Are they talking Politics at Work?

  Most of us grew up with the addage – never discuss politics or religion at work. The reason for this is very simple – both are very personal. Both, mostly, are passed down from our parents and are philosophies we grew up with. If you have ever disagreed with someone about their politics you […]

Stop? Pause? Go?

Traffic lights

After preparing for six months by analyzing work schedules, reviewing budgets, and staffing requirements to comply with the new overtime requirements, a Federal Judge in Texas has placed a Temporary Injunction on the new rules. December 1st was the date the new Department of Labor regulations were to take effect. As discussed in You Have 30 […]

Find the Calm When They Leave

Keep Calm and Keep Going poster. Classic red poster with crown.

We have all had it happen. We have that great employee, the one who does a great job, communicates, and the everyone enjoys working with. Then one day they come into your office for a “chat”. What you thought would be a quick discussion on the latest project or what happened in the sporting world […]

You Have 30 Days – Are You Ready?

OVERTIME red Rubber Stamp over a white background.

Everyone has been talking about it for months and based on the conversations I have been having over the last couple of weeks, it is still catching people by surprise. The Department of Labor (DOL) has made a major change that is affecting businesses and their employees. On December 1st the criteria for determining if […]

Recruiting Lesson from the Cubs

Baseball on Field. Closeup

Here in Chicago Cubs Fever is at full pitch.  Yes, it has been 108 years since the Cubs have made it to a World Series and it’s probably been that long since Cub fans (me included) have been saying “There’s always next year.”  This year looks like the year, that sounds a little hesitant as […]

What’s the Real Problem?

Question mark, Question words cloud business concept

I have a tendency to mix up sayings or get them backwards. I’m talking about things like “An apple a day will keep the doctor away” or “Measure twice and cut once”.  I like to use them to make a point or to give an example, so you would think I could actually remember them. […]

I have finally conceded

I hate to admit it, but it’s true – I can be stubborn. Yes the dig in your heels and not move stubborn. Well, there is some good news to this as well, I have become less so over the years, especially in my time as an entrepreneur. If you would have told me even […]

Be Myself, He Said

A matched pair of draft horses

I’m sitting in a workshop about marketing at a hotel by the airport. It took me longer to get here than expected thanks to the rain. Why do people drive so slow in the rain? It’s very frustrating. Anways, Dave, the gentleman giving the presentation, tells us to be ourselves when we write, we need […]

Positive Daily Code of Conduct – Do you have one?

I had the pleasure of hearing Linda Deering, the President of Advocate Sherman Hospital speak on “Outstanding Leadership is a Choice”. It was a marvelous presentation on the choices we make as leaders and the effects on others. She shared something that they have and use at the hospital which frankly I thought was brilliant […]

Pokemon Go lessons to improve your Employee Relations

Augmented Reality Flat Vector Illustration. Smartphone Game. Hand Holding Mobile Phone with Online Gaming. Geolocation and Traveling around the World. Landscape, Mountains.

No, this isn’t about your people taking a long lunch to find and capture Pokemon’s and the drain on productivity. This is about the evolution of Pokemon and how it compare to the evolution of employee relations. Pokemon started in 1996 as a video game, then trading cards, a tv series, graphic novels and now […]