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Caregivers in the Workplace Part 1: Testimonies
Unusual times can drive creativity and evolution in ways we could not imagine, and often in ways we never knew we needed. For years, culturally we have all sought the proverbial work-life balance that was often championed but rarely attained. When work and life collided during the COVID-19 pandemic, all talk of balance went out…
Creating a Culture of Support for Working Parents of the Pandemic
It’s 8am on a Tuesday. I stand at my kitchen counter responding to yesterday’s messages that I didn’t get to, packing lunches, and chugging coffee. My husband has already left to take my youngest to preschool. At 8:40, I shut my laptop, grab my Air Pods, throw on my shoes and rush out the door…
Navigating Workplace Transformation: Strategies for Supporting Employees
When COVID first began and organizations shifted to telework, many employees and leaders likely assumed this would be temporary. Now, well over a year after COVID began, conversations regarding return to work have started. Despite these plans, we’re likely to see some continuation of remote work. In uncertain times, the focus of leadership should be…
New Normal, Same FMP Culture: How FMP’s culture allowed us to adapt during the pandemic
It has almost been 18 months since the pandemic began, and we’ve had to adapt how we approach our work (more than once) at FMP, just like everyone else. Our culture has played a big role in being able to overcome the challenges we faced both on an individual and organizational level. In this blog,…
Tips for Preparing for the R.E.T.U.R.N. to In-Person Work
If I could pick a theme song for this summer, it would be “Welcome Back,” a song by American rapper Mase. As vaccine rollout continues across the country, many professional organizations have been developing return-to-the-workplace plans and communicating to employees their plans that focus on office space, scheduling, and safety. That’s good news for people…
Three Rs of Creating a Strong Remote Culture
Although businesses are reopening at full capacity, the sudden shift to remote work due to COVID-19 has left a lasting impression on organizations. There are many benefits to remote work1 and a Gallup survey2 revealed that 59% of employees would like to continue working remotely. Leaders learned the importance of having an agile workforce and…
Flexible Paid Time Off: Before, During, and After COVID-19
Fall 2020 marked year four of flexible paid time off (PTO) at FMP Consulting. However, having begun my career at FMP in March 2017, I’ve never experienced anything different during my employment here. First, you may ask, ‘what is flexible PTO?’ I describe it as a type of PTO that gives employees the freedom to…
Staying Motivated and Maximizing Workplace Flexibility in the New Year
So, it’s 2021. New year, new you (or, something like that…)! A chance for fresh starts, fresh goals, and reinvigorated motivation. But, if you’re still working from home in the new year, that “fresh start” won’t look like a brand-new work outfit, greeting coworkers and sharing stories of celebrations over coffee in the kitchen, and…
Lessons Learned from One Year of Flexible Paid Time Off
In the fall of 2016, FMP shifted to a self-managed, flexible paid time off (PTO) policy. By moving away from a fixed allocation of PTO hours, we hoped this shift would increase flexibility, boost employee engagement, help us attract and retain top talent, and reduce the administrative burden often associated with tracking and managing PTO….