IF YOU REALLY, REALLY HATE YOUR JOB...Written by Cathy Goodwin, MBA, PhD
1. Begin focusing on what you want instead of how much you want to escape. When you find yourself talking or thinking about job ("And this is latest horrible story...") stop in mid-sentence and say, "What I want to have is..." And then probe further: "I want a boss who treats me respectfully. That means courteous speaking, respect for my need to get home on time..." "I want to live in country and drive to work easily..."2. When you feel trapped, what image comes to mind? A river too wide to cross? A forest? A thorny hedge? When you get comfortable with image, begin visualizing a change in obstacle. Imagine building a bridge across river or finding a path in forest. Don't force image or change. When you're ready it will come. 3. Think of developing skills, not serving time. Begin to build skills on company time and money, consistent with company guidelines and your own ethical principles. Take every course that's offered. Think skills -- not job titles -- and focus on skills that can be foundation of your own business. Can you learn HTML or PowerPoint? Can you use some evenings, weekends and lunch hours to solicit some free lance gigs? 4. Focus on satisfactory, not superior. Show up on time and meet deadlines, but forget about moving ahead. (If you have trouble with this step, ask yourself if you really want to leave.) If you have been targeted for a layoff, this step is especially crucial. When "Nancy" knew she would be out of a job in six months, she asked me for suggestions. Since she wanted to stay in same field, I suggested she begin networking within her industry. "I can't!" she said. "My job takes all my time! I work ten hours a day!" "Your job is finding a new job," I told her. "You owe company minimum you need to earn your salary and keep from getting fired. Your job hunt must come first." If you plan to leave, you're firing yourself. The same rule applies. But don't be surprised if you start to accomplish more than ever and start to earn rewards and promotions. 5. Identify conflict that underlies your wish to escape. Dishonesty? Greed? Hypocrisy? Allow yourself to wonder if these qualities are mirrored in your own life -- or even in your mind. If everyone around you seems dishonest, are you lying to yourself? To others? After you resolve your own conflict, you may find workplace has changed or you have been catapulted into a new, more satisfying life.
| | Health Coverage While UnemployedWritten by Tony Novak
A key decision that millions of Americans face each year is whether to elect "COBRA" “HIPAA” or “COBRA alternative” health care continuation coverage when they lose employer-provided health coverage. About two thirds of all Americans are covered by employer-provided health coverage but with recent increase in layoffs across country, number of workers losing these employer-provided health benefits is at a record level. Workers typically have three or more options available and cost can vary dramatically between various choices available. Some may opt to take no health insurance coverage and bear financial risk themselves. In order to make best decision, they need to know about two laws, COBRA and HIPAA.COBRA Employers who have over 20 employees and offer group health coverage are required to offer continued coverage to their workers, former workers or dependents who lose eligibility for group health plan. This benefit does not apply if health plan withdrawals coverage or if employer terminates group health plan before worker is enrolled under COBRA benefit. When workers lose health insurance coverage, COBRA is usually not best solution unless employee or a dependent is in middle of a course of medical treatment because this is most expensive health coverage option. But in some cases, for example, if a worker has serious medical conditions or worker’s spouse is pregnant, COBRA coverage may be desirable. HIPAA Most group health plans offer members right to convert to a variety of individual plans while preserving continuation of coverage benefit. In many cases you may also change to another insurance plan in your local market by providing evidence that you were covered by a prior health plan. For “preferred risk” applicants, changing insurance plans can result in significant savings, but this will generally will not be an appealing option for those with significant pre-existing conditions.
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