Why Dont American Employees Take Vacation

Why Don’t American Employees Take Vacation When was the last time you took a vacation? Has it been a while? Have you ever cancelled or postponed vacation time due to work? If so, you’re not alone. According to research from Project: Time Off, 55 percent of Americans didn’t use all of their vacation time in 2015, resulting in a total of 658 million unused paid vacation days per year. Expedia’s 2016 Vacation Deprivation Study determined that the average American worker earns 15 vacation days per year, of which they only take 12. This is a stark contrast to workers in Spain, France, Finland, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates who earn 30 days of paid vacation annually, of which they take all 30. Add to the fact that the U.S. is the only industrialized country in the world that has no legally mandated annual leave, and one of the few with no maximum work week length. With 85.8 percent of males and 66.5 percent of females working more than 40 hours a week, the U.S. is one of the most overworked nations in the world. What Is the Reason? Despite establishing that most Americans need a vacation, why are so many relinquishing their time off? Project: Time Off reported that 37 percent of employees were too afraid of getting behind in their work, 35 percent said no one else could do their job, and 33 percent couldn’t afford a vacation. Additionally, 58 percent reported a lack of support from their boss, and 53 percent reported a lack of support from coworkers. In a similar survey by Glassdoor, 17 percent of employees gave up vacation time out of fear of losing their job, 19 percent hoped it would increase their chances for a promotion, and 13 percent wanted to outperform coworkers. Other less-obvious reasons for lost vacation time can be identified, such as the decline of the union, leading to less protection for workers’ rights. Also, recent outsourcing of U.S. jobs to countries with cheaper labor such as Mexico, India and China prompt American workers to want to work that much harder in order to be productive. Finally, with job tenure being significantly shorter than in previous years and employers laying off workers more frequently, this can be an incentive to employees to work harder in order to retain their job as opposed to risking termination by not keeping pace with work colleagues or industry standards. What Are the Results? The most obvious side effect resulting from overwork and a lack of time off is job burnout. Long hours and heavy workloads can lead to a number of health problems including depression, anxiety, weight gain and high blood pressure. In addition, burnout can lead to sleeplessness, irritability, alcohol or substance abuse and a sense of apathy or contempt by employees for their job or employer, having significant negative effects on their quality of work or work output. If not remedied, the effects of burnout can be irreversible. Another result of excessive work habits is diminished productivity, a direct contrast from its intended result. According to an article by Evan Robinson entitled “Why Crunch Modes Doesn’t Work: Six Lessons,” productivity is maximized when employees work a five-day, 40-hour workweek. When hours are extended, productivity begins to drop immediately, and continues to drop until, at approximately eight 60-hour weeks, the total work output equals that of eight 40-hour weeks. Regarding the short-term, Robinson equates working more than 21 hours continuously to being legally intoxicated. Longer periods of continuous work, such as months or even years without a break, drastically reduce cognitive function and increase the chance of employee error. Finally, employees who choose to surrender their vacation days may actually have a negative effect on the economy. When a person takes a vacation, they spend money on airfare, or extra money on gas to drive to their destination. They book hotel rooms, eat in restaurants, visit museums or theme parks, and support the travel, hospitality and tourism industry in a number of ways. By staying home and working, that support doesn’t exist. While one person’s decision to cancel his or her vacation is insignificant, consider the number it takes to add up to 658 million unused vacation days per year. This can be a considerable hit to the economy, and increasing unused vacation days only add to the problem. Despite the belief that longer work hours yield more reward, there is evidence to the contrary. Project: Time Off found that employees who took 10 or fewer days of vacation time were less likely to have received a raise or bonus in the last three years than those who took 11 days or more. One could argue that this is because prolonged periods of work without a break are counterproductive. However, another reason could be that employers or managers who discourage employees from taking time off are less likely to award pay increases. Regardless, employees are far more likely to burn out from overwork than to benefit from it. The moral of the story: take your vacation time. You’ve earned it, and the break will do you good!

Use Resume Examples For Teachers

Use Resume Examples For TeachersEvery person has his or her own idea of resume examples for teachers. Some might be better suited for students, some might fit the occupation of a homemaker, some might work as a paraprofessional or in the service industry, while others might be good for business professionals who want to have a successful career. Each one can have a different appeal. But all of them represent the best source to find and create your very own resume examples for teachers.A very good idea is to consider your field of employment and what you would do if you were teaching again. Even if you have no intention of teaching, these sample resumes can be very helpful when it comes to getting hired for certain positions. It is best to take into consideration your qualifications. And not only this, it can also help to provide you with some specific examples to include in your resume.Some examples of these example resume examples for teachers can come from various sources such as a lumni associations, church and civic groups, and perhaps even schools and universities. These can be found through word of mouth. For example, when people hear about a new school that is getting enrolled in certain courses, they can call the school and ask for contact information for the staff.Schools generally have their own official web sites where the staff can be contacted. But since most schools are small and one does not usually see most of the staff on the web site, this is a perfect option for students. If a teacher is interested in such a scheme, he or she can also give a resume to the schools to get a professional resume used as an example.The public schools have their own system of teaching that makes it easy for the teachers to be in touch with their students. This gives a student the opportunity to ask questions, and they will always be happy to give advice. When they see that you are interested in what they are saying, they will want to help them, which is very good pr actice.An additional special approach to creating a specific example is to discuss the possibility of providing some kind of resource material. This is a way of creating something to show that you are really committed to the education of students. You will need to know how to get students interested in the kind of materials they want to use for reference. Otherwise, they might end up having questions they have never considered before.It is best to find the right resources for ideas. But first, you need to make sure that the materials have already been mentioned on your resume. If there are things you have forgotten, it is good to remember that you can refer to some old notes you may have made a while ago.Internet and other resources are great sources of ideas. You just need to make sure that you read the rules before you create a document.

Go Ahead. Put Yourself First. Marla Gottschalk

Go Ahead. Put Yourself First. Marla Gottschalk Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin, as self-neglecting. William Shakespeare,  Henry V. I was completely transfixed when I read Shakespeares quote. We so rarely admit that it is good practice to put ourselves (yes indeed, ourselves) first. In our minds we rehearse what we would say â€" and how we would behave differently â€" to achieve this. However, it is a healthy exercise that we rarely put into play. This week I disabled the Contact page at The Office Blend. (No worries â€" I still read each and every comment that my readers share.) Why? Well, the contacts were exclusively one-sided and self-serving. (Please share our study. Please read our report. Please buy our service.) This dynamic was the polar opposite of why I began blogging â€" to share research, exchange ideas, collaborate and help others create a stronger work life. So, I felt a need to protect my joy in doing just that. I decided (at least for the time being) to put myself first and shut things down. Then I reflected on that very deliberate action â€" as it would likely be questioned. When did it become politically incorrect to put you first? Individuals who are gloriously happy at work, have realized this is absolutely necessary. Moreover, you cannot wait for someone else to do this for you. I challenge you to make a little room and put you (and your career imperatives) first. Carve out room to focus on elements that might bring more meaning to your work life. This is not about ignoring your responsibilities. It is simply about recognizing a responsibility to yourself. So. Feed your workplace soul. Eliminate one useless or draining element. Say no strategically. Take initiative. Lean in to the elements that bring you joy. Enroll in that course youve bookmarked. Read the book thats been calling your name. Have lunch with that inspiring co-worker. Deliberately identify what makes the difference. Protect that fiercely. Its alright to put you first sometimes. Go ahead. _______________________________________________________ Read more on the topic: Happiness Habits That Will Make You Thrive at Work, by Jennifer Moss. Work On Yourself First, by Donna Stonehem, Choose Yourself by James Altucher Dr. Marla Gottschalk is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist. She is a charter member of the LinkedIn Influencer Program. Her thoughts on work life have appeared in various outlets including Talent Zoo, Forbes, Quartz and The Huffington Post.

6 Tips for Balancing Career and Family

6 Tips for Balancing Career and Family Balancing career and family is not easy. I am a father of three wonderful children, with ages 10, 8, and 5. They bring my wife and me great joy!However, they are also a lot of work. Between school, extra-curricular activities, and daily routines, the time flies. Between the time at work and the time at home, there is no more free time. The days of binging Netflix videos are long gone.So, what if you find yourself in search of a job?How do you manage all of the above or even an online career search?Finding the TimeAn online career search can feel like a full-time job. Updating the resume, writing a new cover letter, and networking with other professionals all take time while in search of a job. None of these career search requirements are trivial pursuits.I have changed jobs twice since I have had kids. Thankfully, both times I was still employed. Indeed, a mentor long ago taught me: “It is better to look for a job when you have a job” However, with family obligations and a full-t ime job, where do I find the time to keep balancing career and family? I do this in the following six ways.1. Attitude AdjustmentThe first step is to treat time as money. Benjamin Franklin, in Advice to a Young Tradesman, Written by an Old One, reminds us, “Time is money”. Many of us work hard at balancing career and family. We work hard to be good stewards of our money and many struggle with the stewardship of time. While wasting time does not feel as tangible as ripping up money, it is equally unwise.2. FocusThe second step is to schedule a time where you can focus on your online career search. I would schedule an hour every other day to define my professional brand, review my CV, my LinkedIn profile, my online content, follow-up with my network, etc. I schedule this in my day just as I would schedule a workout. Note: Balancing career and family while in search of a job is much easier when you are healthy.3. Ask for HelpLeverage your entire network and ask your family, friends , and mentors to help critique your CV and broaden your network. Or, hire a professional to work with you. Announce you are in search of a job. See who can help you with your online career search.4. Take Your TimeUnless your current job is in jeopardy, take your time in your offline and online career search. Use the time to reflect on your career objectives, your value proposition, and most importantly your brand.5. Be Strategic With Your TimingThe Spring and Fall are the two seasons of the year where employers are most likely to be actively hiring. So, you will want to launch your online career search in January/February to prepare for the Spring hiring season; similarly, August for the Fall hiring season.6. Be Picky About What YouSince you’ll have limited time available while balancing career and family, make your interviews, networking meetings, and applications count.Do Not Put This OffOur time in this world is finite. It is fixed, and the clock is ticking. Even if you are not in search of a job, make the most of your time.If you feel like a new job would be better both professionally and for the family, you need to pursue it to start balancing career and family. With a better stewardship of time and help from your network or other professionals, you will be able to find a new job.It may feel daunting, but this career search will take you to the next echelon of your career and a new chapter of your life.

Does a Resume Need to Be One Page?

Does a Resume Need to Be One Page?A few years ago, I was speaking with a recruiter who made the point that most people in an employer's job hunt are asking the same question: does a resume need to be one page? In my experience, the answer is always yes. The only exception to this is when a job posting requires a little more time and attention. In this case, the recruiter will allow the candidate to send in two to three pages of material before the decision is made whether or not to proceed with the candidate.To be sure, it is a fact that for many job searchers, one page is all they need. They are extremely organized and just love to see their resume come through the mail every day. For others, however, a resume is a treasure trove of information and they tend to spend the majority of their time reviewing the details of each job posting. Because of this, two to three pages are generally sufficient to get a candidate into the interview.There are many advantages to a two to three page r esume. First, it can save the recruiter time when it comes to having to go through all of the information for each job. He or she will not have to pay too much attention to the rest of the materials on the resume, especially if it is only one page.The second advantage is that the recruiter will have a better idea of what the candidate is looking for. If the recruiter has a peek at the candidate's work history, he or she may have a rough idea of what the candidate wants. An important aspect of a one page resume is that the recruiter can make notes regarding a certain job opening and can possibly pick up the details of the skills a candidate is seeking in order to tailor the information contained in the resume to the needs of the company.In addition, if the recruiter has the opportunity to review the applicant's resume in person, he or she may find better job fit issues than if the resume was sent back. The recruiter will know more about the candidate and will likely have more informa tion available to him or her.The third advantage is that it helps to avoid a lengthy resume when it needs to be edited to add the missing information. Recruiters will have a better idea of what a candidate needs because they will have the chance to ask additional questions or contact the candidate to obtain additional information.It is not always easy to know what a candidate really needs. Sometimes the candidate will present a list of issues he or she has had with a particular position. While this is fine, the recruiter should be sure to remember that while the candidate may be concerned, these issues will not necessarily change a job situation.The most important thing is to get a resume back on the right track when it needs to be improved. One or two pages of information and an updated resume are a good way to start.

20 Steps To Better Business Writing

20 Steps To Better Business Writing 20 Steps To Better Business Writing Cover Letters / LinkedIn Profiles / Resume Writing Strong marketing documents can help you get in the door. But, as you know, they are not that easy to write. So, before you spend an hour composing a cover letter, spend ten minutes reading the following proofreading and style tips. While these guidelines will help with your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile, following them will improve all your written communication.   Always represent yourself in the best possible light. Here are 20 steps to the write stuff. Top 10 Proofreading Tips Read through the document several times, one time check for spelling, the next time check punctuation, etc. Read your copy backwards, read the pages out of order, check copy upside down. Take a break from your writing before sending it out, at least one hour, one day if possible. Always mark your place before you stop proofreading. Double-check the beginnings of pages, paragraphs, sections, page numbers, headings, etc. Triple-check the copy around errors, mistakes tend to cluster. Check that font is the same throughout the document. Be especially careful with numbers and totals, check calculations and how numbers line up. Double-check referenced material (for example see following page) content may move with revisions. Check the overall look and read of the document, grammar, white space, etc. Top 10 Writing Style Tips While writing style is somewhat of an intangible, certain rules do apply. Remember, career marketing tools are meant to sell you to a potential employer. However, each piece of business correspondence you send represents you. Documents should be attractive and presented in the proper format. Sentences shouldn’t be too long or short. Avoid sentences that go on and on forever. Writing should be clear and concise. Always make sure the message will be clear to your readers. Have someone else read your documents if possible. Do they understand what you’re trying to say? Documents should be organized logically, with smooth transitions between sentences. The opening should capture the reader’s attention. Do try to stand out from the crowd. But, avoid statements that are hard sell or too cutesy. What sounds great out loud may not translate when written. Write to your reader. A cover letter to a potential employer should be more formal than that to a business colleague. Keep the tone fresh, interesting and friendly. Avoid outdated, wordy phrases. You wouldn’t say “enclosed please find” or “as per” why write them? Be positive, use action words. Do say “I am . . .” Don’t say “I believe I am . . . “ Change each letter, if only slightly. Don’t send the same thank you letter to each person you meet during the interview process. Proofread. Proofread. Your documents must be free of errors, typos, poor grammar, etc.

Why I Look To George Costanza For Career Advice - CareerEnlightenment.com

If you are sending out hundreds of résumés and not receiving your desired response, it is time to pull a “George Costanza” and do the opposite. Get creative with your résumé design! If you are a bit too nervous, some easy ways to make the shift include adding small and appropriate images, utilizing an untraditional, but readable font (a favorite is Garamond) and adding color.It only takes a quick look around to realize that the world is becoming more visual by the minute. That should give you confidence to make the transition into making your résumé more creative. Do not forget: one of the most crucial purposes of a résumé is to get a foot in the door for the interview. I would argue that showing creativity and innovation are qualities that any prospective employer is seeking. Start with your résumé and you will be working for your ideal organization in no time.Just remember, if it worked for George Costanza it can work for you, too!