10 major financial issues all parents need to discuss before a new baby

10 major financial issues all parents need to discuss before a new baby10 major financial issues all parents need to discuss before a new babyMy wife and I are talking abouthaving our first child. Obviously, thats a hugefinancialundertaking. Every situation is different, but what are the main things we need to keep in mind, financially, about having a baby? How much should we allocate in ourbudget? Are we screwed? - Robert S., Nashua, N.H.Bringing a baby into your life is exhilarating, no doubt. But as you point out,its also a huge drain on your pocketbook. According to aUSDA study, typical American parents will spend about $12,680 a year in the kids first couple years of life (sadly, those costs stay fairly level throughout their childhood).I know Its a lot. But before you start raiding the liquor cabinet, its important to realize that a little bit of strategizing can sometimes dramatically lessen the damage.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThe fact that youre thinking about all this beforehand bodes well. So, what are all thefinancial issuesyou need to handle before becoming a parent? Heres what youll need to keep in mind before bringing a little one into your home.1. Health insuranceThe first year of parenthood is a steady stream of trips to the pediatricians offer for checkups. So even though therbeies no longer a federal mandate, having insurance is a no-brainer.It certainly wont hurt for whichever of you is working to bone up on the implications of adding a child to your employers plan. Depending on who has better insurance, it might be considerably less expensive under one parents plan than the others. If you know youll be trying to conceive, youll want to do a little math to see whether a lower-deductible plan is worth the switch.2. ChildcareOne of the biggest expenditures that parents have to make is paying someone to take care of their baby once mom and dad go back to work. The annual cost of childcare ranges from $4,822 a yearin Mississippi to a staggering $$22,631 in the nations capital.Fortunately, the IRS offers tax relief for working parents. Parents can use the dependent care flexible spending accounts - if your employer offers it - or the child and dependent care credit, which offsets some of the costs associated with cost of daycare and babysitters.Even with that help, though, the costs can be pretty scary. To get around it, you might try asking your employer if you can move to a compressed workweek or even stay at home on certain days in order to eliminate the need for outside help.3. Life and disability insuranceNobody likes to think about the possibility that theyll suddenly take on a life-threatening illness or get into a major accident. But when you have a spouse and child depending on your paycheck, youd be foolhardy not to make sure theyre protected from the worst.Fortunately, parents who are fairly young a nd healthy can normally get termlife insurancewithout breaking the bank. For example, a 30-year-old non-smoking male can get a 20-year term policy with a $500,000 benefit for around $25 a month if theyre in generally good health.But thats not the only protection youll need. For most bread-winners, its also a good idea to spring fordisability coverage, unless your employer offers a substantial benefit as part of your compensation. That way, if you get a serious injury that prevents you from working, your family will be on solid financial ground.4. A Will or TrustPreparing for the worst also involves putting together a will with guardianship instructions. Should the unthinkable happen, itll be you - not the courts - deciding who takes custody of your child. You may also want to create a trust that dictates how and when your heirs will receive any financial assets you leave behind. There are some really inexpensive DIY software programs you can use for this, but if that idea makes yo u nervous, youll have to hire an attorney. Prices vary, of course, although lawyers generally dienstgrad somewhere around $1,000 for a fairly standard will creating a trust will generally set you back at least that much.5. Emergency savingsA rainy day fundis an important failsafe for anyone in good financial health. Even for folks who arent about to enter parenthood anytime soon, the standard advice is to have anywhere from three to six months worth of expenses in asavings account, just in case. Suffice it to say, those with a baby in toe will want to be on the upper end of that range. The last thing you want is to shell out a boatload of cash for a new roof or a broken air conditioner and wonder how youre going to pay for your infants necessities.6. HousingWith a new kid on the way, that tiny one-bedroom apartment may not cut it anymore. For a lot of parents, that first pregnancy means finding greener pastures ideally those that can accommodate future additions to the family as we ll. Its probably not surprising, then, that the USDA study found that housing is the number one child-rearing expense.7. CarsAlready have a trustySUVparked in the driveway? You may not need a new set of wheels. Pulling a stroller out of a hatchback, on the other hand, isnt so fun. If youre in the latter camp, youll need to factor in how much a roomier mode of transportation is going to put you back.8. Food, diapers, etc.Its astounding how fast tiny little humans can go through a giant jar of formula. Needless to say, itll become a sizable part of your monthly budget. And lest you think youre getting off cheap because your wife breastfeeds, just think of all the things shell need to go au naturale pumps, nursing bras, Boppy pillows, milk storage pouches and so on.Diapers are another major culprit, of course.According to Walmart, the average family spends $527 a year if they use name brands, and about half that if they choose their store brand.9. Clothing and Baby GearWhen you add it all up, the list of contraptions youll need for your little one can look pretty scary. Theres the crib, the car seat, the stroller, the baby monitor the list goes on. The good news is that some that you can get some of these things from friends whose kids have outgrown them, and that happens pretty quickly.The same goes for clothes. Unfortunately, babies only fit into a given size for a few months (and sometimes less). Every mom Ive known loves shopping for this stuff, but you may be able to supplement his or her wardrobe with some hand-me-downs from people you know if youre open to it.10. College SavingsTheres no doubt about it the sooner you open a 529 plan for your kids, the better. If history is any guide, whatever money you put in now will grow exponentially by the time your kid is ready to head off to college.According to Savingforcollege.com, youd need to contribute $111 a month to cover even 25 percent of the cost of what a typical public, in-state tuition will be. But the truth is, anything you can kick in is better than nothing.By now, youre probably regretting asking the question. But youll be alright, man. Few would-be parents are 100 percent financially ready for all the challenges that a kid throws at you. At least youre thinking things through beforehand, so youre likely more prepared than most.This article first appeared on Fatherly.com.

Dont Be Seen as a Lazy Job Seeker 6 Strategies

Dont Be Seen as a Lazy Job Seeker 6 StrategiesDont Be Seen as a Lazy Job Seeker 6 Strategies0Finding a job can take a lot of time and effort, but whatever you do, dont be seen by hiring managers as a lazy job seeker. If you are serious about finding a great position with an outstanding company, you are going to have to put some work into it. Think of it as maintaining good habits. If you give your best effort into landing the job, it will be that much easier to continue working hard once youre in the door.Heres how to not be seen as a lazy job seeker1. Proof your application.Spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and formatting oversights are all signs that there was not a lot of care or attention put into your application. Dont be a lazy job seeker- read over everything you submit to a kompetenzprofil employer or have a friend proofread your resume for you.You could also check outGrammarlyfor an easy way to make sure your application is top notch2. Dont use form letters or resumes.T here is no doubt that online applications and applicant tracking systems can be time-consuming and frustrating. You still need to add the extra time towrite unique resumes and cover lettersto show your genuine interest. Most recruiters can absolutely tell the difference.While youre tailoring those documents, also be sure that all information is current and up to date.3. Follow instructions.Its not uncommon for employers to look for certain pieces of information, work samples, or other things that are important to the job. Make sure you read all the application instructions carefully.If you are asked to provide any follow-up information or materials, its a good idea to complete the directions exactly as they are written. A hiring manager will not be impressed by someone who cant seem to follow instructions.4. Do your research.Dont be a lazy job seeker who goes into an interview clearly not knowing much about the job or the company. Read through the website to learn a bit about the hi story of the company, its mission, and what markets its active in.Check out social media profiles to get a feel for the company culture. Read any reviews you can find on Glassdoor. A really great candidate will knowhow to research a company before a job interview.5. Ask questions.This is a great time to show what youve learned about the job, the people, and the company overall. Formulate questions that show a genuine interest to make a great impression. This your time to understand more about the company and job.Not asking at least one question of your interviewer can make you seem uninterested in the position.6. Be proactive.Dont just throw your resume out on a job board and wait. Dont be lazy job seeker, make an effort to search for the jobs and companies you are genuinely interested in and pursue those, says Anna Carncross, HR leader residential owned atMcKinley.Continue that proactiveness by following up on applications and sending thank-you notes after interviews.Start Your Job SearchRachel Jay contributed to this post.

4 ways to thrive when you have a grueling shift

4 ways to thrive when you have a grueling shift4 ways to thrive when you have a grueling shiftFor some, toiling away in the office from the crack of dawn or overnight can feel like the worst possible way to earn a living. Welcome to the world of early-morning and late-night shifts.While extreme work hours can be convenient for people who need to use time during the day for other commitments, theyre not always as manageable as your classic 9 to 5. Heres what youll need to do to get through it.Get lots of sleep beforehandSleep should be a top priority. Especially if you have to sleep during the day for a night shift, it can be easy to shortchange your rest.Its not just a responsibility its a matter of survival. Working rotating night shifts can be detrimental to your health, according to a 2015 a studyin the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.The research was based on 22 years of follow-up of 74,862 women participating in the Nurses Health Study (NHS).It found that women who toile d away in rotating shifts during night hours for 5 or more years have a modest increase in all- cause and CVD mortality, (CVD meaning cardiovascular disease), and that women doing this for 15 years or more have a modest increase in lung cancer mortality. These results add to prior evidence of a potentially detrimental effect of rotating night shift work on health and longevity.It also said that night shifts cause circadian strain and is linked to the risk of several chronic diseases.Its important to prepare for night shift work by scheduling strategically.Sarah L., a nurse at a university hospital, told the National Sleep Foundation what she does to get though her 7pm-7am shift three nights per week.I find it fruchtwein helpful to group my shifts together so that I am not flipping back and forth between day and night schedules constantly throughout the week. If I have the time and energy, I will exercise before going into work to experience daylight and work off some stress. The day after my last night shift, I will try to short sleep and wake up after only a few hours to make the most out of my day and get back on a normal schedule.I also try to go to bed early that night to catch up on sleep. Napping also helps out, Sarah told the foundation.Pack energy-boosting snacksIf youre working from 6am to 2pm, or midnight to 8am, your appetite will be out of whack. Youll crave sugar and rich foods that provide the false promise of keeping you awake. You might find it helpful to bring your own healthy options.An SFGate article sheds light on the importance of eating well when working overnight in the office.Large night shift meals will make you sleepy and encourage additional weight gain. Eat small meals or snack repeatedly on small amounts of food during your night shift. Pack fruit or vegetable juices and protein-rich foods, such as boiled eggs, sandwiches made with turkey or chicken, or a muffin spread with cheese or peanut butter. Eat these foods early in your nig ht shift, when they will give you needed energy. Include fruits and salads in your lunch bag. A packet of trail mix containing nuts, seeds and dried fruit, can serve as a snack, the article says. Another good discipline avoid cola or other sugary drinks even if they have caffeine. Their energy wont sustain you, and they could hurt your health in general. Drink water with lemon or cucumber if you want a flavor kick, and seltzer if you want the bubbles.Get comfortable and stay powered up Working nights shifts can be lonely and its easy to feel isolated and unsettled. Being physically comfortable can help. Bring a blanket or a heavy sweater to battle gusts of chilly air conditioning, or dress in layers if you know your building will be very warm during your shift.Pack a portable phone charger for travel to and from work, or if youre sent out on an assignment where you wont have access to an outlet.Dont forget those headphones Listen to calming meditation music if your work permits.Stay cognizantof your healthLaura McMullen wrote about how you should see a doctor if youre having a hard time during night shifts in an article for U.S. News World Report.If youre making errors at work, falling asleep on your commute, having trouble sleeping or feeling concerned about additional health ailments, such as high blood pressure or depression, check in with your health care anbieter. You and your primary care provider or sleep specialist may discuss alternative methods for easing night shift work, such as prescription medicines or melatonin supplements. He or she may also look for other sleep issues, such as sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome, McMullen wrote.Early and overnight shifts can be hard to manage, but there are ways to power through.

How to Find Jobs Online

How to Find Jobs OnlineHow to Find Jobs OnlineFinding jobs erreichbar can be a bit like walking through a labyrinth. Sometimes you find your way to the other side while other times you hit a wall. So what is the secret to finding jobs zugnglich? Well, there is no secret Finding jobs online just takes a little persistence, hard work, dedication, and a few good resources. Check out the information below on where to look and some steps to take to find jobs online.Wondering where you can find jobs online? Here are four great optionsJob boardsWhile job boards can be tedious to dig through, they do offer A LOT of potential job leads. Search job boards not only for open positions, but for companies you may be interested in connecting with. Additionally, job boards can serve as a great resource to discover new job titles, new companies, and new industries that could open up many more opportunities.BlogsThere are many blogs that offer career advice and information. Many times these blogs will post information on job fairs, companies with mass hiring functions, as well as information on start-ups you may have never thought of searching.Social Media and NetworkingSometimes it is about the people you know. Networking and the use of social media can aid in finding jobs online. Subscribe to social media sites, professional networking sites, and any online communities your college might have. Online forums and communities can also provide a platform to connect with others and get referrals through word of mouth.We couldnt leave this one out is a great resource for finding jobs online. Whether you are looking for part-time, flexible, temporary, freelance, or remote jobs, has it. Our job database is comprised of nearly 14,000 new jobs and over 3,000 companies all with flexible opportunities. Unlike many other online job sites, takes the guesswork out of the equation, as every job is hand screened to omit any potential scamSo now that you know where to find jobs online, here are some ideas to get you startedCheck DailyOnline job listings update on almost a continual basis. Make sure to check for jobs online every day. Checking daily will allow you to find the newest open jobs, postings with limited open times, as well as jobs needing someone ASAP. You can also sign up for e-mail alerts through many of the job boards providing job ads at your fingertips.KeywordsDepending on the type of job you are looking for, you are going to want to keep a list of related keywords and continually build it to include similar words that employers are using. For instance if you want to find a flexible job, you would compile a list of all potential synonyms that may be present in flexible job postings.Personalize DocumentsYes, it takes a lot of time to personalize your resume and cover letter for EVERY position, but it is worth it and sometimes the difference between getting hired and not even being considered. For employers that use Applicant Tracking Systems, your personali zed documents can be the difference between getting seen and getting lost. For employers that dont use Applicant Tracking Systems, having personalized documents shows that you read the entire job posting, researched the company, and that you are truly interested in the position.Watch for ScamsOnline job scams are unfortunately common, and its crucial to be cautious. Whatever you do, DO NOT give out personal information such as social security numbers, passwords, or any financial/banking information. Additionally, be wary of anything that offers quick money. Legitimate jobs do not offer easy money.There really is no science behind finding jobs online, it is more of an art form. With a little practice, a little time, and great resources like the ones highlighted here, anyone can find a great job online. For additional information on finding jobs online, continue to check out the blogHave you found a previous or current job online? Do you have a system you use to find jobs online? Shar e your experience and tips in the comment section below

The Downside Risk of Resume Font That No One Is Talking About

The Downside Risk of Resume Font That No One Is Talking About Order of Sections How you present the info in your resume is nearly as crucial as the content. Your contact info and name should appear on top of your resume. If at all possible, keep your resume to a single page. Section headings can be three or four points larger than the body text so that theyre simple to discover at a glance. Whats cool they created pictures, where you could observe each font and clearly understand the way that it appears like. If you like Calibri, also a wonderful sans-serif font, 12 should work nicely, though its a little more compact than Arial. The very best font pairs agree with one another. Besides your name, which ought to be a touch bigger, the font size throughout your resume should be the exact same size to guarantee readability. You are going to want to make certain that the font you use is professional, classic and simple to read. Font must be simple to read The font you spielblt tchen has to be simple to read. If you wish to use a sans-serif font, Arial is one of the greatest options for your resume. Things You Should Know About Resume Font Be consistent with stylization, and just select one or two to make sure your resume appears professional and simple to read. It is easy, nice to read and trendy. To some, additionally it is attractive. Ensure the font fits you and the business. Resume fonts are a means to stand out. Some resume fonts have to be avoided in any respect costs. If you are searching for an old-style font, you should think about using Garamond for your resume. Most Noticeable Resume Font Along with font types, the typical font size also needs to be carefully considered when writing an executive resume. Selecting the most suitable font, the suitable format, and the right font size is equally as crucial as the set of skills youre going to pitch to your prospective employer. You have many choices when it comes to selecting a font si ze and fashion. With so many choices readily available, determining the ideal font for a resume can at times be a challenging choice. The Number One Question You Must Ask for Resume Font Sans-serif fonts, on the flip side, do not own a small tail, making them considerably more distinct from one another. Using resume templates have become the most time-effective means of making certain that your resume iseasy-on-the eye. Needless to say, there are dozens and dozens of unique fonts to pick from, but not all them are befitting to use on a resume, so picking one is essential to be in a location to land work. On the flip side, there are some resume red flags whom Ive noticed over the years that you are going to want to steer clear of. Written letters read far better. Whats more, it was inspired by Scotch Roman designs of the 19th century, so should you wish to be noticed, you may want to go with something different. So you have to be certain that so-called character of the fon t will match the objective of your text. This font resembles a scribble, states Augustine. Modern-day employers will likely be reading your resume online rather than on paper, for instance, and might want details which you wouldnt see on a traditional resume. There are professional resume templates geared toward creative professions which save candidates lots of time. Ensure you understand how to compose a resume as thecontent is the main part. White fonting isnt a new idea, and many hiring authorities already understand ways to get around it. An excellent overall look of your resume is critical. The clean lines enhance the readability of the full document. The content is easily the most important aspect. Most professionally-designed resumes utilize color. The Nuiances of Resume Font Naturally there are considerations of quality and readabilitythats a givenbut which typeface is the most proper for your resume is dependent on the quantity of text which you have, your layo ut, what you wish to convey and what industry that you want to work in. 5 Bold text is excellent for drawing particular attention to a couple words. As soon as it is an alternative for creating emphasis, all-caps is a ton more difficult to read and therefore more difficult to skim than text that isnt capitalized. You also might want to put things such as education and skills lists into columns to conserve space. The War Against Resume Font At the exact same time, you would like to provide a positive first impression that youre a significant job candidate. There are a few people whom Ive hired through the years that had me wanting to offer them with the work simply based on their sternbezogen resumes. What do you need to pay your focus to When it has to do with writing resumes, considering the font is very critical as depending on how your resume looks, it is going to attract attention or eventually deflect it from hiring managers and possible employers.

These 16 companies (including Thrive Global) want to lower your stress level at work

These 16 companies (including Thrive Global) want to lower your stress level at work We need gender neutral dress codes in the workplace. If you dont yet agree with that statement, look no farther than a 55-page presentation given to women executives at Ernst Young in a June 2018 training. pThe presentation, which made headlines brde month when an offended participant leaked it to the Huffington Post/a, reinforced gendered stereotypes of how women should dress and present themselves at work. Some highlights, which are actually lowlights in terms of equality in the workforceul class=ee-ul ee-ulliA list of appearance blunders for women to avoid, including no-nos like too-short skirts, plunging necklines, bottle blonde, flashy jewelry/liliOutfit and grooming suggestions to minimize distractions from your skills sic set like good haircut, manicured nails, and well-cut attire/liliAdvice on how to dress dont flaunt your body sexuality scrambles the mind/li/ulp The women, there to invest in their professional development, were not learning how to be better leaders or combat sexist stereotypes at work, but instead were being lectured to about what to wear and how to groom themselves.pWhile the presentation wasnt the official EampY dress code, it does highlight bias and assumptions made around gender that women have to manage. And this particular training focused only on the male-female binary. Employees who identify as transgender or nonbinary might feel even more burdened by dress code policies based on gender. pImagine how much more productive all employees, regardless of gender, could be, if they werent focused on avoiding dress code policing.pTraditional gender-based dress codes can also discriminate on the basis of race. Many grooming guidelines for women, including rules on acceptable haircuts, are extra burdens for black employees, particularly those who want to wear their hair in natural styles. In 2010, Chastity Jones got a job off erto be a customer service representative from Catastrophe Management Solutionsbut the offer was contingent on her cutting off her locs. When she refused, the company took back the job offer, and when she sued, with the help of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, she lost her case in 2013 and again in 2016, when her appeal was dismissed. pAnd beyond forcing women of color to maintain their hair in a way thats deemed acceptable, gender-based dress codes can also discriminate against people of certain religions. Employees whose faiths keep them from cutting their hair or necessitate that they wear certain clothing (including head titelblattings) shouldnt be forced to adapt their beliefs to what their employer deems professionally appropriate for a woman at work.pThe possibility for gender-, race-, and faith-based discrimination posed by prescriptive employee dress codes has led the Human Rights Campaign to recommendthat if an employer has a dress code, it should modify it to avoid gender stereotypes and enforce it consistently. Requiring men to wear suits and women to wear skirts or dresses, while legal, is based on gender stereotypes. Alternatively, codes that require attire professionally appropriate to the geschftszimmer or unit in which an employee works are gender-neutral.h3Okay, So Gender Neutral Dress Codes Sound Good. What Do They Look Like?/h3pIn their simplest (which, in my opinion, also means best) form, gender neutral dress codes at the workplace can take the form of General Motors dress policy. When now-CEO Mary Barra was VP of global human resources for the automotive giant, she replaced their 10-page dress code with two words/a Dress appropriately. pIn the article linked above, the author explains why Barras dress code works so well She avoided assumptions, instead choosing to trust her employees judgment, which in turn empowered all employees and was particularly impactful for women. pFor workplaces that need more specificity about what employees can wear, HR should follow in the footsteps of other institutions that have successfully adopted gender-neutral dress codes. Namely, high schools.pAfter a wave of protests, social media outrage, and thoughtful advocating, several schools have revamped their dress codes/a, which tended to put undue burden on female students. New guidelines apply to all students, regardless of their gender. Instead of specifying the length of skirts versus shorts or the width of a cami strap versus a tank top, a Virginia high schools new gender-neutral dress codesimply defines what must be covered clothing must cover areas from one armpit across to the other armpit, down to approximately three to four inches in length to the upper thighs.pstrongWhat does that look like at work?/strong pSpell out specific dress code rules by article of clothing, not by gender, use non-gendered pronouns, and make sure that any grooming guidelines could apply to anyone. Dont place burdens on anyone based on the ir gender, and try to empower employees to manage their own appearance in accordance with professional expectations.pFor business casual workplaces, try this, adapted from Forbes/a Employees should dress in business casual attire, which could include casual slacks and skirts, collared shirts, blouses, or sweaters. Inappropriate attire includes sportswear, jeans, and unkempt clothing, among other options. Please exercise good judgment.pFor business formal workplaces, you could use the following Traditional business attire, including dresses, suits, and pantsuits, is required for external meetings with clients or prospects. Employees should use discretion on other occasions and are expected to demonstrate good judgment. pAnd for casual workplaces, which are on the riseaccording to Indeed/a, 50% of companies allow employees to dress casually every day, as of 2019go with something simple, like this, adapted from The Balance/a Dress comfortably for work, but please do not wear anything t hat could offend your coworkers or make them feel uncomfortable. That includes clothing with profanity, hate speech, or exclusionary language. Your clothing, while casual, should show common sense and professionalism.pNo matter the level of formality your dress code needs to define, make sure youre thinking from the perspective of all employeescurrent as well as futureand creating an environment where they can thrive.p----pstrongWant to share these tips with your company? /strongShow them this funkfernsprecher one-page guide on creating a gender neutral dress code p class=shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image img alt=Gender Neutral Dress Code Guide class=rm-shortcode data-rm-shortcode-id=UGVL4K1574631551 data-rm-shortcode-name=rebelmouse-image data-runner-src=https//assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjEwMDE3Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU3NDc2NjEyMX0.5akget5uOA_9aHMcPUxY1YM_Zn2w2Yhcj 7m_HSCqg7I/img.jpg?width=980 id=a14b6 type=lazy-image/ pbr/

Everything You Wanted to Know About Being Fired (But Were Afraid to Ask)

Everything You Wanted to Know About Being Fired (But Were Afraid to Ask)Everything You Wanted to Know About Being Fired (But Were Afraid to Ask)Getting fired is scary and stressful. Not only has your source of income just been yanked away from you, but you might be left with questions about what to do next, how to talk about it in future job bewerbungsgesprchs and even whether what your employer did was legal. Heres a quick primer on what you need to know about getting fired. I was fired without any warning. Is that legal? Generally, yes. No law in the U.S. says that employees must receive a warning before being fired. Good employers will typically warn employees before firing them, in reservierung to make sure that they have a chance to improve, and because they dont want other employees worrying that they could be fired out of the blue. But thats up to the employers own policy and isnt governed by law. Read How to Assert Your Legal Rights at Work. Does my employer have to have a good reason for firing me? Your employer can fire you for any reason at all, or for no reason, as long as its not because of your race, religion, nationality, sex, marital status, disability or other protected characteristic. You can be fired because your boss just doesnt like you or because the CEO wants to bring in her cousins neighbor to take your place. There are two exceptions First, if you have a contract, which most workers in the U.S. dont, your company is bound to the terms it lays out, including around separation. Second, if you work in Montana, youre in the one state in the country that requires firings to be for good cause. Will I be eligible to collect unemployment benefits? It depends. State laws vary, but most states allow fired employees to collect unemployment benefits as long as they werent fired for intentional misconduct or for violating clearly stated workplace rules. For example, being fired for poor performance wont generally make you ineligible to collect b enefits, but excessive absenteeism often will disqualify you. Read 8 Signs That Youre a harte nuss Employee. Does my employer have to pay me severance? No law in the U.S. requires severance payments, so its up to individual employers. However, you can certainly try to negotiate a severance package. Youll generally have more bargaining power for severance if your employer is concerned that you might sue for something (for example, if you had cause to think you had been discriminated against on the basis of race, sex or another protected characteristic) because severance is typically accompanied by general release of future claims against the employer. Your chances of severance can also go up if the employer thinks they have done you wrong in some other way, such as moved you into a position that you didnt have the skills for or fired you soon after you moved from out-of-state for the job. In that case, reasonable employers are likely to want to provide severance to cushion the blow. Read 5 Workplace Laws Your Employer Might Be Violating. Should I list the job on my resume in the future? It depends. If you were only at the job for a short period of time (say, less than six months), listing it will probably do more harm than good. A few months at a job wont be useful in showing any real accomplishments or advancement, and including it will likely raise questions about why you left so soon. On the other hand, if you were at the job for longer, you may prefer to list it, so that you dont have to answer questions about what you were doing during that time period. How should I talk about the firing if it comes up in an interview? Be prepared with a few sentences that explain what happened. Most interviewers will only need a brief explanation and wont expect you to present a detailed account of what happened. For example, you might simply say, Actually, I was let go. The workload was very high, and I didnt speak up about that soon enough. I ended up making some mista kes because of the volume. It taught me a lesson about the need to communicate better when the workload is high and to get on the same page as my manager about priorities if were in a triage mode. Or in another type of situation, you might say, It turned out to be the wrong fit. The job required expertise in web design, which is not my strength, and ultimately we agreed that they need someone with that background in the role. Whats really crucial here is being able to talk about the situation calmly and non-defensively. If you seem bitter and angry, thats going to be a red flag. On the other hand, if you seem to have learned from the experience and understand what went wrong, that can assuage any concerns from the interviewer.

It only takes one harassment claim to ruin a companys rep

It only takes one harassment claim to ruin a companys repIt only takes one harassment claim to ruin a companys repHearing about one case of sexual harassment can poison our view of a company. We dont see bad apples, we see rot in the roots of the tree. When we hear about a single sexual harassment case at a company, its enough to tank our perception about the company as a whole, according to new UCLA research highlighted in Harvard Business Review.We see one case of sexual misconduct as a bigger culture problemIn online experiments with over 1,000 U.S. participants, the researchers split participants into different groups. Each group read up on a fake company, but some also heard unsavory details. For the group that read about a sexual harassment claim made by a female employee against her manager, this story stayed with them and negatively colored their perception of the company as a whole. unterstellung participants were more likely to think that there was deeper culture problem at play.A single sexual harassment claim can be enough to dramatically shape public perception of a company and elicit perceptions of structural unfairness, the researchers write.When we hear about harassment, we are more likely to think that the company is unfair to its employees, even compared to other transgressions we might hear are happening.The group that read about the harassment allegation judged the company as less fair than the group that did not hear about it. They even saw it as less fair than the group that heard the company had a case of financial misconduct. A case of fraud is easier for us to swallow as the result of one bad employee than a case of sexual harassment.How can companies salvage their brand in the wake of sexual harassment? By taking the claim seriously. When participants heard that the company responded promptly and with consideration towards the victim, rather than with discouragement and suspicion, they were less likely to find the company to be an unfa ir place to work.

3 Must Do Tasks Before You Change Careers

3 Must Do Tasks Before You Change CareersChanging Careers? Here Are 3 Must Dos3 Must Do Tasks Before You Change CareersAre you looking to change careers? No matter if youre unemployed, thriving at your current job, or somewhere in between, its a good time to act. Why? The economy is retitelingat least thats what the business pundits sayand employers are beginning to add a few jobs to their payrolls.So, here are three bases you must cover well in your search for a new careerDefine your transferable skills. In other words, make a clear connection between your present and your future. Write a list of the skills youve accumulated up to this point in your career. Then, write a list of the skills that will be needed in your new career. Highlight those that are exact or near matches. For example, editing and writing skills from a career in journalism can transfer well into a marketing environment.Utilize the cover letter. Your resume alone may not be enough to convince a hiring manager that , even without direct experience, youre qualified for the new role. Thats where your cover letter comes in handy. Use it to tell the hiring manager how your skills and experience from other industries can help the company. Its better that you point out that connection than assume theyll figure it out. The more youve thought about how you can make the switch, the better you can articulate it. Using the example above, you might write something like thisMy 10 years of editing and writing experience in print and online media would fit very well with the email messaging, content editing, and copywriting needs of the position.Work your network. Check your LinkedIn contacts, your address book, or your old Rolodex. Do you know anyone who works at a company youd like to work for? Or anyone who can introduce you to someone at that company? Do you know or need to find someone who works in a position or industry youd like to work in, who can give you valuable information about what its like? Th ese are the kinds of contacts you need to makeonline and in-personto ensure that the change youre considering is the right move for you.Of course, changing careers usually isnt simple, and there are more bases you need to cover. But these three are very important as you weigh such a critical decision. You dont want to make the switch having left any questions unanswered.