First Comment

Hope that everyone who was off yesterday had a nice day off and everyone who had to work didn't have too bad of a Monday. As we all exercise our ability to be part of this workforce, we can thank people like Martin Luther King Jr. and others who made this opportunity possible for us. Even those who are out of work can certainly take a day to reflect and that's the important part of holidays like yesterday.

HR.BLR takes it one step further and says that MLK Day should be an opportunity for workplaces to celebrate diversity and instead of talking about how we're all the same, talk about the unique ways in which we are different. Everyone brings something to the workplace and having diverse backgrounds is one way to help build a successful organization.

The New York Times has a story about some Starbucks workers in New York City who took the holiday to celebrate...and then to protest. If you're trying to argue for some sort of equality, MLK Day seems like a good occasion to do so, even for baristas.

Lastly, from the Boston Globe JobDoc, some advice on handling a canceled interview. Although this information is for the candidate, a lot of advice can be extracted for the interviewer in how they handle their interview cancellations.

On Labor Day, be thankful to those who do labor for you: your employees. But while you and they are probably enjoying a day off, let's take a look at some links about your labor force.

First from the Wall Street Journal, an article from two weeks ago that got a lot of attention: "The End of Management." It's a provocative piece that makes you think if you would really be better off having managers who act like venture capitalists. It would certainly mean interesting things for the labor force.

Also from the Wall Street Journal, an older article that talks about how Goldman Sachs is banning naughty words in their e-mails, making sure their labor force doesn't use any language that will show up controversially in a congressional hearing like they had this past summer.

Next, from Yahoo! Finance via Bloomberg Businessweek, a nod to napping in the office (H/T Wendy). While before it was an act that could get employees fired, this article says that companies are more and more encouraging their labor force to get some zzz's at the workplace.

Lastly, from the New York Times Career Couch, a Q&A that asks about the separation between church and cubicle, among other labor-related topics.

Have a great weekend and enjoy your holiday BBQs!

Happy Memorial Day from everyone at Astron Solutions. Hope you're enjoying your BBQ and honoring those who serve our country at home and abroad.

It's hard to believe that Santa will hopefully be making his way to my parents' house in a few short hours. I've tried to be a good girl this year, but I'm never quite sure how I stack up against the rest of the general population.

With all the gloom and doom on the news, it's easy to be down this holiday season. For the first time ever, I didn't decorate my apartment. (Unless you count seasonal placemats and towels, in which case I'm good.) In reality, though, we have a lot to look forward to in the coming year. For those who have steady employment, the opportunity to make a difference in our organizations in 2009. For those who are looking, a chance to reinvent themselves in the new year. You hopefully enjoyed good health, strong friendships, and good times in 2008, with more waiting in 2009.

Thank you for reading our blog. Time is a precious commodity. Andrew, myself, and everyone at Astron Solutions appreciates your sharing a part of your day with us. We look forward to the opportunity to share with you 2009's late breaking news and HR insights.

Happy holidays to you and your family, and best wishes for a successful and positive new year!