Coping With The Workplace Bully – Part 1

Leave a comment

(Note: This two-part entry on bullying concludes my year-long series on job search skills and beginning a new job.)

Scoping Out the Political Landscape

Leave a comment

 "Chess, insanity and politics have always been inextricably
connected." ~ Sarah Hurst

Political dynamics begin in infancy and continue to pre-school. They intensify in elementary, middle and high school (for students and faculty/staff), and flourish on the college campus (for students as well as faculty and staff), and in the workplace. Politics are an integral part of our civilization. Thus, it's the wise person who recognizes and deals with the various political landscapes of his or her life. And very often navigating political situations can resemble a Chess game. To be clear, I am not an expert Chess player, having only tried my hand at it once or twice in my youth; but I am an expert on office politics, having played that game for several decades! And, having watched a few Chess games in my time I do see the similarities between it and the game of politics.

Pixabay

Renew, Regroup, Reinvent

Leave a comment

 

 “I was never surprised that they did not have a phoenix on display. There is only one phoenix at a time, of course, and while the Natural History Museum was filled with dead things, the phoenix is always alive.” ~ Neil Gaiman, Unnatural Creatures

“Fawkes is a phoenix, Harry. Phoenixes burst into flame when it is time for them to die and are reborn from the ashes.” ~ J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Just as the Phoenix of ancient mythology could be reborn, we humans love to reinvent ourselves -- in effect start over with a revised persona and fresh outlook -- whether rarely, occasionally or perpetually. Reinvention can either be desired or prompted because we are dissatisfied, bored or deeply concerned with a particular situation or our status in general.

Pixabay

Kwanzaa Etiquette

2 Comments

 "The seven principles of Kwanzaa -- unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith -- teach us that when we come together to strengthen our families and communities and honor the lesson of the past, we can face the future with joy and optimism." ~ President Bill Clinton

Out of the turbulent 1960s and the ashes of conflict emerged the celebration of Kwanzaa. The brainchild of activist Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa was established in 1966 to heal, unify and revolutionize the Black community in the wake of the Watts Riot in 1965. The focus of the holiday is the celebration of African-American cultural roots, focusing in large part on the African Continent's agricultural history. The name Kwanzaa is drawn from the Swahili phrase, “matunda ya kwanza,” which means "first fruits of the harvest." Kwanzaa is celebrated during the last week of the year, beginning on December 26 and ending on January 1.

Pixabay

Hanukkah Etiquette

Leave a comment

 

 

The "Festival of Lights," is a celebration of victory over oppression.

As my recent blog entries -- as well as those of past years -- have addressed the diversity of celebrations during the month of December, I'd like to devote this entry to the celebration of Hanukkah, which begins tonight and will be observed by millions of people worldwide. The first night of Hanukkah typically falls on the 25th day of the Jewish calendar month of Kislev and lasts for eight days and nights. Because my husband was raised Jewish and I was raised Christian, since our marriage we have celebrated both Hanukkah and Christmas. If you work with, are related to or will be visiting those who celebrate Hanukkah, I hope this entry will provide you with some insight to, as well as the etiquette of, this holiday.

Pexels

Holiday Etiquette Reminders

1 Comment

 

What we have to do... is to find a way to celebrate our diversity
and debate our differences without fracturing our communities.
~ Hillary Clinton

To make it through the holidays with your professionalism and dignity intact, there are some etiquette rules and concepts to keep in mind. I've elaborated on them in the past, so the following are reminders of these best practices in business and social etiquette, with links to my previous entries on the topics and the holiday etiquette involved:

Yes, Virginia, There Is a Black Friday

2 Comments


He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.
~ Roy L. Smith

Guest Post by Santa Claus

This post is for all the Virginias and everyone else who share my concern about Christmas decorations and paraphernalia in stores, restaurants, streets and even houses before other holidays have been celebrated, including Halloween. And now our beloved Thanksgiving Day is being turned into a bargain shopping day! In my humble opinion, that’s just plain wrong.

Let’s Talk Turkey!

4 Comments

 

"I am, on this account, not displeased that the figure is not known
as a bald eagle, but looks more like a turkey. For in truth,
the turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird,
and withal a true original native of America."
 ~ Excerpt from Benjamin Franklin’s Letter
to Daughter Sarah Bache, January 26, 1784

As we approach another Thanksgiving Day, I'd like to take this opportunity to pay homage to that noble and thoroughly American icon, the turkey.

Pregnant Women in Business

5 Comments

"The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) forbids discrimination
based on pregnancy when it comes to any aspect of employment...
~ EEOC

In the early 1950s, Betty Friedan was fired from her job because she was pregnant. A decade later her book, The Feminine Mystique, launched the second wave of feminism and the Women’s Movement of the 1960s and ‘70s, which resulted in many advances for women on the home front and in the workplace, including the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) of 1978. (The first wave of feminism culminated in the 1920 landmark passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted women the right to vote.)

But despite women's advancements in the workplace over the past half-century discrimination persists, especially against pregnant women.