Adopt Don’t Abort…Clearly Easier Said Than Done

On Wednesday January 23rd, 2019 social media and news outlet feeds were littered with the news that New York (NY) Governor Cuomo had passed a late-term abortion bill into law. This law now allows women to have abortions up to birth, if the mother’s health is at risk.

I will have to write another piece on why I believe abortion is murder, but this is not that piece. What struck a chord with me is how my social media feed was once again bottle-necked, but with a cute gray and pink meme that says “Adopt don’t Abort”.

I agree with this message.

From my personal experience, adoption is a beautiful thing and has been one of the greatest gifts God has ever called me to. When people argue over abortion I often think about people I know and what life would be like had their mother aborted them. Seriously, sit and ponder that for a moment. Think of your best friend, your cancer doctor or an inventor….what if?

As I scrolled through social media, seeing a sea of evangelicals condemning the new NY abortion law (as they should) and then seeing the adoption memes, I could not help but think one thing…”would they?”.

Yes, I am going to be quite judgmental, but no worries, I intend to provide some tools and solutions. My guess is that about 90% of the people I saw post the adoption meme would never, in a million years, bring a foster kid in their home or adopt. It is quite easy to post a meme and pound your chest behind a keyboard, but to dive in and be part of the solution on the ground-floor is a whole new ball game.

I know, I am being harsh and I am at peace with that. The reason I am okay with that is because someone once loved me enough to remind me of my calling in a very direct way. To this day I am thankful for their commitment to the truth!

I am speaking to believers now, those people who identify in Jesus Christ and are adopted by the one true King. Taking care of orphans is NOT an option! YOU. HAVE. BEEN. CALLED.

Telling others to take up that cross and that burden but doing nothing about it yourself is a cop-out. You say you are pro-life? Pro-life goes WAY beyond abortion. Pro-life means you recognize that ALL life deserves dignity. You cannot be pro-life and never impact a single orphan. For that matter, you cannot be pro-life and be legitimately happy when you see footage of kids being separated from parents at the border screaming and crying. You cannot be pro-life taking great joy in seeing a murderer or rapist’s life end in prison never knowing the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Yes pro-life can become very complex, or maybe it is ridiculously simple.

I digress…

I want you to know dear friend, dear Christian, dear unbeliever that there are many ways to impact the lives of orphans. You will have to get your hands dirty. You will have to allow your life to be disrupted and often times turned on its head. You will have to let go of some cold hard cash. You will have to put others before yourself. Sounds a lot like what Christ has called us to as followers of Him!

Here are some practical ways to make an impact today!

• Foster kids in your community
• Adopt kids through foster care – this cost ZERO DOLLARS!!
• Volunteer at pregnancy centers that invest in young women https://pauldingpregnancy.com/
• Be dedicated Respite Care for a foster family – be their go-to babysitter, overnight sitter, come take the kids for a fun night out person. Invest in the family and the kids.
• Volunteer with agencies who work with foster kids and orphans https://www.familyallianceofpaulding.org/  http://www.theodbi.org/
• Go visit your local DFACS/CPS office and ask them what they need. Often they need new toys for the family visiting area or other supplies.
• Contact your kid’s teacher(s) and let them know you want to help the foster kids in their class(es). They cannot give you names, but you can bring what the teacher recognizes the child needs.
• Contact your local school principal and head up a coat drive for kids in need. I do this at a local public elementary school and it is amazing!!!
• Give money to non-profits who work with orphans/foster kids. Seriously, GIVE MONEY!!! They need it!
• Conduct bible studies and take a meal each week to places that house parents and at-risk kids (kids who have a high probability of being orphaned) Cobb Street Ministries is a great example! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cobb-Street-Ministries/880750518685813
• Tutor – many kids in the foster care system are way behind academically
• Support fostering ministries at your church, in a big way!!
• What other ways can you think of?

Lastly, I want to add how important discipleship is. Discipleship deserves more than a bullet point on my list. Until the church steps up, we will not see a change in the situation of abortion or having more foster kids than homes to put them in. God has called the church to take care of orphans. The bible says plenty about orphans:

• Psalms 68:5
• Deuteronomy 10:18
• Psalms 10:14
• James 1:27
• Deuteronomy 14:29
• 1 Thess 5:24 – We can trust the God who has called us to it!

Not only must we address orphans and foster kids who are presently in need, but we must disciple and prepare a future generation to follow after Christ. This world has NOTHING to offer our children and the population of orphans and unwanted children will continue to rise until they understand that God’s way is the only way. God’s way is the divine way and the ONLY thing worth pursuing this side of heaven.

Church, you have been called. So what are you going to do? Post a cute meme and never give it a second thought or answer the call of God and practice your pro-life preaching?

I Do Not Have Medical Insurance…And I Couldn’t Be Happier

Three years ago I had to make the decision, due to government mandates, on whether to purchase medical insurance or opt out. 

I opted out!

In 2015, I was the one who was carrying medical benefits for my family. My husband’s employer insurance options were completely unreasonable when it came to cost. Then, like so many, I experienced a lay off in late 2015, so that left our family with some decisions to make. 

My whole life I always had insurance. Insurance felt safe to me, it felt necessary and critical to life. The thought of going without insurance was not even an option in my book. Not having insurance felt incredibly irresponsible!

So what did I do? As a good little insurance user, I asked for recommendations for an insurance agent, weighed my options, and selected the nicest gentleman from several reliable resources. He asked me what I wanted in insurance, so I told him. Later that day he came back with a proposal. This was the first time I was introduced to the words “Silver” and “Platinum” under the context of insurance. 

I began to listen as this man rattle off phrases like, “$5,000 deductible” and “$10,000 deductible” and “$1,200 monthly premiums” and automatic kid’s coverage even though we did not need that. (Our kids are fully covered under Medicaid through the adoption assistance program). He told me that it did not even matter if we had kids or not, everyone pays for kids medical coverage. Not only did his tone imply he did not agree with that, but he went on to verbalize that the actual kids coverage was/is useless. 

I sat there for a moment feeling quite numb. Ultimately I was being offered outrageously expensive insurance that I would never be able to afford to use. In what universe does it make sense for anyone to spend thousands of dollars on something they cannot use? In all fairness, I was aware of my other option at the time and that was to go without insurance while incurring a fine. Yay life!

Wait, isn’t this “Affordable Healthcare”? (joke of the century) How does something so not affordable get such a title? 

Never in my life have I paid close to this much for coverage. My Cobra payment in 2009 was only $600 per month, which I thought was outrageous at the time. 

So guess what my next step was after venting to my dog? Nope, I did not opt out quite yet, I actually signed up for the Silver plan. You could hear the apprehension from the insurance agent as he took my information over the phone. He spoke like a guilty man feeling like he just conned someone out of their hard earned money. Seriously, you could hear the pity in his voice towards me. He then sent me the link to fill out an online form and it was this next step where it became abundantly clear what I had to do. 

The ONLY option for payment for this government mandated healthcare policy was to give the government access to my banking account and authorize an automatic withdrawal every month. 

Hmmmmm…… 

So, Uncle Sam, you want me to give you full-blown access to my checking account and trust you will not muck this up? PASS!!!!

THIS is where I opted out and I couldn’t be happier! Absolutely no regrets!

To be honest, it was not the easiest decision to make. There was so much drawing me back to insurance; my safety net, my security blanket, familiarity!

Through this ordeal is where I discovered medical sharing. Little did I know there were so many options, but ultimately we landed on Samaritan’s Ministries. My husband and I have had to totally retrain our brains, because this is not insurance. We do not pay monthly premiums, instead a monthly share is sent directly to a person who needs it. It costs me $440 per month, which is the monthly share I send to another Samaritan’s member in need. 

Unfortunately, I had to try out my medical share plan in February of 2017 with what turned out to be appendicitis. Very long story short, I went to the emergency room, told them I was cash pay, went into emergency surgery and had 2 follow up appointments that same week. Samaritan’s Ministries negotiated a 90-day payment plan with the hospital and the anesthesia team. 

The first 30 days, I sent in all of my medical bills to Samaritan’s Ministries. The following 30 days, checks started rolling into my mailbox, literally thousands of dollars a day sometimes. Before the 90 days were up, my entire bill was paid 100% in full and I never paid one penny out of pocket. 

Would you like to consider how this same exact situation would have panned out for me financially had I been on the Silver plan? By the way, I learned through an error by the hospital that had I had insurance this surgery would have cost 6 times what they charged me as a cash-pay patient. SIX TIMES!!!!! I guess we know why insurance is so expensive!!

Through medical sharing, we have access to tele-doctors and it is amazing everything that is free  or significantly reduced when you tell the doctor or pharmacist you are a cash-pay patient. It is pretty awesome! I would have never taken the plunge had I not felt like I was painted into a corner, and I am forever grateful for the push!

Probably some time before I hit retirement my husband or I may be offered insurance through our employers and if asked today, I would happily decline!

Currently medical share programs meet the qualifications under the Affordable Healthcare Act to ensure that a fine is not incurred. However, this was one of the pieces of the policy that President Trump was seeking to reform and take away. In other words, people like me would be fined  for participating in medical sharing.

I wanted to share my story because this time of year especially I see so many people grappling over the immense costs of medical insurance during open enrollment. Most will not consider medical sharing because it is not traditional insurance and their comfort lies in what they are accustomed to. Also, there are so many people who may have never heard of medical sharing and what a great option it can be. There are some stipulations like not covering pre-existing conditions, so for many medical sharing is not an option. However, I feel confident there are thousands, if not millions more where medical sharing could make a lot of sense.

It is so important to keep the conversation going and stay on top of our politicians to ensure that any future reform involves:

• Protecting Medical Share participants
• Eliminating fines for those who can’t afford it or choose to opt out
• Keep pre-existing conditions covered
• If we need healthier young people to take out policies to aid in making insurance affordable, then push the age back to 21 instead of up to 26 being on parent’s insurance.

Bottom line we must keep talking. Insurance feel likes highway robbery to so many and it must be changed. I am so thankful for amazing options like medical sharing and if we could ever cross aisles and work together like adults maybe our great country could benefit from other genius solutions!

That First Holiday Without Them…

Holidays are such a special time of year for my family. Probably the understatement of the century if I am being honest, I mean, our family LOVES the holidays!! Maybe it is the food, the time off from work, or the shopping trips. When it all boils down, I truly believe it is simply the time we spend together. Most of that time spent together is talking about old times: Thanksgivings past, Christmases past, Black-Friday shopping past! There is sure to be a story to make us all burst into laughter around the kitchen table.

See, we all bring something unique to the party. My sister Laura is all about the food. She will bring trays and desserts that I swear make the food on front of Food Network magazine look like pig slop. Seriously she is that good and the food, OH.MY.WORD. My other sister Jennifer brings the tupperware bowls because you know she is taking home the leftovers. I swear I am going to make her a sweatshirt that says #GiveMeAllTheLeftovers!! I like to think I bring the gift of story telling and conversation, my sisters would probably tell you something different though. Occasionally I try to sneak games in on this crowd of mine, but our competitive nature can often suck the jolly right out of the air if we are not careful. We play to win, I mean, what other reason is there?

My mom, well she brings familiarity. I know that sounds boring, but I just cannot imagine any holiday without her face! She loves cooking Thanksgiving dinner and really does not want anyone to bring a thing. This is her favorite meal to cook and to eat. Often when anyone says “Thanksgiving” I immediately see my mom’s face, she just loves it!

The men in the family bring their appetites, rightfully so. Our family is so blessed with amazing men, men of faith and men who love deeply and profoundly. I am blessed to be loved and to see my sisters loved so well.

This year though, there will be an empty chair. 

Our patriarch, my dad, an incredible paw-paw will not be present at the Thanksgiving table this year. Much like not being able to imagine a Thanksgiving without my mom’s face, even with Thanksgiving a few days away, I still cannot muster up what it will be like this Thanksgiving without my dad.

My dad’s home is like living in a Cracker Barrel, but nicer. Pine ceilings and walls and floors, a kitchen larger than most people’s home with a wood-stove fireplace in the corner and a table to seat twelve comfortably. During Thanksgiving his home would smell of dressing baking in the oven; onions, celery, seasoning and broth. Hands down, my dad’s dressing was more than food, it was life.

The last couple of years when the family would arrive my dad, I can see him now, would be sitting at the end of that sprawling table exhausted from cooking, with a brightness in his eyes as each of his kids and grandkids walked through the door. Having his family under his roof was clearly a treat that he loved dearly.

Though we knew his light was dimming last year, no one ever truly allows their mind to go to places that we do not want to think of. We expected him to be here this year, because we simply cannot imagine Thanksgiving without him.

But God knew…

God knew, before the foundations of the earth, the day my father would be called home. He knew last year that my dad would be experiencing his last earthly Thanksgiving, but that this year he would be experiencing a Thanksgiving on a much grander scale, with a much grander purpose. Dad is sitting around a much more inviting table, in the presence of God with a full heart of thanksgiving for the one true King!

So while I will miss my dad around my thanksgiving table, I will rejoice knowing that he is in very good company and is feasting at the Lord’s table, all because of the sacrifice made for him 2000 years ago on the cross. The hope that comes through Jesus Christ is healing, comforting and complete.

#Thanksgiving2018 #Thankful #MissMyDad #MemoriesMatter

Mollie Tibbetts is a Person, Not a Platform

The story of Mollie Tibbetts’ mysterious disappearance and body recovery is a top story on just about every news feed. As a recap to what happened, it all started on July 18th when Mollie, an Iowan resident, was staying at her boyfriend’s house while he was out-of-town to pet sit and house sit. Mollie, clearly very healthy and beautiful, went on her daily run. She was scoped out and ultimately followed by, Cristhian Rivera, a twenty-four year old male who was illegally residing here in the United States. Rivera followed Mollie and began to pursue her more aggressively to the point Mollie told him to back off and that she was calling the cops. Unfortunately, Rivera had other plans and ran her down and abducted her.

On August 21st Mollie Tibbetts’ body was found lifeless in a corn field. Rivera has been taken into custody for the murder of Mollie Tibbetts.

I recall looking at her pictures and hoping and praying that she would return unharmed and very much alive. She appeared to be a young woman who loved life, who loved learning, who loved smiling, who loved family and friends, and who had regard for life. Mollie is someone’s daughter, girlfriend, student, family, friend and more. Any life lost is a tragedy, but it seems to hit us harder when a happy and healthy young person is not only taken, but taken so savagely. My heart absolutely breaks for Mollie’s family and friends, they have received such a great loss.

As someone who has lost many loved ones (my dad just passed away 3 weeks ago) I know first hand the importance of people remembering my loved one. Remembering their sense of humor, or their love for something, or tastes in music, or dreams and aspirations. Those stories and memories shared bring so much comfort during times of loss. The story lines preceding Mollie’s discovery were all about her, the person. Kind words, description of personality, and insights into her healthy personal life were all highlighted.

However, one detail shifted the entire narrative from remembering and celebrating the life of Mollie Tibbetts to giving the spotlight to Cristhian Rivera.

This story-shifting detail is all about Cristhian Rivera’s status and how he came to the United States from Mexico illegally and has remained here illegally.

Don’t get me wrong, this is an interesting detail to the story, but definitely not the hill to park on (at least not now). I am a firm believer that people who come here illegally should be dealt with according to the law. Additionally, as a hard-core rule follower, I believe people seeking to come to America should do so according to the legal processes we have in place. No exceptions.

The story of the death of Mollie Tibbetts is simply that of a young woman, minding her own business and was attacked by a sinful, heartless criminal and his origin of birth or status of residency had nothing to do with her death. As I scroll through various different feeds I see the comment over and over, “If we had a wall, Mollie would be alive today”.

I have three comments on this to clarify my point-of-view:

1. What a bold statement to make that having a wall creates a utopia-type society, where bad things do not happen. Remember, we have had people within our own military who turned savage. Does Nidal Hasan ring a bell and the Fort Hood shooting?
2. Secondly, U.S. Citizens kill more U.S. Citizens than any other group here on American soil.
3. Lastly, we do need to secure our borders. Securing borders goes back to ancient history. Remember the story of Jericho and the walls came tumbling down? Why were walls built around cities? For protection! Protecting our borders is not shutting out the world, it is simply saying, “you may enter, but only after we have opened the door and have determined you are not a threat”.

In addition to the comments associating Mollie’s death with border security, pictures of Mollie with #buildthewall are clogging up our feeds. Precious Mollie went from being a girl we were all praying to safely return, to mourning her death and now she is a poster child for border security without her or her family’s permission.

Did anyone stop and think that Mollie’s parents don’t see her as an agenda push piece? Maybe they do. I imagine they feel quite a few emotions towards a lot of things right now with Rivera being at the top of the list.

Lastly, this is pretty obvious to me, but seems to be getting no traction. Maybe I am alone on this one, but respectfully, Mollie is one person who died on July 18th by the hands of an illegal alien. How many people died, on July 18th 2018 by the hands of a U.S. citizen?

I have a bit of insight, because my father-in-law and sister-in-law were killed on July 18th (ironic I know), but in 2001 by a drunk driver. Lamar Saye, the drunk driver,  is a U.S. Citizen and a U.S. Veteran. The day he killed my family he was charged with his third DUI.

There is something very different about losing a loved one to a tragedy as opposed to old age or sickness. It makes life seem so disregarded and so disposable. Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) were calling me within a month and wanting to know if I would speak at Victim Impact Panels (VIP) to a court-ordered audience about our story. If I am being honest, I was offended. My family was still grieving and M.A.D.D. wanted to use my family’s tragedy to push their agenda? This was my thought process at the time.

M.A.D.D. was actually right, but their timing was terrible. After about a year passed, I began speaking at VIP’s and sharing my story once or twice per month. I found that sharing my family’s story through all the tears was actually changing a few minds in the crowd and it made me feel like I was making some sort of purpose out of my loved one’s deaths. Over the last 17 years I continue to speak on and off, sometimes with years in between speaking due to how difficult the topic is to discuss.

There is nothing wrong with continuing the discussion about immigration policy or building a wall. Heck, we are really beyond talking it is time to start doing! With that said, it gives no one the right to push such a weighty agenda on this grieving family during what may be the most difficult thing they will ever endure.

When the narrative changed so abruptly from Mollie’s life and death to her being the face of border policy I felt pain for her family. Mollie is not a platform. Mollie is a person. Mollie is a beautiful soul with a loving family. Mollie did not pass in peace, but prayerfully she is resting in peace.

As humans, lets all take a moment and remember the humanity of Mollie and not what we can gain personally or politically from her passing.

Returning To Work After a Family Loss

I am writing this article because it serves as a therapeutic outlet for me and hopefully for others who are walking the same path I am this week. This may very well be a tool that you can use as a colleague or for management to pass along to someone who his grieving the loss of a loved one.

August 8th, 2018 my father passed away.

During his last few minutes, I provided comfort to him with my words and physical touch by stroking his arm and holding his hand. I literally watched life leave his body. This was without a doubt the most prolific moment of my entire life so far.

So how does one experience such an immense loss, endure such a final moment and come back to work with energy, enthusiasm and drive to “get back at it”?

The answer is…you don’t.

At least not in that first week, or even the second week I would assume. For me it is the anxiety of it all; Having to perform, trying to stay focused, wanting to be somewhere else, scared of how my emotions will unveil, and the list goes on. As with most anxiety-related dilemmas there are ways to tackle those feelings associated with returning to work. For me, my anxiety typically stems from the unknown. With that in mind, I want to share with you a few things that you should expect your first week back to work after losing a loved one.

Unproductive/Unmotivated

You will be incredibly unproductive, especially in comparison to your norm. I know, you are superman/woman, but you will not even remotely produce at your peak. After what seems like seconds, but in actuality is fifteen minutes or more, you will find yourself snapping out of some serious day dreaming. There will be a draw to social media to see if anyone is leaving you a kind word or sharing a sweet memory of your loved one. We all know once all of this stops, the realness of the situation sets in and your loved one is truly a memory. What a sobering thought.

Give yourself the okay to be unproductive. That does not mean to milk the clock, because you should strive to accomplish some critical tasks. The more you do at work during that first week, the more productive you will be the following week and so on.

It is a process. Rome was not built in a day.

Moody or Depressed

My first day back I got on our team call with the biggest virtual smile, laughed a little and then found myself about an hour later crying in the bathroom. You will find yourself short with customers who normally you extend boundless grace to because your attitude in the moment is “screw it”!

Victories even have a way of unleashing suppressed emotions. After I completed my first interview my first week back week I felt guilt. Completing an interview was a huge accomplishment in the moment, so why didn’t I feel accomplished? Why guilt?  I had just carried on with a candidate like nothing happened in my life. We discussed Atlanta weather and a little baseball, both of which do not even matter in the grand scheme of life. Maybe there was a little fear in actually moving on. Am I moving on too quickly? Is this disrespectful?

Your mood will change moment by moment and day by day. It is okay. You have been on a roller coaster the last week or more and  your feelings have not gotten off the ride.

Please note, if you feel you are depressed and those feelings continue for an extended period of time or become crippling, please seek help. Many companies have confidential resources to assist, or you can look in your community for support groups like  “Griefshare”  which may have a meeting near you.  Make sure you talk with someone.

Forgetful

So this is pretty aggravating! When I returned I was being updated of clients, candidates, job openings and I swear I was like, “Who?”, “What?”, “When?”. It took me most of the morning on my first day back to put names, faces and stories all together. Seriously, some of the biggest things on your plate prior to leaving for bereavement become the faintest of thoughts when you return. You are not losing your mind, you are grieving.

Questioning Life

Anytime we lose a loved one we often ask “What am I doing with my life?”. We think about changing jobs, moving to be near family, finding our passion, all of those questions that seem to bubble up when we realize we only have one life to live. Again, this is so very normal.

However, do not make any life-altering decisions during this very emotional time. Your desire to be near family might be the best move you ever make, but it also might deliver more than you can handle. Give yourself time, lots of it, at least three months or longer.

 

So how does someone look at this daunting list of what to expect the first week back and choose to give it the old college try anyway? You take it one day at a time. Here is what I am incorporating to help myself during what I see as a transitional period:

• Exercise is priority – I don’t care what it is as long as your sweating and the heart rate is peaking!
• Nutrition – I actually hired a nutritionist (Carter Nutrition) to help me stay balanced and drop some weight.
• Vitamins – Find a holistic vitamin store near you and go chat with the personnel. I find that taking B-Vitamins, a Multi-Vitamin, St. Johns Wort, Omega 3’s and Valerian Root has been helpful.
• Sleep – Get to bed on time and rest.
• Weekend Wind Down – Intentionally keep weekends low-key for a while. Only do what you must and make time for resting, exercising, meditating, watching a funny movie and/or being around people that make you feel good.
• Pray – I know this is not for everyone, but it is critical to my healing. Make sure to pray for others.
• Clean Your Workspace – I truly believe a cluttered desk is a cluttered mind. Alleviating some of that clutter can help you in thinking more clearly.
• Remember You Are Only One Person – If the floor does not get swept, or the bed does not get made, it is okay. Seriously, it is okay. Yes, it will bug you, but ask the kids to help, hire a housekeeper or just put it off a few more days. Order out dinner or take your friends up on all of those offers of “what can I do to help?”.
• Grooming – Make sure to shower each day. If you are feeling really good, put on a little make up, or guys get a shave. It can be the smallest things that make us feel better.

The bottom line is that you (me) are in pain right now. Physical and emotional pain. Scripture describes death as having a “sting” and I believe that is a very fitting adjective. Losing a loved one cuts us to our very core. Death is devastating, life-wrecking, sad, depressing and just completely sucks. Why? Because we love our loved ones, we miss them, we want to see them again right now! However, that cannot be fulfilled this side of Heaven.

It is true that life must go on. Those first weeks or months of getting back on track will be the toughest. Managers and colleagues, please be sensitive to anyone on your team who is struggling (whether they visibly look like it or not). Do not look at their shortcomings as an irritant, but pull them aside and ask them how you can help. Tell them to come in later or leave earlier that first week or two back. Give them a new project that will cause them to come up with fresh new ideas that could be invigorating to their senses. You cannot coddle, but you can give them some room to breathe for a week or two.

For those reading this blog and hurting today, just know that you are not alone. Time is very healing, though it will not heal all wounds. Work can be an amazing outlet and you may find it to be your greatest tool in moving forward.

Losing Great Candidates By Wasting Valuable Time

Most of the time when a company is ready to engage a recruiter to assist with an important search, it is assumed that a company’s due diligence has been completed. By that I mean that at least these activities are in order:

• Required approvals for new job requisitions have been acquired
• Availability to interview is open for the next 2-3 weeks
• All internal candidates (if applicable) have been reviewed and rejected
• Compensation has been agreed upon and approved
• Details like relocation assistance or telecommute or sign-on bonuses have been approved and discussed
• Job description is complete and available to share

This list is just a basic foundation of what should be established before engaging in a search. Some of these components can hold-up the process before it even gets off the ground.

In this blog though, I want to discuss time-wasting traps that often come after a search is launched and actual candidates are in play.

As a recruiter, when a candidate enters the mix it is GAME ON! Lets not forget that these are human beings, with other options, who deserve timely correspondence.

The interviewing and on-boarding process with a company is the the candidate’s first glimpse at what they are potentially getting themselves into. Over twenty years as a recruiter, I have seen countless prime candidates walk away because the company was viewed as unorganized, chaotic and just straight up unprofessional. Often this view of the company simply comes from time standing still during the interview process.

Here are some of the most seemingly popular ways to lose candidates by simply taking too long:

Feedback To Your Recruiter

During any intake I have with a client, I always tell them I want feedback after I submit over a slate of resumes or after any candidate interviews. My expectation is within 24-48 hours that I will receive this feedback. I want the good, bad and the ugly. Replying back with “just not a good fit” or “we had mixed reviews” is about as helpful as telling me that purple socks on a pig looks real nice.

However, there are times, where I wish I could at least get that. There is a new term going around called “Ghosting” and I have experienced that with hiring managers. A great candidate goes out for an interview and 1-2 weeks later I am still waiting to hear something. I don’t  care if it is “piss off” or “amazing job”, give me something!

I have literally had to tell candidates after 2-3 weeks of trying to save face for my client, the blatant truth. When I have to tell a candidate that I am so sorry, I just cannot get the hiring manager to reply to a call, text or email, you can rest assure that the candidate will never apply to your company and will speak crap about you every chance they get.

BTW – I only submit “A-Players” so you do not want the above happening! 

Vacations/Time Off

I have always found it interesting when a client asks for my help with the most urgent of needs, just to learn they are not available to speak to anyone for the next 3-4 weeks. Now, it is one thing to tell me this upfront because I can work with that and push off recruiting activities accordingly. During my intakes I give ample opportunity to reveal availability when I ask about target interviewing dates and start date timelines. However, to engage a candidate just to have them wait 2-4 weeks, due to a planned vacation you are taking, to speak to someone is a sure fire way to lose them.

Also, be aware that if you are going to have several people as part of the interviewing process (which is typical) that you know their time-off schedule as well. If you cannot hire anyone without them interviewing with a particular executive, you might want to know that he/she plans to be in Australia the entire month of May and refuses to do a Skype.

Take ownership of this process and know the availability of all players involved.

Ridiculous Interview Process

I encourage everyone to take inventory of their current interview process. If you go much beyond 3 interviews (inclusive of phone and in person), you need to really figure out what you are trying to accomplish.

Over the years I have worked with clients who have 5 or more steps to their interview cycle. It might include long testing, multiple phone interviews, coming onsite a couple of times. Candidates often will say, “I am meeting the same people and answering the same questions”. It can become frustrating.

In the meantime, like with most candidates, they are interviewing with other reputable companies with a 2-step interview process and if made an offer will give up on you out of mere frustration. Ensure that each step of your process is necessary and will give you additional insight that you could not obtain in the prior steps.

Unsure Of What You Want

Please know exactly what experience you are seeking in a role. If a client tells us that they are seeking entry level or junior level candidates for a role and my candidate with 3 years of hands on experience does not have enough experience then we have a problem. Especially if you take it further by asking me to keep them “warm”, because not only am I irritated for you wasting my time, you will lose my candidate while you are trying to figure out what you want.

There is a shared frustration among recruiters with hiring managers who think they have an opening and ultimately are using us to get some candidates to help them figure out what they really want. Please don’t be that guy, or gal!

Be Proactive

Some of the list I provided at the top of the blog fits into being proactive. Sometimes a hiring manager knows what they want, provides timely feedback and is ready to pull the trigger to get stopped dead in their tracks.

Maybe a salary range was assumed and now we are way off, so additional approvals are needed to get the necessary compensation. A requisition wasn’t officially approved in the applicant tracking system (ATS) and now we wait.

Do professional references have to be completed before an offer can be extended? Make sure you are sharing that in an intake. It is always a great idea to include HR on intake calls when available.

 

As a recruiter, I take it very personally to make sure that the process keeps moving and my candidate never feels like they are being halted. With that said, there are times it is completely out of my control and it comes down to poor planning on the hiring manager’s or human resources behalf.

Your recruiter is your partner and they are doing everything in their power to ensure this candidate you have expressed interest in remains engaged and interested in you, your company and the opportunity you wish to fill.

Consider these few simple tips that can make a monumental change in your interview to hire ratio!

Maybe Apes Are The Superior Species

Anyone who knows me knows that I am fascinated with all things apes. I am mesmerized by “King Kong” anything “Planet of the Apes”, “Bigfoot” and “Sasquatch”. Seems the only person who really gets me is Homer Simpson.

As you can imagine I am IN LOVE with the new “Planet of the Apes” trilogy and you can bet my happy behind was sitting in the movie theater opening weekend for “War for the Planet of the Apes”. If that was not enough we literally watched the first two movies of the trilogy all weekend and even this week. Fortunately my family, which is all boys, love these movies as much as I do.

I was thrilled when I read the review from my favorite move review app “Plugged In”, an app created by the ministries of Focus on the Family (Dobson). The app of course covered all of the violence (as would be expected), any sexual connotation, which there was not any, and language.

Often I read movie reviews with bated breath because I still have an eleven year old in the house who simply cannot handle movies with excessive profanity. In addition, my role as a mother is to protect my boys and protect their purity as much as I can in this very digital, in-your-face world we live in. 

The movie reviews that consistently let me down are those associated with comic books. Every month when a new comic book movie comes out, as one would expect, my sons are stoked to go see it. They love watching the previews over and over and just get amped up with excitement. Sadly, whether it is “Wonder Woman”, “Spider Man” , “Guardians of the Galaxy”, “Suicide Squad”, “Dare Devil”, it does not matter, they never pass the movie review test. (Superman and Batman are hit and miss)

I absolutely HATE having to say “no” all the time to my boys. 

Now granted, I realize these movies are PG-13 and really are not designed for an eleven year old. With that said, some of them are so sexually charged that there is NO WAY this mom would watch these movies with the family and my older kid is just going to have to miss out. I have never understood the value of adding nudity and profanity to something that is already so beloved.

What blows me away even more is the number of little kids flocking to these movies. Words like the s-word or p-word or f-word and God’s name misused over and over, I don’t understand how we became so okay with introducing this to our kids at such young ages. Also, we are not talking about 1 or 2 words sprinkled here and there, often it is heading towards 20-30 and more! Typically the excuse given to me by other parents in hopes I will bend is that “kids will hear these words at school”. Well that is a problem. Maybe they are hearing them at school because parents are taking them to movies they are not mature enough for and are simply repeating what they think is okay?

I am probably wrong.

The other part of the movie review that Plugged-In does a great job in informing on, is sexual content. I am not sure it ever makes sense to expose a child to a woman speaking to a naked man about his “endowment”. Or seeing people in bed together, about to or just finishing up, a sexual act. When did this become okay for 8-year-old kids to watch? When did parents become comfortable watching this with their kids?

I truly believe one of the greatest gifts we can give our kids is a shot at protecting the purity of their mind. 

“[Rom 12:2 NASB] And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

The verse of scripture has meant so much to me. When I think of leaning towards what the mainstream is doing because I am so exhausted from keeping my guard up for myself and my children all the time, I remember this verse.

Our brains are like computers…Garbage In, Garbage Out. Any good coder or programmer will tell you that.

Why would our brains be any different. If we fill it full of sex, profanity, idolatry and so on, exactly what are we expecting to manifest?

Rant over…

What got me thinking about this whole topic, other than I am bombarded with this seemingly every day, was the review from Plugged-In about the “War for the Planet of the Apes” movie. Here is what it says:

“The movie’s sentient simians have discarded humankind’s bad habit of swearing. But the remaining humans still spit the occasional salty profanity:…”

The only reason this movie contained 3-4 cuss words was because it includes humans. Humans provided the “salty” words, while apes seemingly take the high road.  It was like the apes realize that profanity adds absolutely nothing to the conversation. From a movie-goers perspective, profanity also adds nothing to the story line. If the story line is good, well then, it is good! We did not need to see apes humping or two humans getting it on to appreciate the story line of the movie. It was not necessary to hear Caesar scream out the f-word to the top of his lungs to appreciate the deep internal and external struggles he was experiencing. “Bad Ape” did not need to make a crude sexual joke to get major, huge laughs from the audience (trust me he will be your favorite).

The reality is that it is possible to watch a movie that is not littered with colorful language and steamy sexuality to be good. The industry keeps making this junk because adults AND children alike keep filling up the seats in droves.

I find it incredibly ironic that the apes exhibited a higher standard of family values and a deeper understanding of what is decent than mankind. (Yes I realize these apes are fiction, but you get the point).

 

Theological Corner – I do not in any way believe that apes are superior to humans. I believe man was made in God’s image and only man. I am also fully aware apes do not speak and these movies are complete fiction.

 

Why Is No One Listening To Me? The Power of Effective Communication.

Recently I had a friend who was venting a little about how no one listens to him at work. Whether it is his colleagues or his subordinates, people space out, are unresponsive or sometimes just walk off mid-sentence. Now granted this friend of mine has a group of employees who are a bit rough around the edges which plays into his quandary, but even with the most unprofessional of groups there is still a way to better hold the attention of your audience…any audience.

Every year I speak to a group of rising High School Seniors from a particular county school district. The topic I have been asked to speak on for nearly ten years now is effective communication. What I share with them is true for anyone pending that your goal is to ensure that your message is delivered effectively and received concisely!

 

Know Your Audience

Much like my friend, it is important that he understand that speaking to a group of laborers will be much different than speaking to a Senior Director. Same is true if you are speaking to High School students as opposed to a first grade class. Really any contrast works…experts versus amateurs, young versus old, colleagues versus strangers, end users versus executive level. Your message must be delivered in a style, length, and content that matters to your audience.

For example if you are having to gain the buy-in of both the executive team and the technology group on a new ERP system you have researched, your message to the technology team will be extremely detailed in the technology. Why? Technology is a language they understand. When speaking on the same topic to the executives there will be some tech-talk, but the cost associated with the technology will most likely be their pain point. Not to mention, Executives often have very limited time, build the case, but cut to the chase!

 

Mix It Up

Whether you are speaking to an individual or to a group, every person receives communication differently. Most people remember information better if there is some form of visual aid. Taking the “lecture” approach as the sole means of communication quite honestly can potentially be the least effective. Verbal lecture is critical, but consider a visual presentation that mirrors your verbal message.

For example for my friend who has to often teach his crews about plants and proper installation techniques, I told him to find pictures of the plants and similar landscape designs to show as he is talking. These pictures will aid in filling in any gaps with his crews that could be potentially lost in verbal translation.

Every see someone or have someone pull out a cocktail napkin to draw for you what they are trying to explain? Almost every time, the message becomes very clear.

 

Voice Control

The tone of your voice tells half your message. I remember when I was MUCH younger, like 19, I decided to become an umpire for extra money while in school. One of the techniques they taught us was to “sell the call”. If you see it as “Out” or “Safe” vocalize it with great confidence and do not back down. The instructors told us that if we used the right tone, volume, etc. we are less likely to have someone argue the call. By the way, it works!

Not only is tone important but so is inflection. Have you ever received a lecture by a monotone robot? Well I have and it is brutal. The worst ever was a two-week training I had to attend before myself and thirty other Recruiters embarked on a new RPO. We were learning systems, processes, agreements and so on. Our trainer literally sat in a chair, almost hidden behind her computer, and read every single word off the presentation. Her voice never went high or low, it just stayed the same. Her eyes were also blood-shot red, so maybe she was doing the best she could to just show up to work. (Yeah, she was a Senior Director..smh)

IT. WAS. BRUTAL.

With inflection you can speak soft and then loud, slow and then fast. Throw a bit of laughter in their or a sigh. We have countless ways to change our voices from droning monotony to interesting and fluid.

 

Audience Interaction

Even with the best of lecturer and the most interesting of visual aids, this will only buy you but so much time. When I am speaking to my kids and I realize I have been talking for a minute and I see a glaze coming over their beautiful blue eyes, I pause and then ask a question. I realize at this point I need them to re-engage in what we are discussing.

If you are speaking to an employee or colleague one-on-one, this is a great technique, but you must be aware of the person in front of you. Someone is disengaging if they are “glazed” over, looking everywhere but at you, checking their phone, etc. The signs are typically pretty glaring if you are also engaged!

Of course, if you are planning a presentation for a group, you should have certain places within your presentation for interaction. For a small group, you would want to have pre-planned questions to stir discussion. If you are speaking to a large group you can create questions that involve the entire audience’s participation. Maybe you tell the audience you will throw out a scenario and if you agree with “A” yell or if you agree with “B” yell. Whichever letter receives the loudest yells that is the scenario of preference. (This is just a very vague example). Pull out a volunteer to join you onstage for an exercise.

The more your audience (single or group) is involved in the message, the better they will understand it!

 

Optimal Messaging Channels

Effective communication is not just for verbal conversations and public speaking. Today with so much messaging being sent in digital format, it is more important than ever to watch your p’s and q’s when it comes to email and texting.

First, determine if the message you are about to send is best sent via digitally versus a verbal conversation. The best way to determine this is if you begin writing an email and you start moving into paragraph form, especially more than 2 paragraphs, you really should consider giving this message verbally.

Email should be for those quick, easy to understand messages that will most likely receive a quick response back. Email is also very effective though for recapping important conversations that need extra reinforcement to ensure everyone truly is on the same page. I like having things in writing, it has saved me on several occasions!

Texting can be a very useful tool as well and I believe it will be used even more in professional settings as time marches on. However, texting should be saved for very short messages. I mean very short. Maybe your colleague needs to know you are running 10 minutes behind. Texting should really be all about transmitting basic information that someone needs quickly and able to access easily. As a Recruiter I have sent people a picture of a building that an interview will take place in, or last minute information that a candidate needs pretty quickly. Texting is all about transmitting basic information. 

Emojis are pretty great as they do help in setting that all important tone. One emoji is plenty, no need to overdo it. Also, save emojis for texting. Smiley faces on emails may not represent you in the most professional light. Again, know your audience!

Oh and by the way, please stop with the e-cards, send a handwritten card to your loved ones! Sorry, I had to sneak something old-school in here! 

 

Get To The Point

I had a Pastor once, who I dearly loved his knowledge of Scripture. In all honesty, I learned so much from him. WITH THAT SAID.…every Sunday morning he would literally spend about forty-five minutes of the one hour and fifteen minutes he was allotted recapping the week’s sermon before. When we finally got to the new stuff (which is what I was anxious to hear) I was always a bit frustrated. I felt as though the last forty-five minutes had sort of been wasted. That time could have been used telling me something I did not already know.

The same is true when we are speaking to an individual or a group. If you are using the preceding steps you should know your audience and know their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to the knowledge of the topic of the message. Get to the point!

If you were tasked to teach a seventh grader Algebra, you would not start by spending the day learning basic first grade math like two plus two! You will lose your student before you ever get started.

Also, let me get real practical for you managers who have to deliver bad news at times. Maybe you are having to let someone go, or you are having to bring a bad habit or a poor work ethic to your employee’s attention. Do not begin any of these conversations with an apologetic tone. It is our human-desire to never offend anyone, but sometimes our conversations may need to be rightly-offensive. Let me tell you what I mean by that through a real-life example:

I was the interim Recruiting Manager for a temp staffing branch while the standing manager was out on a long term medical leave. We had an employee in our branch who used oils, LOTS of oils and seemingly did not bathe regularly. The mixture was potent and often made me gag, literally heave. Other employees came to me and said that I had to say something because the stench remained even after she left the office. As sort of a newby, I called the standing manager and asked her opinion on how I should approach her. Without going into detail, she advised me to approach the conversation with the employee as “no big deal” and stick to the oil and allergies combo.

What kept sticking with me is that, this was a big deal. I was to the point of nausea.

So I spoke to a Director within the company and her advice was to be direct. She told me to shoot it to her straight and never toss if off as no big deal. She reminded me that this situation was effecting everyone in the office and to the point where people really could not even engage her. This was effecting business…period!

Well I took the Director’s advice and I had a very direct conversation with this employee. The conversation literally lasted less than ten minutes. The employee was embarrassed but thanked me because she was completely unaware. I kept the details limited, no need to kick a dead horse, but I believe she knew this was something she needed to take care of.

 

Communication is key to every successful relationship, personal and professional. If a message is not being received with clarity then what is the purpose of that message?Follow these simple steps and keep them in mind as you deliver your next important message. Remember, it is not actually communication until the message is received!

Best Career Advice Ever Given To Me: Top 5

Recently I decided to reorganize and purge my office of clutter. During my cleaning frenzy, I came across a notebook that I lovingly always called the “Compliment Portfolio”. The book itself is a result of advice given to me that I still practice to this day. This book is filled with emails, handwritten cards, awards and recognition of a job well done spanning more than ten years!

As I surf the world-wide-web, I find it fairly easy to locate college commencement speeches riddled with advice for those about to embark on their careers.

Bill Gates gave some very solid and practical advice in his commencement speech this year, “Intelligence is not quite as important as I thought it was, and it takes many different forms. In the early days of Microsoft, I believed that if you could write great code, you could also manage people well, or run a marketing team, or take on any other task. I was wrong. I had to learn to recognize and appreciate people’s different talents. The sooner you can do this, if you don’t already, the richer your life will be.” 

Read More Amazing Quotes From Commencement Speeches – SlackHQ

Therefore, as my gift to you, I would like to share with you the Top 5 pieces of advice given to me by people who have meant a lot to me over the course of my humble career.

Always Be Prepared To Toot Your Own Horn

Okay, so the actual advice was much more eloquent than “toot your own horn”, but in essence this is what was shared with me. It is always important to connect with people who will advocate for you, but essentially it is my responsibility to be my greatest advocate of all. Moving forward, no matter what call I was on, no matter who I was going to meet with, I made it a point to share any success I was currently engaged in. Often when taken inventory of current successes, if I struggled to write something down of true value, that was my gut punch to get back at it and ensure I always have something brewing!

This is where the compliments portfolio was born out of. I am not trying to pat myself on the back, but I literally, daily, received dozens of “thank you” emails and “your the best recruiter ever” emails that I often would reply “thanks” and then hit delete, not giving it another thought. Therefore, I began to print out the really gushy ones and save the others to an Outlook folder.

Always Speak on a Conference Call

For about eight years of my career I literally worked for basically the same company (actually today they are the same company) and I often wondered if they got a kickback for the most conference calls in a day. We would joke in the office that the wind was changing direction so we best set up a conference call! So my manager came to me early on in those eight years and said, “Kim, every time we have a conference call you need to be saying something”.

The reason for her advice is because there were always people on these calls that I may never meet, but are important corporate folks. If they hear you say your name and hear you provide something of value to the conversation, then you may very well become synonymous with success!

I think the first time I tried it, because I was so nervous (and super young) I said, “Hi, this is Kim Kilgoar”, then I froze and continued with, “never mind, my question has been answered”. Eventually I honed my craft and I was AMAZED at the doors it opened for me.

Pick Your Battles

This is great advice for anything. I am a big believer that a lot of employees are frustrated with management, especially management that is making decisions about their jobs who are 2-3 places removed; Like senior leadership. It is easy to get fired up and want to poo-poo every single idea or change, but all that is going to accomplish is you receiving a pink slip.

If a new process takes 6 steps now instead of the proven 4, just let it go. Yes, it is dumb and it goes against all things Six Sigma (I nerd out of over 5S and Six Sigma), but let it go and play along.

The places I choose to speak up is when a new directive requires me to cross an ethical line, a legal line or creates gross liability for me and/or my employer. Yes, I have been asked to do all three, multiple times. (I refused in case you were wondering)

You Can Only Handle What You Can Handle

So I have been given this advice multiple times in a variety of ways, but the sentiment is always the same. Any Recruiter will tell you there are times where we are simply given more than any one human can handle.

I was on a RPO contract where the first day I was given 75 requisitions, consisting of 45 different hiring managers (who all needed intake sessions within 48 hours), across 4 time zones. By the end of that week I was pushing nearly 200 requisitions and more than 60 hiring managers I had to contend with. After working every day for a month from about 4am to midnight and still not even keeping my head above water and feeling overwhelmingly frustrated I demanded help. No, I did not ask for it, I demanded it!

I felt incredibly guilty asking for help…CRAZY I know!

My new partner (who I demanded) told me that she heard me on the conference calls talking about my requisition load and thought “poor girl”. One of the first things she told me was that a person can only handle but so much and that I was taking on an impossible task.

To this day there are times that I find myself in the rat race and before I lose my head, I take a step back and look at my req load, level of difficulty to fill, etc. and remind myself I can only do but so much, I am but one person.

Never Be Anyone’s Banker

Early on in my career I have been asked to buy everything from client gifts, to Christmas decorations to a new smart phone for my job. Initially, I found myself buying these items on my personal credit card and then being given the explanation, “it takes money to make money” with no intentions of reimbursement. (Yes Corporate America can be a real suck hole).

A very nice, older colleague, told me to “Never be anyone’s banker”. She went to on to explain that if something is needed to perform your job, then the company should fit the bill. Including travel plans that involve expensive airline tickets and hotels.

I was faced with this situation with my first ever business trip and my manager told me to just use my credit card and turn in expenses later for the whole trip. Reluctantly (because I was scared), I pushed back and told them we had to figure out another way to book my trip because I would not be able to use my personal funds. Interestingly enough, the trip got booked on my company’s dime and they were none the wiser that I was refusing to be their banker. (BTW – yes I do pay for my meals, etc. when traveling and turn in expense reports)

 

It goes without saying, I have been advised on organization, prioritizing, time management, visual aids and everything else needed to be successful in the business world. Once I even sat in a 3-day Time Management Seminar. Now I look back and see the irony in that! HA!

The advice I have now passed on to you is what has allowed me to remain sane in a very chaotic place we call Corporate America. This is advice that protects you, your sanity, your wallet, your performance and allows you to be proactive in every aspect of your professional life. To this day, how I run my personal life truly mirrors how I have learned to manage my professional life:

• I’m not a bragger, but I let people know my talents when volunteering.
• I share new ideas of where I have had successes in efforts to help projects run smoother at home or volunteering.
• I learn to pick my battles with my kids, my husband, the school system or the cashier who just threw the watermelon on top of my bread.
• I have learned to say “No”. I am asked all the time to volunteer here, or drive someone there or host a party and if I do not have the time, I am comfortable taking a pass!
• I do not loan money. If I ever choose to help someone I give them the funds as a gift, because that person or the cause is something I believe in. I am not funding anything!

 

I could say this advice is for the Class of 2017 or those early in their careers, but honestly, this is good solid advice for all of us to be reminded of. If you are a manager, take a look at the list and consider maybe how you might be imposing on your employees. Employees take stock in what is being said and know that you may be scared the first couple of times you step outside of your comfort zone, but your peace of mind will be reward enough to keep pressing forward!

 

Breaking Down Bill H.R.1180 – Comp Time vs. Overtime Pay

Think about it, which is more important to you, overtaxed time and a half pay or some paid time off? Everyone will answer this question differently and the answer could change from year to year depending on an individual’s circumstance. With that said this could lead, a reasonably thinking person, to at least agree that having the option would be nice.

However, as with how all things go in this great Nation, political parties remain divided in opinion (even with a House pass). The Left has their opposition and the Right has their supporting camp cry. So let us dig into this bill and see if it is as scary or as great as either side is making it out to be.

First, do not take my word for it, read it yourself: H.R. 1180 Bill – Read It Here

Here is the most simplistic list of what this bill covers:

• HR 1180 is also called “Working Families Flexibility Act of 2017”
• One & a Half Hours of compensatory (comp) time for every hour worked over 40 hours
• Conditions i & ii – Coercion by the employer is not allowed – must be accepted voluntarily by employee and not as a condition of employment
• If comp time is not used by employee by January 31st all unused comp time must be paid out to employee within 30 days (160 hour max of comp time)
• Employees can change their mind, provide a written request at any time, and be paid their unused comp time in full within 30 days
• If employee is terminated, employer is required to pay, in full, all unused comp time
• GAO Report – all complaints and actions related to this Act will be monitored, assessed and released to Congress to address any issues associated with it

 

So what is wrong with this bill? Who is complaining and what are they complaining about.

Here are a few representative quotes from this article House Passes GOP “Comp Time” Bill, from TheHill.com:

“While they say it’s voluntary and a matter of their choice, as a practical matter, it’s not,” said House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). He called it the “Freedom to Make Less bill.” “This bill takes away overtime pay and instead the worker gets a vague ‘IOU’ ” said Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.).”

In my humble opinion, these concerns are based in biased, unfounded, fear. You guys know I am not a Trump supporter and even more so after this election I have stepped outside of the Republican party and have now landed as an Independent. So please understand where I am coming from.

These concerns by the Left are simply stemming from a place that if the Republicans want it, then we (Democrats) want nothing to do with it. That is never a good perspective and it reeks of selfishness and personal political agenda. Again, newsflash to all of our representatives, YOU ARE A PUBLIC SERVANT TO THE PEOPLE!

Furthermore, this idea that offering an option to employees is somehow a sneaky way for employers to pay less is simply foolish and shows the deficiencies in understanding how business works. For any politician lifers who may get a hold of this blog, here is some basic business 101:

• Overtime (OT) pay is something ALL companies try to avoid for many reasons:
  • It costs more to do the same work
  • Burn out for employees
  • Excessive OT could be a sign of poor time management
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • There is a reason that PTO will be outlined under benefits in the employee handbook given to you by Human Resources. PTO is a benefit
  • Benefits cost companies money – there really isn’t any financial Return On Investment (ROI)
    • Yes, one could argue medical benefits keep employees healthy so they come to work, or PTO keeps employees from burning out, etc. However, from a fiscal perspective, there is very little to no ROI.
  • When people are out, often others have to pick up the slack or companies have to pay extra for temps to fill in the gaps
  • If no one is available to pick up the slack, or the budget does not allow for temps, the production is compromised…period!

My first impressions of the bill after reading it: 

• Very employee friendly. Employees are protected from every front.
• 160 Hours is excessive, this could be quite a conflict for employers who simply cannot be without an employee for a month!
  • Sidebar – I don’t believe most people would stock-pile a month, I believe most would use it to attend more special events sporadically throughout the year
• This actually seems to be a little lopsided, leaving little protection for the employer

In other words, I had the exact opposite reaction than those who oppose this bill.

Concerns I have for employers:

• Though a contract is required to make this deal, an employee can change their mind anytime with written notice and is required to receive full monetary compensation for comp time within 30 days
  • Can we not see employees needing extra money for Christmas and giving their written notice in November. This could be a huge hit to a budget for Q4.
  • The January 31st payout makes sense, most companies have extra budget funds in Q1
• Termination
  • There does not seem to be a clause that if someone is truly fired due to their own actions or negligence that an employee must forfeit their comp time pay-out.
  • Obviously if someone is laid off due to no fault of their own, they should be paid for their comp time.
• 160 Hours
  • This just seems excessive
  • However, there is an 80 hour clause that allows a company to pay out comp time in excess of 80 hours instead of allowing the time off. This provides a little autonomy.

 

So we are at a crossroads I suppose. For me this is pretty much an interstate going 100 mph, but for some this is a dangerous road with a questionable fork. At the end of the day this is an option, a really good option for employees.

If I fit the profile and my employer offered me the choice of comp time versus OT pay,  I would go with comp time. My time is so valuable and life is so busy. However, I know there will come a time in my life when my kids are more independent and I will just want the cold hard cash!

Will this bill, if fully passed, ever be abused? Almost certainly. Why? Because people will always be people. People will often spend more time trying to figure out how to manipulate the system then just doing the right thing and working hard and benefiting accordingly. You don’t believe me? Well our prisons and corporate America hallways and Capitol Hill are filled with them.

The same can be asked of any bill which has become law – Affirmative Action for starters! You don’t think this one isn’t abused seven ways to Sunday? (sorry that is an old saying from my grandparents). There is an actual investigation being conducted by a local news channel here in Atlanta about how “minority” companies who are being used as a front for majority companies to win contract bids.

There is never a perfect law or perfect bill, but we must put party biases aside and look at each bill with some common sense, speculation (yes!) and a willingness to hear it out.

There are people sitting around the dinner table tonight who are hoping with all of their heart that this bill will get passed. Earning some extra time to take their kids to soccer, or spend a day during the summer at the movies, or simply not feeling the pressure of having to ask to come in late again because Kelsey has an ear infection once more, for some, is priceless. This will be time owed to the employee, hopefully relieving some of the guilt and anxiety associated with requesting time off. Not to mention, being proactive to ensure that no matter what comes up a person is not faced with having to take unpaid time off!

For a lot of employees having the ability to earn comp time will relieve them of such undue pressures that come with simply needing more time away from work to balance it all.

This Act currently sits in the Senate….so we shall see!