Free Advice

I'm pretty sure I've told you before, but I'm happy to tell you again. Don't mess with HR people. I promise, we're here to help you. If you come to me and yell at me, I'm irritated, but understand the need for getting everything out in the open. Often, that's when we get to the bottom of things and can find a resolution. I may not love it, but will overlook it, and will likely do whatever I can to calm you down. However, blaming me for your mistake will not help your case, though I'll still be willing to do what I can to help you. Accusing me of lying to you will push me right over the edge. In fact, it is at this point that I will go back through my emails over the last several months and will prove you wrong. HR actually stands for Humongous Records. If it happened (and we were involved), we have a record. Also, it is at this point that I stop thinking clearly and put my head down on my desk and make some sort of sound that is a cross between laughing and crying and talk very quickly to myself (it's not pretty, but it's how I get through).

So, you want to fight? Please, come and make my day. Just know that I am going to fight back, but will do so professionally. Because you refuse to call me and seem to think you need to have our conversation in writing, you have given me time to gather my records (and my thoughts) and I am ready to win. Tomorrow, it's on...and I will win (and you will thank me for my help - just prepare for it).

The moral of the story...be nice to your HR people. They will always help you, but will be much more willing to do so if you're kind to them. Also, bring chocolate...bad day or not. HR people need chocolate just to make it through. Trust me, it's cheaper than therapy.

I now return you to your life.

Thank you and good night!

Seriously, So Blessed

Well, life is crazy busy right now. But, I can’t help but feel like the luckiest girl in the whole world, and I’m pretty sure I am. Now, I’m not trying to be arrogant, just realistic…perhaps I should explain.

It started a several months ago. I knew I wanted to move to Georgia, but I just had to figure out the timing. Then I figured out the timing and had a plan. Then I changed the plan back and forth, but still knew I wanted to move to Georgia. In that timeframe, I went to visit Georgia and fell completely in love with it (probably because it was in the 60’s and 70’s consistently). So, I came back to Utah and knew what I wanted, had prayed about it and felt that it was okay for me continue heading in the direction I was going.

Once that decision was made and a date was set, the next thing was to find a job (and quit a job, I guess). In my head I had this idea that I would give notice and they wouldn’t want to lose me so they would offer me anything to stay on. I already had my “demands” in my head…let me do my job – from home in Georgia. It was ideal…too good to be true. I knew this likely wouldn’t happen, so I started looking for jobs in Georgia and was having very little (read: no) success. Then, the time had come…the day to give notice. I personally don’t believe in giving just 2 week’s notice. I have always given several weeks notice since I work for people/companies who generally take good care of me. In this instance, I was giving 5 weeks’ notice. When I met with my boss, she basically said ok, and that was it. No counter offer, no trying to convince me not to leave, nothing. I was so upset, but then again, I knew that my idea really wouldn’t have been accepted anyway.

Fast forward two weeks…I’m in having a meeting with my boss. She asked me how things were going with preparing for the move and finding a job. I told her that things with the move were fine, but that I wasn’t having any luck at that point in securing employment. And then it happened. My mouth opened. The words started spilling out. I knew then, just as I know now, that it was me speaking, but it wasn’t really me speaking. I told her that I would love to see me be able to stay with the company in a work from home position in my current role. I kept talking and spilling the plan of how I thought it could work. I kept waiting for her to stop me, or to look at me and tell me I was crazy, but it never happened. Instead, she looked at me and said “interesting…let me think about that”. 48 hours later, we had approval. This is definitely the very abbreviated version of this story, but even so, I can’t help but think over the events of the last 3 weeks, and really – the last year – without realizing how I was guided and led, and ultimately…so blessed.

So, beginning April 25, I’ll be working at home. I get the best of everything. I get to keep the job I love (stressful though it may be), I get to see my parents every day, and I get to have a new adventure. 

Three Things I Should Remember About My Job

Working in Human Resources is a lot of fun. Granted, there are days when it really isn’t enjoyable at all. Like the times you have to tell someone they no longer have a job, or that they stink and they need to take better care of themselves. But there are times when it is really fun. Like when I get to offer someone a new job or a promotion, or when I get to do nice things for the employees, just because. There are three things, though, that I would do well to remember.

1.     1.  People take me at my word. Something about the title of HR makes people want to believe everything you say. In my personal life, I have a way of making up answers to questions I don’t know (in a joking manner…once I have someone believing my made up answer I always let them know I don’t have a clueJ). In my professional life, I also find myself making up answers, but no one really appreciates the confession at the end when I say I don’t know.

2.     2.  Don’t send cryptic messages. I sent an email to a gentleman late in the workday and asked if he was in the office. Thanks to his out of office message I learned that he wasn’t and I didn’t think anything else of it. When I came in the next morning, I had an email from him. He was so panicked that HR needed to meet with him. I assured him that everything was fine and asked him to come and meet with me. In the meantime, his supervisor forwarded me a note from this gentleman asking if he knew what the meeting was about. He stated that he was concerned and then, my favorite part of all, “I don’t think I’ve said anything to offend anyone”.

3.     3.  People just want to have fun! I don’t care how old you are, deep down (and for some people it is DEEEEEEP down) everyone likes to have fun. I have some quirky ideas for work activities that I’m just sure people aren’t going to enjoy just because all I ever see is the “work” side of people, but I still proceed with them and I’m surprised at the turnout we get. Have fun, people!  Life is way too short to be taken so seriously.

Work vs. Life

Do you ever get so involved in work you’re not sure it ends and if it does, where?  I get so wrapped up in my work sometimes that I take it home with me emotionally, and I stress over it, and I even sometimes dread coming in because I have internalized it so much. I keep telling myself that this is not the end. It is my current situation, it pays the bills, and it is teaching me so many valuable lessons, about work and life in general. The one thing I keep trying to tell myself is that it is just a job. This is not my life. This is not who I am (which actually spawns another thought, but I’ll save that for another time).

I went on vacation and for the first time in a couple of years, I didn’t take work with me. I didn’t check my emails (ok, I looked at the headings to make sure nothing BIG was happening, but I didn’t open a single one), I didn’t worry about anything happening here, and I didn’t really care what was waiting for me when I returned. I came back with a better perspective on what really matters. Work is important, don’t get me wrong, but there should be balance and I’m the only one that can make that balance work in my life. I want to focus on the things that really matter. To me, that is my family, spending time with them and making memories with them. It is attending to my church responsibilities and taking time to serve those around me, but also taking time to serve in the temple. I know that when I achieve this balance, my work will remain important to me, but it will no longer define me and I will be living more closely the life I've imagined.

Conversations with strangers: Part 2

Who knew that within the same week I would have a part 2 to this post. I was doing more phone screens at work and was leaving mostly messages with people. I was doing very well leaving very professional sounding messages until about 2:00. I was in the process of leaving a message when my phone rang, an email came in, people were talking in my office. I was closing my message and was about to hang up when I hear the words "love ya" coming out of my mouth. Yep - I told the guy I left a message for that I loved him. Luckily for me he was very kind and didn't mention it when he called back. I just cross my fingers that I never have to meet him face to face.

Great in 8

Pretty catchy, huh? Well, the company I work for is starting a new health and wellness initiative. Over the course of the next 8 weeks, they are having a competition with the first place prize a two night stay at a resort in Park City. Once I heard that, I was all up for this competition. After I read the list, I figured this is stuff that I can do. There is a list of 10 things (worth 1 pt each) that you should do every day. Basically, each week you mark down what you completed and then, at the end of 8 weeks, whichever team has the most points wins.
So, in case you want to join along in the fun (by the way, it is only Monday through Friday- weekends are free!) I have included the list below.
1. Eat 5 servings of fruits/veggies
2. Drink 6 (8 oz.) glasses of water
3. Get 7 hours of sleep
4. Exercise 30 minutes
5. No carbonated drinks
6. No "sweets"
7. No "unhealthy" foods
8. No eating after 8:30 pm
9. Eat 2 servings whole grains/legumes
10. 10 minutes of personal time (doing something you enjoy for yourself)
Program runs from September 27 through November 19!! If you're doing this too, let me know. I'm all for supporting each other!!

My Job

As of this past Wednesday, I am employed again! I am the payroll coordinator for a great company of over 450 people. On top of having a great job and working with great people, I have my very own window! I get to look out at the mountains all day. I have a lot to learn, as you can imagine, but I'm 3 days in and loving it!
I can't help but feel blessed!