Are Vegan Workplaces the Way of the Future? Veganism is everywhere these days it seems. From the Impossible Burger, to restaurant chains like By Chloe, to Netflix documentary films like “What the Health” and “Earthlings,” the world can’t get enough of plant-based eating. There has been a 600% increase in people identifying as vegans in the U.S. in the last three years alone and that trend does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. This is a far cry from decades prior when vegans were thought of as lentil-loving “hippies” – at the very fringe of society. These days, veganism is a popular li... view article details

Dear Annette,Throughout my business travels I often encounter public figures - in airplanes, in elevators, at conferences. What's the appropriate etiquette for greeting celebrities?Star StuckDear Star Stuck,A few years ago, during the filming of a smash British Invasion-inspired comedy, I was dining in an exclusive Indian restaurant in London's fabulous Mayfair. As I contemplated the handsome, well-appointed dining companion seated across from me, the sound of voices wafting over from another table suddenly interrupted my train of thought. What broke my concentration was the subject of the oth... view article details

If hospitality is your cup of tea—and you don’t mind serving others—a career as a hotel manager may be perfect for you.Hotel managers oversee all aspects of hotel operations including staff, maintenance, convention and conference services, reservations, office administration, sales, purchasing, housekeeping, security, recreation, and food management. Depending on how many services a hotel provides, the manager can be responsible for everything from banquets to conventions. Managers also take into account marketing and financial management. They set room rates, approve expenditures and ensure t... view article details

Dearest Readers,What was I doing in Billy's Boxer on Boxing Day? Zipping along the 10 on our way to the Ask Annette celebrity shareholders' retreat in Palm Springs, naturally, when suddenly my newest Hermès scarf blew away, and it got me thinking: It's the new year. Whatever will we wear?Moreover, what simple steps can today's office worker take to become even more fabulous in the coming months? Here are some of the shareholders' resolutions.CourtesyFinish and mail your holiday thank-you notes by January 15.When you restate someone else's idea in a meeting, give the person credit.Have your Peo... view article details

No matter how informal the meeting, preparation in advance can improve the effectiveness of the meeting itself. When planning a meeting, visualize in advance how the meeting will unfold: who will stand where, how long the presentations will last, how the meeting will be organized.HomeworkWhen sending materials in advance of the meeting, be clear what home work you are asking attendees to do. For example, if you send a document for review, ask for comments on specific aspects of the document - different reviewers are asked to comment on substance, design, and editorial issues. If you've been as... view article details

Survey Results: How Has Our Readership Been Affected by Recent Layoffs? With the unemployment rate continuing to rise dramatically in recent months (now up to double digits in some states) Salary.com asked its users how they have been affected by the recent changes in the job market. We had over 4,000 respondents of which a larger than expected number answered they had been laid off in the last 6 months. Read on to see some of the trends.The national unemployment rate for January was 8.1% This means that nationwide 8.1% of employable individuals have reported that they are out of wo... view article details

Most people who find themselves surrounded by 40 tons of ice have likely endured an arctic expedition gone horribly wrong. But for ice sculptor Don Chapelle, that's the amount of ice he handles on a daily basis.Chapelle is the owner and sculptor behind Brilliant Ice Sculpture, New England's prime outlet for fine ice art. He tackles sculptures both large and small with expertise, passion and precision, which has led to his name being synonymous with the ice carving scene of Greater Boston and beyond.Though Chapelle has been sculpting for 33 years, it took some time for the craft to make him a p... view article details

Employee Reward Ideas: Small Acts of Recognition and Appreciation Can Go a Long Way Incentivize Employees with Appreciation Gifts Do you ever wonder how to reward employees? Some bosses feel a paycheck is the only reward an employee needs. But employees want to feel that their hard work is appreciated, whether they are paid minimum wage or a six-figure salary. Wondering about employee reward ideas? Get creative and experiment with a few new employee recognition ideas - you’ll be amazed by how productive your staff suddenly becomes. 10. Gift CardsGift cards are a classic. Nobody ever tur... view article details

Employers Should Embrace the Allure of Summer, Not Fight It While possibly more noticeable in four season cities, summer longings can defy geographical zones to the same extent that Congress generally seems to flout basic math. Although the era of school holidays ended long before the student loan payments ever did, nostalgia reigns when the weather warms in early June. There’s a mental countdown to the long-gone summer breaks of our youth. And come August, the realization that Fall is but a few weekends away can heighten awareness of missed and fleeting opportunities to enjoy valuable outdo... view article details

Understand your pay scale better What is a Pay Scale? A pay scale is a system that determines how much an employee in a certain profession is paid as a wage or salary, based on one or more factors such as the employee's level within the employer's organization, the length of time that the employee has been employed, and the difficulty of the specific work performed. A pay scale shows the range of salary an employee should expect at progressing stages in their career. Pay scales help employees to have an appropriate estimation of their future wage level. The... view article details