’s dress policy or reveal that you will be dressing a certain way if you get the job.

Try to strike the right balance

The modern dress code can be a difficult thing to navigate for younger employees. With different attitudes and values surrounding dress and personal appearance, you want to make sure your own view of how you present yourself doesn’t conflict with your employer’s. If it does, it could have negative consequences for how you’re treated and even slow your career. It’s a good idea to take note of what your fellow employees are wearing-- especially those who have been working there for a while. They’ve taken the time to carefully hone their wardrobe to fit exactly what’s expected of them. If you have any specific tattoos or piercings you feel may be a point of contention with a future or current employer, be sure to sit down with an HR representative and ask.

Over time, you’ll get a clearer sense of what is acceptable and what isn’t. Try to view how you dress as just another job skill you learn. Wearing the appropriate clothing whatever the context can go a long way to ensuring you are seen in a positive light by potential employers, colleagues, and superiors.

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