Maternity and paternity leave What you need to know

Maternity and paternity leave What you need to know by Michael Cheary Preparing for the arrival of a new baby can be an incredibly exciting but stressful time, with lots of questions and surprises as you get ready for the big day.One important factor is how the impending birth will impact your work, whatever your gender. Legal General has partnered with Rough Guides to create the free to download eBook, Rough Guide to Work and Money, filled with useful information to help you understand your rights if you’ve got a baby on the way.Here‘s some information from the guide to help  you prepare for time off work:Maternity LeaveA woman has the right to take up to a year off work, although maternity pay is only available for a maximum of 39 weeks. You must let your employer know the date you want your maternity leave to start by the end of the 15th week before your baby is due.You might need to provide a medical certificate showing when your baby is due. This is called form MATB1 and you can get it from either your midwife or GP. Maternity leave consists of two parts:Ordinary Maternity Leave â€" this applies to the first 26 weeks of maternity leave. During this period, you will be able to build up holiday and receive pay increases as you would if you were at work, even though you won’t get your normal pay unless your contract states otherwise.Additional Maternity Leave â€" this applies to the next 26 weeks of maternity leave, which must follow on directly from your Ordinary Maternity Leave. Once this has finished, you have the right to go back to your job provided it is still avail ­able. If it isn’t, then you must be offered appropriate similar employment.Paternity LeaveAs a father, you can take either one or two consecutive weeks off work when your baby is born. This is known as Ordinary Paternity Leave and it also applies if you and your partner are adopting a child.Your paternity start-date must be either the actual date of birth, or an agreed number of days following the baby’s arrival.Shared Pare ntal Leave and PayYou may be eligible for Shared Parental Leave and Pay, a new system which aims to give parents greater flexibility when it comes to arranging childcare.Mothers will still take at least two weeks of maternity leave straight after the birth, but after that up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay can be shared between parents. Statutory shared parental pay is £139.58 per week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is less.Your employer might offer a more generous parental pay or maternity package, so read the small print of your contract carefully.Maternity PayYou are eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) if you’ve been with the same employer for at least 26 weeks up to the fifteenth week before the week you are due to give birth, and have been earning on average at least £112 a week (in the 2015â€"16 tax year).You can start your maternity leave from as early as 11 weeks before your baby is due, right up until the day after your baby is born.By law you must take at least two weeks off work after your baby’s birth.You’ll need to tell your employer that you want to stop work to have a baby, and let them know the date you want your maternity pay to start, in writing if they ask you to. You have to give them at least 28 days’ notice and you’ll also have to provide proof that you’re pregnant, such as a doctor’s note.Returning to WorkIf you think the employment you have been offered on your return from Additional Maternity Leave isn’t appropriate, let your employer know imme ­diately. If the situation remains unresolved, you should follow your company’s complaints procedure.If this doesn’t work and you are a member of a trade union, contact them for advice.Alternatively, speak to a specialist at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) who can help you resolve your dispute. You can do this by contacting the ACAS helpline on 0300 123 1100 or by visiting the ACAS website.For more information, ha ve a look at the infographic below and download the free eBook from at www.roughguidefinance.com For more news from Legal General, follow them on Twitter  @landg_ukDo you have any essential tips to help people get ready to go on maternity or paternity leave? Share them with us below or tell us on Twitter @reedcoukFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Employee rights Features

Sales Thought Creates Fluid Goal Achievement - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Sales Thought Creates Fluid Goal Achievement - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Goals affect all aspects of life. Without them, very little is accomplished. Most people do not realize that anything you desire may be considered a goal. More importantly, sales thought creates fluid goal achievement. Focused work has others exclaim you are the lucky one! Mindset It was recently suggested in a class that attendees test their thought patterns. Consider how you view difficult challenges and seemingly impossible accounts to be won over.  Answer these two questions: Do you tell yourself it’s impossible to win, and so its not worth the effort? Do you prime yourself mentally each morning that you will earn the business? In any serious endeavor, you have to become your own favorite coach. Preparation, practice, and words of encouragement delivered into the mirror will get you motivated to make your ambitious goal a reality. It is the habit of grooming yourself for the day that will make the difference. No one earns 100% of the sales they pursue, but the percentage will be far higher as a positive mindset is embraced. By embracing the positive mindset, it’s almost automatic to be focused on what it is you wish to achieve. The next part is how to achieve it with setting goals. Dependent upon the complexity, a long term project may need to be mapped out and a team put into place. Should the ideal goal be one you are able to handle by yourself, then work out milestones with a timeline in place. Accountability Given you have become your favorite coach, hold yourself accountable for what you promised you would do. The promises are those made both to yourself and your clients. Everything to be accomplished needs to begin with the end in mind: Ultimate achievement with target date for completion Goals and milestones to be completed Completion dates for each goal and milestone Daily At the end of each day review what you have completed. Before you turn off the lights, set a new plan for the next day with goals and milestones to be achieved. Hold yourself to task until they are done. Account Management In-between pursuing new accounts, it is essential that current clients be contacted as agreed upon. Make the check up conversational by asking the following: Is everything in good working order? Is there anything we can improve? Please update me with what’s new with your company. Exchange updates and stories with one another. This frequently leads to new  possibility. By pursuing new and current accounts in this manner, you build self confidence along with a well established personal brand. It will be very difficult for competitors to compete with you. All of this adds up to a very loyal clientele. Sales Tips: Build up self confidence with positive self talk Take a public speaking course Be attentive to goal setting and achievement Focus on what needs to get done without distraction Recognize what’s important to you and go after it Leave negative self talk behind Become your own favorite coach When things don’t work out, learn from the experience to move forward Always keep an open dialogue with clientele Ask questions to learn and listen for new opportunity Following these guidelines will lead you to the Smooth Sale!

Should Employers be Doing More to Reduce the Stress of Commuting

Should Employers be Doing More to Reduce the Stress of Commuting An employee’s commute experience has traditionally fallen outside the responsibilities of an employer, but the tide seems to be turning. There’s a growing body of evidence to show the detrimental effect long and stressful commutes are having on the health and productivity of the workforce, leading more and more employers to consider what adjustments and options they can offer staff to help ease the strain. Only recently a debate began over whether commuting time should be counted as part of the working day, given many employees now use their smartphone and better Wi-Fi connectivity on public transport to complete work tasks on their way into or home from work. So, is it time for more employers to sit up and take note of the commuting experiences of their employees and offer more support? A snapshot of commuting experience An employee’s commuting experience can vary greatly to the next. To find out more, Moneybarn recently conducted a survey of 2,000 full-time workers in the UK. According to respondents, the average UK “working day” is around 11 hours including time spent commuting, with people leaving home at 07.17 and returning home at 17.48. The amount of time per day spent commuting is 62 minutes, with 15% of workers commuting for 102 minutes or more. 23 miles is the average round trip, with 14% of commuters traveling over 42 miles a day. Workers in London have the UK’s longest and slowest commutes of all, traveling at just 14 miles per hour, despite paying some of the highest prices for fuel and monthly season tickets for public transport. In comparison, commuters in the East of England travel over double the distance per hour (29 MPH) and workers in Wales and the South West spend the least amount of time getting to and from work (48 and 49 minutes respectively). When it comes to delays, commuters in the South East and the South West are the most likely to experience travel delays every day, while workers in Northern Ireland and Scotland are the least likely. What support can businesses offer? Surprisingly, 57% of workers surveyed aren’t offered anything by their employer to make commuting easier. For employers wanting to lead the way in supporting staff to maintain a healthy work-life balance and benefit from having a productive, satisfied and loyal workforce, there are many options available, ranging from small adjustments to larger investments. Flexible working is becoming an increasingly popular offering, allowing employees to stagger their start and finish times to avoid peak commuting hours. Every employee** has the legal right to request flexible working from their employer, however, only 21% of UK workers surveyed said they have been offered flexible working hours. Employers in the East Midlands and the East of England are the least likely to offer flexible working opportunities (15% and 16% respectively), whereas 37% of employers in Northern Ireland are the most likely to allow staff to adapt their working hours, followed by employers in London (32%) and Yorkshire and the Humber (21%). Working from home can also help employees avoid the stress of commuting altogether. Businesses in the South East are leading the way, but only 16% currently offer this. In comparison, only 6% of employees in Wales are able to work from home. Another important factor in commuting experience and overall work-life satisfaction is the cost of getting to and from work. Employers in London are the most likely to give workers financial support to ease the burden of high commuting costs, with 30% offering season ticket loans and 13% subsidized transport. However, it seems despite these efforts, commuting is still unaffordable for many in the Capital, with a recent study revealing 60% of Londons workers have skipped work to save money on their travel costs. When looking at the UK as a whole, only 10.6% of employees are offered season ticket loans and just 5.7% can take advantage of subsidized transport. All in all, the findings of Moneybarn’s new commuting survey highlight that while some employees are being offered support to help reduce the stress of commuting and the negative impact it has on both their personal and job satisfaction, more can certainly be done. As employers it’s important to pay close attention to the impact commuting is having on staff and take action to recognize this as part of health and wellbeing strategies. Offerings such as more flexible working arrangements to avoid rush hour or work from home, car share schemes and subsidized transport costs are becoming increasingly valued by workers and could help businesses attract and retain the best talent. About the author: Catherine Diamond, is Director of Human Resources, at Moneybarn.

I Cry Sometimes Why Shedding A Tear Sheds Light

I Cry Sometimes Why Shedding A Tear Sheds Light Is crying healthy? When I was a little girl, my father would yell at me to eat my peas (barf emoji with medical mask). At this, I would cry, which would prompt him to become even more exasperated with his picky eater. Years later in my personal life, I continued to be criticized for crying, and once was even accused of using tears as a manipulation strategy in a relationship. Had he known me like I knew myself, he would have understood that crying is a symptom of my working through a crisis. When I experienced frustration, hurt, anger, or disappointment at an amplified magnitude, I spoke from my heart and often tears accompanied. Professionally, when I was in an interview, I was asked “the question.” You know the one, where the interviewer wants to know one of your weaknesses. I scrapped a seemingly entry-level response “Oh I just take on too much work” (eye roll emoji) and instead went with “I am incredibly sensitive.”   I have cried at work beforeâ€"not recentlyâ€"but when I did it was because I was doing my best and it was met with disapproval instead of what I was expecting: appreciation or gratitude.   Despite the frustration I felt at the time, looking back now I consider this a milestone. Within what seemed like a disaster, I uncovered what my boss was looking for, even if she didn’t communicate it to me at the onset of the project. Gold or Platinum? We have heard of The Golden Rule but what about  The Platinum Rule? Doing unto others as others would do unto you is out, and The Platinum Rule is the new black: “Treat others the way they  want to be treated.” Had my boss and I understood our distinct personality types (her as the thinker, me as the implementer), we could have better communicated to each other at the onset of the project to set clear expectations. After the twists and turns, and the clearing of my mascara smeared eyes, I emerged from the fog feeling clear: when it comes to marketing, I am a natural, exceptional project leader. Implementing a strategy across multiple communication channels? #wheelhouse. Even though learning this was rocky, it has helped shaped my career decisions ever since. Scientist  Dr. William Frey  believes that crying could be a safety mechanism of sorts because it rids the body of stress-related toxin. Great! Crying is healthy! No need to add a good cry to your to-do list, but no need to beat yourself up about letting the tears flow, either. Sometimes I even preface tough convos by saying, “I want to share something important with you and I will probably cry” so that my companion has a heads up. (Okay, let’s get serious, other times I just call my baby sister already a crying mess)   Anyway, when I do share what is on my mind, I think that when the person on the other line or next to me listens and or offers empathic responses, it is helpful to my sorting-through-the-mess process. btw,  Brené  Brown, Ph D  talks about this in her latest book,  Rising Strong. In Summary Some of my brightest milestone moments have followed after muddy, foggy, chaos.

Should I Include Address on Resume?

Should I Include Address on Resume?Should I include address on resume? If you are a home-based business owner, then the answer is: yes. When you fill out your online job application forms, make sure that you indicate your home address and telephone number so that it can be sent to you by mail.Home business owners who want to sell their services or products through the Internet, like you, should always include address on resume. With this in mind, how do you go about using resume for address? Well, there are many ways to go about this.While designing a professional resume for yourself, you should include address on resume. Of course, this should be either in the cover letter, which you are going to send along with your application materials, or in the section where it says your name, title and contact information. The address should be the one that states your phone number and where you work. That's all. For example, you can use the following format to indicate your address.'Please fi nd enclosed your name and telephone number; we would like to be able to contact you if you are interested in employment with our company' This will make it easier for you to get the job. Also, make sure that you put your name at the beginning of the page so that you are recognized right away by the employer.When looking for a job, you should be careful in asking the company whether you should include address on resume. Yes, it is true that address is mandatory in the application process but you can also put a special thing about the company or person in your resume. However, the employer or the recruiter is the one who is responsible in determining if you can be an asset to their company. Thus, you have to have good and meaningful answers that can answer to his questions.The only downside about addressing your resume is that it may not be read properly by the employer. So, do not overdo it. There is nothing wrong with a bit of embellishment but the whole purpose of addressing the re sume is for an employer to know more about you and what you can offer.The HR staff will always try to ensure that the employer is given the best information in the form of address. As long as you include address on resume, it is good. As they say, 'cover letters are like bullets'. They help the employer to get a glimpse of you.So, whether you are a home-based worker or an employee of a corporation, address your resume in such a way that it will be read easily by the employer. Otherwise, it will not count at all. So, what's your choice?

Quiet candidates, colorful resumes, and asshole house centipedes

Quiet candidates, colorful resumes, and asshole house centipedes 2 Flares 2 Flares Im currently a little exhausted, bitter from spending too much on dry cleaning, and craving a buffalo chicken wrap that will be impossible to get my hands on right now.  These issues may or may not be the reason Im about to unload a hefty rant on the world.  Well, whatever the reason, try to enjoy.  I know I will. Things that are currently on my shit list Quiet Candidates When I call you for a phone screen, I need to hear you clearly.  To do this, you can control a few factors.  Here they are: Find a location where you wont be interrupted or be heard by people that shouldnt hear your conversation Call from a phone that allows me to hear you loud and clear Call from a location where we will not be cut off or interrupted Let me review the above.  Dont call me when you are around your boss or other employees.  Your whispers suck.  I hate them.  Dont call me from your weak ass cell phone that dips in and out of service.  Clear?  OK OK, so then we have some other things that you may or may not be able to control, but probably can work on.  Here they are: Speak up Dont mumble Be assertive Be confident  or at least sound confident If youre able to take care of the four items above, then youre ahead of the game in a big way.  If another candidate has more experience and more skill than you, you might just swoop in and steal the job from them with your communication skills.  It happens. Colorful Resumes Resumes do not need color to stand out.  Cornz likes his resume world to shine brilliantly in black and white.  When I see a little bit of color I smirk, when I see a ton of color I cringe.  Graphics that you upload onto your resume are also a huge waste of time.  Not only do I think they are kind of lame, but they also may stop your resume from being scanned correctly into an Applicant Tracking System. Give me black text and lots of white space for my eyes.  Thanks. House Centipeds Go eat an ass, house centipedes. The house I moved into is amazing and I do love it.  Justevery now and then I see a house centipede and they are the worst.  I hate them and all of their stupid legs.  Sorry animal lovers, but Im like John Rambo when I see one of these suckers.  My list of weapons include shoes, water, vacuums, paper towels, magazines, and news papers.  Ill do whatever it takes to destroy them. I hope they rot in hell with stink bugs.

Why Attaching To One Outcome Is The Wrong Strategy For Career Success - Kathy Caprino

Why Attaching To One Outcome Is The Wrong Strategy For Career Success Welcome to Episode 12 of Work You Love! Today, Im tackling a great question from Rick about why its the wrong move to overly-attach to one particular outcome when you want more professional success and reward. Rick asks: Kathy â€" I’ve heard you speak about the idea that “attaching to a specific outcome” is the wrong approach. But I’m at a point as a Director in branding and communications where I feel I’m ready to be a VP and earn significantly more than I am right now, and definitely want to pursue that.   How is attaching to that outcome not a good idea? Terrific question! Heres my take: The key takeaways from todays video are: 1. Attaching means you’re looking at one particular outcome to solve all your problems. 2. Figure what you want, then what you REALLY want. 3. Uncover what’s in the way of what you want, and how are you a part of the obstacle or impediment. 4. Be very open and flexible to new ways that you can create, build and achieve what you desire. Todays tweetable: Don’t attach to one outcome as a way out of your pain. Identify what you REALLY want, and open the doors for that experience. @kathycaprino Click to tweet:  http://ctt.ec/aUzuf I  hope thats helpful! Enjoy your week, and wishing you many happy breakthroughs. Kathy