The Birth of the American 40-Hour Week The Monday through Friday workweek was first introduced in 1926 when Henry Ford began shutting down his automotive factories on Saturday and Sunday to allow his labor force to rest. But it was not until 1940, when a provision of the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act mandating a maximum 40-hour workweek went into effect, that the two-day weekend was adopted nationwide. Pencils Down on...

This week, I received an email from one of my LinkedIn followers in response to a recent episode I published of my Finding Brave podcast. While I don’t know this individual, she shared openly and emotionally about her situation about how she’d been terribly mistreated and, in fact, bullied in her latest job by her manager who was a director and also, later, by the head of HR, after she quit and gave a short noti...

You’re going to have to be more flexible and more giving than ever as an employer in the current economy, but it pays off. If you are looking to retain good employees, join the club. Every smart leader knows that a cohesive, enduring group of workers is the rock on which you build new ideas, new ventures, growth, and all the rest. So I think we can agree that, once you’ve got people you trust who are doing g...

People often ask me for insider scoop on what to expect in the coming year when it comes to the job market. While of course the future isn’t entirely predictable, I’ve been noticing some trends that may help you out. Expect a wildly unpredictable hiring timeline (and process). At the beginning of the process, you might apply for a job and the employer sets up an interview within days. You might be asked to...

To succeed in our continuously changing world we must embrace new ideas and technologies, and strengthen Quester traits such as adaptability and flexibility described in Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life https://www.amazon.com/Questers-Dare-Change-Your-Life/dp/1508408963 Adaptability and flexibility have meanings which are broadly the same but not identical. Adaptable indicates long-term changes; flexible suggest...

If you are looking to move on to a more responsible, higher paid, or more interesting career, then your resume has to reflect your preparedness for that new role. Just as employees are told to “dress for success,” your resume must dress your past experience for your future role. Here are five important steps to take when writing or revising your resume for the job you want: Be clear about your goal. Resear...

You worked late on a project with another team, and the project manager didn’t even bother to thank you. We have all had the experience of going out of our way for someone only to have our efforts dismissed. Why does it bother us so much? This type of behavior is especially irritating because what everyone wants from other people is empathy. We all want to be recognized as unique individuals and to know that other peo...

In the business world, women haven't always had it easy. Until the end of the 20th century, it was uncommon for women to work at all. And even once we entered the hallowed halls of American companies, we struggled with unconscious bias and pay disparities. Fortunately, though, 21st-century business innovation is benefiting women in an unprecedented fashion. Let's explore a few recent innovations that have changed wo...

I recently re-read Arianna Huffington’s book, The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time, and it continues to change my life. I knew that sleep was essential for health and wellbeing but I see so many people caught up in the myth of how hard working and successful people must sacrifice their life for their career. That is a dangerous roller coaster to be on and it’s a constant reminder...

Are you a risk taker? If you said no, think again. You may be more of a risk taker than you think. Dan works as a sales clerk to support his fledgling acting career. Before that he taught school, following 11 years as a computer programmer. You may perceive Dan to be a risk taker having left two positions which had good security and pay. But Dan doesn't see himself as a risk taker. For Dan, risk involves physical ac...