Tag Archives: work

How To Protect Your Income When You Are Self Employed.

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tea, #30daysofgratitude , 30 days of gratitudeIf the Covid pandemic has taught us anything it’s that anything can happen. No matter how hard we work something can blindside us and affect our business. When you are self employed you have to be extra cautious and have plans in place.

For all of the benefits of self employment: flexibility, the ability to work anywhere, and being your own boss; there are the things that make being self employed tough: no holiday pay, sick pay or pension. It is important to protect your income when you never know when the next pay check is coming from. Here are some tips for income protection, which is something everybody needs.

The first thing you can do is get some income protection. Income protection pays out a percentage of your salary if you’re signed off of work through illness or injury. It’s one of the least bought types of protection in the U.K, despite being a perfect choice for literally anyone earning – whether they’re self employed or work for someone else, have a family or live alone. It can really help if something unexpected happens.

Other than getting insurance to protect your income you can also make sure you have a buffer of savings. It is important to have at least three months savings to protect you if your income dries up. When you are self employed it can take people months to pay you, and your income can dry up for a few months. Save a percentage of your income every month. Then you will not have to panic if work slows down.

Being self employed is a fantastic thing but it can have its drawbacks. Make sure you are protected if things go wrong.

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Conquer Your Fear: Why You Should Book That Overdue Dental Appointment

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Across Australia, it is reported that there are 5.7 million residents who are currently living with dental health issues. Various factors contribute as to why this total is so high, ranging from the lifestyle of the individual, how often a person brushes their teeth and also when their last visit to the dentist was.

However, there is an increasing number of adults avoiding booking an appointment at the dentist, with a significant portion not attending for many years. Whilst the reasons why vary from person to person, the most common reason is out of fear. Dental phobia is a common fear shared by many across the world, preventing many adults from booking to visit the dentist. According to Brisbane City Dentist, 1 out of 6 patients have dental anxiety.

For some, going to the dentist can cause them to feel slightly nervous, worried about what treatments will happen and what the dentist might say. These mild sufferers also highlight how going to the dentist is an unpleasant experience. Whereas for others, a trip to the dentist can trigger them to panic as they are terrified about sitting in the dental chair.

Regardless of the fear, getting to the route of why a visit to the dentist causes such distress and working towards overcoming it is essential. Aside from allowing a person to conquer a fear, it will also prevent them from potentially developing dental problems, some of which are more challenging to fix.

If you are one of the many Australians and beyond who have a fear of visiting the dentist, here are some tips on how to overcome that phobia and the importance of making regular trips to your local dental practice.

Ways To Help Conquer Your Fear

The best way to conquer your fear to find the source of what it is that is causing this dread around the concept of going to the dentist. Is it previous experiences? Use of needles? Embarrassment or the powerless you feel when sitting in the chair? Two of the best ways to help overcome these fears is through researching into the practice you will attend and communicate clearly with the dentist about your fears.

Research Into The Practice

If you have not attended a dentist for many years, you may find that you are no longer on their register. As such, you will have to re-register at the practice. For those that have moved to a new area, you will want to register at a new practice in your area. A simple online search for your local practice, for example, dentist in Brisbane, will bring you a few options including Pure Dentistry in Mt Gravatt. Practices such as this one work closely with their patients to ensure that they feel comfortable and secure during their visit.

In addition to this, read the online reviews written by previous patients about the practice. You might notice there is a common trend with patients who had dental phobia but felt comfortable during their treatment. Read this article from airoop on how to find a dentist.

Talk To Your Dentist

For many adult sufferers of dental phobia, the reason they are nervous is due to bad experiences in the past. This could be due to the attitudes of staff, the equipment that was used or the treatment they received. However, if you have not visited the dentists for decades, you will not be aware that some of the treatments you received or the equipment that was used, which has caused this phobia is no longer used in modern dental practice.

When attending your appointment, voice your fears and concerns to your dentist. Communicate with them what is making you nervous for the appointment, whether it be the treatment or for example, a fear of needles. By informing your dentist of what it is you are afraid of, they might be able to offer alternative ways to deliver you your anaesthetic.

Another option is by deciding on using a hand signal during the moments when you are starting to feel anxious or if you feel as though you need a break. Having a signal in place will mean your dentist knows how you are feeling but you can feel comfortable knowing that they are listening and taking into consideration your fears. This type of service can make a significant difference in how you view taking a trip to the dentist.

Issues That Arise By Not Visiting The Dentist

When visiting the dentist, it is recommended that you make the trip every six months. Although those without any problems are ok to visit once a year, those that do experience issues should visit more frequently, ideally every three to four months.

According to kids dentist Most dental problems are easily avoidable. Brushing at least twice a day, flossing, properly eating and, most importantly, having regular dental check-ups, are essential in ensuring that any dental health issues are prevented.

If you have not made the trip to the dentist for a while or thought about booking an appointment, these issues that can occur from lack of visits might change that.

  • Cavities – One of the most common dental issues that are a result of not visiting the dentist for a while are cavities. They are likely to occur for those who have not made the trip to the dentist for an examination or clean. Over time, the plaque, and bacteria in your mouth will have built up so much it will begin to slowly decay your tooth enamel. This will cause holes in the tooth, which can be an easy fix or a challenging one depending on the hole.
  • Bad Breath – Brushing your teeth and flossing will only help you so far. Over time, the buildup of bacteria, tartar, and plaque can, unfortunately, lead to you experiencing having unpleasant smelling breath. While using mouthwash will help to cover up the smell caused by a dental issue, it is only a temporary solution. Aside from being an unpleasant smell, bad breath could be an indication that you are experiencing a dental condition, such as cavities or gum disease. As such, it is best to go visit your dentist as gum disease can easily be spotted during your appointment.
  • Gum Disease – Maintaining healthy gums can easily be forgotten, especially when they are not causing you any issues such as pain or discomfort. Gum disease is incredibly common, with everyone at risk of developing it. However, those who are over 30 are the most at risk of developing some form of gum disease. Currently more than half of adults over the age of 30 are experiencing gum disease in some form. Brushing at least twice a day and flossing will help to prevent gum disease but taking regular visitors will be the most beneficial.
  • Tooth Stains – The gradual buildup of both plaque and tartar can cause more than just an increased risk of developing cavities and tooth decay. The longer you delay your trip to the dentist, the more you risk further staining your teeth – something which is not easy to remove with home whitening kits.

Avoid Waiting Too Long

It is important to not put off going to the dentist any longer than you already have. In doing so, you will put your oral health, as well as your general health and overall wellbeing at risk. Almost all dental issues that can occur are easily preventable with a trip to the dentist. A quick 10/20-minute appointment could help you achieve a perfect smile.

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Michelle Williams: “I Have Struggled To Find Acting Work For Three Years”

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michelle williams i haven't find work in three yearsActress Michelle Williams has opened up about her difficulty finding acting work in the past three years.

She is getting acclaim for new film, indie drama Manchester by the Sea, which is one of only three films she has been in since 2013. In an interview with Porter magazine she put it down to trends:

“In the past three years I have found it really hard to get work, It is very seasonal, you know, your popularity or marketability or whatever these things are, and I’ve been like in a little bit in a winter… My expectation, because of my early experiences, is failure, and so when something good happens for me, I am dazzled by it, I am like on my knees, I am just so grateful, so happy, so excited, because it’s not what I expect,”

Luckily she has two films coming out in 2017 Wonderstruck and The Greatest Showman.

The 36-year-old actress is also worried that roles might dry up when she turns 40.

“People talk about it like it’s a sort of cliff that everybody gets pushed off! It’s hard to imagine that you’ve reached this kind of age where suddenly the rug is pulled from underneath your feet.”

 

What do you think?

 

If you are an actor then check out my book How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur. It is available in print and in all eBook formats on both Smashwords and Amazon.

 

 

One in Five Women have felt Sexually Discriminated Against in the Workplace

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Some bad news on the equality front: a third of working women have experienced discrimination and harassment in the workplace, according to research.

They’ve been spoken over or had opinions dismissed in meetings, received unwelcome comments on their appearance or clothing and been called “woman” and “clever girl”.

The poll of 2,000 working women revealed many have had their work and achievements hijacked by male colleagues or have experienced unwanted touching, brushing or stroking from other members of their team.

One woman lost her job after refusing a marriage proposal from her line manager while another was frequently ordered to make her male colleagues their drinks.

Another reported a male employee was taken on to do the same job as her – and later discovered he was being paid £1,000 more.

And a female shop worker ended up getting unwanted texts from a security guard who went into the manager’s office and took her mobile phone number from personnel records.

Georgina Calvert-Lee, Senior Litigation Counsel at law firm McAllister Olivarius, which commissioned the research to understand better what women are facing in the workplace, said: “It’s sad to hear that these kinds of things continue and are so widespread. It confirms what our clients tell us about their own experiences.

“We’re sure many women will feel as though they are the only ones having to deal with situations like this.

“But we’re certain there will be women out there who don’t actually realise they’re experiencing sexual discrimination or harassment.”

“Sometimes it can feel a bit daunting speaking up; especially if you’re afraid of losing your job for standing your ground.

“But the only way these situations are going to be solved is by making others aware of it and not suffering in silence.”

Of the 42 per cent of women who have ever taken maternity leave, one in 10 said they felt discriminated against when they returned to work.

One mum explained that once she had returned to work after maternity leave her job had ‘disappeared’, and she was given menial tasks which weren’t enough to fill the day.

Another respondent said her manager had told her there was no point in promoting young female staff as “they all leave on maternity anyway”.

One in six women in management said they have been called ‘bossy’ when instructing another member of staff.

Four in 10 women have experienced colleagues trying to turn workplace conversations into sexualised ones.

In fact one in five have felt sexually discriminated against in their current workplace at least once.

Twenty four per cent of women in work have never sought help for the bad experiences they’ve had in at work – but have considered it.

And because of this, many women believe it would make sense to make sure sexual discrimination should be discussed in the work place so it’s recognised a little easier.

Georgina added: “Women who have experienced sexual discrimination and harassment don’t need to suffer in silence.

“It’s illegal, and you can get help. Good companies want to fix it. Other companies can be persuaded by legal action”.

McAllister Olivarius is an international law firm representing people who face discrimination in their professional lives.

 

TOP 10 MOST FREQUENT DISCRIMINATION AND HARRASSMENT INCIDENTS IN THE WORK PLACE FOR WOMEN

 

1. Been spoken over of had their opinion dismissed in meetings

2. Received unwelcome comments on appearance or clothes

3. Been called “woman”, “clever girl” or other dismissive terms

4. Been asked to make tea or run errands more than male colleagues

5. Felt unable to complain about being treated unprofessionally for fear of being accused of being oversensitive

6. Been referred to as ‘bossy’ due to instructing another member of staff

7. Been judged / commented on for their sexual attractiveness

8. Having credit for their work taken by male colleagues

9. Been assumed to be the assistant / PA or lower ranking member of staff

10. Experienced unwanted touching, brushing or stroking from other colleagues

 

 

Workers Feel ‘Trapped’ In Their Chosen Career By Age 36

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Tips to get a hotel business off the groundNew Year is usually the time for change but could it already be too late? According to new research it is too late to change career by the time you reach 41.

A study found that most Brits want to be on their chosen career path by their mid-30s and there is no going back after turning 41.

The survey of 2,000 workers found people are most susceptible to feeling ‘trapped’ in their line of work at the age of 36.

Suzie Webb, AAT’s Director of Education at the Association of Accounting Technicians which carried out the study, said many people have plenty of time to change direction.

“This research shows that many people incorrectly believe that they have to stick with their career despite being a reasonably young age,” she said.

When probed further as to why they had doubts about retraining, 59 per cent of respondents said they feel they are trapped in their current career path or line of work, with the biggest reason for this being the feeling they can’t progress any further and are bored in their current role.

This led to 31 per cent saying they think about changing career around once or twice a month.

The fear of change may be what is holding people back. When asked to describe their current employment, workers were nearly twice as likely to use the word ‘convenient’ than they were to use words like ‘success’ or ‘fulfilling’.

Three in ten said they are stuck because they don’t know what else they could do, while nearly a quarter worry they wouldn’t be any good at anything else.

Well over a fifth said that it’s simply too risky for them to think about any other job.

One in seven said they committed to their career after having kids, while over a fifth confessed they felt too old to learn anything new.

In addition, one in six admitted they were hesitant to get re-qualified in a new area, because they were scared of being labelled ‘a mature student’ in classes.

Suzie Webb says: “Retraining is much less of a big step than people might imagine. There are so many options available – part time, evenings and via distance learning that offer you the chance to study around other priorities in life.

“Plus, people are working for considerably much longer than in the past – so it makes sense that our views towards retraining should also follow this pattern. Lifelong learning is the key to success.”

Frost disagrees however, it is never too late to make a change. Read about people who became successful later in life here.

 

 

 

The Energy Bus Book Review

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theenergybusbookreviewThe Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel your Life, Work and Team with Positive Energy By Jon Gordon is a self help book with a difference. Written as a fictional story about a negative businessman who’s life changes when his car breaks down and he is forced to take the bus. The driver, Joy, has 10 rules to a positive mindset. I found the book helpful with fascinating facts about the heart and Abraham Lincoln. Facts, rules and fiction are all woven together into a book that inspires positive energy and gives you the tools to bring that positive energy to your life and work place. 

Easy to understand and implement. Recommended for work and home. 

The book, which is written in the style of a fable, takes place in a business setting,  and includes an Action Plan and 10 simple rules, using the analogy of a bus ride, to build a positive, high performing team. The Energy Bus has proved hugely popular in the US amongst sports teams and their coaches and Gordon, a former  College lacrosse player, regularly gets asked to address sports teams teaching them how  to maintain a positive mindset throughout gruelling training sessions.

Discover how to stay positive and avoid ‘energy vampires’

According to a global Gallup poll, negativity in the workplace is rife, with only 1 in 8 employees being psychologically committed to their jobs and likely to be making positive contributions to their organisations.

Energy coach Jon Gordon wants to change that.  In his bestselling self-help book, The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to fuel your life, work and team with positive energy, the author offers lessons on staying positive and avoiding ‘energy vampires’ who will ‘suck the life out of you and your goals and vision’ if you let them. Gordon offers 10 simple rules to achieving positive results which, when applied, have an impact on health, family, team and personal success.

The author draws on his experience of working with thousands of leaders and teams  to provide  readers with insights and practical strategies to help them achieve a positive team and culture. Written in the style of a fable, the book tells the story of a man, struggling in his job and marriage, whose car gets a flat tyre, forcing him to take a bus to work.  The bus driver’s positive attitude helps him to turn his life around.

“While this fable takes place in a business setting, this book was written for everyone.  We are all part of a team, and every member of our team – whether it’s our work team, sports team, family team, or school team, can benefit from the 10 simple, powerful rules shared in this book.  After all, positive people and positive teams produce positive results, and the essential ingredient is positive energy.” Jon Gordon

 

 About the author:

Jon Gordon’s best selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. His principles have been put to the test by numerous sports coaches and teams, organisations, schools, hospitals and charities. He is the author of The Wall Street Journal best seller The Energy Bus, The No Complaining Rule, Training Camp, The Shark and The Goldfish and Soup: A Recipe to Nourish your Team and Culture. Connect with him at www.JonGordon.com

 

Published by Wiley.

The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy is available here.

ISBN: 9781119089148

 

 

Two Thirds of Men Would Be Happy To Be a Stay-at-Home Dad

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baby, shared parental leave, feminism, equality, childcare, leave, maternal, work, working mothers, lean in The times they are a changing. It is true that women and men will never be equal until men take up their share of childcare (and while we are at it, domestic chores) and it seems that that might actually be happening. A recent survey suggests that two thirds of men would be happy to be a stay-at-home dad.

Despite mums traditionally dealing with the majority of childcare, three quarters of men say they would be happy to quit work during their son or daughter’s first year so that their partner can return to their job, instead of taking the usual period of maternity leave.

And almost one in twenty men are already responsible for looking after their children whilst their wife or girlfriend goes to work.

It also emerged that 72 per cent of women would also be happy if their other half wanted to look after the children with 65 per cent worrying about the effect any time off would have on their career.

The statistics emerged in a study commissioned by national law firm Irwin Mitchell a month before a change in the law which will see couples have the opportunity to start sharing parental leave.

But these results show the new laws designed to encourage parents to share time off work following the birth of their child look set to be far more popular than government predictions had previously stated.

Irwin Mitchell employment partner Glenn Hayes said: “For a long time now, the traditional roles have seen dads returning to work just days after their baby has been born, while mums take a year or so away from their career to look after the children.

“But times are changing and it’s becoming easier, and more acceptable, for dads to take on the role of caregiver, while mums become the main breadwinner. What’s more, it seems the majority of men are happy to have it this way around.

“Thanks to changes coming into effect in April, working couples will be able to share that period of leave over the first year, meaning neither one has to miss out on such a large amount of time away – whether it’s from their career or baby.

“Shared parental leave is one of the most significant changes to flexible working rights but it is still uncertain how many families are expected to take up the new right.

“According to Government projections, as few as 5,700 men will apply over the next 12 months, but the figures in this survey suggest that the appetite for doing so could be much stronger with take up being much higher.

“So it’s important businesses and employers need to be prepared for the changes before they come into force, and know their rights as well as those of their employees.”

The study of 2,000 men and women found 66 per cent of men would be happy to take on the role of stay-at-home dad, whilst another three quarters would happily work part-time to allow their partner to return full-time.

Four in 10 say this is down to them wanting to be a bigger part of their child’s life than they would be if they worked full-time while 19 per cent worry they will miss out on too much of their child’s life otherwise.

More than a third say it’s the most sensible option for them as their wife or girlfriend earns more than them, with another 23 per cent not enjoying their job whilst their other half does.

One in twenty said taking the time off work will be less detrimental to their career than that of their partner.

Other reasons men want to take on the childcare role include it being easier for them to work around school or nursery hours than their partner, believing it would be less stressful to look after the kids than go to work and not wanting to commute anymore.

Sixty-one per cent even claimed they would be happy to become a stay-at-home dad, even if it had a detrimental effect on their career in the future.

But the researcher found that whilst most would be happy to share their decision, 23 per cent of men wouldn’t be comfortable telling their friends about their plan to be a stay-at-home dad, while 49 per cent would be worried about others judging them.

Glenn Hayes, an employment Partner at national law firm Irwin Mitchell, added: “These figures may take businesses by surprise and it is vital that they deal effectively with what is an extremely complex piece of legislation.

“It is important that employees start their conversations with their employers as early as possible in relation to shared leave, but it is vital that companies deal with the requests in the correct manner.

“Many businesses have been slow to prepare themselves for this important change and in doing so have left themselves exposed open to the risk of mishandling requests and inviting claims for discrimination.”

Shared Parental Leave rules allow those whose children are expected to be born or adopted from 5 April will be able to share up to 50 weeks of parental leave between mum and dad during the first year after a baby is born/child is adopted.

Previously, the majority of dads had two weeks paternity leave while mums could have up to 12 months maternity leave and nine months paid maternity leave.

 

 

Work From Home Week 2015 – 19th to 25th January

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working from home, work, home workingAs someone who works from home I can vouch for its good points and its bad ones. Mostly it is great, offering flexibility and the chance to work to the best of your potential. No nasty commute needed so it is good for your bank account and the environment too. In fact, this is Work From Home Week and in June 2014, new rights to flexible working laws were introduced in the UK, declaring that all employees – who have worked for the same employer for at least 26 weeks – are eligible to request flexible working, including the option of working from home. In fact, most recent figures now show that around 14% of people in employment are working from home, highlighting the idea that it’s increasingly becoming a viable and attractive alternative for businesses.

Launched in 2003, Work From Home Week, running from the 19th to 25th of January, puts a spotlight on this rising figure, raising awareness of working from home for both employers and employees alike.

In a time of constantly evolving technology, it’s never been easier to access information away from the office, so we’re calling on employers to embrace the opportunity as a way to boost happiness and productivity among their employees.

Graham Long, Vice President of the Enterprise Business Team at Samsung UK supports working from home.

‘’At Samsung, we believe it’s vital for people to be given the option and the tools to work flexibly, which is why we view Work from Home Week as an important and worthwhile initiative.

“Our own research reveals over a quarter of workers would opt for flexible working over a pay rise, and more than four in 10 (42%) employees strongly agree with the idea of being able to access work emails and apps outside of official working hours. Despite this, many businesses still don’t trust their employees to do so, highlighting the need to educate enterprises on the benefits of working from home. The option to work more flexibly can have a huge impact on productivity and wellbeing and with advancements in mobile technology, it is now possible for employees to work beyond the confines of the office, making working from home a choice that should be open to all rather than a select few.’’

Of course, for many across the UK, working from home isn’t just for a week. For the hundreds of single parents, carers, injured veterans and those living with disabilities, working from home is a necessity.

To celebrate working from home, the team behind the campaign have compiled the top 5 reasons to consider it!

Money – Not only would you save money on travel costs – train tickets, petrol, parking, etc. – but not eating out for lunch on a regular basis is bound to save you some pennies too. For parents, it gives the opportunity to radically reduce the costs of childcare.

Commute – Forget about delayed trains or road traffic dampening your spirits.

Comfort – Rather than donning a power suit or being restricted to a desk all day, choose your own dress code and working environment.

Green Living – Working from home can help reduce your carbon footprint, conserve office space for your employer, and perhaps most importantly, allow you to be the master of your own environment!

Freedom/Flexibility – Having the freedom to choose your hours and coffee breaks, while not being dragged in and out of corporate meetings all day is something that could potentially boost your overall moral and work ethic. Not to mention it allows you to create that ideal work/life balance.

Work From Home Week runs from the 19th – 25th January 2015. Twitter @WorkFromHomeWK  #WFHW