9 awesome work situations to get excited about

9 awesome work situations to get excited about9 awesome work situations to get excited aboutWe all want to be compensated well at ur jobs. But, as we covered in our previous post, work can make us miserable even with a fat paycheck.There are workplace situations that, for some, come by so rarely that they are worth their weight in gold, and they have nothing to do with the salary These are the things that make any person wake up excited to go into work and mora likely to work harder to perform their best.Before you only look at the pay and number of vacation days when mulling over a job offer or even if youre decently content at your job and are just curious check out these 9 awesome work situations that make you say YES.Team bondingGoing to work every day is more fun if you like your co-workers. And having friendly, interesting people working alongside you is a nice bonus in the workplace and makes a dramatic difference in job satisfaction. Being able to bond with people who have similar personalities and who are nice and funny can make even a boring job more colorful and enjoyable and ranks up there as one of the best things to have at work.Crushing a projectAhead of schedule. Under budget. Greater return on investment than expected. All of these are what we crave to hear. Nothing makes a dedicated employee who has given their all more excited than knowing the project theyve been working on is a rousing success When it happens, it pays to enjoy it to the fullest extent.Invitations to playSome companies sponsor an employee baseball or basketball team, while others have scheduled bowling nights, pool tournaments, and bridge games. If your company gives employees an opportunity to have fun and play, you can feel confident that youre an integral part of the company AND that your company understands that friendly competition is a great boost to employee morale. Another bonus? Youve been woven into the company culture along with your co-workers. CongratsParty at the bosss houseMost of the time, an employees interaction with their superior is at work under professional boundaries. Getting a chance to throw some burgers on the grill and chill out with the big kahuna is a fantastic opportunity. With a more relaxed vibe, you can show your personality and get to know him or her better without the constraints of normal work hours and stressful deadlines.Workspace ZenAmple room for your desk and laptop close to your team members promotes collaboration and creativity. As does interesting wall art, nice use of color, comfortable furniture and even the presence of pets at work. The work environment has A LOT of impact on creativity and stress management, so keep an eye out for intentional ways a company makes life better for employees through the work environment itself.Appreciation inspirationEveryone wants to feel appreciated for job well done. Extra bonuses, employee awards, recognition lunches, and other special perks for giving 110% are importan t to an employees morale and overall job satisfaction. Your boss showing appreciation with a $10 gift card or a note of thanks goes a long way toward feeding your fire to jump the next hurdleBodacious brainstormingWhile long, unproductive meetings make us pull out our hair, a burst of creativity has the opposite effect. When teams come together and bounce ideas around until one of them formulates into a plan, everyone involved gets excited. Figuring out a way to shave a percentage off of a costly process, nailing a branding message, or figuring out a way to serve clients better has us all pumping our fists and yelling YESFamily picnicsCompanies that fosters a culture of caring about and considering their workers personal lives deserve a big hearty YES. Employees who get to know their coworkers spouses and kids benefit from feeling like they are part of a big company family. Periodic picnics where family members are included, along with other family-friendly activities and events enr ich the work experience and build stronger team bonds.Philanthropic participationWe spend most of our time with co-workers actually AT work, so its a treat when we get to change it up. Its an awesome day when a manager says lets go make a difference in the community Whether its serving the hungry in a soup kitchen, building a playground, or walking in a race to raise money, giving back to community charities makes everyone feel good.Choosing where to work is a big decision and your answer shouldnt be only because of the salary involved. By asking probing questions you will be able to learn more about the way your daily life would unfold as a company employee. These 9 work situations would make your life happier and more productive, and help you say YES to your career.This article was originally published on Kununu.com.

Family Medical Leave Act FAQs

Family Medical Leave Act FAQsFamily Medical Leave Act FAQsThe Family Medical Leave Act, or FMLA as its often referred to, can be terribly complex and therefore many people do elend take advantage of this important employee benefit. With the amount of misinformation thats out there, it can be difficult to find the right answers. Here, weve compiled some of the top things that you may not know about FMLA, so you can be a more informed employee and take an approved leave when you need it the most. Is FMLA Paid Time Off? No, and yes. While the Family Medical Leave Act provides job-protected leave for a period of time for eligible employees, this time off may or may not be paid by the employer. This all depends on if the employee is entitled to paid time off through their individual employers. For example, an employee may be eligible for 21 days of paid time off each yearbut has used 4 days of this for personal reasons. Therefore, the employee may use his or her remaining paid time of f of 17 days (or 136 hours) during the time of the FMLA leave period. The remaining time off is unpaid, so the employee will need to have other resources during this time, such as an automatic savings account or a spouses income. Do I Get Paid While on FMLA? During an approved FMLA period, your employer is not obligated to pay you wagesbut is required to continue all your other benefits, such as health insurance, retirement benefits, and profit sharing. Your job is protected and you are guaranteed that it (or an equal job) will be waiting for you when you return to work again. As stated above, you are eligible to use any earned paid time off during your FMLA leave, so you should be able to support yourself using other financial resources once the PTO ends. How Do I Become Eligible for FMLA? To get approved for an FMLA, first, your company must meet certain criteria, also known as a covered employer. This means your employer must have at least 50 or more employees working w ithin a 75-mile radius. So, even if your employer has 200 employees, but only 49 work at five brand offices separated by 75 miles or more, you could be turned down for an FMLA. However, most employers will still offer an FMLA, and there are state and county laws that can make you eligible. Second, you must also have worked at least 12 months (they dont have to be consecutive), and for at least 1250 hours (around 24 hours per week). Note that you cannot count periods of unemployment of 7 years or more in between. Certain employees who work in aerospace and for public agencies and schools are required to work fewer hours to become eligible. How and When Do I Request an FMLA? Its very important to notify your human resource department as soon as you know you need to use your FMLA benefit. In fact, you are required to provide at least a 30-day written notice to take an FMLA leave, or it may be refused by your employer. In the case of an unexpected event, like an accident or illness of a child or spouse, you may need to provide medical documentation to request this leave and get it approved. Your employer must give you an answer within five geschftliches miteinander days of your initial request for an FMLA leave. Is FMLA the Same as Short-Term Disability? No, while an FMLA is similar to taking time off for other reasons, its not the same as short-term disability. An FMLA is designed for the purposes of allowing an employee to care for the birth or annahme an kindes statt of a new child, a seriously ill spouse or family member, or a close family member who is an injured active military member. A short-term disability leave is designed to take care of a personal injury or illness of oneself for a medically approved period of time. How Long Can You Miss Work on an FMLA? Typically, the length of time that you may be eligible for an FMLA is up to 12 job-protected weeks, with some approved up to 18 weeks (for military personnel). But how long you decide to ta ke an FMLA is up to you and your spouse if he or she also plans to take a leave. For example, a new father may decide to take 3 weeks off, while his wife takes the full 12 weeks off from work to recover after childbirth. Is FMLA Medical Leave Pay? Again, an FMLA is not designed as a way to recover from a medical need due to an injury or extended illness, nor is it a form of insurance. Medical leave pay is an employee benefit that is extended to some employees. If the injury or illness is as a result of some work event or accident, then the medical leave is generally covered under a workers compensation insurance claim processand could be for many weeks or months depending on the progress of recovery. Can Both Parents Take an FMLA? Yes, in most cases both. This all depends on if both parents employers are covered employers under FMLA law and if they have worked the required number of hours and months to qualify. For example, the new mom may work for a covered employer and hav e worked the required number of months and hours before requesting the FMLA. The dad may have worked for a covered employer, but since he just started his job 4 months ago, he cannot take the FMLA. If both parents are eligible, they should notify their employers and request the leave as soon as they know they need the time off. What Conditions Are Covered Under FMLA? An FMLA leave is intended for specific purposes when an employee needs to take an extended period of time off. These conditions includepregnancy or adoption of a new child, the placement of a child in adoption, the serious illness and medical care of a spouse, child, step-child, foster child, parent, or other legal dependents. The FMLA also covers close family members of in injured active duty military person, so a parent may take care of an adult child or an employee may care for a cousin. What Happens If I Cannot Come Back to Work from an FMLA? This is a concern that many have when it comes to an FMLA leave. W hy? Because the recovery period or certain complications may extend beyond an approved 12 to 18 weeks of leave. While this is rare, employees must do their best to work this out with their employer as soon as they know they may need more time off. In some cases, an FMLA extension may be granted by an employer for a valid reason, or the employer may ask the employee to work at least part-time or from home during this time. Likewise, you can also come back to work sooner if you desire. What Agency Enforces FMLA If I Have a Problem? Sometimes, problems and questions come up when on an FMLA approved leave. The US Department of Labor is the government agency that enforces FMLA, therefore if you cannot get answers from your employer or if you believe you have been denied a leave but are eligible, you can contact your state division of this agency. Companies that fail to follow FMLA guidelines are subject to stiff fines and penalties. If you have more questions, you can download a free Employees Guide to FMLA as offered by the Department of Labor.

WOB Contract Opportunities for Women in Construction

WOB Contract Opportunities for Women in ConstructionWOB Contract Opportunities for Women in ConstructionWhen President Obama signed the economic stimulus package into law in 2009, one of the side benefits to female entrepreneurs was increased opportunities for women-owned construction businesses. It sounds wonderful on the surface, but opportunities simply means more construction jobs that women can bid on - the same jobs male-owned businesses can also bid on. If you guessed that male-owned/run businesses still get the lions share of all federal government contracts youd guess correctly.It is not due to a lack of women-owned businesses (WOBs) in construction, in fact, the number of heavy construction companies owned by women is steadily on the rise. In 1994 Congress passed legislation that requires the federal government to award a minimum of 5% of all government-wide contracts to certified women-owned businesses.By 2015, more than 20 years after the mandate, that 5% had never been met even once. Even with existing guidelines, contract fulfillment quotas for WOBs, and anti-discrimination laws, theFederal government still fails to target or award many qualified women-owned businesses (WOBs) with any government contracts in hundreds of industries, but local governments often encourage women construction business owners to bid on contracts. Leveling the Playing Field Penny Pompei, executive director of Women Construction Owners and Executives, a national organization, said work still needs to be done to level the playing field.A 2012 interview by Lee Fehrenbacher shared reasons why she thinks WOB construction companies still face major challenges I think the biggest problem is public perception, she said.Pompei said that people often think of women-owned construction companies as small painting or landscaping contractors.If you tell them that women-owned construction companies build bridges and airports and high-rise buildings, and we have manufacturing compa nies that make the curtain wall systems that are used in high-rises thats where the surprise is, she said. Its the perception that women dont own major companies, when the reality is we have our fingers in everything. Local Governments Encourage WOBs in the Construction Industry Local governments (state, county, city) are more concerned with discrimination lawsuits than the federal government and often have initiatives that require a certain percentage of construction work be awarded to women business owners or subcontracted through WOBs. These initiatives may even require officials to solicit bids from women entrepreneurs actively. But to qualify, your business needs to be certified as a women-owned business enterprise, and in most cases, appear in the Central Contractor Registry. What is the Central Contractor Registry? The Small geschftliches miteinander Administration (SBA) maintains a database called the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). The CCR is a massive listing of co mpanies that wish to do business with the U.S. Federal Government. Any company or organization that wishes to do business with the U.S. Federal Government must first be registered in the CCR.What is Small Business Certification? Certification of a small business is a review process that gives formal acknowledgment that the business is owned and operated by a qualifying person, which is under-represented in an industry. Not all businesses can receive certification. Self-Certification of Women-Owned Businesses. Federal law permits first-time women bidders on government contracts to self-certify if they meet certain conditions of being a women-owned business. However, this self-certification can be challenged upon procurement award. If this happens, the procuring agency may request proof of the firms WOB status, or even require certification. If you fail to comply, you could lose the award. Resources and Support for Women-Owned Construction Businesses Here are three organizations s pecifically of interest to women entrepreneurs in the construction business National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) This organization lists networking, apprenticeships, allows members to post job resumes, and offers a variety of scholarships and educational opportunities to women in the construction industry.Women Contractors Association (WCA) This organization offers monthly networking events, and a variety of opportunities and resources for women business owners and executives to learn more about growing their construction industry-related businesses.Women Construction Owners and Executives, USA (WCOE) This organization supports and advocates for women business owners in the construction industry. Resources DJC Oregon, Women-Owned Construction Firms on the Rise Despite Public Perception.