A job wish list is an important step in the job search process that helps you organize your thoughts and reflect on where you would fit best. From the job itself to company culture, knowing if the move is aligned with your career goals, will make the road map look more desirable. Here are some tips on creating that wish list!

Identify your long term and short term goals

Start your job wish list with your goals. Where are you now and where would you want to be in the next few years? How can your next move bring you closer to your goals? Imagine yourself in your ideal position, what does it look like? Be realistic and set SMART goals, where should your next job take you?

Decide what you want/don’t want in a job

What do you enjoy doing most? Think how your skills and experience can be utilized in new innovative ways. Do flex work times matter to you? How far are you willing to commute? Do you like to spend most of your time alone or in a team? Do the office layout and team structure impact your daily functions? Think it through and answer the questions with honesty. Ask yourself the most challenging questions that you have possibly avoided.

Think about the companies/industries you want to work for

Are there some companies you want/ don’t want to work for? Do you have insights on why you like/don’t like them? List those which you would love to see yourself at. Broaden your list based on the criteria that other companies might meet. Research the companies, look them up online, ask your network, be cautious of biased comments.  

Set your salary expectations

Your wish list is incomplete without factoring compensation in. What range is your current salary in? Do you receive bonuses? What benefits do you have? Are you expecting a raise in the near future? Do you want to be at a lateral/higher range? Don’t set the bar lower than what is acceptable to you. 

Creating a job wish list that is well thought will help you figure out what matters to you in priority and what you want in a job. You don’t want the regret of making a wrong decision overcome the excitement of finding a new opportunity. So get the pen and paper ready and jot down what’s on your mind.

 

 

Want to read more? check out this amazing read from Forbes for more ways to discover what your desired job looks like.

Every company faces the impact of employee absence, but some minimize it by taking proactive steps. Your company can be one of them!

The impact of absence and absenteeism is directly proportional to company bottom line. By implementing certain cultures and procedures, it’s possible to positively affect the absence levels.

Attendance tracking systems

Start by keeping track of employee absence. Having a system that shows employee absence patterns, will help managers deal with employees in a fair and consistent manner. It will also help a company distinguish between those employees that may need further support regarding ongoing personal issues. Making the system transparent and giving access to all employees via company intranet can further help by sharing standards that are expected of them and reduce the chances of employees using lack of accessibility as an excuse as to why they failed to follow the policy.

Wellness Programs

Employee wellness programs have been proven to be one of the most effective ways to create a happy and healthy work environment which will positively impact productivity. Effective wellness programs help keep people fit, induce engagement and provide a topic of conversation without making anyone feel pressured into taking part, all of which results in lower unplanned absences and organizational productiveness. Some wellness program ideas include:

• On-site fitness center and trainer, Walking or running club
• Mindfulness classes
• Stretch breaks
• Team sports (Volleyball, basketball etc)
• Book discussion breaks
• Team outings
• Ergonomic education and training

Flexible work times

For those type of jobs where possible, it is worth offering flexible work schedules or opportunities to work from home. Employees would enjoy flexibility to meet family and personal needs and obligations conveniently, spend less time commuting, reduce fuel costs and have more control over schedule and work environment. Employers would likely experience all or some of these benefits:

• Increased employee engagement and productivity
• Reduced turnover of valued staff
• Improved image as an employer of choice

Paid time off

Another good idea to help alleviate absenteeism is paid time off. Some Mondays, Fridays and days around national sporting events or public holidays seem to be popular days for unplanned absences. Being aware of these popular days makes it easier to budget for paid time off and unplanned absences.

Future planning

Positive reinforcement simply works, and this is no exception. Rewarding good attendance rather than punishing employees for absence -which is found to be counterproductive- not only encourages employees to clock in every day and compete in a healthy positive environment but also reduces issues that come with presenteeism. As well, professionally conducted health risk assessment on a regular basis provides vital information that help prepare workplaces to deal with absence. Besides, it promotes care, welfare and well-being of employees with positive thinking and shared responsibility with equal concern for all.

Even with all these policies implemented, if employees do not feel secure communicating with management, both employers and employees are less likely to benefit from the results. Making efforts to put employee at ease, showing empathy and encouraging them to be open and honest about their needs and concerns can help understand the situation they’re in and build the trust between employee and management.

 

 

 

 

 

We may all agree that legitimate sick days can’t be helped, but what about the more questionable absences? Apparently, some employees think being sick isn’t good enough excuse, so they get a little more creative.

Here for your amusement are, some of the funniest excuses people have used to call in sick that aren’t necessarily lies — but they’re certainly odd and sound suspicious.

 

1. I used hair removal on my face and my face swelled up.

 

2. An employee calls in and says she can no longer go to work for 7am.  When asked why, she states she has headaches and that her doctor said she was getting up too early and not getting enough sleep.  The employers asked what time she was getting to bed and the employee stated “1 am in the morning”.

 

3. An employee shows up to work in a bottling company. After an hour of work the employee goes to the H.R. department and says “I cannot work here, I am allergic to water”

** Are humans not made up of 97% water???

 

4. Employee called in to work first thing in the morning. “I cannot go to work today, I had my teeth ripped out and I burnt my hand on the stove.

 

Oh, how’s your hand.

 

5. Employee calls into her work. “I cannot go to work today, my husband is sick, his hand really hurts”

How old is your husband???

 

6. At 7am an employee calls his place of work and leaves this message “I cannot work today, I am on my way to the hospital to have surgery on my penis”.

 

Enlargement or shrinkage?

 

 

7. Prospective employer calls an employee offering employment. “Hello April, we would like to offer you some work with our company, you would be starting today at 4pm.  Employee: Great, I’m very excited and looking forward to it.

….10minutes after the phone call…. “Hi, this is April, I will not be able to start work.

Employer: “Oh why”

Employee:  I phoned home and told my mother I had a job.  She said, that’s great.  But your younger brother is going to jail, so pack up all your stuff and head home”

 

8. Employment agency calls up an individual to offer work.  Employee states: “Some days I won’t feel like working, so if a job is not flexible, there’s no point.”

 

 

9. I can’t go to work today; the garbage bag fell on my hand.

 

 

10. I can’t go to work because I haven’t bathed for 9 days and I have to take a bath today.

 

Yes, please take a bath.

 

11. Employee calls work to explain why she is not at work. “I couldn’t go to work because I have gonorrhea.”

 

12. I can’t go to work today because I have Diarrhea.

 

13. Employee calls the office stating, “I cannot go to work anymore.” Employer asks why not and the employees replies, “I just came from the doctor’s and it is determined that I am paranoid.”