A small medical equipment manufacturer had a great deal riding on the completion of their next-gen medical device. Engineers, technicians, and marketers were stressed and exhausted from setbacks and long hours. Yet, no one dropped offline or stopped showing up for work. Why? Because this company had worked hard to develop a culture that resembled a family more than a workplace. Management recognized and responded …
The Best Way to Avoid the Consequences of Misclassifying Workers
Tempted to fill a labor gap with a contract worker? Here’s what you should know before you do: In 2019, California passed Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5 to) to reclassify freelance workers as employees rather than independent contractors. However, app companies, citizens, and many contract workers revolted, launching one of this year’s most expensive ballot measures – Proposition 22. Prop …
An Effective Diversity Policy Means Never Having to Say You are Sorry
It hasn’t been a good year for Goodyear. COVID concerns disrupted operations, second-quarter sales were down 41% from a year ago, and to add insult to injury, last week, company officials found themselves in crisis management mode. A slide from a Topeka diversity training session, labeled “Zero Tolerance,” itemized two columns of permitted and banned symbols and phrases on apparel worn at work. Among …
How to Inspire Serendipity Despite a Remote Workforce
Talking with a friend about the advantages and disadvantages of remote work, I was struck by his observation that what he missed most about working with colleagues in the office were the serendipitous ideas shared during face-to-face interactions. While isolation does not necessarily dampen creativity, smart companies have worked hard to create novel, highly interactive, work environments to foster connections between …
Munchkin Survival Guide: Tips to Get Work Done at Home
Humor is magical and can lighten even the toughest times. Like trying to work at home with bickering kids! When one poster in a community forum asked, “For those working from home, tell me something your kid(s) did today, but refer to them as co-workers,” she got some hilarious responses: “My co-workers fought over a Lego box. Then they chased each other around …
