Monster Noodle

Focus requires clarity

Clarity requires stillness

Stillness requires resolution

Resolution requires decision

Decision requires understanding

Understanding requires order

Order requires process

Process requires discipline

Discipline requires dedication

Dedication requires purpose

Purpose requires inspiration

Inspiration requires reception

Reception requires openness

Openness requires trust

Trust requires confidence

Confidence requires competence

Competence requires knowledge

Knowlege requires instruction

Instruction requires hearing…

Megadisclaimer: Take nothing at face value. Everything on this blog is for entertainment purposes. It won’t change the world, or even your opinion in most cases. If you believe everything that you read stop reading now!

written by Lochshen

If you haven’t heard the term before, give it a little time. You will. Mandatory wellness is the concept that your employer has the right to modify your behavior if your lifestyle choices adversely affect their bottom lines by adversely affecting your health. With ever increasing insurance premiums this is a trend that many companies will consider if they have not already.

I’ll skip the obvious problems with this concept in a free society and instead focus on the facts. Your company has the right to ask anything from you that is within the confines of the legal system. The real question is “Are mandatory wellness programs legal?”.

Companies are on a slippery legal slope when it comes to “mandatory” wellness and they realize it. There are a few cases that are in the process of setting precedence regarding what is and is not considered legal (Rodrigues v. The Scotts Co; Anderson v. City of Taylor). These cases show that companies are increasingly finding that employees are reluctant to accept this kind of infringement into personal space and that the courts may not uphold the companies decision to do so. If you find yourself in the position of being forced to accept a mandatory wellness program, an excellent article was composed by hronline.com that will help you to understand the reasons why your company wants this kind of policy and what rights you have as an employee.

In the end, it’s up to you to set the boundaries of what you are willing to accept. Chances are, if you’re serious about not complying with this kind of policy, it is highly likely that your company would rather hear out your concerns than argue them in a court of law. Just make sure that you seek the advice of legal council before you start burning bridges.

Until next time, happy blogging.

 

Megadisclaimer: Take nothing at face value. Everything on this blog is for entertainment purposes. It won’t change the world, or even your opinion in most cases. If you believe everything that you read stop reading now!

written by Lochshen \\ tags: employment law, employment rights, HR, legal

There have been many articles written that express the wisdom of leaving your job for the greener pastures of self employment. This is not one of them. The point of this article is not to convince you to leave your job but to encourage you to find ways to become more economically independent. It’s what made America great and continues to be our best defense against a weakening economy . If you’re like most Americans, you have been taught that a stable job is the path to success in life. Here are a few points to consider if you have taken this point of view:

1. A single source of income is dangerous. If you feel that a job gives you security, think again.  A job provides a way to make money today. Having the ability to create value gives you security. If you have a talent or skill that is valuable to others, market it. Set up systems to utilize it. Above all, don’t limit it. Relying on your job as the sole source of your security is like jumping out of an airplane with a single parachute, why would you do it?
2. Skills diminish with age. Sorry to let you in on this but the shine wears off as time wears on (in the immortal words of Lemmy). What is incredibly easy for you at 20 may not be quite as easy at 40. As your wages increase and your ability to adapt decreases, the risk that you take by having a single source of income becomes even greater. To combat this, get paid to learn. Don’t focus all of your energy on skills that are only useful in one environment. While you are working at your job, look for opportunities to learn skills that have more universal value. Once you have these skills, market them. Take on side projects that can setup your network of contancts on the outside of your company. It may not be lucrative at first but building these bridges will pay dividends in the long run.  
3. It is easier than ever to be independent. For the first time in history we live in a truly global economy. The odds of being able to find someone that wants what you can provide is at an all time high. Take the time to ask yourself what you can do that is valuable to others. A good place to start is what you’re already doing in your job. Does it make sense to put all of your value to work for only one client?
4. Your income potential is limited with a single job. Now, I know what you’re thinking. “I know a lot of people that are doing fairly well with their job”. This may be true. It is quite possible to make a good income from a job but consider this. Can you choose how much you make? If you’re in sales, maybe but for most of the rest of us, there is a ceiling. The only way to break through that ceiling from within the system is to move up or to change jobs. Although, moving up is a good way to work within the system to achieve higher returns, expect to match those earnings with many more hours worked. A better way is to find methods to sell the output of your value many times instead of just selling your time once. After all, time is the one thing that you can never get back.
5. No one takes care of you better than you. Many people make the mistake of limiting their potential out of a sense of loyalty to a company. Although loyalty is one of the most noble traits that any individual can possess, loyalty should be given to people not companies. Companies are in business to make money. The decisions of a company are based on profit and loss not on emotional responses like loyalty. If it is profitable to install a machine that will take your place, it will happen. A few people from your office will be sad to see you pack up your things and go but the company as a whole will chug right along without you. You, on the other hand, have a vested interest in making sure that decisions benefit you. Never sacrifice your own well being to the interests of a company. If the two are in conflict, there ultimately will be a winner and a loser. If you’re willing to be the loser, you will be.

The “bottom line” is this. It’s not a bad thing to have a job. It can be a great way to learn skills, get paid, and create relationships. However, a job should never provide your sole source of stability. Through a little hard work and foresight you can provide value to more people than you realize and in the process feel more independent and secure about your future.

Until next time, happy blogging.

Megadisclaimer: Take nothing at face value. Everything on this blog is for entertainment purposes. It won’t change the world, or even your opinion in most cases. If you believe everything that you read stop reading now! 

written by Lochshen \\ tags: blog, education, finance, Independance, self-help