Vaping—the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems, sometimes referred to as ‘e-cigarettes’—exploded into the news this fall after a sudden spike in lung illnesses and more than 30 deaths that …
Six Lessons Managers Can Learn From Elite Athletes
If you had the chance to watch the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team on their path to winning the World Cup this summer, then you’ve seen exceptionally talented, hard-driving, confident, and …
PTO Innovation is Here
When the career website Glassdoor surveyed American workers in 2017, they found the average employee had only taken 54 percent of their paid time off (PTO) in the past year. That figure has been …
Four Tips for Building a Better Team
Psychological safety—the ability to safely express ideas, take risks, and make mistakes—has been widely recognized as a key attribute for successful team collaboration in all kinds of workplaces, from …
Dealing with Distraction in Your Open Office
We recently discussed the growing criticism of open office layouts, largely because of the noise and distractions that can undermine productivity. Nonetheless, open floor plans are likely here to …
Coping with a Coworker’s Suicide
Of the countless challenges a manager will face, few will be as complex as a coworker’s suicide. Staff may feel bewildered, frightened, guilty, and sad. If the victim killed him/herself at your …
Dealing with Depression in the Workplace
The costs of depressive disorders to employers are well-documented: according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, anywhere from $17 to 44 billion per year in lost productivity and more …
Therapy without the Office
The need to connect patients with faraway doctors used to be a hallmark of only the most remote jobs—astronauts and researchers at the Antarctic research station, for instance. Telemedicine arose …
Performance Reviews Made Easy
Let’s face it, as a manager, giving annual performance reviews may be one of the hardest tasks you perform all year—from the highly formulaic write-ups to the tension in the face-to-face meetings to …
Like Your Social Media Policy
About twenty years ago, social media literally did not exist; today, a single Facebook post by one of your vice presidents can cripple your brand. That isn’t an exaggeration. On October 25, 2017, …
The Benefits Life
Batten down the hatches! Open enrollment season is about to begin at most companies—it’s usually during the month of November—and it can get intense. If you work in human resources, it's time to get …
The Benefits of Honesty
The only thing we can be sure of when it comes to American health care policy is uncertainty itself. As of this writing, the first few attempts to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act (aka …
Boss Skills: Refereeing Political Discussions at Work
Political discussions are unavoidable these days, even at work. Last month we looked at how old boundaries have dissolved in the vitriol of the 2016 election and how employees can navigate this new …
Politics at Work: The New Normal
During 2016’s long and grueling presidential campaign, millions of Americans with widely different opinions had at least one thought in common: “At least this will all be over soon!” So much for …
The Joy of Winter Sports
During wintertime, and the living is cozy. Our instincts tell us to hibernate and curl up in front of the fire with some snacks and a hot toddy. For exercise, most people get back on the treadmill by …
Gear Up for Cold Weather
If you exercise or run outdoors, the temptation to hang up your workout shoes for the season is a strong one as the days get shorter and colder. Curling up with a nice book or a binge-worthy TV show …
The End of the Car Commute
We’ve been told for decades that driving your car to work is bad. It’s expensive, unhealthy, polluting, and stressful. Incentives to change this habit come and go, from mass transit systems and …
Why You Should Walk to Work: Top Benefits to Know
Bicycle commuting is slowly becoming a mainstream (and healthier) alternative to the grind of the daily drive. In Portland, OR, a full 7 percent of commuters now cycle to work, and bike lane …
Workplace New Year’s Resolutions
As the calendar tips from December into January, many of us start thinking about New Year’s resolutions. We resolve to be kinder or more punctual; to be thinner or to drive less. In short, we’re …
