Blog

October 15, 2023

The Hidden Struggles of the Gig Economy: Why Today's Generation is Living Paycheck to Paycheck

In the golden era of our parents and grandparents, the dream was clear: secure a stable job, enjoy a steady paycheck, and reap the benefits of health insurance and retirement plans. Fast forward to today, and the landscape has dramatically shifted. The current generation is increasingly immersed in the gig economy, juggling roles like dog-sitting, media influencing, and delivering for Uber Eats. But beneath the facade of flexibility and freedom lies a harsh reality: many are barely scraping by, living paycheck to paycheck. Let's explore why today's workforce is choosing uncertainty over stability and the challenges they face.

The Illusion of Flexibility

While the gig economy promises flexibility, it often comes at a price. Without a fixed schedule, many find themselves working longer hours, during weekends, and even holidays, just to make ends meet. The freedom to choose when to work sometimes translates to working all the time.

The Pressure to Diversify

In the gig economy, relying on a single source of income is risky. As a result, many feel compelled to diversify, taking on multiple jobs simultaneously. This constant hustle can lead to burnout and mental fatigue.

Absence of Benefits

Traditional jobs often come with a safety net: health benefits, paid leave, and retirement plans. Gig workers, on the other hand, are usually on their own. Medical emergencies or unforeseen expenses can quickly turn into financial crises.

Unpredictable Earnings

The gig economy is characterized by its unpredictability. A media influencer might have a lucrative month followed by a dry spell. An Uber Eats driver might find plenty of orders one week and hardly any the next. This inconsistency makes budgeting and financial planning a challenge.

The Emotional Toll

Constantly hustling, facing financial uncertainties, and lacking a safety net can take an emotional toll. The stress of not knowing if you'll make enough to cover next month's bills can be overwhelming.

The Changing Nature of Stability

For many in the gig economy, stability is elusive. While they might have multiple streams of income, the unpredictability of each means they're always on their toes, always looking for the next opportunity.

The Need for Continuous Self-Promotion

Whether it's building a personal brand as a media influencer or maintaining a high rating as an Uber Eats driver, continuous self-promotion is crucial. This constant need to market oneself can be exhausting.

While the gig economy offers certain freedoms, it's essential to recognize the challenges that come with it. Many in today's generation are making sacrifices, trading traditional stability for a life of uncertainty.

September 6, 2023

Embracing Change: Steve Harvey's Inspirational "Jump"

Change is an inevitable part of life, offering us the chance to leap into the unknown. Steve Harvey's journey exemplifies this, and in his YouTube video "Jump," he shares profound insights on embracing change and pursuing our dreams boldly. In this blog, we'll explore the core lessons from "Jump," empowering us to navigate life's changes with courage.

Embracing Change: A Leap of Faith

Change, whether in career or personal pursuits, can be daunting. Harvey emphasizes that seizing change as an opportunity demands a leap of faith. Just as a parachute won't open without a jump, success won't come without embracing change wholeheartedly.

Overcoming Fear and Doubt

Fear and doubt are companions of change. Harvey acknowledges fear's presence but urges us to confront it. Pushing through doubts is essential for growth and progress.

Trusting the Parachute: Faith and Resilience

Harvey highlights the importance of having faith in ourselves, akin to trusting a parachute's safety. Our resilience and determination serve as metaphorical parachutes. Trusting in our capacity to adapt and overcome challenges is crucial.

Embracing Failure as a Stepping Stone

Failure is part of any journey. Harvey reminds us that failure isn't the end; it's a stepping stone toward growth. Each failure offers an opportunity to learn, pivot, and emerge stronger.

Taking the Leap: Actionable Steps

"Jump" isn't solely about inspiration; Harvey encourages practical change. He prompts us to jot down dreams, take calculated risks, and commit to the process. Change demands action.

Steve Harvey's "Jump" video highlights embracing the uncertainty of change. It underscores that faith, conquering fear, and resilience are vital for success. As we navigate life's changes, remember that change is a chance to redefine our paths. Ready to take the leap? Allow Harvey's words to inspire you to embrace change courageously. Watch the "Jump" video and soar forward with an open heart. 🚀

Takeaways: Embrace Change & Soar

Embrace Change: Change propels growth and success, just like a parachute needs a jump to open.

Conquer Fear: Confront fear to achieve the extraordinary and exceed limits.

Trust Resilience: Amid challenges, resilience acts as your safety net.

Failure Fuels Success: Failures are stepping stones toward growth and achievement.

Take Calculated Risks: Meaningful change requires stepping beyond comfort zones.

Commit to Action: Start with small steps toward dreams – change demands action.

Embrace Uncertainty: Within change's uncertainty lies room for growth and learning.

Keep Dreaming: Pursue dreams relentlessly; they're worth the journey.

Steve Harvey's "Jump" ignites courageous change. Apply these takeaways to soar into an exciting future!

The Blessing and a Curse of a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)

Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) – a tool used to address employee performance issues – often evoke mixed emotions within organizations. While they can be a blessing in disguise for both employees and employers, they also carry certain complexities that require careful consideration.

The Blessing: Opportunity for Growth

A PIP can be a pathway to personal and professional growth. It provides employees with a clear roadmap to enhance their skills, overcome challenges, and align their performance with organizational expectations. This structured approach demonstrates a company's investment in its employees' success and offers a chance for genuine improvement.

For employers, PIPs demonstrate a commitment to developing talent from within. By offering employees the resources and support they need to succeed, organizations foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement. When a PIP leads to positive outcomes, it showcases the effectiveness of a company's investment in its workforce.

The Curse: Perceived Stigma and Pitfalls

Despite the positive intentions behind PIPs, they can sometimes carry a stigma. Employees might interpret a PIP as a precursor to termination, leading to anxiety and demotivation. Moreover, PIPs require meticulous execution. If not well-designed or communicated, they could exacerbate tensions and potentially lead to legal consequences.

For employers, PIPs demand careful planning and execution. Failing to provide adequate feedback, resources, and support could render a PIP ineffective and damage employee morale. A poorly managed PIP could also strain workplace relationships and tarnish an organization's reputation.

Navigating the Path Forward

To leverage the blessings of a PIP while avoiding potential curses, organizations must approach them with sensitivity and strategic planning. Clear communication, well-defined goals, regular check-ins, and a commitment to coaching are essential. Creating an environment that promotes open dialogue, trust, and improvement will help both parties navigate the PIP journey successfully.

In the end, a PIP can be an opportunity for growth and transformation, benefiting both employees and organizations. By recognizing the potential blessings and addressing the potential curses, organizations can harness the power of PIPs to foster a culture of continuous improvement and development.

July 3, 2023

Chasing failure

"Chasing Failure" is a compelling and thought-provoking book that explores the transformative power of failure. This book challenges the traditional notion of success and reveals how setbacks can be stepping stones to personal growth and achievement. Through captivating stories and practical insights, readers are inspired to embrace failure, learn from it, and ultimately, create their own path to success. "Chasing Failure" is a must-read for anyone seeking a fresh perspective on overcoming obstacles and finding true fulfillment in life.

Chapter 1 - Key Takeaways

"As we grow up, failure becomes this invisible force that keeps us from doing the things we once dreamed of accomplishing. Our minds fill with excuses every time an opportunity to pursue a dream comes our way. And before we know it, we find ourselves settling for what we have to do instead of what we get to do. We move from dreaming as children to surviving as adults."

"If we're honest, the biggest reason we don't pursue our dreams is because the distance between our dreams and our realities is often intimidating."

"We all have something that we'd love to do, but fear of failure often keeps us from moving toward who we could become. This becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy as we avoid going after things wholeheartedly, ultimately leading to failure by default."

Chasing failure is about embracing setbacks as opportunities for growth, resilience, and innovation. By reframing failure as a valuable teacher, individuals can learn, adapt, and ultimately achieve greater success. It's about pushing boundaries, confronting fears, and pursuing meaningful goals with a mindset focused on continuous improvement.

So, what would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?

June 23, 2023

Using the reid technique for employee relations investigations

I’m a BIG fan of TV shows like The First 48 Hours and Forensic Files. Shows like this provide an in-depth look at the investigative process, showcasing the techniques, strategies, and technologies used by law enforcement to solve crimes. I am fascinated at how detectives gather evidence, interview witnesses, and piece together clues to solve complex cases. It also provides useful insight into the complexity of human behavior and its impact on individuals and communities. Sounds a lot like HR doesn’t it??? We investigate and we use strategies to solve everyday HR issues. We study human behavior and how it affects the companies we work for.

One day, while watching The First 48 Hours, I was observing the line of questioning an officer was using towards a person who committed a heinous crime. As the officer and his partner were talking about how they would conduct the questioning, they also talked about the subtle ways that they get people to open up to them. They talked about observing the suspect’s body language and the ways that the suspect behaved and acted during the questioning. At this time, I had a BRAINSTORM of an idea. I wondered if this line of questioning; called, "The Reid Technique," as well as, the observation of someone’s body language, could we, as HR people, give them the sense of security that would allow them to open up and be honest in their answers as we conducted an employee relations investigation? We all know that any employee relations investigation, of any kind, is always he said/she said and that there are 3 sides to the story. Their side, the other side and the truth. We know that we have to listen to all sides and find the truth in the middle.

While the Reid Technique is primarily designed for law enforcement purposes and may not be directly applicable or appropriate for employee relations investigations, HR professionals can draw certain principles from it to enhance their investigative skills.

Here are some suggestions for using a modified version of the Reid Technique in employee relations investigations:

Building Rapport: Develop a rapport with the individuals involved in the investigation to create a comfortable and open environment. Establishing trust and a respectful rapport can encourage individuals to share information willingly.
Active Listening: Practice active listening during interviews to gather relevant details and assess credibility. Pay attention to verbal and non-verbal cues, ask follow-up questions, and use reflective techniques to ensure a thorough understanding of the situation.
Asking Open-Ended Questions: Use open-ended questions to encourage individuals to provide detailed and narrative responses. This can help uncover additional information and perspectives on the issue being investigated.
Observing Body Language: Pay attention to body language and non-verbal cues exhibited by the interviewee. While interpretations should be cautious and not definitive, body language can offer insights into the interviewee's emotional state, level of comfort, or potential discrepancies in their statements.
Seeking Clarification: Seek clarification when there are inconsistencies or gaps in the information provided. Politely challenge vague or ambiguous responses to elicit more specific details.
Eliciting Admissions: If there is clear evidence of policy violations or misconduct, HR professionals can employ techniques to elicit admissions while still maintaining a fair and non-coercive environment. However, it's important to ensure that any techniques used are legally and ethically appropriate for the workplace setting.
Documenting Statements: Maintain detailed and accurate documentation of statements made during interviews, including the interviewee's account of events, any admissions, and other relevant information. This documentation is essential for maintaining records and ensuring consistency throughout the investigation process.

It's crucial to note that HR professionals should always adhere to ethical standards, employment laws, and the organization's policies when conducting investigations. The modified use of techniques from the Reid Technique should focus on enhancing communication, understanding, and gathering relevant information while maintaining fairness, respect, and compliance with legal requirements. It is also advisable to consult with legal counsel or seek guidance from experienced HR professionals to ensure investigations are conducted in a manner that aligns with best practices and legal obligations in the specific jurisdiction.

March 10, 2023

the benefits of an Good ONBOARDING program

Ideas for creating a good onboarding experience

"According to a survey conducted by Careerbuilder and Silkroad Technology (nine percent,) or 1 in 10 have left a company because of a poor onboarding experience, and 37% percent of employees said their manager did not play a critical role in their onboarding experience support."

To ensure employee retention, your organization's onboarding program needs to make a lasting impression. A good onboarding program makes the new hire experience, as well as the onboarding process, crucial to employee retention.

Here are a few ideas for creating a good onboarding process and experience for your organization as well as your new hire.

Plan pre-boarding activities.
Design a program that lasts for 90 days or more.
Have an onboarding plan/checklist for the new hire prior to day one.
Plan for social interaction with the team. If your new hire is working remotely, plan a zoom lunch or if others are located in the same city, consider having lunch at a local restaurant.
Have regular check-ins with the new hire.

Onboarding is an important part of the new hire experience because it integrates new employees into the organization. The new hires are provided with the knowledge, training, and support they need to become productive members of the team. Onboarding helps acclimate, engage, and retain employees. Acclimating employees familiarizes them with the organization’s expectations as well as its resources. Once your new hire has familiarized themself with the organization and their roles, they will be more engaged. Engaged employees are more productive and have a higher retention rate. They care about performance goals and want the company to succeed.

Boardwalk Human Resources Consulting can help you create a memorable onboarding experience for both the person conducting the onboarding as well as the employee.

March 21, 2023

CHANGE IS A CHALLENGE FOR MANY ORGINZATIONS

Organizational change can bring about both challenges and opportunities for companies. Here are some common challenges and opportunities of organizational change:

Challenges:

Resistance to change: One of the biggest challenges is resistance from employees who may feel that their jobs or roles are being threatened by the change. This resistance can be both active and passive, and can significantly slow down the pace of change.
Communication breakdowns: Communication is key during any organizational change, but it can be difficult to ensure that all stakeholders are on the same page. Lack of effective communication can lead to misunderstandings, confusion, and even mistrust.
Limited resources: Organizational change can be expensive and time-consuming, and may require additional resources such as hiring new staff or investing in new technology. Limited resources can make it difficult to implement change quickly and effectively.
Uncertainty: Change can create a sense of uncertainty among employees, customers, and other stakeholders. This uncertainty can lead to anxiety and decreased productivity, which can further slow down the pace of change.

Opportunities:

Increased efficiency and productivity: Organizational change can lead to improved processes, streamlined workflows, and better use of resources, resulting in increased efficiency and productivity.
Innovation: Change can create opportunities for innovation, such as the introduction of new products, services, or business models.
Improved culture: Organizational change can also be an opportunity to improve the culture of a company, including its values, norms, and behaviors. This can lead to a more positive work environment, increased employee engagement, and improved customer satisfaction.
Competitive advantage: Finally, successful organizational change can give a company a competitive advantage in its industry, helping it to stay ahead of the curve and adapt to changing market conditions.

Boardwalk Human Resources Consulting will work with you to design optimal organizational structures, roles, and responsibilities.