Why is this time different?   In Superman's bizarro world, nothing seemed to make sense. Everything was the opposite of what was expected. It would seem that today's pandemic impacted economy, especially as it relates to hiring, would feel right at home in the Man of Steel's alternate universe.   (I would have used a Superman Bizarro World image, but I didn't think that D.C. Comics would like it.)   We have record unemployment, yet jobs go unfilled. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the September unemployment rate had decreased to 7.9% with the number of people unemployed down to 12.6 million. Among those...

Is the Break Room Gone?   One of the great things about almost any job is the people you meet. People who you otherwise would never know and, more importantly, never connect with. The workplace certainly isn't the great equalizer, but it can act as a social mixing pot. However, with work-from-home being implemented more and more, and workplace redesign intended to purposely keep us apart becoming the norm, getting to know our fellow employees is becoming harder and harder. Just when we think it can't get worst, now it looks like we're going to (at least now), lose our coffee breaks...

Only 9 States Have a Higher Minimum Wage Than Rhode Island     As of last Thursday, only 9 states (and Washington D.C.) have a higher minimum wage than Rhode Island. Rhode Island has the 12th highest cost of living in the country, so it's position in the wage rankings is not surprising. Throw into the mix that Rhode Island has the 4th highest percentage of workers (19%) represented by unions, and the picture becomes clearer.   In a 2019 CNBC article, Rhode Island was reported to have the 7th highest cost of doing business (although, with the new minimum wage going into effect, this...

Getting a Promotion in the Best Way     Any office environment can be fraud with peril. Potential personal missteps that can hamper your career can appear at any time. You want to stand out, but doing it at the expense of someone else will more often than not come back to bite you in the future.   No one appreciates someone who brags about their accomplishments or who much they know. However, is your boss doesn't yet know how good you really are, how do you get them to notice you? How do you stand out without sticking out?   There are several ways to impress...

The Perks You Provide Your Employees Probably Don't Work Like You Think     Extra time off, foosball or ping-pong tables, an on-site health club all sound good, but do they really entice employees to accept a job offer or stay once they’re on-board? Research shows that most incentives have limited impacts on employee recruitment or retention.   An on-site gym sounds great, but will you worry that your boss will be watching your time while your counterparts are keeping their noses to the grindstone? After that tough meeting, a quick game of ping-pong sounds like just the thing to relax – but what about...