Monday, December 30, 2019

Female Workers Arent Saving Enough for RetirementHeres How to Change That

Female Workers Arent Saving Enough for RetirementHeres How to Change ThatFemale Workers Arent Saving Enough for Retirement- Heres How to Change That Whether retirement is decades away or just around the corner, saving for your work-free years may not be at the top of your mind while youre going through your nine-to-five - especially, a new report shows, if youre a woman.According to Bank of America Merrill Lynchs annual Workplace Benefits Report , a whopping 71 percent of women are worried about retirement, compared to 58 percent of men. Whats more, 61 percent of women believe they will have to work longer than theyd planned to make ends meet, while just 51 percent of men feel the same. Female employees also contribute less to their 401(k) and have $119,000 in investable assets on average, compared to $196,000 for men, the report says.Leanne Jacobs , financial wellness expert and author of Beautiful Money , says any number of factors could contribute to why women are saving less for retirement, from the gender wage gap to yperit wages if a woman choose to stay at home to raise her kids. Jacobs explains, Women also tend to invest less than men do and for some, worry more about the stock market and feel less confident than men investing and managing their money.The good news is that any woman can find better financial footing and start saving for retirement ASAP. Here are simple steps you can take today.Women are often nervous to take a high-level snapshot of their money, Jacobs says. They fear that their debt just might be overwhelming, so they often avoid calculating net worth. But Jacobs says knowing your net worth- what you have in assets after subtracting your debts- is the fastest way to make subtle shifts to accelerate savings and financial growth. After all, Jacobs points out, you may have more money to invest than you think you do. And if you dont, knowing your starting point can push you in the direction of paying down debt.While you can work with a financial professional, its easy enough to crunch these numbers on your own total up your assets (hings such as your investments, home or car you own, and anything else that you could turn into cash) and your liabilities (leistungspunkt card debt, school loans, car payments, and other debts). Then, subtract your liabilities from your assets. That number is your net worth. According to Jacobs, now that you have that number, no matter how high or low or even upsetting that it may be, it gives you a starting point to grow from and helps to create a loving sense of urgency for growing that number now.Another number you need to know before you start saving is your credit score. Why? That number is like a grade, Jacobs explains, that you can work to improve. Doing your score at least once a year will help you clearly understand and measure the progress youve made, she says. It will also help you create better habits, like paying your bills on time, and make you a bette r money manager. (And with that confidence, you may find it easier to invest your money for retirement.) Some banks and credit card companies now include a free credit score estimate as part of their services. You can also request a credit score once a year from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, by using the website Annual Credit Report .Now that you have a clearer picture of your financial situation, its time to start saving for retirement . But heres the thing if you have to think about doing it, chances are you wont.Jacobs suggests automating your savings to ease your retirement worries. If your company offers a 401(k), you can ask that a certain amount- usually, a percentage of your paycheck- be directly deposited into an account of your choice. If it doesnt offer a 401(k), work with a bank to set up an IRA or a Roth IRA, and schedule a monthly direct deposit from your checking account into that one.Even if you start small, you will see your wealth account grow each week which will create the power and momentum you need to want to save even more, encourages Jacobs.If youve done everything above and you still feel like youre not saving enough, Jacobs says, you may want to look for ways to add income to increase your savings. While you may not be able to take on another job, she suggests asking yourself, What skills, passions, or hobbies do you have that can make money on a few hours a week? We have more down time than we think, and if we look at that time as money making opportunity time, the skys the limit.

Thursday, December 26, 2019

This is the reason most people get stuck in mediocrity

This is the reason most people get stuck in mediocrityThis is the reason most people get stuck in mediocrityThe reason most people get stuck in mediocrity is because they refuse to fail. The reason people refuse to fail is because they associate failure with defeat. Their fear of defeat paralyzes them to the point that they wont move forward.People are not finished when theyre defeated theyre finished when they quit.People equate failure with rejection but adversity is required if we want to succeed. Were conditioned at a young age to be afraid of failure so we tiptoe into the world with the backbone of a wimp.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreIt is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at allin which case, you fail by default- J.K. RowlingFew will become truly successful in business or life, so lets ta ke a look at the real reason most people get stuck in mediocrity1. Suppress, ignore, or avoid negative emotionsWhen we make a mistake or experience a setback, we second-guess urselves and question our abilities. As a result, we become afraid of failure and settle for mediocrity.The tragedy of life is often not in our failure, but rather in our complacency not in our doing too much, but rather in our doing too little not in our living above our ability, but rather in our living below our capacities- jngste E. MayModern culture tells us we should find ways to suppress or avoid negative emotion so weve become experts on how to push discomfort away. If youre like most people, youve gone to great length to suppress negative emotions like anger, jealousy, and fear. Its not that you dont feel them youve learned how to ignore them and pretend they dont exist.Recent research from the University of Texashas found that when we avoid emotions, it actually makes them stronger.Emotions are meant to activate our body and propel us into action. When we decide to bury, ignore, or suppress our emotions, even negative ones, we put physical stress on our body.How To Make It Work For You While you need to acknowledge your negative emotions, you shouldnt experience them all at once. It creates too much confusion in your brain. When you acknowledge your emotions one at a time, it makes them much easier to handle. Your amygdala, the emotional center of your brain, gets stuck when you suppress an emotion. When you acknowledge what bothers you, your frontal lobes get work. That is the region of the brain that solves problems and finds solutions.2. Never prepare for the worst that can happenThere may be a few twinkletoes who skip through life on the sheer power of optimism, but smarter (and successful) people understand that unless we prepare for the obstacles and roadblocks that will be thrown into our path, well continue to wallow in mediocrity.Begin each day by telling yourself Today I shall be meeting with interference, ingratitude, insolence, disloyalty, ill-will, and selfishness- Marcus AureliusMarcus Aurelius welches not a pessimist he was a realist who prepared himself for any outcome. He was a stoic who did not want to be surprised and caught off guard at what might happen during his day. He knew how it felt to fall flat on his face when confronted with the unknown or unexpected.Positive thinking is a cornerstone ofmental toughness. The ability to look at your day in a realistic way and remind yourself of what could go wrong is not pessimism. Its being smart. You will encounter rude bosses, conniving colleagues, and pain-in-the-ass customers. Why not prepare for them?FBI agents do not prepare for arrests by assuming everything will turn out OK. They will conduct a pre-mortem so they can anticipate everything that could possibly go wrong and prepare for it.People who get stuck in mediocrity are more likely to get frustrated and blow a verstndigung im straf verfahren or lose control during a tense negotiation. Theyve not had the foresight to imagine every conceivable setback and obstacle and find ways to cope and overcome the adversity before it becomes a reality.Cognitive Behavioral Therapysuggests spending time thinking about the potential downside of a conversation or event in advance can help you avoid an oh shit moment.How To Make It Work For You Take the time to think through the worst that could happen and allow yourself to feel the negative stuff. When you do, youll be able to manage the unproductive drama that these emotions can produce.3. Live without good valuesLets face it- most people settle for mediocrity because theyre clueless about their values. I mean real values, not the shitty ones that are measured by money, sex, or power. Shitty values are generated by greed and glamorized by the media. You know, the ones that promise white teeth, perfect hair, and a life of happiness.Good values devolve when society coddles peopl e to protect them from pain and suffering. Pain and sufferingare the pointbecause they teach us what to pay attention to when were young and learning how the world works. They teach us to differentiate between good and bad.Good problems often produce failure, pain, and suffering they are also the problems that will shape our values. Mediocrity rears its ugly head when we value the wrong things and expect them to make us happy.Good values have certain criteriaWithin our control and not dependent on outside events to make them happen.Bring a sense of meaning to our life.Allow us to feel as though weve made a contribution to society.The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why?- ?fruchtfleisch TwainHow To Make It Work For You Spend time to discover what is important to you. Talk to people you admire or read biographies of a part youd like to emulate. Why you pursue something is just as important as what you pursue. Find something greate r than yourself and expect to encounter questions that will make you uncomfortable in the short-term.4. Over reliance on talentSuccess lures us into thinking that our talents are enough. We dont take into consideration external factors or random events that could have played a hand.Just because we made the right call once before does not mean well be as lucky the next time. If youve lead a team thats produced great numbers, its tempting to call yourself a genius and take credit for the achievement.But, what if your genius turns out to be a stroke of good luck or the result of a competitors problems? Sugar can turn to shit overnight and you could find yourself fighting for scraps in the bloated middle thats filled with one-hit wonders and everyone else sucked into the pull of mediocrity.The way in which you deal with failure determines how you will achieve success.A smart person will create a plan for success but its a mistake to create one and never change it. No matter how smart or talented you are, you will need to constantly revise your approach so you can measure and adjust as you go.Its just as essential to understand why you succeed as it is to understand why you fail.How To Make It Work For You Toast your success Then conduct a post-mortem on how, and why, it happened. Take a look at all the pressure points along the way, those times when a decision or action made a significant difference in the outcome. Examine your thought process as you made each decision. What made the difference? Did you listen to your gut or make the choice based on facts? Its not that theres a right way to do things but it is important to understand how you make your decisions and what factors have input into them.5. Unwilling to failMost great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure- Napoleon HillPeople get stuck in mediocrity because they tire of the constant battle to always win. They fail to understand that life is not all about winning and losing.Entrepreneurs and successful startup companies fail, recover, rebuild, take a risk, and fail again. At some point its about something more important than success or failure its about what they learned from the experience.Failure is not fun but there is no one formula for success. Its always a trial and error process where we choose whether or not to learn from our experiences.Youre only stupid if you fail to learn from your failure.How To Make It Work For You Remember that when we fail, get up and try again, we build muscles. In the same way, let failure be a powerful learning tool to help you in the future.This article originally appeared on LaRae Quy.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 hab its of mentally strong people

Saturday, December 21, 2019

How to Build Your Personal Brand When Youre an Introvert - The Muse

How to Build Your Personal Brand When Youre an Introvert - The MuseHow to Build Your Personal Brand When Youre an Introvert When it comes to excelling in your career, you likely know that building and growing your personal brand is a key piece of the puzzle.But, heres the thing The very thought of pasting on a smile and a name tag, shaking the hands of a bunch of strangers, and reciting your elevator pitch makes you nauseous.You consider yourself an introvert. Now, contrary to popular belief, that doesnt automatically qualify you as someone whos painfully shy or dislikes people altogether. Instead, as Myers Briggs explains, you get your energy from a mora internal source- like your own thoughts, ideas, and time for reflection. In contrast, extroverts feel most energized by activities and groups of people.But dont worry if the thought of mingling makes you super uncomfortable. Personal branding isnt all about schmoozing over cocktails at a networking event- in fact, thats only a very small slice of it.Here are a few ways that you can build your personal brand, without having to pretend youre an extrovert.1. Leverage Social MediaSocial media is an incredibly powerful tool for personal branding- for both introverts and extroverts. But, for those who prefer a little mora alone time, leveraging social media can be particularly appealing.Start by ensuring your profiles are all up-to-date. That way, they can tout your skills and accomplishments for you, without you so much as saying a word.After that, try joining LinkedIn groups or Twitter chats to participate in discussions relevant to your industry and connect with fellow professionals. Post interesting articles or updates you find to your own profiles. You can even write and publish your own content on platforms like LinkedIn or Medium.All of these tactics are far less anxiety-inducing than needing to strut up to a stranger at a networking event. Plus, they all reinforce your qualifications, keep you visible, and e ven establish you as a thought leader in your field- all without having to leave your computer.2. Focus on RelationshipsAs an introvert, youd much rather have a one-on-one conversation. Youre focused on meaning and might dread the thought of working the room to have short, surface conversations with everyone there.So, dont pressure yourself into thinking that you need to be the center of attention, speak with a large audience, or speed date as many connections as possible in order to foster a solid reputation.If you continue to build one meaningful relationship at a time with the people who actually matter to you, by setting up informal meetings or coffee dates, youll actually end up with a stronger personal brand (and more beneficial network) than those people who fly around networking events engaging in endless conversations about the weather.3. Expand Your QualificationsExpanding your skills and expertise is a surefire way to solidify and improve your personal brand. However, man y fail to actually take the steps to do so.Fortunately, this is a perfect option for introverts in particular, as it typically provides the opportunity for more reflection on your own ideas and even some more quiet time to learn a new skill.Take that online course youve been meaning to get around to. Read that book thats been collecting dust on your shelf. Or, pursue that certification that youve been telling yourself that youll get one day. You know the one? Its been bookmarked in Chrome purgatory for the past three years.Once you complete your extracurricular, make sure to post your new certification on your LinkedIn, your resume (if relevant) and your personal website to cash in on the branding payoff.Investing in yourself is always recommended. Itll strengthen your resume and your qualifications, but typically wont require time spent in the spotlight.4. Create a Plan for NetworkingEven if you consider yourself an introvert, you know that in-person networking is still unavoidable . Whether its at a conference, an awards dinner, or any other sort of professional event, youre probably going to find yourself in a crowd of strangers every now and then.Listen, this can be intimidating for even the most outgoing among us. So, dont beat yourself up for feeling nervous or anxious- thats perfectly normal.However, if youre aiming to strengthen your personal brand, youre still going to want to use this time to your advantage by engaging in some conversations and making a few key connections.One of the tactics that can be particularly helpful for introverts is to have a plan- before ever even wandering into that sea of people. Are there any specific attendees youre hoping to chat with? Great. Think through ahead of time how youll approach them and what youd like to talk with them about. You can even arm yourself with a few conversation starters.Knowing that you have a plan in place will help to boost your confidence and make that event a little less overwhelming. Plus, if you can keep your focus on having those one-on-one conversations that you know are most beneficial to you, itll be that much easier to forget youre in a jam-packed room.Oh, and if you reach a point where your energy feels totally depleted, dont hesitate to step outside or head to the bathroom for a brief reprieve and a little time to recharge.Building a personal brand can feel daunting for anybody- but its especially tough for introverts. Focus on doing a few things that could really elevate your brand, rather than overwhelming yourself with all of the options that are out there.Get started by giving these tactics a try, and youre sure to strengthen your network and your reputation- with as little anxiety as possible.

Monday, December 16, 2019

Job Application Mistakes to Avoid

Job Application Mistakes to AvoidJob Application Mistakes to AvoidMost of the time, the job application process is pretty straightforward. Even so, there are job application mistakes that can cost you the opportunity to advance in the hiring process. Competition for jobs is keen, so you need to make sure your employment applications, both paper and online, are as polished as possible. Take the time to carefully complete every application you fill out to be sure the information is accurate, your dates and job descriptions are correct, and there are no spelling or grammatical errors. Some Common Mistakes to Avoid Skimming the instructions and missing the real intent of the application questions. Read carefully and dont rush. After all, who wants an employee who doesnt follow directions?Writing see attached to avoid filling in the material on the application. Many employers will screen primarily on the application itself, so you need to fill in all the blanks even if the information is duplicated on an attached resume.Supplying generic statements about your skills or experiences. Instead, highlight and front-load the skills and experiences most relevant to your target job. Fabricating or exaggerating your qualifications. Dishonesty and fabricated information are grounds for immediate dismissal, so avoid the temptation to make up or puff up your credentials.Applying to jobs youre notlage qualified for. If the position requires an advanced degree or a certain number of years of experience that you dont possess, dont waste your or the hiring managers time applying.Submitting your application to the wrong person or department. Make sure you direct your application to the individual or department referenced in the ad or job post. You might also want to copy other contacts you have at the company I thought you might want to see the materials which I submitted to HR given our helpful informational meeting last week. Spelling or grammatical errors. Copy and paste onli ne descriptions into a spelling and grammar checker like Word first. Put your finger on every word and make sure it is spelled correctly. Read your document out loud to check for grammatical errors, and, when possible, have another set of eyes review your document before submission.Writing descriptions that dont include accomplishments. Even though the application says job description, take that to mean a description of how you added value as opposed to a bland list of duties. Using numbers to quantify descriptions is a good way to highlight accomplishments, Managed financial oversight of $500,000 annual fundraiser. Neglecting to explain job gaps. If you have legitimate reasons for gaps in employment, find a way to explain why you were out of work, such as I left in good standing to care for my newborn baby or a terminally ill parent.Listing an unprofessional sounding email address. Set up a separate email account for job-related purposes that doesnt include anything like partygirly ahoo.com. Application Tips It can be helpful to write out a master list with the dates and descriptions of your education and the jobs you have held in chronological order. When you are filling out applications, you can refer to your list, and be sure that you are providing accurate and complete information to each employer. If you submit a resume as well, you will want to tailor it to the individual position you are applying to, highlighting the most relevant experiences. These may differ from the chronological list that the general application may ask for, which is one of the reasons they may request supporting documentation to get a more complete picture of your qualifications. Before you submit the application, read it through again, scanning for typos and making sure that you answered all the questions completely and appropriately. Submit All the Required Documents Its important to pay attention to the details of the requirements for the application listed in the job po sting. Sometimes, in plus-rechnen to filling out an application, the hiring manager will require you to submit a resume, cover letter, portfolio, list of references, etc. To be considered for the job, make sure that you submit all the documents requested. If you dont follow the application instructions, its an easy way for the hiring manager to eliminate you from contention.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Night Shift Supervisor Career Overview - Job Description, Skills, Duties, Education, Training, Job Outlook Salary

Night Shift teamberaterin Career Overview - Job Description, Skills, Duties, Education, Training, Job Outlook SalaryNight Shift Supervisor Career Overview - Job Description, Skills, Duties, Education, Training, Job Outlook SalaryNight Shift Supervisor Job DescriptionA hospital unit functions round-the-clock, providing patient care services 24/7. Emergency care and bed side care is needed for patients throughout the day and the healthcare team is required to constantly work, even during the night to provide assistance and advice to patients and their relatives.A Night Shift Supervisor is designated with the responsibility of one or more nursing units, with particular duty at night. A Night Shift Supervisor may take care of a specific unit of the hospital, like the critical care unit, to ensure accountability and steady and smooth functioning of the in patient nursing care department.There can be different types of Night shift supervisors, namely clinical supervisors that address the patient care issues or administrative supervisors focusing on staffing and administrative duties. Some qualified and trained supervisors may handle the dual functions of administration and clinical management.Create this ResumeNight Shift Supervisor Skills/DutiesSince a Night Shift Supervisor, is primarily involved with nursing care services, it is imperative that the supervisor be well trained and possess sound clinical knowledge, have strong interpersonal skills and have excellent time management skills.In addition to the basic clinical and administrative skills, a night supervisor may also need to have specific training and certification in Advance cardiac life support (ACLS).In addition to acting as a supervisor for clinical and administrative functions, a Night Supervisor also acts as a mentor and educator for fellow nurses.A Night Shift Supervisor should possess efficient problem solving skills to manage and interact with physicians and other hospital staff, and act as an adv ocate for the patients and their relatives.Night Shift Supervisor Education and Training Under normal circumstances, a Night Shift Supervisor may not need any specific post-secondary education or training. The focus is on interpersonal communication skills and understanding the operations of the concerned department. However, if a Night Shift Supervisor is involved in clinical supervision, she may require a basic training and qualification in nursing and should be licensed to work as a nurse. For other administrative supervisors, basic degree and qualification in business management or social sciences is imperative. It is essential for a Night Shift Supervisor to be trained in management, sales, accounting and marketing. Self discipline, judgment and patience are some of the attributes vital for a night shift supervisor.Night Shift Supervisor Job OutlookA Night Shift Supervisor may play multiple roles as a clinical assistant to physicians and as an administrative support for the hos pital administrator and managers. Though, no specific information about the job potential for Night Shift Supervisors in the United States healthcare market, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the profession is considered to have immense growth potential in the future.With increasing need for high quality of medical care services and increasing demand to cut medical costs, a Night Supervisor plays a crucial role in financial management, staffing and providing clinical support.Night Shift Supervisor SalaryAs per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a Shift Supervisor earns a median salary of $35,310, with higher remuneration for supervisors working in night shifts. Customize ResumeMore Sample Career ArticlesNephrologist Career Night Shift Supervisor Career Otolaryngologist Career

Friday, December 6, 2019

Why Everyone Is Mistaken About Clean Resume

Why Everyone Is Mistaken About Clean Resume Applicant tracking methods serve as an electronic gatekeeper for an employer. Skills ought to be listed at the peak of the resume followed by experience. The initial one is about outlining your abilities and your availability in a certain job position. Employers always find new hires that are well rounded and multi-faceted. They find it very unattractive. Ruthless Clean Resume Strategies Exploited Possessing a great resume format is vital to organizing your data in a means which will help you become noticed. The files are print ready and simple to edit to your own info. The download files also consist of social icons that are editable in Adobe Illustrator. Repeat exactly the same procedure and add some extra icons. Please read the listings description carefully to make certain you are purchasing the most suitable items. Ensure that your resume highlights the exact same. Professionally, our resumes are often the very first impr ession a possible employer gets of us. Infographic-style resumes have gotten popular, and they are sometimes effective when done well. Since youll see in the makeup artist resume vorlage below, it seems much better when it is possible to highlight a wide range of accomplishments. A traditional style resume schablone is also simple to customize. Once you have decided on your perfect resume template from our selection, follow our absolutely free expert guidance about ways to craft the great modern resume. The very first template on the list features an elegant black and white modern resume design that could be used for any sort of job in any business. Dont make stories that have zero base. For instance, you may be requested to present a project proposal or maybe to demonstrate your professional abilities by presenting ideas which may help an organization move forward. Detailing one to three projects can present your focus to detail and capacity to sustain study. When youre as king for a job which relies on the strengths of the person, you require a resume template that you may inject a little more personality into to make it pop. Get exploring and perhaps you are spotting something you feel is going to earn an effect on your job seeking process. As a consequence, its in your very best interest to steer clear of a functional resume format in any way costs where the focus is put on your abilities, instead of a chronological work history. There are a lot of ways to compose a resume. 1 common issue with todays generation is that nobody is prepared to accept they Dont know. More frequently than not, the regular college graduate hasnt been working for over fifty percent of their life, so they shouldnt make it seem as they have. The left sidebar provides you with extra room to get around the two-page resume, and the principal body area is ideal for your resume objective or summary and your work experience. You can also have criticism from your pal or fami ly for the last design. A perfect selection for candidates with lots of experience who desire to have a really good one-page resume template. You might find yourself sending the same resume to different job applications and although you may believe youre saving time youre actually lessening your probability of receiving an interview Its important to get your resume stand out from the work competition. Whichever format you select, it should make you become selected for the job youre applying for. Submit the same resume for each job. Timeless is an easy and clean Word resume template with a design acceptable for a myriad of professional resumes and CVs. The template is not hard to customize and edit together with print-ready. It includes two resume pages as well as a cover letter template and can easily be edited and customized with your choice of fonts and colors. It is available in Photoshop and Word file formats and you can also choose from dark and light color themes to create an attractive resume as well.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Thank You Cards, #8220;Holiday Trees#8221; and the Workplace

Thank You Cards, 8220Holiday Trees8221 and the Workplace This is such a chaotic time of the year. Vacations, family and days out of the office make our time in the office that much more hectic and hurried. In the midst of all that is going on, there are a few things that we should take some time to reflect on, and work at for the betterment of the workplace. Whether youre a leader, or a problem solver at work, these are some actionable ways to make the workplace better for the holidays. Showing AppreciationMaking an effort to ensure that those around you know that you value them, is very often forgotten about. Its so easy to start taking people for granted without even realizing youre doing it.A leading reason for dissatisfaction at work is lack of recognition. That is a shame for several reasons, but specifically because it is insanely easy to remedy and prevent. A lot of issues in the workplace can be complicated, or they might take ample resource to fix. This particular, all too common issue of lack of appreciation in the workplace is one that simply needs to be recognized and worked on.Here are a few easy ways to show appreciation at workHave a stack of Thank You cards on hand. Theres nothing like a hand written note to show someone that you valued their help or input.Tailor those holiday gifts to their passions. A generic gift card doesnt exactly show that much thought was given. What they say is actually true, Its the thought that counts.Food. Everyone likes food. Bring in some bagels, baked goods or spring for a few pizzas. Its such a simple way to put a smile on everyones face.Whatever effort you make toward showing your team appreciation, if its not genuine, it will umstand flat. An iPad from a crappy co-worker is still just an iPad from a crappy co-worker.Time OffThere are about 173 valid reasons that workers will need time off this month. So whos going to man the ship? The issue of time off can turn into a resentful HR nightmare quite quickly.Take control of the situation with a few of these tipsRequest offs and a draft schedule should be completed way ahead of time to allow room for changes and compromises.There should be one way to turn in request offs. No sticky note/email/self-service portal jumbles. A defined process is best.Work it out together. Make some trades and compromise among yourselves.Mobile hot spots are great for getting work done on long trips. Time out of the office doesnt necessarily always mean time off. You never know who might actually want an excuse to turn down an invite to their cousins boyfriends white elephant gift party.Embracing DiversityPlease remember that Christians and atheists arent the only two groups of people in the office. Further than that, remember that religion isnt the only aspect of diversity that should be embraced during the holidays.Dont give non-religious folks or those without children the sha ft when it comes to time off or flex time. They deserve the same allowances.Embrace diversity by learning about one anothers beliefs. Soliciting context about a workers beliefs and values (with boundaries, of course) can improve office cohesion.Allow for travel time. Not everyones family lives 10 miles away.Dont be the a-hole who insists on calling it a holiday tree. Be natural and genuine with your appreciation for diversity.Enjoy Your Time at WorkWhen we were children, this was the most carefree, wonderful time of the year. Now that were adults in the workforce, this is the most stressful, hectic time of the year. Dont forget to stop and smell the poinsettias. As soon as you leave work, youre running around shopping, running errands and picking people up from the airport. It sounds crazy, but while youre at work, relax. Youre exactly where youre supposed to be. Have fun with your co-workers, and save the chaos for 5 oclock.