In an effort to force employees to use their vacation time, some employers are resorting to paying for the vacation, in addition to the paid time off.
In a recent study by the U.S. Travel Association, researchers found that more than forty percent of American workers will not use all of their paid time off (PTO) this year. The website Glassdoor reports that about fifteen percent don't use any of their PTO at all.
One of the most important skills you could develop as a leader is self-awareness—continuously being aware of your thought process and your reactions to those thoughts. It includes understanding and analyzing your strengths and weaknesses. It's difficult work, but when a leader practices self-awareness strategies, it makes a world of difference: Self-aware leaders transform their work cultures and inspire their employees.
I was honored when Raymond "Bud" Geissler (SYTA Youth Foundation treasurer) and the Student & Youth Travel Association invited me to present at the 2014 SYTA Summit in Puerto Rico. According to TSA News, infringement of passengers' civil rights is one of the most controversial and unpleasant aspects of travel, and is extending to bus and train systems, as well. The Transportation Security Administration detains and conducts searches on citizens at bus and railroad stations, ferries, tunnels, ports, subways, truck weigh stations, rest areas, and special events. My presentation? Security Matters: 5 Must-Do Items.
You may be a Pinterest devotee or you may have deemed it unworthy of investigation, but there is reason to take notice. In 2013, Semiocast released data indicating that more than seventy million people, mostly women, use Pinterest. More than fifty percent of Pinterest's registered users visit the site daily or weekly. And, according to Reuters, most of the women who use Pinterest are in the middle to high socio-economic range, meaning they have disposable income. The ages of the typical user are widespread—about twenty-five percent each in the 25-34, 35-44, and 45-54 ranges, who may be interested in everything from destination weddings and honeymoons, to family trips, to retirement travel. If you're not using Pinterest to promote your business to them, you may be missing a big opportunity to market to a valuable demographic.
While you may have pinned recipes, outfits, workouts, and a range of things for your personal life, have you put this online tool to use to enhance your professional life? If not, you're missing out on some great opportunities. Here's how to use Pinterest as an educator: