Happy Hour Archives - hr bartender

Remembering the Importance of Memorial Day

May 28, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Tomorrow is Memorial Day in the United States. Memorial Day commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in military service. I’d like to think that almost every country has their own version of Memorial Day, even if they don’t recognize it this weekend.

For Americans, this long weekend will probably be involving grilling, watching the basketball playoffs, and hanging out with friends. Mr. Bartender and I are going to check out the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. But during the course of our time off, please join us and take a moment to reflect on the significance of this national holiday.

The United States exists because our ancestors were willing to go to battle for our independence. And, we are able to openly complain express our views about our economy, our government, etc. because people have and continue to defend our basic freedoms.

Regardless of your political opinions, Memorial Day is about honoring and paying our respects to the people who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

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Thank You and Happy 2017 from #HR Bartender

December 29, 2016 by Sharlyn Lauby

Thank you for being a HR Bartender reader and for sharing HR Bartender with your contacts on social media. I can’t begin to tell you how much it means to me.

Thank you to all the people who send me questions and comments. I wish that I could answer them all! But I’m honored that you have confidence in my ability to respond and hope I don’t disappoint. And many thanks to the attorneys, consultants, and professionals who help me with answers to your questions. Your generosity is amazing.

I’d like to thank the companies that sponsor and advertise on HR Bartender. It’s beyond wonderful to work with you and learn about your products and services. Your partnership is valued by me and this community.

Mr. Bartender and I look forward to the adventures that 2017 will bring and hope your holidays are nothing short of awesome. Cheers!

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Happy Holiday from HR Bartender

December 23, 2016 by Sharlyn Lauby

Mr. Bartender and I wish you all the very best of the holiday season. For those readers who celebrate Christmas, here’s one of my favorite Christmas songs.

Holiday Cheers to All!

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Quick Shots for #HR and #Business Pros – Summer Fun Edition

July 22, 2016 by Sharlyn Lauby

I saw “Back to School” ads over the weekend and thought to myself, “How can school be starting again?! It just ended!” Reminds me of when I was on summer vacation as a kid. So I’m dedicating this post to the kid in all of us.

“Winter is coming.” Before you know it, our opportunities to venture outside and enjoy the weather will be limited. I loved this reminder from Lifehacker on the “Top 10 Ways to Get out of the House and Make New Friends” and this one from Philly.com on “6 Things to Recharge Your Summer Fitness Routine.”

Last week, Mr. Bartender and I took a little time off and returned to Pokémon Go fever. Have you joined the craze? It is possible the Pokémon Go can teach us a few things about business while having fun at the same time. Check out:

What Pokémon Go Taught Me About Talent Management
Pokémon Go: The Candidate-Catching Cliché for Recruiters
30 Day Brainstorm Challenge Day 5: Pokémon Go, Go, Go
Pokémon Go Your Employees to Better Health

Adult coloring books are still a “thing.” I’ve seen a few articles lately about adult coloring book clubs and a global pencil shortage. If you’re looking for a few new coloring books, consider these:

The Wynwood District in Miami is known as an art mecca. It has over 70 galleries, museums, and collections. The artist community came together to create the Wynwood Coloring Book, showcasing their unique vibe.

Last year, I introduced you to Free Period Press. Well, they have a new coloring book out titled, “You Got This: A Mantra Coloring Book.”

Want something a little different? “The Inspired Room Coloring Book” allows you to practice your decorating skills and color at the same time.

So how are you spending what’s left of summer? Tell us in the comments.

Image taken by Sharlyn Lauby at a local Poke Stop

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Quick Shots for #HR and #Business Pros – Conference Networking Edition

May 26, 2016 by Sharlyn Lauby

Next month is the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM) Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. Besides being a great educational event, it’s a huge networking opportunity. On the education side, there will definitely be the latest info on the U.S. Department of Labor’s new ruling about the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA.) That alone is worth the cost of admission.

Oh, and P.S. If you’re not registered for SHRM Annual, please note that registration rates go up after tomorrow so don’t delay! It would be great to see you there.

To really make the most of the networking opportunities, you have to plan. If you want to learn more about the strategic aspects of networking, pick up a copy of “Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi. It’s an easy read and it will help focus your efforts. If you have an older copy (like me), the book was recently updated. During conferences, it’s easy to lose track of time, so schedule some meetings and leave some blocks of time open for last-minute things.

One of the most popular ways to network is over beverages. In fact, some people are setting goals to have XX number cups of coffee during events. That’s one way to approach networking. But if you’re just trying to figure out what works best for you, check out this article from The Muse about the “9 Questions You Have About Coffee Meetings but Were Afraid to Ask.” I think the everyone should read the first question about reaching out to strangers – especially in today’s digital society.

Finally, I would be totally remiss if I didn’t put in a little plug for my book “Essential Meeting Blueprints for Managers.” One of the chapters is dedicated to the networking meeting. It covers everything from using networking meetings to find a job to networking at social events.

Got a networking tip? Let us know what works for you in the comments.

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Super Bowl Sunday Leads to Sick Day Monday [infographic] – Friday Distraction

February 5, 2016 by Sharlyn Lauby

This weekend is the Super Bowl between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers. The game is expected to draw at least 100 million viewers, making it one of the most watched events in U.S. television.

Even if you don’t like football, the Super Bowl has built a reputation for its commercials (be sure to check out this one with Helen Mirren,) and its excuse for eating junk food (here are the stats to prove it.) The Super Bowl is also famous for employees calling in sick either the day of or the day after.

According to a survey commissioned by The Workforce Institute at Kronos, an estimated 16.5 million U.S. adults may miss work the day after the big game. What I found interesting was, of that number, 10.5 million will have planned the day off in advance. The rest are planning to call in sick on Monday morning.

Oh, and that doesn’t include the 7.5 million who won’t call in sick but they’ll show up late. You can read the entire survey here.

It’s no wonder that in the past there’s been a movement to declare Super Bowl Monday a national holiday. Don’t believe me? Here’s the petition. Until that day happens, organizations have to find ways to let employees enjoy the game and not compromise the business. Here are some things to consider:

Get in the spirit. If employees have to work over the weekend, is there a way for them to enjoy the festivities? Maybe it’s letting employees wear football jerseys. Or having lunch brought in. Or putting a TV in the breakroom.

Be flexible. Not all companies are able to do this, but is it possible to give employees some scheduling flexibility so they don’t have to call in sick or late?

Communicate expectations. Let employees know what they can do. Tell them the goal is to have fun but get the work done.

Organizations, managers and employees all want the same thing – have fun, enjoy the game, and get the work done. Create an experience in which everyone can participate.

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