5 Ways to Minimize Holiday Stress

December 8, 2015January 18, 2016 Carol Irwin

Keep Holiday Stress under Control this December – 5 Ways to Minimize Holiday Stress

December is here and along with the festive atmosphere comes holiday stress. Holiday stress can effect everyone, even people who do not celebrate the holidays this time of year. It is hard to avoid the frantic pace, overcrowded restaurants, packed parking lots, gridlock on the streets, and congested shopping malls. There are many sources of holiday stress: credit card debit, end of year work demands, packed social calendar, lack of sleep, over indulgence of rich foods and alcohol, and even the anticipation of family gatherings can bring on the stress.

This year take some steps to minimize your holiday stress and enjoy the last month of 2015.

1. Calendar Crisis Management

Take charge of your calendar in December. Pick and choose the events that are most important and don’t feel guilty about turning down or rescheduling others to the new year. You will have a lot of affairs to balance: work deadlines, work events, family events, children’s parties, concerts, and pageants, and social gatherings with friends and neighbours. Be prepared, know yourself and don’t overbook. Some people are happy to be out every night of the week, while other people need downtime at home. There will be a lot of pressure on your time, so make sure you schedule time to relax and take time out to do the things you enjoy.

2. Money Matters and Credit Card Debit

A big part of holiday stress comes from overspending and credit card debit. Make a plan ahead of time and set a budget. Also be prepared for last minute invites that will require extra cash for gifts, dinner out, and drinks. Consider paying with your debit card or cash to keep control of your holiday spending. If you prefer to use your credit card, and don’t want to miss out on the chance to collect travel points, use a smart phone app track your receipts.

If your budget is limited this year, consider some of the alternative gift giving ideas below or plan your gift exchange in the new year and shop the sales in January.

3. Shopping – love it or hate it – December is the month of Retail Madness

If you love shopping, you may look forward to the crowds and the challenge of finding the perfect gift. For those that thrive on the holiday shopping frenzy, hit the shops early and often – enjoy! But if you dread the shopping mall, consider shopping local main street, craft shows or shop on-line from the comfort of your couch. Another option to is to plan a get-together in January or February and shop the January sales when things are less busy.

4. Alternative to Gift Giving

Many people are opting to reduce their holiday shopping and focus on simpler gift ideas. Getting together with family or friends to share time is one of the most important parts of the holiday season. Start a new holiday tradition that involves something you enjoy doing.

Some popular alternatives to gift giving include:

Tickets to an event, show, theatre, live music…
Home made gifts
Donations to charities
Host a food related event such as a pot luck, dinner party, wine and cheese, or cookie exchange – send everyone home with extras packed in take out containers
Organize a group of friends or work colleagues to volunteer at the local food bank or enter a walk, run, bike or other active charitable event
Get a group together and sponsor a family for the holidays
Collect donations of clothing, household items, furniture or cash for refugee families
If you love to read, pass on some of your favourite books (or book suggestions for the e-reader)
Offer your services to help someone out – dog walk, house sit, babysit, home repairs, ….
Host a “white elephant” gift exchange and have some laughs “stealing” gifts from each other

5. Don’t Forget to Take Care of Yourself

Try to schedule some time for your normal routine. Make time for exercise. Make sure you eat well in between parties and events. There will be lots of extra treats this month, so plan to eat some lighter meals on the evenings you are at home. Take time to do things you enjoy with your family or friends – watch a movie, go to see live theatre or music, attend a sporting event, or get active: go skating, rock climbing, swimming, play pick up hockey or basketball, bring the family on a walk with the dog, or plan a group run with friends. Tobogganing is not looking too promising in Southern Ontario this December, but the golf courses might still be open. Put on a smile and don’t let other people’s short tempers spoil your day. Enjoy the Holidays!

Thermostat Wars at Work – Employee Workplace Complaint – Office Temperature

November 17, 2015 Carol Irwin

Guess what the number one employee complaint is in most workplaces? The Office Temperature!

It’s too Hot… It’s too Cold…

It has been called the Thermostat Wars. Year after year employee surveys come back with a similar result – employees are not happy about the temperature in the office.

Office temperature should matter to employers as well, as it impacts worker productivity. If the office is too warm, everyone is sluggish and sleepy. If the office is too cold, people’s alertness soon turns to discomfort.

Adjusting the temperature to the ideal setting can be difficult. First, everyones ideal temperature varies a little and it varies enough to create the situation where some people will be comfortable while others will be uncomfortable. Second, office buildings have not been designed to easily regulate temperature. Older buildings heat up and cool down too slowly. Often taking several days to adjust to swings in the outdoor temperature. Newer buildings are often not much better than older buildings at temperature regulation – blasting freezing cold air by the vents and heating up like a sauna near windows. Third, we live in Canada where we experience alot of different weather throughout the year – 4 seasons and several days each summer and winter of extreme temperatures.

Is there a solution to the Thermostat Wars?

No there is not a perfect solution, but there are things employers and employees can do to manage office temperature.

Accept some discomfort – especially during extreme temperatures. Most of us do not break the bank heating and cooling our houses to the perfect temperature every day of the year. We live with a little discomfort. Your expectation at the office should be the same.
Dress appropriately for the weather both outside and inside the office.
Layer, layer, layer. Dress in layers so you can adjust as needed.
Keep a shall, scarf, blanket, sweater, vest or jacket at work to pull on and off as needed.
Some fabrics are better at helping you maintain an even temperature – natural fibers such as cotton, linen, and wool.
Use a heater or fan to supplement the building heating and air-conditioning.
When it is cold, get up from your chair and move around more frequently.
When it is hot, take a break outside for 5 to 10 minutes – when you come back inside it will feel cooler.
Warm drinks can help regulate the body temperature. Warm drinks work well in both cold and hot weather.
Drink plenty of water. Ice water is great in hot weather. Slightly chilled or room temperature water is good in cold weather.

Rudeness at Work is Contagious

November 10, 2015November 10, 2015 Carol Irwin

New Study shows Rudeness at Work is Contagious

Most of us have experienced a co-worker who was as prickly as a porcupine. These people are unpleasant to be around and over time their rude and negative behavior starts to impact our workday. A new study out this year in the Journal of Applied Psychology reports employees who witness or experience rude behavior at work are “more likely to be impolite in return, spreading rudeness like a virus”.

Share these tips in your workplace as a reminder of how small things like good manners can make a big difference to everyone’s workday.

10 Examples of rude workplace behaviours:

Refusing to acknowledge someone’s presence – have you ever passed by someone at work who looked right through you?
Refusing to make eye contact – it is not pleasant speaking to someone who can’t be bothered to look up or turn around to face you.
Making a “grumpy”, “scowling”, “frowning”, “don’t talk to me” face.
Eye rolling.
Interrupting.
Complaining – about the weather, traffic, the boss, the workload, the clients, and anything and everything else you can think of.
Slamming and banging – the phone, the door, the filing cabinet…
Swearing.
Muttering, grumbling or mumbling under their breath. You can’t quite hear what the person is saying but you know it is negative!
Snapping, snarling, or just plain mean spirited response – you get the answer to your question, but the person leaves you feeling like you should not have asked and don’t come back!

How can you avoid spreading rudeness? Try these common sense, good manners at work:

Always nod, smile or acknowledge people at work with a friendly greeting.
Face to face interaction is always preferred. When you make eye contact you show you are listening and interested.
Put on a happy face and maybe you will start to feel happier. As the saying goes – “fake it, til you make it”. Everyone has a bad day once in a while, but if your bad day goes on all week it will start to impact everyone around you and your productivity.
Discuss disagreements in a mature manner. Eye rolling is flat out disrespectful and childish.
Listen first. Then respond to what was said. Now it is your turn to make a point. Interruptions are inefficient. Often the person interrupting is not listening to others. This leads to frustration and poor communication.
Share good news stories and keep the bad news to yourself. Complaining is the adult version of whining.
Take a brisk walk outside to let off some steam. Slamming and banging things at work is negative and can be intimidating for others around you.
Keep your language “clean” most days of the week. Bad stuff happens and when it does you will need to let loose with some choice expletives.
If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all. If you have something to say, speak up so everyone can hear you.
Kindness goes a long way. Helping others feels good! If someone is coming to you to ask a question, clearly you have knowledge that is needed at your workplace. This is a good thing!

Will Robots Replace Your Workers?

November 3, 2015 Michael Caicco

There is no doubt the robots are coming. In many cases, the robots are already here. Will Robots Replace Your Workers?

Hidden between the headlines of a new Liberal government and the start of another season of NHL, has been the news that driverless cars are no longer a feat seen in movies, but a reality. Advocates say driverless cars could be ready to take over Canadian roads within four years! A leader in the tech world, Google Inc. has a fleet of a dozen computer-controlled vehicles, mostly Toyota Priuses, equipped with self-driving technology that have logged almost 483,000 kilometres without an accident.

This is only the most recent in a flurry of everyday activities that can be easily taken over by artificial intelligence and robotics. The growth of the technology industry and the innovation that continues to make what we saw on the Jetsons, a reality, has a definite effect on the employment market. In the last several decades we have seen manufacturing jobs disappear and be replaced by automation. ATMs and self-serve check outs have reduced the need for bank associates and store clerks and virtual assistants are available to answer phones 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Experts predict robots will take over 30% of our jobs by 2025 — and white-collar jobs aren’t immune.

The influence of artificial intelligence and robotics has seeped into other areas of the workforce including legal, financial, medical, marketing and other business services. Software applications can take big data in the legal, medical, and financial industries and using algorithms provide tools for analyzing and predicting behavior and even making a medical diagnosis. Certain news outlets are now automatically generating news reports; anesthesiologists can now be replaced by Doctor supervised machines; and innovative new start-ups have created software that will predict which email subject lines will get the best response.

Although experts agree that robots will play a significant role in our economy, some argue that they will create more jobs and others worry that they could lead to income inequality and societal breakdown.

Some industry experts, who believe that robotics and artificial intelligence will help us, predict that an economic boom could result from the large reduction in business labour costs. This in turn would lead to the creation of new jobs in large numbers; with a premium being placed on the value of work that requires “uniquely human capabilities”.

On the other end of the spectrum there are those who believe the increase in robotic technology will negatively influence the workforce. They argue that the benefits would only be felt by the wealthy, those who are already in an influential position in society. Unemployment would increase exponentially; as people are laid off and replaced by cheaper labour provided by a robot.

We can expect that most jobs that are dirty, dangerous, and repetitive will eventually disappear. Now that technology has become more sophisticated and computers can perform higher levels of cognitive tasks we can also expect many more careers to change or be replaced in the near future.

There is no doubt that robots are coming. In many cases, the robots are already here. The question now is what does this mean for the Canadian workforce? What are your thoughts – how has technology changed or replaced jobs in your organization?

Read more in a recent article in Business Insider.

Listening – Workplace Communication Problems

October 20, 2015October 20, 2015 Audra Sayn-Wittgenstein 2 Comments

Better listening can improve workplace communication problems.

To communicate well and wisely, sometimes employees need a little coaching. Work is full of distractions, different personalities and challenging situations. It can be hard to hear and absorb everything that is going on in the workplace. Helping employees better focus and understand how to behave during interactions with others can result in positive outcomes like better staff and client relations and more productive work.

People watch, listen and express themselves when communicating by using personal tools like body language, voice volume & tone, and facial expressions. A smile, a calm voice and a non-threatening stance are powerful things when trying to deliver a message effectively. Managers should reinforce with staff the importance of taking the time to listen and observe attentively when some one is talking.

Training should focus on what to do and listen for when interacting with others. With minimal cost, employers can help staff develop listening skills and improve communication. Role playing activities or videos can help individuals become more aware of how poor listening can negatively impact others during conversations.

The easy to remember customer service acronym – H E A T – can also be a helpful training tool to improve communication skills at work.

H – Hear the person

Just listen. Don’t interrupt or rush the person.
In your own words, “re-state” what you think is the problem.
Acknowledge feeling of anger or distress. Try to truly understand the speaker’s concern.
Make sure you have privacy and personal space, if necessary.

E – Empathize – analyze the situation.

Don’t argue or personalize the issue (it is not about you).
If the person is angry, politely ask them to calm down so you can help.
If the person repeats their concern several times say “I think that I understand the problem well enough now. Let’s find a solution”.
Be respectful and treat them as an equal.

A – Apologize – If a problem exists say, “I’m very sorry to hear this”.

Providing an apology does not imply guilt. You are simply acknowledging their feelings.
If the person misunderstands your intentions, say ‘I’m sorry that I wasn’t clear enough. I would like to help. Let try this again”.

T – Try to Resolve – develop an action plan.

Take action and say “What can we do to resolve this?” “How can we work together?”
Educate them so they understand. Perhaps they just “didn’t know”. Confirm they understand.
Don’t make promises you can’t keep & be realistic with time lines .
Don’t speak for other departments or offices.

Many simple training methods can be used to fix communication problems at work. Talk is cheap but potentially damaging for businesses if it isn’t done well. It is important employers observe and listen to interactions in the workplace and take action to develop communication skills among staff.

Impact of the Decreasing Canadian Dollar on the Workforce 2015

October 6, 2015January 4, 2017 Michael Caicco

Decreasing Canadian Dollar – What is the Impact on the Workforce? Despite the dismal dollar the workforce in most areas of Canada has maintained its stability.

The Canadian dollar has been on a steady decline for the past year. It began late in 2013 and continues today. In recent weeks, the Canadian dollar briefly dropped to its lowest level since July 2004, changing hands at 74.88 cents U.S. Despite the dismal dollar the workforce in most areas of Canada has maintained its stability. Although the oil and energy sector in Alberta has seen significant declines, other industries including those in research and innovation, and other science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) related careers, have continued to grow.

The low Canadian dollar is expected to benefit Canadian exporters as it will lead to lowered prices on Canadian exports. This in turn may lead to an increase in demand for Canadian exports in key export destinations, including the U.S. Higher demand for exports would be beneficial for the export-oriented industries, including the manufacturing sector which is vital for Ontario’s economy. The increased demand may also cause an increase in production in industries that are export focused, that may lead to expansion and higher employment in these industries.

For STEM careers, the demand continues to be high. A decreasing dollar puts more pressure on industries driven by innovation to step up to the plate. During the worst economic times, companies based in innovation and scientific creativity are the ones that rise above to achieve success. As the saying goes, if you can survive during economic crisis than you are on the road to unlimited success.

Overall, the depreciating Canadian dollar will have different effects on various sectors of the economy. While the export-oriented sector will probably receive a boost, it may increase the cost of living for Canadians, especially for those in the lower and middle income groups. Also, the overall effect of the declining loonie would depend on how much the dollar depreciates and for how long it remains depressed. That being said, the Canadian workforce remains in good condition and should be able to ride this wave of uncertainty with limited disruptions.