Author: Carol Farrish

Employees with a low level of commitment to their jobs cost companies in lost productivity, quality and service, absenteeism, low morale, and lower organizational success. Disengaged employees threaten company culture. The best ways to re-engage people include listening to their needs and offering flexibility. When businesses hire new employees, they hope for not just skill and good work habits but also someone who will engage with the company and their job. Statistics show that engaged employees are more productive, among other things. Especially since the trauma of COVID and its disruption of traditional working patterns, companies are finding it harder…

The pandemic affected many aspects of life, including many aspects of work. When people worked at home, they dressed more casually than BMA would have if they commuted to work. Now that people are returning to work, office dress codes after COVID are still more casual. In years past, those going to work dressed for the occasion. Over the last 20 years, many businesses have relaxed their expectations surrounding employees’ apparel. After the recent COVID pandemic, when many people work from home, perhaps even in their pajamas, dress codes have become even more casual in many locations. What is the…

Gen Z is the future of the workforce, but these younger workers born between 1997-2012 are tech-savvy, socially concerned, and entrepreneurial. Yet, work-life balance is essential to them. They value independence along with mentorship from experienced workers. Integrating Gen Z into the workforce can be challenging but rewarding. Gen Z, the cohort born between 1997 and 2012, is the youngest age group in the full-time workforce. They currently comprise 30 percent of the world’s population, and by 2025, they will be about 27% of the workforce in the U.S. Many from this demographic approach the workplace with an outlook and skill…

As the fourth quarter of 2023 is now in full bloom, leaves are falling, and more people are now commuting to work compared to a year ago. Many companies have issued return-to-office mandates, although hybrid work is becoming the new normal for many businesses. How do workers feel about being back in the office? The short answer is that some like it, while many resent it deeply. Those who don’t like it are showing their disapproval in interesting ways as workers respond to RTO mandates. Where Companies Stand And Return To Work As of September 2023, 47.3% of employees were back in the office,…

Employers are major beneficiaries of the benefits of remote work, and those who are willing to realize this will plan for the future of remote work at their companies. By encouraging intentional flexibility and properly redefining productivity, they can develop mutually beneficial remote work policies. Barrels of liquid and digital ink have chronicled the rise of remote work from the perspective of workers and employers. COVID shutdowns required to lessen a public health crisis led many to reassess their relationship with their jobs. Recent press about return-to-office (RTO) mandates makes it seem like the growing interest in maintaining remote work…

Many people work part-time side hustles; however, some employers fear that those who work remotely may be spending company time at a full or part-time second job. This fear defies statistics and the reality of why people work extra jobs. When times are tough, people sometimes work multiple jobs to pay their bills, afford college for their kids, meet medical expenses, prepare to buy a new car, or save for retirement. This has always been the way many people get by, but the popularization of remote work and the availability of affordable computers has made working side hustles even more…

During the pandemic, remote work kept many businesses alive, largely due to the expansion of women in the workplace. Jobs that could be done remotely account for an increase of 1.3 million jobs for women. Will workplace gains for women during COVID remain? When the pandemic hit in 2020, the economy shut down as many businesses regrouped. Some jobs often held by women not only closed down but left women suddenly told to work from home with a houseful of kids who could go to neither school nor daycare. So many women dropped out of the workforce that it was…

The pandemic sparked an increased interest in digital nomadism when workers were told to work remotely. Many returned home when employers wanted them back in the office, but independent workers continue to embrace the lifestyle, leading to a digital nomad boom despite RTO mandates. Since many companies enforce return-to-office policies to make work once again look like it did before the pandemic, you might assume that the digital nomad phase popularized during the pandemic has ended. When employers expect workers to be on site all or part of the week, working from afar obviously does not work. Surprisingly, in 2023,…

Even those who work at home sometimes prefer remote working in a coworking space. Renting a shared desk or office offers convenient office space, separation of work and home, opportunities to collaborate, and an atmosphere that spurs productivity. Remote workers often do their jobs at home, but coworking spaces are a viable alternative for those who like more interaction with people. Offering either an open space with desks or private offices, coworking sites provide business services and equipment along with someone to have coffee with. For many, these sites have proven to be a location where it’s easier to be…

Applying for a job online requires making a strong case that you have the skills to do the job. Employers are most interested in hard skills, especially for more advanced positions. They also hope for soft skills, but need you to be able to complete the job duties. Nearly 40% of jobs are amenable to remote work. As an applicant, if you want to get a remote or hybrid position, you need to have verifiable hard skills in order to snag one. Of course, in an environment where your employer cannot offer mentoring experience in person, the technical skills you…