by Solange Lopes | Oct 15, 2014 | Career |
Sick-at-Work – Photo: burnettstaffing.com
‘Tis flu season, with its flurry of germs, sneezes an infections everywhere! Especially in the office where we’re often all on top of each other…And while you’d think most employees would take time off to heal and rest when sick, it turns out “20 percent of Americans never call out sick, no matter how ill they are, and 17 percent stay home only under doctor’s orders.” This 2013 Inc. article even reveals 90% of employees come to work when sick, and it’s the workplace culture’s fault.
Whether you’re in need of a mental health day, or your frantic sneezes are shaking your office desk, coming to work when sick is just unproductive (not to mention the fact that your charitable germ sharing is not exactly welcome).
My $0.05: I remember back in Public Accounting, in the middle of busy season, when calling in sick was not exactly an option. If you could hold a red pencil and tick-mark work-papers, you could work! Yes, we could certainly call in, but the workplace culture was one of intense work and dedication that discouraged some of us from taking time off.
Fast-forward a few years, I still struggle with calling in when sick, but I’m getting better at taking care of myself. Bottom line: when you’re sick, stay home!
What do you think? Would you go to work when sick?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 15, 2014 | Career
DVF Gemma Skirt – $328 – Photo: shopbop.com
I was pretty excited when I read on Corporette Shopbob is currently having its Friends and Family sale. Hence today’s pick of this Diane Von Furstenberg Gemma skirt, made with topstitched pleats and in my favorite red “power” color.
Loving the full, A-line silhouette of this skirt that is both playful and still professional enough. At $328 at Shopbop, this skirt is more on the splurge side ( pssttt…Shopbop is having a 25% discount on your entire purchase)!
I’d pair it with the same leopard hair calf pumps the model is wearing, or pick a more frugal alternative like these Jaclyn point pumps.
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 15, 2014 | Working Mom & Woman Tips |
Children or career – Photo: huffingtonpost.com
The news that Apple and Facebook decided to pay women employees for freezing their eggs took me a bit by surprise. I realize, as incongruous as it may sound, that there is such a thing as the motherhood penalty, or that some may leave the widening gender inequality in the hands of karma. Yet when it comes to deciding upon our fertility as women, I still tend to be a traditionalist at heart.
Certainly, this is an amazing perk, as the cost of freezing eggs can add up to $10,000 per round of treatment. And considering at least 2 rounds are needed for the recommended 20 eggs for fertilization, this procedure does cost a pretty penny. Having companies such as Apple and Microsoft in male-dominated Silicon Valley volunteer to invest such money in their female employees will undoubtedly be a great opportunity for many women. It will afford many a woman the choice to delay pregnancy and focus on their career, or even help with health issues forcing them to consider having children later in life.
However, for those women who want both motherhood and career success, what message are these companies sending? Does this mean women must now choose between motherhood and career? And if they choose motherhood, that their chances at succeeding in their careers are diminished? Or if they choose to delay motherhood and focus on their careers, that having children was out on the back seat?
For many women, the choice is not that easy. While we may not want or need to have it all, some choices are among the most difficult to make, and have longer lasting consequences and implications than a couple of fertilization treatments. Do we want this type of choices to now be institutionalized and made the norm?
What do you think? Are companies offering to pay employees’ costs to freeze their eggs sending the wrong message?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 14, 2014 | Career
When do you ask for a raise – Photo: acute redhead.com
I wrote earlier about asking for raises, and how the recent controversy around Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadell‘s comments has literally raised the stakes on women’s raises at work. While Mr. Nadell argued women should trust karma for pay increases, and this despite his subsequent retraction, women, and the general public, are increasingly realizing the many layers of pay inequality at work.
Yet, Microsoft’s CEO remarks also served us as a reminder that closing the gender pay gap also means asking for it to be closed. In other words, we, as women at work, must ask to receive what we want. In reality though, how often do we, and how persistent are we, at asking for pay increases?
When do you muster up the courage to schedule some time with your manager and discuss your salary? Or, as Mr. Nadell’s incendiary comments suggested, do you just wait for Lady karma to bestow her financial favors upon you?
My $0.05: It took me years to even consider asking for a pay raise. I simply didn’t think it was done. I thought you work hard and wait your turn, and your efforts should be rewarded. And truth is, this probably set my career and finances back. It took a few years of professional stagnation to realize it was time. And when I finally went ahead and asked, it did not happen then. Yet it made me realize that not only should I have asked earlier, but I do have the choice and power to negotiate.
What motivates you to ask for a pay increase, if anything? Take my short poll and share with us…
[polldaddy poll=8374125]
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 14, 2014 | Career
Band-collar jacket – $199 – Photo: talbots.com
Loving this notched band-collar jacket in Italian flannel from Talbots! The no-close silhouette is perfect for the fresh yet not quite cold Fall days, and complements most bottoms for work. I especially like this cypress teal color, which is a nice change from darker “office” colors.
I’d pair this jacket with a simple yet elegant layering top, like this crepe de chine top also from Talbots, and would merchandise it all with this feather curb collar necklace from Baublebar, and…voila!
The Corporate Sis.
