Going Green – St. Patrick’s Day
Since 1967, the St. Patrick’s Association, Inc. has spearheaded the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown St. Paul. The year’s March 17 noon parade marks the 52nd spirited tribute to the area’s sizeable Irish population. Mayor Thomas Byrne led the first parade in from the Hilton Hotel (now the Radisson) down Kellogg Blvd. to the St. Paul Hotel. The focus of the parade has always been families. “It’s a baby buggy parade, and we work hard to keep it that way,” notes association treasurer Steward Loper. The Association traces its founding back to Sean and Judith Clerkin’s desire to take…
Resumes 2018 Style
Anyone with career aspirations should be “resume ready” at all times. Even if you’re not actively seeking a new position, it would be tragic to miss out on a great opportunity that may unexpectedly pop up, because a polished resume is not at your fingertips. So, what’s new in the world of resumes for 2018? If you’re assuming it’s the same old, same old, think again. In fact, the trends in 2018 are expected to be: more professionally prepared resumes and documents with more personality, more “voice.” A 2013 CareerBuilder survey noted that 58% of employers pointed out typos as the most…
President’s Day: Everything You Need to Know – and a Little More
While Washington’s Birthday was an unofficial observance for most of the 1800s, it wasn’t until 1879 that Senator Steven Wallace Dorsey of Arkansas proposed an actual holiday in Washington’s honor. In 1879 President Rutherford B. Hayes signed the measure into law. The holiday initially applied to the District of Columbia alone, but in 1885 was expanded to the whole country. At that time, Washington’s Birthday joined four other nationally recognized federal holidays, referred to as “bank holidays” – Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. It was the first holiday to celebrate the life of an individual American. The 1968 Uniform Monday Holiday Act,…
Work-flex – Part II: Manufacturing Employers
When you’re talking workplace flexibility or “work-flex” in the same breath as manufacturing, there’s bound to be some head shaking. Some grunting and huffing to go with the arms jerked tight across the chest. Work-flex in manufacturing, however, is not a complete impossibility. Sure, some out-of-the-box thinking will have to happen. And no, pieces of manufacturing equipment can’t be toted home so that Tom or Jane can work while caring for a sick child. News flash: telecommuting is not the only way that workplace flexibility is defined. Will a work-flex scenario work for every position within your plant? Most likely…
5 Tips for Keeping Key Employees
If the new year finds the HR department holding their collective breath, fearing/dreading the announcement that a top-notch employee has resigned, it’s time to rev up efforts to prevent the loss of your workers to greener or perceived greener pastures. Everyone knows losing a key employee is costly, making employee retention a challenge facing every organization today. So, what steps will make a positive impact on your retention efforts? 1. Demonstrate Appreciation It may sound too simple but think about it. Who doesn’t want to feel rewarded, recognized and appreciated? When thank you’s, pats on the back, and sincere expressions…
Stress: Part II – Eliminate, Manage, Cope?
So, now that you understand the mechanics of stress, all that’s left to do is divide and conquer, right? Identify the stressors interfering with your mental, emotional, and physical well-being and all will be good. Well, if it were that easy, the harmful type of stress that chips away at people’s health and happiness would have been eradicated long ago. Let’s face it. Watching the evening news is a stress-inducing activity. Hey, just reading about the effects of stress is stressful. Uncertain times whether it be political or personal, work or family related eat away at us. When we feel…