I recently saw Zappos offers employees $1,000 to leave. The idea is employees will quit if they are unhappy and use the money to go start their job search. I think this is brilliant. No disengaged workers on performance plan that drags out the termination process and drags down the employees around them. And yet, Zappos is the exception, not the norm. “We don’t want to risk them leaving.” Too late! A study came out recently that says 84% of workers plan to look for a new job in 2011. Another study came out that says job satisfaction is at a 23-year all-time low. And yet, I’ve talked to several HR executives recently who said they were reluctant to give their employees access to confidential career coaching. Their reason? They’ll be coached to leave us. Wow. So, you know they want to leave, studies show they want to leave, but instead of giving them resources that could potentially help them work through their frustrations and re-engage on the job, and you want to make sure they stay unhappy? Why are companies afraid of career coaching? Fact: Employees rarely share their frustrations with management or HR because they don’t want to risk getting in trouble or lowering their reputation. Instead, they vent to co-workers, family and friends. More importantly, they often take the misguided advice of these unqualified individuals and end up making the situation worse. Career coaching isn’t just about helping someone find a new job – we help people find love for their current job too! Executives are surprised to hear my first focus with an unhappy employee is to see what we can do to salvage the situation. Why? The employee has invested time and energy into building credibility in that company. Why waste valuable resources, relationships and experience? Starting over is a lot of work. I’d rather help the individual course-correct within their company. Now, if there is absolutely no way they can stay there, then yes, I will discuss how to find a new job, but I’ll also coach them on how to exit gracefully so they can keep the door open in the event they want to return some day. The fact is EVERY job is temporary. You just never know which employer may be worth going back to. Companies can’t guarantee jobs anymore. Why not give employees access to a resource that can prepare them should an unexpected lay-off or restructuring occur? Having worked with 100s of laid-off workers in the last few years, many complained of getting no outplacement services. The ones who did get them said they were outdated and ‘too little, too late.’ The results were some angry ex-employees who have made sure people know that their former employer treated them poorly. Companies have to recognize there are things they can do to help employees feel in control of their careers so that if their job ends, they can move on without blaming the company. Future Trend: Career HMO access at smart, talent-focused organizations will make recruiting easier. I believe companies as progressive as Zappos will adopt benefits that will help their employees see they are businesses-of-one who are responsible for their own career development. Accountability is an employee’s responsibility. That’s why organizations who offer services (i.e. a Career HMO) to help their employees develop their careers on their own terms will see great results. Think about it: Would you want to work for a company that is so confident in its corporate culture and treatment of staff it encourages them to work with professionals to get the guidance they need to stay happy and engaged? Hmmm. Sounds like a great place to work to me. So, what do you think? Would you want to work for a company that offered FREE access to career coaches via a Career HMO? What do you think will need to happen for companies to finally see the value of offering this as a benefit to current (and former) employees? I’d love it if you’d share your thoughts below. Photo credit: Shutterstock
There you are: sitting on the beach, covered in sunscreen, reading your favorite book, drinking your favorite drink under the cool shade of an umbrella. Life doesn't get any better than this. Suddenly, a door slams, a phone rings, a printer turns on. You jolt back into consciousness. You're at work, sitting in your cubicle, without even a hint of sunshine streaming in from outside.
When you're working a full-time job, finding time to enjoy the warm, bright summer weather can be a challenge. This is especially true for young professionals, as many of them are used to having summers off (or, at the very least, having a flexible summer schedule). But there's no need to feel trapped behind your cubicle walls. Go out and enjoy summer!
Here are a few tips for making the most of your summer while working full time.
1. Grab Some Foldable Chairs
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Keep a couple of foldable camping chairs at the office so you and a co-worker can catch some rays during lunch—whether it's in the park or the parking lot.
2. Keep A Beach Bag In Your Car
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Keep a bag full of summer supplies for your favorite summer activities. Having a bag (or, in my case, a backseat) full of towels, sunscreen, and swimwear keeps you prepared for anything. Friends hitting up the pool after work? You're covered. Once the clock strikes five, you can head to your destination of choice immediately.
3. Plan An Office Outing
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Plan an office field trip to the beach, the park, or the pool. Just do something fun so your brain can recharge and refresh!
4. Organize Group Walks
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Get a bunch of co-workers together and go on regular walks around town during lunch. (Or you could suggest a quick jaunt over to the ice cream shop.) This is a great way to get some fresh air, sunshine, and exercise.
5. Eat Lunch At The Park
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When you find yourself eating out, hit up places with a deck, porch, or patio of some sort. Obviously, eating out every day isn't really a feasible option for most of us, so look into alternative ideas as well. Pack a lunch and hit the park for your own little picnic.
6. Organize Office Sports
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Whether it's setting up an official office sports team or just hanging out with your colleagues a few times a week, playing sports is a great way to get out and enjoy the weather. Have a field nearby? Try setting up some slow-pitch softball games. Or see if you can get a basketball hoop for the office so you and a few co-workers can shoot some hoops at lunch.
7. Join A Professional Group
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During the summer, professional networking groups often have fun events like harbor cruises, pub crawls, and outdoor mixers. Find a professional group in your area and make networking fun this summer.
8. Have An Office BBQ
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Get your grill on! Talk to your boss about setting up an office BBQ. Ask everyone to contribute their favorite dish, side, or drink. Fire up the grill and relax! Hey, it's summer after all.
9. Wake Up Early
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Yes, yes, I know...waking up early is an incredibly painful and unbearable experience for some of us, but waking up even an hour earlier has its benefits—especially in the summer. Go for a morning run, putter around in the garden, or watch the sunrise with a loved one. Talk about starting the day off right!
10. Strategically Use Your Time Off
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Strategically use your vacation days around holidays. This way, you can make a potentially long weekend longer without having to use too much of your precious vacation time. Half days are also pretty awesome. It's amazing how much you can do with four extra hours! If you want an early weekend but don't want to burn up your vacation days too quickly, try taking a half day on a Friday instead of using a full day off.
11. Bike To Work
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If you're one of the lucky few who live within walking or biking distance of work, take advantage of it! Not only will you get plenty of fresh air, but you'll also save money on gas, which is always a plus!
There are plenty of easy ways to enjoy summer when you work a full-time job. So this summer, try out a few of these ideas and make the most of the sunshine and warm weather—while they're still around!
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