This is like deja vu all over again Yogi Berra   Two steps forward, one step back. Or is it one step forward, two steps back? I guess the answer to that is up to us. Obviously pandemic exhaustion is starting to set in and everyone is sick of the virus, sick of restrictions and sick of being afraid. But most of us would agree it's better than actually being sick.   In the early days of the pandemic, Rhode Island was leading the way, for the most part, in doing things right and doing them in a timely fashion. Then the lazy, hazy days...

Why is this time different?   In Superman's bizarro world, nothing seemed to make sense. Everything was the opposite of what was expected. It would seem that today's pandemic impacted economy, especially as it relates to hiring, would feel right at home in the Man of Steel's alternate universe.   (I would have used a Superman Bizarro World image, but I didn't think that D.C. Comics would like it.)   We have record unemployment, yet jobs go unfilled. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the September unemployment rate had decreased to 7.9% with the number of people unemployed down to 12.6 million. Among those...

Is the Break Room Gone?   One of the great things about almost any job is the people you meet. People who you otherwise would never know and, more importantly, never connect with. The workplace certainly isn't the great equalizer, but it can act as a social mixing pot. However, with work-from-home being implemented more and more, and workplace redesign intended to purposely keep us apart becoming the norm, getting to know our fellow employees is becoming harder and harder. Just when we think it can't get worst, now it looks like we're going to (at least now), lose our coffee breaks...

Only 9 States Have a Higher Minimum Wage Than Rhode Island     As of last Thursday, only 9 states (and Washington D.C.) have a higher minimum wage than Rhode Island. Rhode Island has the 12th highest cost of living in the country, so it's position in the wage rankings is not surprising. Throw into the mix that Rhode Island has the 4th highest percentage of workers (19%) represented by unions, and the picture becomes clearer.   In a 2019 CNBC article, Rhode Island was reported to have the 7th highest cost of doing business (although, with the new minimum wage going into effect, this...

Getting a Promotion in the Best Way     Any office environment can be fraud with peril. Potential personal missteps that can hamper your career can appear at any time. You want to stand out, but doing it at the expense of someone else will more often than not come back to bite you in the future.   No one appreciates someone who brags about their accomplishments or who much they know. However, is your boss doesn't yet know how good you really are, how do you get them to notice you? How do you stand out without sticking out?   There are several ways to impress...