The Top 6 Ideal Workplace Benefits

The Top 6 Ideal Workplace Benefits In a time when we’re struggling to give pay raises or bonuses, more employers are investing in employee benefits to encourage retention and loyalty as well as maintaining a positive and enthusiastic workforce. Employees are looking beyond financial gains for job satisfaction, as a wealth of workplace benefits can support a more balanced work-life blend as well as supporting mental health issues and working parents. A recent study by  CABA, the wellbeing charity, found that a fifth (20%) of employees felt that their employer didn’t prioritize the workplace wellbeing of their staff, and nearly a quarter (23%) revealed they have no knowledge of the health and wellbeing initiatives their organization offers. More employees are focussing on trying to create a reasonable divide between home and their work life. When it comes to motivation and rewards at work a good work-life blend is regarded as the biggest priority (31%) followed by being stimulated in their role (27%) and then financial rewards (20%). With these findings in mind, Kelly Feehan, Service Director at CABA, has created a list of the most popular workplace benefits to consider when thinking about the welfare and happiness of employees. 1. Flexible Working Hours A survey by Adler found that  flexible working is the most wanted workplace perk (48%) among UK workers. Having a flexible schedule leads to a better quality of life, and many studies have found that this not only leads to higher staff engagement but also a reduction in the overall number of sick days taken each year. 2. Wellness Programs There is a multitude of wellness initiatives available that benefit employees, ranging from gym memberships to holistic treatments such as acupuncture, massage therapy, and reflexology. Supporting the mental and physical health of employees is important to consider when maintaining a healthy and happy working environment. Providing counseling and care for employees makes them feel supported and secure. 3. Enrichment Events Offering employees enrichment events such as talks by inspiring speakers, cooking classes, book clubs, and entrance to exhibitions is a great way of engaging employees and fostering a fun and positive workplace culture. Stimulating creativity and inspiration outside of the workplace can encourage employees to feel enriched and motivated to continue this attitude in the office. 4. Subsidized Travel There is a multitude of ways in which companies can subsidize commuting, from encouraging car-sharing, public transport passes or season ticket loans, shuttle buses and in some cases company cars. Commuting can be a significant expense and supporting employees with this can really improve their engagement with the brand and as such increase employee retention. 5. Paid Volunteer Days Offering paid time off to volunteer has a number of benefits such as attracting and retaining top talent as well as increasing productivity. Giving employees a sense of meaning and purpose whilst growing their engagement and sense of empowerment translates into satisfaction and productivity in the office. Participating in paid volunteer days for charity helps to build a sense of teamwork and commitment. Cultivating a drive to align with deeper values in the business whilst making a difference in the wider community not only harnesses brand awareness but also helps individuals to develop new skills, boosting motivation and their sense of self-worth. 6. Training and development No surprises here, but in an uncertain environment, this is the first benefit to go. However, employers that continue to invest in training and development will reap the rewards. Not only will your employees have more advanced skills and perform better at their jobs but their confidence in their abilities will improve as will the overall perception of the business and employee turnover should also reduce. Employee benefits are a central structure in sustaining an organization’s ability to develop and grow. Going above and beyond to ensure that employees feel supported and valued provides workers with a sense of security. Attracting and retaining talent is a key part of this, offering strong workplace benefits demonstrates that companies are invested in the health and wellbeing of individuals as well as their future and development potential. About the author:  The  CABA  provides lifelong support for past and present ICAEW members and their families and are Passionate about health and wellbeing.

The Top 6 Ideal Workplace Benefits

The Top 6 Ideal Workplace Benefits In a time when we’re struggling to give pay raises or bonuses, more employers are investing in employee benefits to encourage retention and loyalty as well as maintaining a positive and enthusiastic workforce. Employees are looking beyond financial gains for job satisfaction, as a wealth of workplace benefits can support a more balanced work-life blend as well as supporting mental health issues and working parents. A recent study by  CABA, the wellbeing charity, found that a fifth (20%) of employees felt that their employer didn’t prioritize the workplace wellbeing of their staff, and nearly a quarter (23%) revealed they have no knowledge of the health and wellbeing initiatives their organization offers. More employees are focussing on trying to create a reasonable divide between home and their work life. When it comes to motivation and rewards at work a good work-life blend is regarded as the biggest priority (31%) followed by being stimulated in their role (27%) and then financial rewards (20%). With these findings in mind, Kelly Feehan, Service Director at CABA, has created a list of the most popular workplace benefits to consider when thinking about the welfare and happiness of employees. 1. Flexible Working Hours A survey by Adler found that  flexible working is the most wanted workplace perk (48%) among UK workers. Having a flexible schedule leads to a better quality of life, and many studies have found that this not only leads to higher staff engagement but also a reduction in the overall number of sick days taken each year. 2. Wellness Programs There is a multitude of wellness initiatives available that benefit employees, ranging from gym memberships to holistic treatments such as acupuncture, massage therapy, and reflexology. Supporting the mental and physical health of employees is important to consider when maintaining a healthy and happy working environment. Providing counseling and care for employees makes them feel supported and secure. 3. Enrichment Events Offering employees enrichment events such as talks by inspiring speakers, cooking classes, book clubs, and entrance to exhibitions is a great way of engaging employees and fostering a fun and positive workplace culture. Stimulating creativity and inspiration outside of the workplace can encourage employees to feel enriched and motivated to continue this attitude in the office. 4. Subsidized Travel There is a multitude of ways in which companies can subsidize commuting, from encouraging car-sharing, public transport passes or season ticket loans, shuttle buses and in some cases company cars. Commuting can be a significant expense and supporting employees with this can really improve their engagement with the brand and as such increase employee retention. 5. Paid Volunteer Days Offering paid time off to volunteer has a number of benefits such as attracting and retaining top talent as well as increasing productivity. Giving employees a sense of meaning and purpose whilst growing their engagement and sense of empowerment translates into satisfaction and productivity in the office. Participating in paid volunteer days for charity helps to build a sense of teamwork and commitment. Cultivating a drive to align with deeper values in the business whilst making a difference in the wider community not only harnesses brand awareness but also helps individuals to develop new skills, boosting motivation and their sense of self-worth. 6. Training and development No surprises here, but in an uncertain environment, this is the first benefit to go. However, employers that continue to invest in training and development will reap the rewards. Not only will your employees have more advanced skills and perform better at their jobs but their confidence in their abilities will improve as will the overall perception of the business and employee turnover should also reduce. Employee benefits are a central structure in sustaining an organization’s ability to develop and grow. Going above and beyond to ensure that employees feel supported and valued provides workers with a sense of security. Attracting and retaining talent is a key part of this, offering strong workplace benefits demonstrates that companies are invested in the health and wellbeing of individuals as well as their future and development potential. About the author:  The  CABA  provides lifelong support for past and present ICAEW members and their families and are Passionate about health and wellbeing.

Tips to Write Your High School Degree

Tips to Write Your High School DegreeEven though writing high school degrees is not a popular subject for teachers, it is important to mention it on resume. Resume is an opportunity for you to showcase your qualifications.Many educators find it difficult to find the space on resume to put their high school diploma. One solution to this problem is to write it on the cover page of the resume. But teachers often find it difficult to write and edit resume on their own. Thus, what they usually do is create resume tutorial to make resume easier to write.There are many easy ways to write your high school degree. If you have not written it yourself, then try to do so. While writing on your own, take a look at some resume examples to learn how to write resume. You can also ask your friends or some resume tutor for some valuable resume tips to make resume easier to write.Once you write your high school degree, make sure to erase the mistakes from it. While editing resume on your own, you will find that mistakes can be quite embarrassing. In order to avoid embarrassment, you need to eliminate mistakes from resume. In this case, you can use resume editor software, which is highly recommended.Resume template has been widely used by teachers and graduates to write resume. It is good for all students. You can choose your favorite resume template from online resume builder. Resume templates contain information on each and every job on which you have applied. If you are looking for resume template for teachers, you can download some samples of these resume templates.In order to avoid errors in writing your own resume, you should read different resumes. You will know how to write resume if you have read other resumes. Reading resumes can give you some suggestions on how to write your own resume. For this purpose, you can search online for resume example.The best way to learn how to write a resume is to take resume lesson from professional resume writers. They will teach you abou t resume basics and help you write resume. You can search for professional resume writing lessons in your local library. You can also ask your friends or resume tutor for some tips and help to make resume easier to write. Just make sure that you study resume grammar and syntax, learn how to format your resume and learn how to add your accomplishments. Make sure that you use good spelling and grammar.Today, many parents are finding it hard to find the space on resume to put their high school degree. However, even without space on resume, it is important to mention it on resume.

How to Become a Career Coach

How to Become a Career Coach By, Andrea Travillian Coaching is a rapidly growing profession, people are looking for a good process to help people and at the same time people are looking for added support in moving forward in their lives. This creates a win win for both the client and the coach. Do you think you would be a good coach? Interested in finding out how to get started? The following is an overview of how to obtain your coaching credentials! In the world of coaching there is not a universal licensing program. There is, however, one organization that is a front runner in the industry and offers a very comprehensive credentialing program. The organization is the International Coaching Federation (ICF). They offer three levels of credentialing based on your level of experience. The basic level is the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and requires a minimum number of training hours, a minimum number of coaching hours and mentor coaching. You can achieve these minimums in two different approaches. The first is by going through an approved training program and the second is by reaching your requirements on your own. For new coaches or those just thinking about becoming a coach I recommend going through a training program. I suggest this because these programs are designed to help you meet the credentialing requirements. For example in my training program through ICA, I dont have to find a mentor coach, it is part of the program they have in place. What do you need to consider when selecting a training program? 1. Go to the ICF website and search for approved programs under the education section 2. Then begin to review each program considering the following: a. How do you want to take classes in person or via distance learning? b. The Total cost to get the correct hours of training. Some programs offer multiple levels and you actually need more than the first one to get enough hours for the ACC. Your cost can range anywhere from $2,000 to upwards of $10,000. c. Is the program inclusive of all the requirements you need for your credentials? If not are you able to get the other items on your own. d. How long does the training last? e. Do they cover specific niches or just cover the basic skills of coaching. For example, ICA has five learning areas that include executive coaching, small business, life, spiritual and career coaching in addition to the basics for all coaches. After you have selected your program you simply need to get started in the training. Followed by practicing your skills on willing clients and you are on your way to building a successful coaching business! Andrea Travillian is a business coach specializing in helping business owners live their dreams. She can be reached at www.smartstepomaha.com.

5 Ways to Write a Biography

5 Ways to Write a Biography Simply put, a biography is the story of someone’s life. Writing it so that others may read it is not as simple as its definition though because some people would consider biographies to be one of the most boring types of literature. You would therefore need to combat that, and this is done by making the life story interesting. No, you do not make it interesting by making stuff up! Here are a few tips you can do to make the whole book interesting for the reader: 1) Be interested in the person you are writing about: It would be counter productive to write about a person who you would be disinterested in to begin with.  If you are interested in the person you choose to write about, then it would be easier for you to do research on the person and find out more about his life.  Also, you would naturally be able to write in an interested tone, which would also influence the reader’s approach to your subject matter. 2) Get your basic facts straight: It is important to make sure that the basic information regarding your subject is as accurate as possible.  The basic information would be items such as date of birth, place of birth, date of death (if applicable).  Biographies could also be considered as relevant sources of information, and they need to be fully credible. 3) Obtain firsthand information: There is primary and secondary information. Primary would be items such as journals, diaries and interviews with either the subject or those closely related to the subject.  These are very important sources as they would provide insights regarding your subject, his frame of mind as well as his personal opinions about people and situations.  Secondary information would be articles regarding your subject.  They could relate certain events, but would not really give anything else. 4) Decide what to highlight: The life of your subject may be interesting, but some events may be more interesting than others.  Also, events during childhood may have influenced his decision making in the future.  If his actions during a certain point in his career make him interesting, concentrate on events throughout his life that prepared him to handle that situation.  This would build the book up and make the whole story linked from start to finish.  It would also help to insert some anecdotes in between life changing events. 5) Describe a lot: The people who read the biography would not be familiar with the person you are writing about.  Be sure to describe him as much as you can.  His physical features, his face, his expressions, even his habits that make him stand out from the rest.  This would make him more human to the readers.  Do the same for some of his close friends.  If you do forget the name of one or two people in his life, do not make names up.  Instead, substitute if for a title such as mate, close friend or even a rank if they were in the military. The key to successfully writing a good biography is planning.  The book cannot contain every single event of a person’s life, so planning the events that you would want to put in would make it so much easier for you when you get to the writing phase.  If you do get the outline done, then you would not really have to be concerned about writer’s block, since you would already know where to start. One more thing that you can do, whenever you finish a portion of the story, read it out loud.  This would give you a sense of the rhythm that your readers will have when they pick up the book.  If it seems too staccato, then you may want to re-write the portion.  If not, then you know that you’re a step close to releasing a good biography. RELATED:  8 Steps to Writing a  Bio  Like a Pro (Chris Brogan in Fact)

Writing Tableau Projects in Resume

Writing Tableau Projects in ResumeTableau is a program that will help you with your resume, but writing tableau projects in resume can be very useful as well. If you are writing resume, you should always be thinking about the next job you are going to get and how it will benefit you and your company.You can write about projects or you can write about the different things that you learned while working on the resume. It all depends on how you want your resume to look. As you begin to think about this you will see that you can have a lot of fun and make it unique by using tableau.A lot of people learn about tableau while taking classes at the college. You can use this to your advantage and build your resume just like you would if you were looking for a job after school.When you are writing the projects that you are going to put on your resume you will find that it is very easy to put the pictures in and they are easy to find the deadlines that are on them. When you are doing this you w ill find that it will take all of about 30 minutes to an hour and you will find that you have a great resume without having to take a full class on it.Tablescapes are one of the many ways that you can learn about working with data. One of the things that you will learn is that the more tables that you use the better it is for you. As you begin to use tablescapes you will see that the more you use the more you can do with the tables and the easier it is to understand the information you are seeing.Tablescapes helps you when you are looking for tables that are going to make the resume come alive and you can make tables that will help you in various areas. You can work with the columns and the colors to help you make the most out of your resume as well.If you find that you are bored with the current table you will have the ability to learn from the tablescapes program and you will have the capability to change the format of the table as well. You will also be able to make your own tabl e in the future as well.One of the main reasons why people learn about the tableau programs is because of the tablescapes. Using tablescapes is not going to only make your resume come alive but it will help you make it more professional as well.

Me on TV - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Me on TV - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Just before I went on vacation I was interviewed on national TV on the Good Morning Denmark show. The topic was how to be happy at work when you return from vacation. It went very well, and you can see the entire interview here. Its in danish, of course. 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

Google Plus One (Google +)

Google Plus One (Google +) Theres a new button in town! Do you have it? Do you get it? If you are already a fan of Google, youve probably already started playing around with Google Plus 1. If you arent using Gmail, dont have a Google profile or just dont want to be bothered with another social networking tool, you can stop reading right now. In one short week, this tool has exploded. People across industries are experimenting with this multifaceted platform. Google is trying to blend the sharing experiences of its users and it goes beyond just content-sharing. Google + has features of Twitter, Facebook, social bookmarks, and video chatting all rolled into one. Circles: You can create circles of friends, family, or other groups you regularly want to be connected to and share information Sparks: Google gathers information on hot topics or topics of interest in this feature.   You can specify what sparks your interest! Hangouts: Very cool feature allows real-time group video chatting with up to 10 people! (Now up to 25 people) Mobile: Smart phones mean more and more of us are using our phones for everything.   We are not locked to our PCs.   Mobile allows you to share group messages from your phone using Huddle. Overviews of Google + The official low-down by Google. Introducing the Google + Project Google+: First Tips and Tricks from Social Media Today Why Google + Is NOT a Good Personal Branding Tool from Personal Branding Blog (by Jacob Share) Using Google + Features: HOW TO: Search Google Plus Profiles for People and Companies by AvidCareerist Video for Business by Chris Brogan Using Google Plus to Source Ideas by Chris Brogan Google Hangouts Gives the Alive Web a big boost from GigaOm I think the feature I am most excited about testing is Hangouts.   What have you started exploring?