6 ways to be comfy-cozy when you travel

6 ways to be comfy-cozy when you travel6 ways to be comfy-cozy when you travelYou may have heard rumors about how to get an upgrade on your flight - people say its all about how you look. Youre not going to get a chance at the first-class upgrade if you look like a disheveled mess. But at the same time, that first-class flugticket isnt worth wearing high heels and pearls to the airport. So here are five tips for being comfy-cozy on a plane, even on your most travel-worn day, that dont leave you looking like a total slob.1. Wear all black.Black clothes are chic. Its the easiest way to look completely put together while not actually putting major effort into an outfit. A monochrome black look will negate any travel muss - because you cant be a slob in black on black on black.2. Bring a big scarf.If youre lucky enough to get a blanket for your flight, its usually pretty coarse and decidedly not cozy. But thankfully, gigantic scarves are available at any store near you and they are bas ically blankets. Wear it through the airport, stuff it in a purse and then spread it out in your seat for ultimate comfiness.3. Choose flexible shoes.So there are mixed reviews on folks taking off their shoes on airplanes. Some people are pro, some people are anti and some people are literal devils who chill barefoot in the seat next to you, wiggling their toes for the entirety of a transatlantic flight. You can avoid the sock shenanigans by choosing flexible, breathable flats or even slippers or moccasins for your flight shoe.4. Do your hair.You dont have to curl it. You dont have to straighten it. But do something with your hair. Braids are great for travel since theyll keep your hair out of your face for the flight and look super cute in transit. Theyll also save you the trip to the bathroom post-flight to make sure youre not a giant bedhead.5. Trade tights for wide-legged pants.Culottes and palazzo pants are your friends for flights if youre worried about wearing leggings. Certa in destinations arent accustomed to the leggings-as-pants life (although, personally, we love that life). Some nice, loose, wide-legged pants will save your legs the bother of jeans while also giving your skin room to breathe on a long flight.6. Be low-key matching.It just takes two matching items to create a coherent outfit. Just two complementary colors (if you cant go the all-black route) will make you look less haphazard even if you literally rolled out of bed and ran to the airport.This article first appeared on Swirled.

Avoid Saying These Words During Job Interviews

Avoid Saying These Words During Job InterviewsAvoid Saying These Words During Job InterviewsIf youve ever been the unwitting victim to the word moist or have had the displeasure of sitting through cringe-worthy phrases such as firstly, funner, or the always dreaded iiregardless, you know the impact a mis-chosen phrase can have on the average listener. If hearing certain words in social settings can conjure up this type of reaction, imagine what kind of impact the wrong turn of phrase can have when uttered during an interview.Word choice during the job interview is a bit more complicated than sayings that are socially undesirable or grammatically poor. For prospective employers, certain words can trigger concerns regarding a candidates commitment, skills, professionalism or a host of other issues. While this type of critique may seem a bitunfairto candidates, its important to realize interviewers only have a limited amount of time to get to know their vermgen employees and buzz words, key phrases or other red flags play a big role in the all-important gut feeling. With that in mind, here are a few words you should avoid using during a job interview to maximize yur chances and prevent getting thrown out of the game on a grammatical technicality.SalaryCompensation, salary, dollars, bonus, moolah and cash are pretty much all words to avoid like the plague during a job interview. I mean, we get it, we really do. One of the primary but often hush-hushed motivations behind a candidate switching jobs is typically money. Whether this applies to your scenario or not, however, you should generally avoid talking dollars and cents until after youve received an offer. A good recruiter can often help you navigate the payment minefield, cueing you into the target salary long before you make a commitment. Try, Maybe, Possibility and PotentiallyWe may be cheating here a bit by lumping a few distinct words into one broad category but hey, if you dont like it then get your own blo g. The reasoning behind leaving out this broad swath of grammatically correct terms has to do with commitment, tenacity and drive in short, those soft skills that employers are fond of asking all kinds of leading questions in their attempt to uncover. Using noncommittal terms to describe past or anticipated work can make you seem like a bit of a flake. Take a firm stance on your skills, abilities and desire to move forward with the position youre interviewing for in order to set yourself up for job-hunting success. FiredIf were being honest when it comes to our own personal job histories, weve all most likely been in the position where weve left, vacated or otherwise been ex-nayed from a job. Sure, everyone else may call this scenario fired, but we prefer to think of it as a parting of ways with a less than desirable position. You should never attempt to hide the fact that you were terminated from a prior place of employment, but avoid offering the information up unless specifically asked by either your interviewer or in a job application. Pretty Much any Four Letter Wordand some Five and Six Letter Ones as WellRecalling the days when it wasnt considered child abuse to apply a hearty dose of soap to cleanse the mouths of would-be curse word users might be a good tact to take for this category or words to be avoided. No matter the work environment or apparent lack of formality in interview format, curse words should be thoroughly avoided. Using slang or vulgar terms can make you appear unprofessional during the time youre expected to be on your best behavior. Terrible, Awful, HorribleWe all have that one negative nancy in our lives. The person who constantly complains, opines and offers up their opinion about all things they consider the worst. When it comes to your job interview, avoid being THAT person and leave the negativity outside the conference room door. Words such as terrible, worst, awful and hate leave strong negative impressions with your potential employer. In addition, these terms are often utilized by candidates to describe prior job roles or co-workers, another interview no-no. Keep things positive, hopeful and upbeat in order to ensure the interview moves in your direction. So, Ummmm and LikeLast but certainly not least on our list of words to avoid during the job interview are the ever-overused conversation fillers. So, ummm, like and similar sentence gap-fillers are often signs of nervousness, used by speakers as a crutch to avoid awkward pauses. Practice interview questions with a friend, family member or even a mirror to increase your comfortability with answers and minimize the use of these painfully evidence conversation crutches.While none of these phrases are necessarily verstndigung im strafverfahren breakers, eliminating problematic terms from your interview lingo can go a long way towards setting your candidacy apart from the crowd. Remember that practice makes perfect and can also help you weed out problem gra mmar issues from your interview vocabulary, increasing your chances at getting that call back or job offer.

How to Make a Career Change at 50

How to Make a Career Change at 50How to Make a Career Change at 50At 50 years old, you are much closer to retirement age than you are to the age you were when you first started out. If you plan to retire at 67, when you can collect your full U.S. Social Security benefits, you have about 17 years left of your career. Depending on how you feel about what you do to make a living, that can seem like a very short time or an eternity. Your occupation may no longer bring you the satisfaction it once did. Perhaps you were never happy with it and finally feel ready to explore other options. At this point in your life, you may wonder if the effortit will take to make a career changeis even worthwhile. Whether you are 30 or 50, you shouldnt spend time working in a career in which you are unhappy. Your age,though, will play a role in how you go about making your transition and your decision about what career to pursue next. Before making a move to change your career, consider the pros and cons t o determine if its worth the time and effort. ProsMany equate age with experience.Changing careers now is simpler than doing it later.Career satisfaction can have a positive effect on your health, relationships, and life.ConsYou may face age bias in the job market.Remaining unhappy in your current job is not living your life well.Career dissatisfaction can lead to health issues. The Pros and Cons ofChanging Careers at 50 You may feel confident, at age 50, that you can take on any challenge that comes your way. Or, you may question whether you want to start over at this point in your life. With retirement on the horizon, you may wonder if it makes sense to stir things up. Ask yourself if its better tospend every day looking forward to being close to two decades older. Rushing your life away, as you eagerly anticipate not having to go to work every day is not the best way to live. While there are no guarantees that a new career will make you love work, its unlikely you will become more satisfied with your current one over time. Making a career change now is much simpler than doing it later on. Career satisfaction will have a positive effect on your health, relationships, and life in general. Being in the wrong career is stressful. No, it wont be easy to make the transition, but if you go about it in the right way, it doesnt have to be difficult. You just have to decide what you want to do next and whether your choice is realistic. Then you have to figure out how to make it all happen. It is not easy, but it is doable. Whats Difficult About Changing Careers at 50? At age 50, theres a good chance you have quite a few expenses. You may be putting children through college, while also paying off a mortgage. At the very least, you may be responsible for rent and possibly car loans and other debt you may have accumulated over the years. The good news is, you may also have some savings put away. Anything that is liquid could be used to help get you through a car eer change. Dont dip into your retirement account though. There will be a penalty, and besides, you will need that money later. Breaking into a new field becomes more difficult with age. This is particularly true if you have to compete with younger workers for entry-level jobs. You may face age bias from some employers, butmany equate age with experience. Highlighting your transferable skills on your resume will help. Immerse yourself in a new career by doing an adult internship before you fully commit to it. How to Makea Career Change at 50 You are more likely to be satisfied with a particular career if it is a good match for your personality type, aptitudes, work-related values, and interests. Therefore, before you go any further, you should learn about yourself by doing a self-assessment. You can hire a career counselor or other career development professional to help you with this step. Find out if your local public library offers this service for free. Another option is to contact the career services office. Check witha local college or the one you attended, which may provide complimentary career services to alumni. Completing a self-assessment will leave youwith a list of occupations that are a good fit for you based on your characteristics. Next,explore the occupations on your list. Although an occupation seems suitable, you have other things to consider at age 50. With just slightly less than two decades ahead of you to settle into a new career, the time you spend preparing for it is a more important factor than it would have been if you had done this earlier. You should avoid choosing occupations that require many years of education or training. While you may occasionally see a story about someone who made a latemidlife career changeand became a doctor or lawyer while in their 50s, that could be an unrealistic choicefor several reasons. By the time you schliff your education, you would have only a few years left to work so your investment wouldn t pay off. You might also face age bias both in admissions and in getting a job when you graduate. It is much more practical to choose an occupation that takes advantage ofyourtransferable skillsand doesnt require too much additional education and training. With that said, if its your hearts desire to pursue a career that requires multiple years of education and training, and you have the financial resources to do it, dont let anything stop you. Also make sure to learn about job duties,employment outlook, and median earnings. Evaluate this data to help you pick the most suitable occupations from your list. Think about which job duties you like and which you dont. While you dont have to love every task, you must at least be willing to do all of them regularly. If any job duty is a deal breaker, take that occupation out of the running. Earning a lot of money is nice, but it wont make you any happier with a career that has few other redeeming qualities. Instead of choosing the occupati on with the highest earnings, make sure the salary will cover your expenses, let you save money, and allow you to take part in the leisure activities you enjoy. Also, consider the employment outlook. If you cant get a job, there is no point in choosing that occupation.

Internal Medicine Veterinarian Job Description

Internal Medicine Veterinarian Job DescriptionInternal Medicine Veterinarian Job DescriptionInternal medicine veterinarians are specialists that are qualified to perform advanced diagnostic services and create treatment plans for illnesses related to the internal body systems of animals. Internal Medicine Veterinarian Duties Responsibilities Routine duties for an internal medicine specialist in private practice include Perform diagnostic tests and exams.Evaluate scans and tests.Use a variety of specialized medical equipment.Perform surgical procedures.Update patient files.Supervise internal medicine vet techs or surgical vet techs.Provide professional consultations at the request of a general veterinary practitioner. Internal medicine veterinarians are specialists with advanced training on the function, diagnosis, pathology, and treatment of internal body systems. Areas of training for internal medicine vets can include many fields of study including oncology, endocrinology, hem atology, infectious diseases, cardiology, gastroenterology, immunology, neurology, nephrology, and respiratory disease management. Specialists in internal medicine may also find employment with organizations such as veterinary colleges, research labs, and commercial pharmaceutical companies. Those working for veterinary colleges may have additional duties such as giving lectures, supervising lab work, advising students, and overseeing research projects. Those working in corporate environments tend to focus on creating diagnostic testing and treatment options. Internal Medicine Veterinarian Salary An internal medicine veterinarians salary can vary depending on location and experience. Board-certified specialists, such as vets certified in internal medicine, tend to earn salaries higher than veterinarians in general, but the BLS does not offer salary data for each of the veterinary specialties. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides salary information for veterinarians in general Median Annual Salary $93,830Top 10% Annual Salary $162,450Bottom 10% Annual Salary $56,540 Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018 Education, Training, Certification The road to becoming an internal medicine veterinarian is a long one that includes education, an internship, residency, and exams. Education All veterinarians must begin their careers by gaining admission to a veterinary school and successfully completing a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Once they achieve the basic veterinary degree and license, a candidate interested in pursuing the internal medicine specialty must make a serious educational commitment.Internship They must complete a one-year rotating internship in medicine and surgery (or demonstrate equivalent clinical experience).Residency They must complete a three to five-year residency in internal medicine (the length depends on their area of focus and the requirements of their individual program). Options for residency include subspe cialties such as cardiology, large animal internal medicine, small animal internal medicine, neurology, and oncology. Certification exam At the conclusion of the residency, a candidate must pass the general board certification exam, demonstrate that they have the appropriate credentials, and complete a specialty exam. After passing the exams the candidate is granted diplomate status in the veterinary specialty of internal medicine. Internal Medicine Veterinarian Skills Competencies To be successful in this role, youll generally need the following skills and qualities Compassion Veterinarians must treat animals and their owners with kindness and respect.Communication skills Vets need to effectively communicate with animals, animal owners, and staff in relation to the care of animals.Problem-solving and analytical skills Veterinarians need these skills to figure out whats going on with animals.Physical stamina Vets may be on their feet for long periods of time while treating anim als. Job Outlook The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in this field will grow 19% through 2026, which is faster than the overall employment growth of 7% for all occupations in the country. The lengthy and rigorous nature of specialty training programs and the challenging nature of board certification exams ensure that only a limited number of professionals are able to attain certification each year.Those who are able to achieve board certification in internal medicine are in high demand and should have many quality options for employment. Work Environment Internal medicine specialists in private practice may work at small animal veterinary clinics, large animal veterinary clinics, or emergency clinics. Work Schedule Most internal medicine veterinarians work full time, according to BLS, and they often work more than 40 hours per week. They may also work nights or weekends and be on call during certain periods of time to respond to emergencies. How to Get the Job GO TO VET SCHOOLGetting into vet school isnt easy, but you may increase your chances by following some best practices. (Read Learn How to Get Into Vet School.)GET LICENSED AND CERTIFIEDAll aspiring veterinarians must pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam issued by the International Council for Veterinary Assessment. Those specializing in internal medicine must also pass The Academy for Internal Medicine for Veterinarian Technician certification exam.APPLYOrganizations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association offer online job boards for people pursuing veterinary medicine. Comparing Similar Jobs People who are interested in becoming internal medicine veterinarians may also consider other careers with these median salaries Zoologist or wildlife biologist $63,420Veterinary technician $34,420Animal care and service worker $23,950Physician or surgeon $208,000 Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018

Top Choices of Ats Resume

Top Choices of Ats Resume If you look at the templates weve listed below, you will discover that they all are similar in the manner your information is prioritized and structured. Utilizing both lets you be covered either manner. This information has some terrific strategies to help you get to that objective. Contact information ought to be left-justified in the principal body of the document, and each individual bit of information needs to be presented on a new line. What the In-Crowd Wont Tell You About Ats Resume Yes, its essential to make certain your resume will appear in ATS search benefits. Odds are, if youre applying on the internet for a job, your resume will be screened and ranked by means of an ATS. They are that an ATS is going to scan your resume before a person ever takes a look at it. The War Against Ats Resume Nonetheless, odds are youll have a minumum of one phone interview during the hiring process for employment. Trying to find a work candidate doesnt end when you get started doing interviews. Therefore dont quit looking just because you have some job candidates which you find interesting. At the same time that you should make an effort to present yourself as the ideal candidate for the job, you ought to do it accurately and honestly. If your resume does its job, you will be getting a call for a work interview. You may elend be their first selection and theyre still interviewing you as much as youre interviewing them. Highlights the experience and skills you have which are about the job which youre applying for. These 5 interview help will help you ace your interview and receive the offer. The True Meaning of Ats Resume Each work opening receives about 250 applications normally. If youd like your resume to be among the top rated for each position, you must tailor your abilities and experience to every opportunity. You might very well have the experience required for the gig, but you may lack the most suitable words to de monstrate that. In truth, its the job of a cover letter to find an employer interested enough in you as a candidate to take some time to take a look at your resume. No matter the conditions, dont permit the practice of sorting through resumes get you down. Make sure that you save your resume in the suitable formatting to guarantee the best possible prospect of doing well. Applicants who want to relocate for a work often opt to include their present mailing address, but otherwise, its up to you whether to include things like an address. It isnt worth the riskespecially for work that requires credentials you dont have. The Basic Principles of Ats Resume That You Can Learn From Starting Immediately Additional there are a couple more things you desire to stay in mind as you ask yourself about how to compose an application to get the job. The principal aim of your own as you look for a work which you have to start searching for that ones, which may be the absolute most close to what you desire. Youre in the correct spot. The rest is really much your resume. You cant ever be too safe. Dont forget a modern font is most effective for impressing a modern employer. You might need to bring the term companyafter each company name. Its also beneficial to use total job titles and business names, including corporate designations like LLC. The Advantages of Ats Resume One of the benefits of applicant tracking systems from the view of an employer is it can scan and search your resume for certain key phrases to be certain that youre qualified for the position. There are lots of cases in which small small business owners start to find good employees. In this kind of situation, a functional resume would be a better choice. There are two simple ways to see whether your resume is ready to be correctly interpreted by means of an applicant tracking system. To create a resume you will need to know the prerequisites with the perspective employer for your particul ar job account. When you are in possession of a thorough collection of every one of the qualities and experience of the best candidate, determine what is most important. Transferable abilities and work ethic are the two most important aspects to establish if an applicant is a great fit. If you dont are directly encouraged for work, youll be relying on your resume to make the very first impression. Deciding on the most suitable fonts for your resume is vital so choose wisely. Since you will notice with the the next couple of tips, formatting is quite important in regards to creating an ATS-friendly resume. One of your major goals with writing a resume is to create the document simple to read. Picking the correct format There are an infinite number of acceptable formats for a resume. What Ats Resume Is - and What it Is Not Whatwillhelp is having those keywords in the most suitable places. Researching the business and the work description, and including appropriate key terms and phrases, are critical to your success. Its searching for targeted keywords. Instead, take some time to examine the particular job description keywords youre applying for. A prospective employer doesnt require an exhaustive collection of all youve done in a former job. Screening resumes can be hard, but hiring the incorrect person is an expensive affair. With the introduction of on-line job boards, it has never been simpler to find work. Short-term employment often suggests that a work candidate isnt dependable or could have some issues working with other individuals.

Top Resume Review - the Conspiracy

Top Resume Review - the Conspiracy Resume tips for felons are a substantial assistance. Write the Experience Summary part of your job resume for each particular position you are looking for. When you would like to find the best resume help, youre able to simply follow our lead. Top Resume cant be trusted. The business has plenty of problems. On your search to obtain the most legitimate writing company to take care of your resume, a company that you can trust, writers who you admire, you have to have stumbled upon Topresume.com. At first sight, it resembles a great website. The good thing is that the best resume writers arent necessarily the priciest ones. Obviously, youre also concerned about the purchase price. If you cannot locate a review on a specific company you want to know more about, I advise that you take a peek at our top rated resume writing services and pick one from the list.So that the price produces a big difference. More than a few companies promise to p rovide superior service at reasonable price, but they failed to provide the exact same. As soon as you open the search engines and begin searching for a reliable resume writing service, you will observe that there are dozens and dozens of companies which provide such aid. Its important to employ a service which provides you a fine price for top quality.

How and when to send the dreaded follow-up email

How and when to send the dreaded follow-up schmelzglasleHow and when to send the dreaded follow-up emailIts the job seekers motto, three words of casual desperation Justfollowingup.Its the cheery email subject line that many of us have sent to many a recruiter after not hearing back about a role. Underneath the casual inquiry into how the job application process is going lies a crushing worry that we have said the wrong thing at the wrong time. We dont want to be annoying, we dont want to stand out in a bad way, the people pleaser in us thinks.But in order to win the ultimate prize of a response, you need to understand how to be pleasantly persistent - to push past your hangups and master the art of the follow-up.Here are the guidelines to follow to do it right1) Understand the motivations behind your follow-up and explain themNo one is ever just checking in, and its better for both you and your intended recipient to know explicitly what you want and what your email is intending to accomplish.Marketing and sales platform HubSpot recommendsthat crafting a follow-up email begin with determining your objective. Do you want more information about an application? Are you requesting a meeting? Do you want to thank your hiring manager for the in-person bewerbungsgesprch?Too often, follow-up email writers cloak their intentions in overly polite language, thinking that thats the right approach. But, in fact, the best way to get your recipients attention is to state clearly and explicitly why youre emailing them.2) Being clear means asking for a timeframeTo ease unnecessary agony, Ask a Managers Alison Green recommends asking for a timeframe immediately after a job interview about when you should expect to be back in touch. And whatever timeframe the manager gives you, Green advises you to double it, because hiringnearly always takes longerthan anyone expects it will, including employers. Delays inevitably come up - a decision maker is out of town, or higher priorities get in the way.This is not comforting advice, but it is honest. For your peace of mind, its better to not depend on an email recipients timeliness, particularly if your objective is to find out about a job.But if a timeframe - even a very generous one - has come and gone without a response, youre well within your rights to send a follow-up email asking for an updated timeline.Heres a script you can adapt from Greens column I was hoping to check in with you about the llama wrangling job. I know you were hoping to be moving forward around now, and I wondered if you had an updated timeline you could share. Im really interested in the role and would love to talk further with you about it at any time.3) Be persistent but not pushyIt can be demoralizing to write a follow-up email, but recognize that silence on the end of a hiring manager is rarely personal.Recruiters and hiring managers are inundated with emails every day. In fact, the average U.S. employee currently has 199 unread or unopened emails at any given time. Your initial email could be in that unread pile, which is why its better to err on the side of persistence and do a follow-up.However, theres a difference between persistence and pushiness.If you send an application on Friday, dont follow-up on Monday with a hiring manager. You want to be respectful of a hiring managers schedule.A survey of hiring managers found that the majority think the best time for applicants to follow up is one to two weeks after submitting a resume.Summing upUltimately, these follow-up tips are intended to make your communication as clear as your intentions. Following the follow-up tips can help you garner a response, but they may not get you the positive response that you want.You can pad and primp your email all you want, but as with other social relationships How a person will answer is not up to you. A dating advice columns answer to how long you should wait to text back after a first date applies to follow-up emails as well They either like you, or they dont.

Customize this Gas Station Manager Resume

Customize this Gas Station Manager ResumeCustomize this Gas Station Manager ResumeAchieving a manager position shows your dedication to customers and employees, as well as a track record of strong performance thats been noticed and rewarded. Use your experiences in the oil industry to create an outstanding gas station manager resume that employers take notice of and that ends in an invitation to an in-person interview.Whether youre applying for a manager position at a local station or a corporate position, highlight your experience in terms of the job you want. To show prospective employers your grasp of the many areas of focus required by this job, include keywords that show your understanding of financial targets and operational expertise.Review the gas station manager resume sample below for keywords to include in your document. Create this Resume Darlene Thornton1650 Pointe LanePompano Beach, FL 33060(777)-812-3126d.thorntonsmail.comObjectiveHighly responsible Gas Station Manage r seeking an opportunity to work in a top oil company to aid in generating income and support good customer service. Summary of QualificationsHigh level of flexibilityHigh level of customer service skillsExperience and knowledge of basic accounting Experience and knowledge in fuel, petroleum, and gasolineAbility to work independently and in a teamProfessional ExperienceRetail Gas Station Manager, January 2007- PresentSault Ste. Marie Gas Station, Sault Ste. Marie, MI ResponsibilitiesManaged the daily operations of the gas station.Oversaw sales, inventory, and staff on a monthly basis. Conducted and performed inspections of all gas station equipment and facilities. Maintained and obtained a clean and customer friendly environment for various customers.Enforced and implemented strict policies and procedures of the gas station. Gas Station Assistant Manager, May 2004- December 2006Mid Pac Gas Station, Honolulu, HI ResponsibilitiesAssisted and helped the general manager in managing and supervising the overall operation of the gas station. Facilitated the delivery of goods and merchandise for the gas station and convenience store. Oversaw the price management of fuels and merchandise. Monitored monthly sales and inventory and reported to the general manager. Assisted and helped in daily cash balances of the gas station and convenience store. EducationMasters Degree in Business Management, 2004Yale UniversityBachelors Degree in Business Management, 2002Yale University Customize ResumeMore Sample ResumesGame Artist Resume Game Designer Resume Game Developer Resume Game Producer Resume Garbage Man Resume Gardener Resume Gas Plant Operator Resume Gas Station Attendant Resume Gas Station Cashier Resume Gas Station Manager Resume

How to Build a Successful Workplace Wellness Program

How to Build a Successful Workplace Wellness ProgramHow to Build a Successful Workplace Wellness ProgramEmployees spend an average of almost nine hours a day at work- more awake hours than any other place- so it seems logical that employers would want to develop a workplace that encourages and promotes healthy behaviors. Effective and successful workplace wohlbefinden programs can help improve an organizations culture and change lives. Companies can also benefit from lower turnover rates, fewer absences, increases in productivity and higher job satisfaction. Designing a Wellness Program Decades after the launch of the Wellness Council of America, one might think that the steps for getting a wohlbefinden program off the ground are easy- give employees a gym membership or stop bringing in sweet treats. Hold Weight Watchers meetings or teach yoga classes onsite for interested employees. kooperation employee athletic endeavors such as running in a 5k by paying their entry fees. Howev er, its not that simple. Lack of employee engagement, a shortage of leadership support, and complicated incentives all have the potential to derail all have the potential to derail your wellness program before it starts. Here are a few tips on how to build a successful workplace wellness program and some things you will want to avoid as you build your successful workplace wellness program. Plan First Dont rush into a workplace wellness program. Instead, take your time to develop a formal strategic plan with measurable goals. Without a plan, you will always be reacting to the pressure of the day instead of focusing on specific objectives. As part of this plan, be sure to get buy-in from management and include as many employees and departments as you can. Consider recruiting employees for a wellness committee to help you reach across the entire company. The more people involved, the easier it will be to spread the korrekt about the program. Dont assume you need a large budget. Exe rcise creativity in identifying free activities to improve employee health. Things like walking meetings or healthy potlucks can help promote a healthy workplace without breaking the bank. Optics and Inclusiveness Show your employees they are valued. You want your wellness program to demonstrate that the company cares about employees health, not give the impression the company is coercing them to take a Health Risk Assessment. Keep it simple and straightforward- dont be negative or insult employees and dont build a wellness program with only the intent to decrease health care costs. Dont build a complicated wellness program. If employees dont understand wellness offerings or dont know how to participate, they will get frustrated and give up. Position the wellness program as something much bigger than just a human resources (HR) initiative. Think about how the program will strategically impact the business and how it plays a role in your culture. However, involve HR and be sure t o apply equitable principles to your program to ensure inclusiveness. For example, if your organization has a night shift, provide night shift workers the same access to wellness events and programming as the day shift. Stick with It Give your workplace wellness culture time to develop. Dont stop the wellness program because it hasnt saved millions of dollars, but make sure you have realistic expectations. Behavior change takes time, and most wellness programs do not see a positive return on investment for at least 18 months. One thing to remember is that you wont be able to tell if the program is working if you arent measuring it. Look into ways to collect data on your employees health status. Biometric screenings are a great way to collect objective data. Once the program is up and running dont put it on autopilot. Run regular reports and assess how your wellness program is improving employee health. Your program should evolve with your employees. Another way to plan for succe ss is to avoid selecting programs that are not relevant to your workforce. A smoking cessation program, for example, will do little to impact costs if smoking and its related illnesses are not cost-drivers for your health insurance plan. Prioritize Privacy Dont forget to address employee privacy. Some employees may ask, What do they need that information for? Can they fire me because of my poor health? Stress repeatedly that personal health information is confidential. Benefits Wellness can have a profound effect on your company culture, turnover rates, recruitment efforts, and overall productivity. Follow these recommendations and your workplace wellness implementation will go so smoothly, that youll wonder why you waited so long to get started.