Volume 12, No. 10 • October 2015

Spotlight

A Job Readiness Strategy for MLIS Students and Recent Graduates

By Heylicken (Hayley) Moreno

There is a saying by Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, “Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” This can ring true in many aspects of our lives but it is especially imperative when it comes to getting ready for the job market. As the economy continues to recover, library school graduates are facing better prospects in landing a job but still face challenges when it comes to competing with more experienced … Read the rest

ALA-APA Seeking Committee Volunteers

American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) President-elect Julie Todaro is seeking volunteers for appointments to 2016-2017 ALA Allied Professional Association committees. The online committee volunteer form is open now and closes on Tuesday, December 1, 2015. More details are available in a recent press release from ALA.… Read the rest
October is National Work & Family Month

National Work & Family Month is a nationwide initiative designed to help business leaders learn new ways to ensure their workplaces are meeting the needs and challenges facing employees today. Sponsored by WorldAtWork.org, the observance highlights the seven categories of work-life effectiveness including caring for dependents, health and wellness, workplace flexibility, financial support, paid and unpaid time off, community involvement and organizational culture. … Read the rest

My Team’s Workload Is Too High! What Should I Do?

When the demands on the team you manage are higher than your group realistically can get done, how can you tackle the situation without just throwing up your hands and saying “no, we can’t do all that” or expecting everyone to work 80-hour weeks? The author of this article offers five quick tips to help answer this question.… Read the rest
What to Do When Your Boss Has a Mental Illness: How to Address the Person’s Behavior in a Caring Way While Maintaining a Safe and Productive Workplace

Working for someone who has a mental health challenge can be very disconcerting, causing you as an employee to feel overwhelmed by not knowing how to handle the situation. Taking action can be very difficult because unlike an employee, a manager could retaliate if he/she feels threatened by an employee. The author of this article suggests three practical steps to consider for handling this type of situation.… Read the rest

Survey Says: Workers Super-Stressed Over Finances – Especially Retirement Savings

American workers appear to be stressed out over their finances. According to HRDive.com, a survey which was commissioned by John Hancock Retirement Plan Services found that 75% of people have experienced moderate to high stress in the last six months, with 66% saying their finances cause stress. Of that group, 61% say the stress manifests itself psychologically or physically.… Read the rest

Rude Behavior in the Office Is Contagious

According to health enews, researchers found that dealing with rude co-workers on a regular basis not only creates a toxic environment, but their uncivil behavior can be contagious and spread through the office like a virus. As a result of their findings, researchers advise people to make a conscious effort regarding their attitudes. One psychiatrist also suggests that “If you feel frustrated after an impolite interaction, take a few minutes to yourself to take deep breaths and regroup before … Read the rest

It’s Not a Good Idea to Have a Policy of Firing Employees When They Turn 62

One company learned the hard way that it is not okay to have a policy of firing people simply because they turn 62. Nor should you retaliate when employees contend (correctly) that this is illegal. This article briefly explains that employers should know the basics of the many anti-discrimination laws, or at least have qualified people providing advice about compliance.… Read the rest
Employer Facing Suit Over Firing for Medical Marijuana Use

A complaint filed accusing an employer of discrimination and invasion of privacy is centered on an employee who was fired because she uses medical marijuana. According to an article on Masslive.com the employee was let go for failing a company drug test. While this is the first case of its kind in Massachusetts, it probably won’t be the last — either in that state or any state that allows medical marijuana use.… Read the rest