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At Work Work/Life Balance

How to Ask for a Reduction in Hours

By on Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Maybe when you started this job you thought it was going to be a standard nine to five. Or perhaps you want to spend more time at home with your family.

Regardless of reason, you’re working more hours than you anticipated or want to work, and it’s getting in the way of your schoolwork, family time, or other responsibilities. As a salaried employee, it’s time to have a frank discussion with your manager about cutting back your hours.

But how do you start that conversation? We’re here to help. (more…)

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At Work Career Advancement

Negotiating Pay for a New Job

By on Monday, December 14, 2020

You don’t hate your job. You like the company, your co-workers are great, and you’ve learned a ton. But one day you realize there are few opportunities for advancement. Something inside of you is restless, which might mean it’s time to explore other opportunities with a new company or job.

You hit the online job search and end up interviewing. Eventually, you get a job offer and the question of salary comes up: given that you have a good deal of experience, you want to make sure you get the salary you’re worth. But how exactly do you figure out that number? Here’s our advice. (more…)

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At Work Work/Life Balance

Prioritizing Your Mental Health This Winter

By on Tuesday, November 24, 2020

2020 has been a tough year. COVID-19, social unrest, political drama, and natural disasters can all cause stress and mental fatigue. Add in less sunlight and a colder climate, and this winter might be rough for many workers.

According to the CDC, in the second quarter of 2020, “the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety disorder was approximately three times those reported in the second quarter of 2019 (25.5% versus 8.1%), and prevalence of depressive disorder was approximately four times that reported in the second quarter of 2019.”

Additionally, roughly 5% of people deal with Seasonal Affective Disorder, or seasonal depression. In an interview with USA Today, professor of psychology Dr. Lata McGinn noted:

“There’s less activity, there’s less socialization, there are less mastery activities, there are less pleasurable activities, so in general there is an increase in depression, not to mention job losses and losses of people. A combination of all those things, I think, would put us more at risk this winter.”

Essentially, even if you don’t suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, workers must prioritize their mental health this season. Following are methods to cope. (more…)

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At Work Work/Life Balance

Have You Heard of the Sunday Scaries?

By on Thursday, November 19, 2020

It’s Sunday morning, and you’re stressed. Your mind is racing. All you can think about are work deadlines and the things you’ll have to do on Monday. You had a relaxing Friday night and Saturday, so what’s going on? Is there something wrong with you?

Nope. This phenomenon, known as the “Sunday Scaries,” is incredibly common. In 2018, LinkedIn held a survey asking participants if they worried about the week ahead on Sundays. Eighty percent of respondents said they had. If you’re not sure how to cope, check out our tips below and reclaim your Sundays! (more…)

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At Work Workplace Relationships

Defending Yourself Against Workplace Gossip

By on Thursday, October 29, 2020

You’re doing your job, meeting deadlines and quotas, and then your boss asks to see you in their office. You aren’t expecting anything out of the ordinary; maybe this is to discuss a new project or a new addition to the team. But something seems off. Your boss doesn’t look happy, and the first words out of their mouth are “There’s been talk around the office that you’ve been…” And things only go downhill from there. (more…)

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At Work Workplace Relationships

When the Customer ISN’T Always Right

By on Thursday, September 24, 2020

What to do when you’re faced with an angry customer or client

The phrase “The customer is always right” has been used as early as 1905. Quote Insider attributes the saying to the Chicago retailer Marshall Field, although it’s possible he heard it from someone else. The meaning of the phrase is that companies and their employees should treat complaints seriously to avoid customers feeling ignored or cheated.

However, for anyone who has worked in a customer or client facing job, or even just peeked at some of the angrier folks on social media, the customer is in fact NOT always right. Customers should be respected, but when their behavior starts to get out of hand, what can you do to deescalate the situation? (more…)

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