This companys paid family leave benefits all caregivers

This companys paid family leave benefits all caregiversThis companys paid family leave benefits all caregiversIt was a cool Spring Saturday evening when Account Executive Stephen Wood decided to take a long walk around the neighborhood with his expecting wife, Lizzy, in an attempt to jumpstart her labor. As it turned out, this would be the last time that they would tour their local streets as a family of two.Steve and Lizzy had been patiently waiting for this moment to arrive for nine long months, and shortly after midnight the following morning, it became very clear that the time had come for their first child to arrive. Fortunately, at that moment, Steve knew that his work life could wait - his only focus was on his wife and the panzerschrank delivery of his first baby. Steve was the first beneficiary of his companys new Paid Family Leave benefit, and with the support of his manager and teammates, Steves family leave plan was triggered into action.I knew it was going to be differe nt, but in those first few weeks especially, you dont realize how much work becoming a new parent entails. Im grateful for the one-on-ones my Director spent with me to prepare for this, and the overall support from my team, because I really was able to drop everything which allowed me to completely focus on becoming a dad. I didnt have to think twice about being there for Lizzy, particularly as she was learning to breastfeed. She and our son, Gregory, both needed my help and the great thing was, they didnt have to ask for it I was completely available for my family.Steve works for Internet Creations, an NJ-based Salesforce Consulting firm offering Paid Family Leave to employees who welcome the birth of a son or daughter, the sitzordnung of a son or daughter for adoption or foster care, or to care for a family member who may have a serious health condition.Steve had the option to take all eight weeks of his fully-paid family leave at once, or he could take advantage of a gradual-ret urn-to-work option, which would allow him to spread the same amount of paid time off over a 12-week period. This gave him some flexibility to configure his leave based on his familys needs. Considering all of the new responsibilities and adjustments that a family typically deals within the first few weeks after welcoming a new child, Steve found comfort in knowing that his professional life was supporting his family life when it mattered the most.Looking back, Lizzy knows that Steves involvement and time spent at home made a significant impact on all of themMy son and I are now three months in, with a healthy breastfeeding relationship, thanks to the support from my husband that was available from the beginning. I am so grateful to have had Steve by my side during sleepless nights, to help soothe a crying newborn and to change countless diapers, so I could rest and recover from labor. He was able to help prepare meals and clean up so that I could put my energy toward feeding our bab y. Steve and Gregory have an amazing bond now.Steve agrees, The best part is, Gregory knows me when I walk in the door. He knows Im Daddy, he smiles. I honestly dont think that would be happening if I didnt have the opportunity to spend as much time with him in these first few months that I have been, in my most challenging and rewarding role - as a new Dad.Today, 89% of men want to take time off from work after their babies are born and think it should be paid According to a study conducted by Boston College called The New Dad. Also, the American Psychological Association has published that Psychological research across families from all ethnic backgrounds suggests that fathers affection and increased family involvement help promote childrens social and emotional development.The New Dad also offers that 2-out-of-3 fathers say that caregiving should be divided equally with their partners, and while fathers who state that caregiving should be divided 50/50 with their partner, they also admit they are unable to do so.Companies like Internet Creations are proving that while todays respective caregiver roles are evolving at home, todays workplace is implementing policy change in in gleichem abstand nebeneinander to support the needs of all working parents and caregivers equally.Liz Angelucci Beggs is a progressive communications and talent development leader with over 15 years of experience navigating successful entrepreneurial environments and delivering internal/external communications, talent acquisition, company culture, employee experience and employee engagement programs in the software and media industries. Beggs is a working mom of two, with a passion for connecting people to opportunities. She enjoys telling the stories of extraordinary companies and the people who make companies extraordinary. This year, she was recognized as a 2018 Best 50 Women In Business by NJBiz. Connect with Liz on LinkedIn or Twitter.

3 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview

3 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview3 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job InterviewThe best job interviews typically involve plenty of exchange between the hiring manager and the candidate. Thus, be ready to do your part by formulating several outstanding questions prior to meeting a potential employer. Youll not only come off as prepared and engaged, youll likely learn valuable information that can aid in decision-making.While a ton of possible questions exist, we asked three career experts to each choose one question they think every candidate should be sure to ask at a job interview. Consider their smart picks when formulating your own list of questions for a job interview1. What are the biggest challenges youre facing right now in this department?This question is important because you want to find out what problems your prospective babo is grappling with so you can talk about how you would solve those problems. If you can convince the decision-maker that you can solve those pr oblems, it will increase the likelihood of being offered the job, says Kelly Donovan,principal at Kelly Donovan Associates.She also notes that the question gives additional insight into whats going on in that company. You might have second thoughts about the job if the problems are very bad and would be nearly impossible to solve, especially if theyre indicative of larger problems within the company.2. How do you see your gruppes growth potential over the next three years?I feel that this type of question allows the hiring manager to project ahead. And hopefully the hiring manager will include the candidate in his or her projections, says Vicky Oliver, author of five career books, including301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions.Want to really make an impression? Oliver suggests bolstering the question with a lot of research that shows youve done your homework. Heres an exampleIve been really impressed to see that your company has added so many new employees this year. The a rticle in (trade magazine) forecast that your hiring boom would continue through 2019. How does this impact your team here? How do you see your teams growth potential over the next three years?3. How do you resolve disagreements?Disagreements at work cannot be avoided. Yet, people often operate under a false harmony where they feel pressured to agree, or at the other extreme, they are aggressive and adversarial, says Mikaela Kiner, CEO and founder of uniquelyHR. Knowing what happens during disagreements and whether they result in (healthy) conflict tells candidates a lot about a companys culture. Companies that invest time to learn how to talk about differences are far more likely to reach good resolutions. Its an important topic thats not likely to come up unless the candidate raises it.And while this information certainly assists a job seeker in evaluating the company, venturing into such territory also conveys something to the hiring manager.Asking a question about relationships and interpersonal dynamics makes the candidate appear more well-rounded, Kiner says.Asking a probing question like this demonstrates that the candidate really wants to know what its like to work with this company. It shows courage on their part, asking a question that may be difficult to answer.

Job Searching During the Holidays Dont Be a Scrooge!

Job Searching During the Holidays Dont Be a ScroogeJob Searching During the Holidays Dont Be a ScroogeAround this time of year, job seekers start wondering if it really makes sense to continue searching during the holidays. The answer is, yes Here are a few tips for being a savvy job seeker this holiday seasonPeople do hire during the holidays. Dont believe those who say no one hires during the month of December. Yes, it is true that things slow down or get put on hold, but there is still plenty of hiring going on before, during and right after the holidays. In fact, hiring managers are scrambling because some companies need to fill positions before the New Year or want someone to start soon after January 1. Candidates are still being interviewed and offers are made, no matter what people say.Theres less competition. Since many job seekers do stop looking for work around the holidays, there will be less competition to deal with for the job openings youre looking at. Hiring managers report that job applications slow down to a small trickle during the holidays and some state that because of this concept that no one is hiring, they actually have trouble finding suitable candidates for positions that need to be filled quickly.You will need to be flexible. Since a lot of people (including hiring managers) take their vacation around this time of year, there will be limited spots available for interviews. You should try to be as flexible as possible when companies are trying to make a hire before the New Year and need to move quickly to fill those slots and work around everyones schedule. If youre willing to juggle your schedule, youll have a leg up on the competition. Unfortunately, that might mean being flexible about your own holiday plans.You will need some patience. During this time of year, the hiring process can move slowly, especially if the key decision makers are out of town. Employers might take longer to get back to you, or you might have to wait for som eone to return from vacation before and hiring decisions can be made. You should always follow up after an interview, but dont be discouraged if it takes a lot longer than you thought for them to respond to you.There will be rejection. Along with the mistletoe, there might be a little rejection involved. And, it might come right around Christmas, right before the hiring manager leaves on his vacation. Dont let this interfere with you holiday plans. Remember, rejections are a normal part of the job search and if youre like the rest of us, youve racked up a few already.You might notlage start a new job until after the New Year. While there are plenty of people hiring, many of these positions do not start until after January 1. The reason behind this is a lot of staff members will be away and if you have no one to train you as a new hire, then whats the point of hiring you? So, look at it this way, find a job in December and dont worry about it until JanuaryPeople will ask you about yo ur job search at holiday parties. This is going to happen if they know youre searching for a job, so be prepared and make the most of it. If youre searching in December, you have the opportunity of telling people you meet that youre still in the game. You never know who might have a useful lead for you. Should you need a break from all the interrogation, deflect those questions and turn the conversation into a more interesting holiday topic like eating