The Workplace Bully
Bullying is a repeated, aggressive behavior where one person in a position of power, intentionally with deliberation intimidate, abuse or coerce
Human Resources
Millennials: Diverse but Inclusive?
They are the offspring of the Boomer generation that gave us the Civil Rights movement. They are responsible for the nation’s election of its first Black President. Demographers call them the most diverse generation ever. They were educated in school systems that emphasized mainstreaming, collaboration and diversity. They were exposed to diverse classrooms that wereRead… Read more »
Snitches, Cultural Interpretation and Inclusion
I used to be a prison chaplain. I got very familiar with the phrase “snitches get stiches.” Among people doing time, blowing the whistle on someone was the vilest symbol of disloyalty. We see this “keep it in the family” culture in other settings particularly among male athletes. The notion that what happens in theRead… Read more »
Achieving Victory with Synergy
In present day government land you might roll your eyes or even cringe a little when you hear workplace fads that have been overused like innovation, diversity and going green. But what about synergy? Yes, there was a major push in the early 2000s for fostering synergy in the workplace but it is a conceptRead… Read more »
The Wonders of Workplace Wellness
Gummy bears, double-stuffed Oreos, birthday cake, buffalo wings, chocolate chip cookies from Costco, Taco Bell and homemade fudge – yes please! No I’m sorry, I actually meant to say no thank you (but in my heart I still meant yes). These are just a few of the goodies I’ve encountered on a regular basis atRead… Read more »
Why Starbucks’ Race Together Campaign Should be Careful
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has asked employees at his 7,300 stores in the U.S. to voluntarily write #RaceTogether on their coffee cups of their customers as a window to talking about inclusion with his baristas. While he should be commended for his corporate responsibility to initiate conversations with customers on race relations, his approach addressesRead… Read more »
Why Are You Not Taking Vacation?
A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in. ~ Robert Orben By the time you are reading this, my husband and I will have returned from a weeklong vacation in San Francisco, California. I love taking vacations. There is nothing like decompressing and relaxing from the busy and oftenRead… Read more »
Comfortable…Around People with Disabilities?
I had a friend who always said, “As quiet as it’s kept…” meaning he would call out the so-called “elephant in the room”; the topic that no one wants to talk about. You could expect to hear… “As quiet as it’s kept, the only reason they laugh at Uncle Herb’s corny jokes is because he givesRead… Read more »
Finding Your Agency’s Shining Stars
According to Katherine Archuleta, Director of the Office of Personnel Management, four out of ten federal employees will be eligible for retirement in the next five years. With the impending emptying of desks, who will step up and be the government’s new shining stars? Defense and intelligence are fields of government where there is noRead… Read more »
MCS, ‘Canaries’, and the Workplace: What They Might Mean To You
Confession time! I’m a canary, of sorts. No, I do not sing like one. (In fact, during school assemblies, I was told to lip-sync, for the sake of everyone present!) — Like an estimated 15% of Americans, I am highly sensitive to many common chemicals found in offices, homes, and retail establishments. – Why amRead… Read more »