The Basics The definition of paid time off is any time not worked by an employee for which the regular rate, a fixed or a prorated amount of pay, is accrued and paid to the employee. Companies grant time off to give employees down time and a chance to deal with non-work related issues. Despite the high costs of paid time off, companies offer this employee-friendly benefit primarily to be competitive in attracting and retaining talented employees.State and Local Holidays In addition to federal holidays, some employers also ... view article details

Develop & Maintain a Communication Strategy to Keep Your Workers Fully Engaged Effective communication in the workplace is arguably the most important factor in the success of a company. Even so, many companies don’t take necessary steps to make sure their communication strategy is well-thought-out and flexible. Here are eight suggestions to improve communication by taking down barriers that tend to exist in many businesses: 1. Create an environment of open communication where opinions are valued and not judged or punished. In many cases, employees don't communicate honest information t... view article details

Leadership Versus Management Do you know the difference between leadership and management? In Western economies, the lines between the two have become blurred. In her book, The Seven Keys of Charisma (1997), Joanna Kozubska says: “There are times when a leader needs good, systematic management skills and times when a manager must inspire people. We have to be able to do both.” This has significant implications for the way that leaders and managers should be developed. Originally, the difference between management and leadership arose based on the perception that management was about imple... view article details

It Might Not Be Illegal, But Employers Should be Wary More than two weeks after the Associated Press reported on the trend of employers demanding access to applicants' Facebook accounts, politicians, job hunters and the social network itself continue to grapple with the story's ramifications. The uproar began when AP reporters Manuel Valdes and Shannon McFarland wrote a story recounting several incidents of jobseekers being asked to provide their Facebook passwords to potential employers or to log onto their accounts, allowing the hiring company to peruse private posts, messages and ph... view article details

Hooray! This "pawsome" day has finally come. It’s Take Your Dog to Work Day 2018. Instead of leaving your four-legged friends at home – their sad eyes piercing your soul as you sneak out the back door feeling shame-faced – you can bring your furry companion along to the office (on the condition your workplace is participating, of course)! You will be your pupper’s watchful "humanager" for the day. You will conduct rigorous "furformance" reviews. Everyone will be cheerful and take a “pat break” at noon. A corgi named Banana Bread will pant along to your favorite song on Spotify. A Great Dane th... 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

Dear Annette, With all the typing I do, my handwriting has gotten terrible. Yet at the same time, I fumble with basic business correspondence on the computer. What can I do?Drafted Dear Drafted,Earlier this spring my administrative assistant took a few days off to run a marathon, then have his wisdom teeth taken out. My People described his pain to me in terms I could understand: it was like all-over electrolysis followed by a chemical peel and an evening with a twentysomething. Yet my assistant's marathon week was fabulous planning, in a way. Think about it: the morning after completing a lif... view article details

Now that we have a newly elected President and Vice President, we got to thinking, how much do these positions pay, what is their role, and what are the requirements for the job? The new commander-in-chief will also need to select cabinet members to advise him, and, over the course of the next four years, some vacancies in the Supreme Court will need to be filled. What’s the average salary of these positions?President of the United States of America The President leads the executive branch of the federal government. The commander in chief is called upon to make sure laws are faith... view article details

Job descriptionParalegals are responsible for handling a variety of tasks and providing support for the lawyers they work for. Under the direction of an attorney, they work to resolve routine legal issues. They help lawyers to research laws, judicial decisions, articles, treaties, and other legal documents that can be applied to cases. They may also be responsible for preparing written reports to assist lawyers in handling cases. Paralegals hold an organizational role in coordinating the activities of the law office and its employees, and also in the filing of financial records and case docume... view article details

Dear Annette,How do I contact old work friends I haven't spoken to in years to find out about present job opportunities? I used to work in an industry that I am interested in getting back into, but I am out of touch with what is going on now. I want to call a few business associates who were friends of mine in the past, but I haven't seen or spoken to any of them in years. In all honesty, although it would be fine to hear about what is going on with their lives, I just want to know if they know about potential job opportunities.Brass TacksDear Tacks,I've made my own rules since childhood, when... view article details