tiffany monhollon

How Sick Have You Gone to Work?

By tiffany monhollon on Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Imagine you wake up late, sore, hot, and with a scratchy throat. It’s all you can do to drag yourself out of bed, brush your teeth, and make it to work on time. But should you?

As cold and flu season begins, the topic of whether or not to stay home from work doesn’t always get as much discussion as it should. Every person responds differently to illnesses, but it’s often a first impulse to push through the fatigue and discomfort illness can bring. That’s why many sick workers avoid taking a day off or using sick or PTO days for recovery.

But, physicians say that staying home when you’re really sick not only leads to a speedier recovery in most cases, it also helps keep illness from spreading. So, for the sake of yourself – and others! – check out these guidelines to find out if you’re too sick to go to work.

poll by twiigs.com

Curious if you’ve gone to work too sick for your own good? Check your answer here. Have a story about yourself or someone else working sick? Share your tales in the comments below.

What Do You Want to Know in an Interview? The Questions You Don’t Ask

By tiffany monhollon on Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Have you ever been in a job interview and thought of a question you really wanted to ask but weren’t sure if you should? The reality is, there are a lot of things you won’t know about a job until you actually start it. But there are ways you can ask some of the tough questions when you’re in the interview so you’ll know better what to expect.

We want to know the top questions you want to ask but won’t. Vote in our poll, and we’ll address the top questions in a later post.

poll by twiigs.com

Think of something that’s not on this list? We still want to hear from you.

Let us know the answers you’re looking for in an interview by leaving us a comment.

At Work New Job Tips

5 Little Words that Make a Big Difference in a New Job

By tiffany monhollon on Thursday, August 28, 2008

Starting a new job can be an exciting and equally anxious process. You’ve survived the job search, dominated the interview process, and are ready to begin. How can you make the most of the first day on a new job? Here are five little words to keep in mind.

1. Meet.
Everyone. Make it your goal to learn as many names as possible, and don’t be shy about meeting new people. The first few days on a job is your best time to meet new people, because you have the excuse of not knowing anyone. Much of your personal success on the job will depend on the relationships you develop at work – not just with immediate co-workers, but with people in other departments or locations as well. So, take the time to invest in meeting people and building relationships.

2. Ask.
One of the most terrifying things about a new job is the unknown. Whether or not you have prior experience within a certain field or industry, there are a lot of new things to learn – the company culture, team dynamics, products, and processes, to name a few. Often, your best resources for learning about all things work-related – from big picture to the little things – are the people around you. So, don’t be afraid to ask questions for fear of looking unskilled or inept. The longer you wait to ask, the harder it will be to work up the courage. Some reports say that most people spend their first 90 days just trying to guess their way around a new job. Don’t waste your time and energy this way. Make it a point to ask as many questions as you can within the first week on a new job so you can hit the ground running and quickly impress.

3. Learn.
hen you start a new job, it can often be difficult simply figuring out exactly what all your responsibilities include. So, make it a point to learn as much as you can, not just about what you’ve been tasked to do, but about the company, industry, and field you’re working in. Be proactive about learning, and you’ll show your boss that you’re a star player and be better equipped to not just survive, but thrive in your position.

4. Help.
he shining stars in the workplace don’t just focus on doing their own work. They understand how to help the entire team as well. Of course, you don’t want to come across as a know-it all. So, while you are learning the ropes, let those around you know you’re willing to help when it’s needed. That way, by the time you’ve had a chance to get up to speed, teammates will know they can turn to you for your insight and assistance.

5. Do.
It can be so easy within the first few days on a job to get bogged down in orientation, paperwork, and information, that doing the actual work you are assigned to can be difficult. But don’t wait. Start working right away so that you can discover the areas you need to ask questions about. If your boss doesn’t give you projects right away, ask for them.

Acting out these five words can help you quickly master the job you’ve been hired to do. So, start your new job off right by living these five mantras – not just the first week, but every day.

Who knows what opportunities might emerge when you commit yourself to becoming a star from day one.

Which of these words is the most important when you’re starting a new job? Let us know your thoughts by sharing your comments.

The Job Search

What Would You Do with $1,000? Express Yourself for a Chance to Win

By tiffany monhollon on Monday, August 25, 2008

Have you had a job through Express that has helped you make it through a rough financial patch or led you to your dream career? Maybe the people and experiences Express brought your way helped you make a career change you’d been hoping for. Do you love working through Express so much you’ve referred all your friends and family?

Tell us your inspirational story of life as an Express associate, and it could end up earning you $1,000 in cash.
Want to know more? If you’ve been placed through Express in the last 24 months, check out all the details on how you can Express Yourself by submitting a video testimonial of your experience working through Express. Entries are due by October 15.

Four Ways to Win
1. When you submit a video testimonial, we’ll enter you into a drawing for a $250 Visa gift card.

2. Then, we will select the top 10 videos, and winners will receive a Nintendo ® Wii game system.

3. We’ll open up online voting so you can tell your friends, family, co-workers to vote for you. When people vote, they’ll enter a drawing for a $250 Visa gift card.

4. The finalist with the most votes for their video will receive the grand prize of $1,000.

What are you waiting for? Express Yourself today for your chance to win!

Official contest rules, video submission guidelines, and terms and conditions are available at www.expresspros.com/expressyourself.

Career Options Reader Surveys The Daily Grind

What’s Your Commute Costing You?

By tiffany monhollon on Tuesday, August 5, 2008

With record-high gas prices, the commute to and from work is more expensive than ever.

poll by twiigs.com

Benefits Reader Surveys Salary and Promotions The Daily Grind

What Would You Do for a 4-Day Work Week?

By tiffany monhollon on Friday, July 18, 2008

With high gas prices, employees are struggling to meet the increasing cost of simply getting to and from work. And businesses are paying attention. There are stories of some employers getting creative, using incentives to help employees pay for gas. It’s all over the news how employers in some fields are meeting worker demands by offering a 4-day work week. The idea is to fit a 40-hour week into four 10-hour days so employees have one less day a week to travel to work.

But when it comes to business, a 4-day work week isn’t quite as simple as that. In fact, most places that have gone to a 4-day work week are government or non-profit entities. Some businesses face complications like losing profits and customer service by operating just 4 days a week.

The truth is, every benefit they add costs employers cash they have to make up for somewhere else. When you think about it in those terms, how important is saving money on gas to you in the big picture? Just how valuable is that extra day off each week?

poll by twiigs.com

At Work The Daily Grind

5 Tips for a Safer Commute

By tiffany monhollon on Friday, June 27, 2008

Every five seconds, a car crash occurs, and many of these accidents happen while employees are on the job, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In fact, motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 cause of work-related injuries, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). They are also the leading cause of death and injury across all age groups, OSHA says.

To protect yourself from dangers on the road, check out these five driving safety tips.

1. Avoid distractions.
When you’re distracted while you drive, your risk of having an accident increases dramatically. About 80% of car accidents occur due to some form of distraction, according to the NSC. Distractions can come from a variety of sources, including other passengers, radios or iPods, talking or texting on mobile phones, applying makeup, eating, and more. Though it can be tempting to multi-task, it’s important to focus on driving when you’re behind the wheel because for every mile you drive, you make about 200 decisions, OSHA says. Taking your eye off the road even for a split second increases your risk of an accident, so make sure driving is your one and only concern when you’re behind the wheel.

2. Get more sleep.
You might be asking yourself what sleep has to do with driving. Well, when it comes to safety on the road, it can be everything. Americans are chronically tired, and the effects of fatigue show up in more than just the faces of unrested workers. Drowsy driving accounts for over 100,000 crashes each year and at least 1,550 deaths. So if you find yourself driving to work tired each morning, try an earlier bed time. Turning up the radio or rolling down the window for fresh air won’t effectively combat the threats of drowsy driving.

3. Buckle up.
It may seem like obvious advice, but experts say that using your seatbelt each time you drive – no matter how far or near your destination – is the single best way to reduce the risk of death and serious injury in the car. In fact, the proper use of seatbelts saves 12,000 lives and prevents 325,000 injuries each year, according to OSHA. Plus, it’s the law in most states. So, protect yourself and everyone in your vehicle by making sure all belts are buckled before you start the car.

4. Leave your rage off the road.
Aggressive driving does more than just annoy the people around you. The behaviors associated with road rage, including excessive speeding, tailgating, running stop signs and lights, and more, greatly increase the threat of an accident. Though you may be in a hurry to get where you’re going and other drivers may do things to annoy you or slow you down, you won’t get to your destination any faster if you end up in a wreck. So, keep your road rage in check and enjoy the benefits of less stress and a safer commute. Even if you’re not prone to road rage, in a tense commute, it’s difficult to deal with crazy drivers around you. Instead of letting your frustrations materialize into risky driving behaviors, be a kind driver and avoid conflict with drivers around you.

5. Drive defensively.
No matter how safe a driver you are, many of the risks on the road involve other drivers. Always pay attention to the cars near you as well as to the traffic and road signs so that you can make the best defensive decisions on your drive. Pay careful attention each time you get behind the wheel, even if you’re driving a route so familiar you feel you could navigate it blindfolded. You never know when unexpected changes in the road or threats from other drivers around will appear, so always be on the alert. If a dangerous situation arises, remember that your safety is more important than it is to get where you’re going in record time. Don’t be afraid to slow down, pull off the road or contact the authorities if the need arises.

Being safe on the road is important not just for your own well-being, but for those around you as well. Make sure you’re safe on the road by using these tips.

Do you suffer from road rage or find yourself driving on little sleep often? Are you always talking on the phone while driving or getting annoyed at drivers who text on behind the wheel? Share your driving safety stories with us in the comments section. And don’t forget to vote in our poll to tell us where you stand on the issue of safety.

Want more driving safety tips? Check out these resources.
Driving Defensively
Night Driving
Accident Reporting