How to Be a Better Support System to Your Staff
Every good business owner knows that a pivotal part of there success is attributed to their staff. Without the help of skilled employees to carry out various functions like sales, marketing, and customer service, the company would essentially cease to exist. In light of this reality, employers should always look for ways to show their support and gratitude. Those who go beyond the paycheck and benefits, connect with their staff on a more meaningful level which helps to improve the workplace environment and productivity.
Your Employees Have Lives
Outside of handling their responsibilities at work, your employees have lives. They have children, relationships, financial obligations, and their own personal ups and downs. As an employer, acknowledging that fact and providing them with valuable resources and support can have a lasting impact on the success of your business. How can you be more supportive of your staff? Here are a few suggestions below:
- Professional Development – Most people have professional aspirations when they start working for a company. They have desires to move up the ladder and advance their careers. You can show support for your employee’s careers by having professional development opportunities. Offering free training, assistance or reimbursement on educational courses, and encouraging them to participate in networking events can help advance their careers.
- Mental Health Assistance – As a human being you know that life isn’t always easy. There are a lot of pressures that can push a person to their limits causing them to resort to measures they (or you) never thought imaginable. If you find that one of your employees is struggling with mental health or substance abuse, you can show your support by recommending drug detox centers, therapists, and other solutions to treating their problems.
- Make Health a Priority- It is only when your employees are in their best health that they can provide the best assistance to your business. You can encourage and support your staff by establishing health incentives in your company. Offering discounts to nearby gyms, weight loss program enrollment, free screening services, and other initiatives, ensure that they can remain in their best health.
- Family Inclusion – Family is an important element for most people, and working can often take them away from that. You can let your team know that you’re there for them by creating a family culture within the business. Host events where staff can invite their families, if you have the budget for it, perhaps open a childcare center or offer affordable services to nearby daycare centers. You can also do things like offer scholarships to the children of employees to help lower educational costs.
- Communicate and Be Present – Perhaps one of the best ways to show your employees more support and appreciation is through your presence and communication. Being there when they need to talk, listening to their concerns, and being involved in both their personal and professional lives can help to cultivate a deeper understanding and relationship.
You hand-picked a team that you believed would help you take your business to new heights. These individuals are more than just a gateway to success, however, they are human beings with lives that go up and down just as yours does. As their lifestyles can have an impact on your business it is essential to connect with them. To connect with them on a deeper level, it would be wise to find ways to show your support. Offering the suggestions above and others, let’s your staff know that you see them for not only their performance in the office but for the amazing human beings that they are.
Master’s Degrees to Consider if You’re Looking for Long-Term Job Opportunities
If you’ve completed an undergraduate degree at college and are now thinking about taking on post-graduate studies, or if you have been in the workforce for a while and want to go back to school to get further educated, it can be rather tough trying to work out which program to enroll in.
Today, with the costs of study rising constantly, and with many industries in decline, you need to make your decision carefully so you spend not only your money but also your time and energy wisely. As such, it’s important to be on the lookout for degree options that will help you increase your job prospects as soon as you’ve graduated, and well into the future. Read on for a sample of good master’s degrees to consider.
Engineering
A master’s degree in a field of engineering is a beneficial qualification to have, with engineers being in-demand around the world for all types of jobs. There are a variety of areas of engineering you can specialize in, but whether you choose to check out the best biomedical engineering schools or are keen on getting a post-graduate degree in civil, mechanical, chemical, electrical or other type of engineering, you should be set for years.
From a master’s degree, you’ll gain additional technical knowledge and skills which will set you up well for roles and help you enhance your safety record. The extra studies you complete will assist you to become a more reasoned, cautious and experienced engineer, as well as give you the chance to work on more intellectually challenging, and interesting, engineering projects.
Economics
While it has been a popular area of FAME (finance, accountancy, management and economics) studies for many years now, and known for providing good job prospects and pay, right now economics is growing further, for a variety of reasons.
For instance, students who study a master’s in economics will learn how to effectively work with and analyze big data sets, something that is particularly of-use in this tech-driven world. More and more companies across the globe are looking for people who can help them handle their digital information and make decisions based upon it. As such, being able to strategically utilize large amounts of data will certainly stand you in good stead for future roles.
Another reason why economics is big right now is because of the explosion in the global population. This, combined with the banking and other financial turmoil of the last decade, and the huge debt problems of a number of developed countries, has led many people to question the way economics has been approached for decades. As a result, if you complete a master’s in economics, you’ll be able to enter the arena at a time when fresher, more innovative ideas are welcome.
Computer Science
Of course, as you’d imagine, as our world relies more and more on computing breakthroughs and abilities, and technology continues to disrupt industries and change the way we live our lives, having a post-graduate qualification in computer science is a real boon.
The need for computer-savvy job candidates continues to grow and isn’t likely to abate any time soon. After all, businesses in every sector now rely upon technology at least to some degree. If you have a thorough understand of all the elements of computer science, then you’ll be able to work in tech firms and also for any other sort of business that needs your skills.
Plus, with cybercrime such an issue, and something that isn’t likely to go away, people who have trained in computer science can get jobs as security specialists, for both government organizations and private firms.
MBA
A Master’s in Business Administration continues to draw in huge numbers of students because it’s easier than ever for people to become entrepreneurs. Plus, there is more focus on the world of business management and the rise of entrepreneurial superstars, so increasing numbers of people wish to further their skills in business and hopefully follow in the footsteps of well-known leaders.
An MBA is a highly flexible degree, which allows students to learn about and acquire skills in various subjects such as leadership, finance, accounting, sales, marketing, technology, international markets and the like. Being qualified in this area has helped many students to go on not just to earn a lot more during their careers but also to have more career stability. In addition, completing an MBA opens up opportunities to work in varied and interesting fields and diverse geographical locations.
What Else You Can Study Before a Social Work Career
Social work might be the noblest profession. Not only do you devote your career to helping the less fortunate navigate the world around them, but you work long, hard hours and get paid laughably little. Still, the rare satisfaction of improving people’s lives and improving the community pushes a few more people into the field social work every year.
There are social work degree programs – but they aren’t the only way you can get into social work. Because you can find accredited online MSW programs, you can gain the necessary credentials for a social work career while studying a broader, more widely applicable subject for your bachelor’s. If you are afraid of pigeon-holing your career with a niche degree before you enter the workforce, here are a few other programs you can pursue in undergrad.
Sociology
Sociology is the scientific study of society, which often involves studying the development of society as well as the structure and function of existing societies. Sociology can also entail the study of human relationships, which form the backbone of society. Sociology is a relatively new discipline, only just over 100 years old, and it intersects with dozens of similar fields of study, including behavioral economics and social psychology.
Social work can easily be explained as sociology at work; social workers apply what sociologists study and theorize. Therefore, sociology is an exceptionally useful major or minor for those eager to become social workers. Studying sociology will help you understand many of the phenomena affecting modern society, so you can more effectively respond to your clients’ needs and create positive change in their lives.
Political Science
Political science focuses on the theory and practice of government. In the classroom, students of political science study how power is distributed in different systems, how effective certain systems are at meeting the needs of their people, how political thought has evolved over time and more.
Some people believe that the definition of politics is who gets what, when and how. If that’s the case, then social workers equipped with a political science background might be better at obtaining the services their clients need. Especially if you plan to work in a government agency, you might want some experience in political science to help you navigate the complex rules and regulations of the public sector.
Psychology
It should be of little surprise that psychology appears on a list of potential courses of study for social workers. Psychology is an essential tool for the social worker, who must explain, encourage and otherwise embolden clients to improve their lives. With a psychology background, you will be capable of analyzing your clients’ psychological processes and moving them toward healthier emotional states and behaviors. What’s more, you can do the same with yourself, helping you remain calm, stable and productive in your own life.
If you hope to climb the social work career ladder, experience in psychology will become even more useful. Accredited online MSW programs draw heavily on psychology theory and practice, so your undergrad major or minor will provide a solid foundation upon which you can build.
Foreign Language
Unfortunately, the populations most in need of social assistance are often immigrant groups who have come to American seeking a better life. Though they might have marketable skills and a supportive community, they might lack the language capabilities necessary to find a job or a place to live, or they might fear interacting with the government in any way. By studying a foreign language and becoming fluent, you can serve these groups and ensure they adapt better to their new lives in the U.S.
Spanish is perhaps the most useful language to learn because the Latinx population is most underserved and is growing swiftly. However, you can also study French, Romanian, Hebrew, Portuguese, Russian or similar tongues spoken by oft-overlooked immigrants to America.
Business Administration
No matter where you work – no matter what you do – you will be part of an organization, which means knowledge and skill in business administration will be useful. With a business administration degree, you will be better prepared to communicate with colleagues and clients, balance budgets, improve efficiency and manage your time. Undoubtedly, these skills are useful in social work.
Many social workers pivot their careers toward entrepreneurship later in life. Because they see the struggles and challenges of large swaths of the population, social workers are well-positioned to generate solutions prime for the market. If you suspect you might follow this path, a business administration degree would again be useful in the management of your own business.
Survive Another Semester With These Dorm Room Gadgets
At the start of the semester, you can fool yourself into believing you’ll be spending all your spare time between classes in the library. With your nose in a book, it’s easy to ignore how utilitarian your dorm room is. What do you care if it’s ugly? You’re only there to sleep, right?
If you’re lucky, you get about a week into this routine before you realize you can’t keep it up. At which points, you trade a trip to the library for staying in on your bed.
If you’re going to be spending a lot of your time in your dorm room, you might as well do everything you can to make it time well spent. This list will help you curate the best dorm experience possible. From the hilariously extravagant to the surprisingly practical, these gadgets will elevate your dorm room to the next level.
A robot maid
Raise your hand if you like cleaning. When neither hand even twitches, you know you can’t claim this activity as a preferred hobby. There’s just too much going on around campus for you to want to waste your time cleaning up.
In 2018, that doesn’t mean you have to live like a slob. You can “hire” a robotic maid to vacuum your dorm room. Though the Roomba is synonymous with the robot vacuum, the most well-known brand isn’t always the best. The iLife A4 is a cute little addition that keeps on top of dirt without emptying out your student wallet. It’s relatively affordable addition to your dorm room that saves you a fight with your roommate about whose turn it is to vacuum.
Noise cancelling headphones
Few residences could be confused for the Ritz. You’re going to be dealing with a lot of people in a small space. As a result, you’re going to be hearing a lot of stuff — whether you want to or not. Someone somewhere is always going to be making noise, even if it’s the middle of the night. Come midterms, it’s likely more than one person will take of up the Nordic tradition of wailing in the middle of the night.
If you’re sensitive to your surroundings, you’ll want to pack a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. While Sony’s WH-1000XM2 make it to the top of Tech Radar’s list, you may not have the budget to drop roughly $400 on a set of headphones. The Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC offer an affordable alternative that offers NoiseGard ™ to filter out the sounds of college life.
Portable speakers
When you’re done cancelling the noises other people make and are ready to make some noise yourself, you’re going to need a set of speakers to help you make an impact. The UE Boom 2 offers considerable sound quality in a small, lightweight package. It’s small enough to fit anywhere in your room and light enough that you won’t regret owning it when it comes time to move out. Check out CNET’s review to see why it’s the portable speaker to blast your mid-semester playlist.
Nintendo Switch
If you’d rather skip the party to explore Hyrule, then a Switch would better serve your dorm room this year. As Nintendo’s first 2-in-1 console, it’s the perfect system for campus. It offers excellent single player games when you want to kill some time on your own, and it has a library rich with multiplayer (both co-op and competitive) games. You can dock it and play on the big screen or throw it in your bag and take it along to class.
A Switch skin
You’ll just want to wrap it up in a Nintendo Switch skin before it’s ready to mix and mingle in your backpack. This accessory protects your console from pens, keys, and other sharp objects in your bag that could damage it. When you shop from a company like dbrand, you’ll get a Switch skin that’s made out of 3M vinyl. Because of their partnership with 3M, these skins leave residue on the Switch’s unique surface material — or any other tech you want to decal. That means you can protect and customize your devices with multiple skin designs and switch it up whenever you’re feeling bored.
A power strip
Last but not least, you’re going to need a surge-protecting power strip to make sure you don’t blow the breakers once you plug in the rest of the gadgets on the list. The Dynex Surge Protector comes with 8 outlets and two USB charging ports, so you’ll never have to fight with your roommate over a chance to charge
Despite your best intentions, you’ll be spending more time in your college dorm room than you might expect. If you expect to enjoy all the time you log in this tiny room, you’ll need a few gadgets to help improve your quality of life. Once you have the right ratio of space to tech, you’ll never regret staying in your room. Your grades, on the other hand, might miss the library!
Don’t Let Dorm Life Stop You from Having These Five Healthy Habits
Living in a dorm offers a lot of advantages. You get to live on your own, live near your classes so your commute is easier, and meet a lot of new people. It’s no wonder that millions of students each year opt to live on campus rather than commute to school. But while living on campus is great, it offers some challenges.
When living in a dorm, and going through the typical college experience, it can become easier to slip into some unhealthy habits. Before long you’re not sleeping well, your grades are suffering, and you may even be gaining weight. With that in mind, here are six healthy habits you should focus on when living in a dorm.
Maintaining a Proper Diet
One of the hardest challenges when living in a dorm is eating right. It’s easy to head over to the cafeteria and pile on food, or head out for a greasy snack around two in the morning. Before you know it, you have no energy throughout the day, and you’ve gained a few pounds. This is why it’s important to watch what you eat.
When you’re shopping for groceries, make sure you’re picking out some healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. When you go to the cafeteria, think about the portion sizes you are getting and which meals you are opting for. Finally, alcoholic beverages tend to be high in calories, so make sure you’re keeping this in mind if you go out to a party.
Exercise Regularly
Along with a healthy diet you also need to exercise regularly. Luckily, most colleges these days provide membership to a gym that is included with your room and board. Take full advantage of this if you can, or find other ways to get exercise in. Do a workout video in your dorm if you have the space or make up your own routine. Go for a jog or walk around campus if the weather is nice or opt to walk to class rather than taking a bus. There’s plenty you can do to stay in shape from the comfort of your dorm or around campus, so make exercising a priority.
Set Aside Time to Work
There’s a lot going on during your college years and this doesn’t just include your schoolwork. Between clubs, activities, and spending time with your friends, schoolwork can be forgotten. Even if you’re able to keep your grades up through all of this, it’s important that you learn how to say “no” sometimes and work instead. Find a time each day to complete your work and force yourself to stick to that schedule. If you don’t have any homework to do on a specific day, find other productive things to do. This will train your brain to be ready to work at this time, no matter what else is going on – a great habit you’ll want after you graduate.
Visiting Health Professionals
Even if you take care of yourself, you may still experience some problems. Maybe you’ll catch a cold, feel tired all of the time, or have a toothache. Whatever the reason, it’s important that you schedule regular visits to healthcare professionals to catch any problems early.
The problem is that for many students, their primary doctors and dentists are back home, not on campus. But many of these places require appointments in advance, and that’s something you can certainly do while you’re still in your dorm.
Each year you should take the time to visit your doctor for a checkup and a complete physical. They’ll test things like your blood pressure, reflexes, and heartrate, and ask you about any problems you may be experiencing. For dental appointments, according to Kreeb Family Dental, you can expect the following during your checkup: X-rays, oral cancer screenings, gum disease evaluation, examination of tooth decay, and an examination of current restorations. You can also expect a full cleaning, including the removal of tartar and plaque, plus teeth polishing.
None of these things sound fun, but they are important for properly taking care of yourself. In between visits, most campuses have healthcare staff on hand if you have any problems you want to discuss, so make sure you know where their offices are.
Don’t Forget to Relax
Finally, while college is fun, it’s also stressful. You’re in a new environment, meeting new people, and having to learn a lot of new material. One of the best habits you can establish is that of taking time for yourself. When you start to feel stressed, set aside time to relax and do things you enjoy. Go for a walk, read a book, or even just take a nap. Life is all about balance, so you want to develop a habit for relaxing just like you do for working.
If you can do all of the above, you should find that you are able to enjoy your dorm life a little more. You’ll feel better, have more energy, and won’t be stressed out all of the time. These habits aren’t hard to create, so just set your mind to it and get going.
