Help Your Team Bring Their Whole Selves to Work

How to do it and why it’s critical.

If you’ve been following our journey, you already know that at LYLA, we’ve always believed in order for our society to thrive, we need to bring our entire selves to work.

As of August 2021, 55% of the American workforce planned to leave their current roles within 12 months—and the need for greater flexibility was the top reason cited.

When we try to keep our lives neatly divided into separate boxes: work, family, spiritual life, wellness . . . that sort of compartmentalization only makes the struggle more arduous and the risk of burnout greater. We need to be able to deal with children, with aging parents, with our own physical and mental health . . . and we need our employers to provide the flexibility for us to move between those various life roles.

We’re not just workers.

We’re people. Fully-dimensional, complicated people.

And we work best when we don’t have to hide it.

LYLA provides a service that enables—and encourages—employees to live their full lives. Our app and 24/7 support center provide employers a way to acknowledge that their teams live rich, dynamic lives and that their employment is only one part of that.

When COVID changed the workplace last year, we realized we could be an integral part of the shift from supporting “workers” to supporting whole, real people—regardless of where, when, or how those people get their work done.

We’ve been living in a constant state of flux: stay-at-home orders, working from home, new hours, reintroduction to the workplace, hybrid work. Throughout all of this, LYLA has been a constant for the employees we serve. Our commitment to accessibility has made it faster, safer, and easier for our clients’ employees to reach out for the help they need (all while protecting their privacy).

Through our personalized support and proactive programming, we’re reducing the stressors our users juggle. We handle all those little (and big) tasks that can make your employees feel like they’re not keeping their heads above water. By taking care of those projects, LYLA is getting ahead of the burnout and giving employees the breathing room they need to focus on what’s really important.

Everyone needs help sometimes. And the employees we serve know exactly where to turn when they need to find a dog walker for their day of back-to-back Zoom meetings. Or research local contractors when their plumbing goes out. Or ask for support resources for their child who’s struggling with the new school environment.

We support your employees in every facet of their lives—as whole humans, not just as workers. In fact, the average user leans on LYLA 3 times each month—and saves themselves approximately 16 hours in the process.

LYLA helps your employees feel supported, understood, and cared for. And with that support, they’re less likely to burn out. They’re more likely to feel satisfied with their work and their lives in general.

Simply by enrolling with LYLA, you can:

  • prevent burnout,
  • increase satisfaction, and
  • improve employee retention

All for less than what it would take for you to buy each employee one monthly Starbucks.

It’s time to support the fully-dimensional lives your employees live. Get started with LYLA.

This is How We Hybrid: 3 Tools to Expand Your “Village”

The last 18 months. Right?

We’ve been fighting COVID, fighting a recession, fighting to save our businesses, fighting with our kids to do their %#$! schoolwork.

And all this time, as the CEO of LYLA (an HR benefit app focused on virtual personal assistance) I’ve been seeing the women we serve struggle to keep their heads above water.

Requests for mental health support increased tremendously. Child care assistance—tutors, sitters, education “pod” leaders—quickly became a must for many moms. Grocery deliveries and other errands have become a way for women to “buy back” time for their families and themselves.

And if I’m being super honest, it’s not just that I was seeing this happen with other women. It was happening to me, too.

It might sound hyperbolical, but I’m 100% serious when I say that I couldn’t have made it through the pandemic like I did if I didn’t have LYLA.

Now we’re all in different stages of returning to the office. And we need to figure out how to help our teams, our communities . . . and ourselves . . . make that transition.

The great thing is that the tools are out there. Some of the same resources we’ve used during the pandemic are going to be invaluable as we transition into our new era.

Here are three of my favorites.

Meditation

I know that for some women, time for meditation sounds like a pipe dream! But even five minutes a day can make a difference. Apps like Calm or Headspace (I use Insight Timer) help prioritize that time by sending reminders. And if you’re new to meditation, they walk you through guided exercises to help you practice!

Side note: if you’re looking for ways to support your team, all three apps have packages you can subscribe to as an employee benefit! Insight Timer’s is just $99/month. (For your whole team!)

CSA Boxes & Meal Kit Services

I love Hello, Fresh to help me get dinner on the table for my 12-year-old son and me. It can feel like such a luxury, having someone basically handle the shopping and the prep for me.

There are a ton of options covering a wide spectrum of prep levels. I love having everything pre-measured and ready to assemble, but some families might go for a CSA service that delivers a box of locally-grown produce or meat cuts to use in whatever creative way you want.

Your Village

This isn’t a tool so much as a resource, and I know it’s been talked about for literally centuries. And that’s because it’s so important.

Leaning on your family (chosen or biological) can help lighten your practical load by sharing errands, trading childcare, borrowing household items you can’t find in the store . . . (I’m not the only one having trouble finding ace bandages or phone cords, right?)

Communing with friends provides solace that you’re not the only one struggling with this or that.

Relying on added-on village members, like LYLA’s virtual personal assistants, can give your time and energy back to you to devote to the things that actually matter.

You don’t need to spend time researching plumbers. Our solutions specialists do that for you. And you don’t need to get into the weeds planning your kids’ after-school routines, organizing a covid-safe birthday party, or even finding a dry cleaner last-minute because a client wants to see you (gasp!) in person. We’ll handle it for you.

And speaking of villages, we’re always looking to grow ours. If you have a service that might be able to help folks navigate this ever-changing situation, get in touch. We’re always looking for new partnerships to support our clients and their teams.

Transitioning together

Our experiences are all different. We all have diverse struggles. But I believe that if we share the tools that are working for us, we can transition together into something even better than what we had before.

For me, I’ll continue to spread the word about the things that are working for me . . . and hope that they find their way and make a difference for someone like you, too.

LYLA: Embracing Technology, Empowering People, Making a Difference!

I love reading about the positive impact LYLA has on the people we serve, as well as the communities we operate in. The most recent article showcasing our Solution Center in Land O’ Lakes, Wisconsin highlighted those things beautifully!

As a team, we tackle the “to-do” lists of thousands of hard-working people across this beautiful country. When the pandemic hit, those “to-do” lists shifted focus. Instead of planning overseas vacations, detailing cars, walking dogs and identifying the best live concerts, we were suddenly creating learning pods, setting up home offices, rescheduling weddings, negotiating bill repayments and orchestrating care packages for frontline workers. We became an essential resource when all other support systems seemed inaccessible. Our utilization increased by 200% which really forced us to examine the way we had evolved as a company. And so, we reimagined Errand Solutions into LYLA, in recognition of our revolutionary tech: the Love Your Life App.

Our direction is very deliberate and purposeful. We apply three criteria to virtually everything we do: Talent, Technology, and Community. We picked Land O’ Lakes exactly for these reasons, based on our core criteria. Here’s how:

Talent: The area is filled with wonderful people who have mastered problem solving through multi-tasking, while bringing a Midwestern work ethic and charm to every task. When you communicate with LYLA, you’ll be warmly greeted by the team in Land O’ Lakes; they’ll personally tackle whatever you need to be done with grace. The local college Nicolet College was essential in helping us spread the word.

Technology: Land O’ Lakes invested in broadband and the local provider ChoiceTel quickly put our infrastructure in place and made it possible for us to operate in an area that had been previously burdened with low connectivity. Their proactive investment has inspired other communities to replicate the infrastructure and has attracted other technology start-ups like Sitecast to the Northwoods.

Community: Small towns like Land O’ Lakes value having access to high paying jobs that can support families in their communities, so they go the extra mile to help make the companies supplying those jobs successful. They connect new businesses with resources focused on attracting entrepreneurs such as the Vilas County Economic Development Corporation, the Land O’ Lakes Chamber, and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the help from these amazing organizations.

What we do and where we do it matters—it matters to those LYLA serves, it matters to where LYLA operates and it matters to who LYLA employs.

Just ask LYLA.

In gratitude,

Marsha McVicker

Founder & CEO

Hey there, it’s LYLA!

It all started when one of our customers said in passing, “Hey, wouldn’t it be nice if we could do so-and-so?” And we thought to ourselves, “Wow, that really WOULD be nice.” But instead of just doing that one thing, we decided to see what OTHER things might be nice. So we started on a new journey of self-discovery. We brought in a UX (user experience) designer (Hi, Juliana!) to start interviewing customers from all walks of life to get their suggestions on what would make not just the app, but our entire program better. The feedback you gave us was amazing!

We began the development process but knew that all the awesome changes that were coming needed a fresh new design, especially after the year we’ve all had. That’s when our UI (user interface) designer came in (Hi, Joy!). She created three very distinct vibes and surveyed both current customers and people who’d never even heard of us to see what resonated the most. She took the pieces from each style to create one master design. If you open the LYLA app right now, you’ll be holding it in your hands!

Along the way, our marketing team (Hi, Tom and Pete and Jen!) guided us toward a completely new brand, an acronym for Love Your Life App: LYLA. It’s a new name for a new app and a new beginning. But we kept all the good stuff: the people you’ve come to know and love. Our technology isn’t Artificial Intelligence; it’s powered by real-life humans who solve problems in a variety of ways and will make sure your tasks are completed more meaningfully than any AI ever could.

We’re excited to show you what LYLA can do, and we’re even more excited about the enhancements that will continue to come your way throughout the summer. We had so many great ideas that they couldn’t all be crammed into one update, so you’ll want to be sure to check back often to see what’s new. And if you’re interested in becoming one of our interview or test subjects, please let us know.

Welcome to summer! Welcome to more free time and a shorter to-do list! Welcome to LYLA.

We Stand with Max

I am feeling compelled to share with you that the past week has been really rough for my family.  We are not OK but we will be if we no longer stay silent.

Since I brought Max home as a baby in 2010, we have faced:

  • Overt acts of violence that I never reported, like a woman spitting in my face after she asked to see my bundle of joy
  • Questionable police activity when Max was stopped by a police officer for walking our dog in our neighborhood
  • Not so subtle acts of racism from parents telling their kids not to play with mine on the playground or the gas station attendants not letting my son use the bathroom but letting white men in both before and after him or people walking down the street telling him to “get out of the way BOY” in a certain tone that can’t be denied
  • Naive acts like an acquaintance recommending that I tell people Max is Haitian and not African American or a grocery store clerk asking personal questions about our mother-son relationship
  • White privileged comments from my closest friends telling me I am paranoid or over-reacting when I try to highlight micro-aggressions or point out the glares/stares we often get in certain predominantly white situations

The “talk” is a sad state of reality and something I have always had with Max about how life isn’t fair, and that people will judge you for how you speak, act and especially how you look. He has never been allowed to have Nerf or water guns in the city because I know that will put him in harms ways just like it resulted in the death of Tamir Rice, a 12-year old killed in Cleveland. I certainly don’t let him run outside because people will assume he is running from a crime he committed, just like Ahmaud Arbery.

Every time I share any of the above, non-black friends and family are shocked and horrified but have a tendency to dismiss them as a one-off. Black friends acknowledge that it’s a problem, but tell me to get used to it and to tell Max to always be the best version of himself. Even black men we have never met give Max the solidarity nod. All just keep moving on.

I am DONE.

It’s time to move on – toward real action and the hard work involved in racial justice. I am done with platitudes.

Please take the time to read or listen to one of the resources we’ve made accessible on our app or donate to a cause the speaks to you or volunteer in a way that stirs the soul and continue to pray for equality, justice and peace for all.

I stand with my son and all black men.

This is what I am doing:

  • I am listening to the 1619 Project Podcast
  • I am donating to the NAACP and the Small Business Relief Fund set up by My Block, My Hood, My City
  • I am demanding:
    • a ban on knee and chokeholds as acceptable police practice
    • a Use of Force Continuum that clearly defines rules of escalation
    • a uniform Open Records Acts so no misconduct can be shielded
    • universal implementation of Citizen Review Boards
    • re-institution of Department of Justice consent decrees on police departments and local governments that have demonstrated patterns of racism towards and mistreatment of people of color.
  • I am raising a beautiful, courageous, thoughtful, empathetic, funny and brilliant black man who is still defined by the color of his skin but has the hope that things will change if we all do more than listen and actually speak up and stand with black men.

As Errand Solutions we are:

  • sharing resources for adults and kids, as well as advice from experts on how to talk to kids about race
  • showcasing the minority owned businesses we work with every day as well as those we would love to work with
  • empowering YOU to continue to take courageous action and post up to the moment accurate information that elevates the conversation
  • wanting to hear from YOU on what MORE can we be doing to end racism and bigotry in all forms.

Much love and respect,

Marsha

Celebrating Admin Professional’s Day

It’s said that love makes the world go-around, in my mind that equates to puppies! And in the professional world, the administrative professional makes the office go-around, making day-to-day operations run smoothly. That’s why it’s important to remember to thank yours on Admin Professional’s Day!

The administrative assistant wears so many hats and has both tangible and intangible skills. The best admins are great communicators and very organized, but they must also be incredibly resourceful, persistent, discreet, loyal, and willing to go the extra mile.

In 2018, there were millions of admins working in the US. These men and women’s daily grind consisted of resolving problems, organizing meetings, supporting CEOs, averting crises, ordering supplies to running errands, maintaining schedules, and overseeing projects – all while maintaining a solid level of professionalism and, of course, a friendly smile. And especially in times of difficulty, like right now with COVID-19, administrative professionals are even more crucial to keep things running smoothly even remotely.

Being an admin isn’t an easy job and carries a unique set of responsibilities. So, I encourage you to appreciate your office gurus on Wednesday, April 22. Simply recognizing them for their hard work or just saying “Thank You” will be welcomed and appreciated. And speaking for myself, fresh flowers and prosecco go a long way too! 🙂

We Can Work From Home (oh, oh, oh-oh)

I haaaaaaate working from home. Always have. I need the discipline of getting up and going somewhere else to work to actually get work done. Also, I don’t get to see my friends at Dunkin’, and they miss me when I don’t visit every day. Also, there’s–

Wait, this will be easier:

TOP TEN REASONS I PREFER TO WORK AT THE OFFICE

  1. The Coke Freestyle machine – Diet Dr. Pepper all day long!
  2. Contact with other humans
  3. Less talking on the phone. (How does my calendar fill up so quickly with phone calls when I’m working remotely?!)
  4. Way more lunch options than what’s currently in my sad fridge
  5. A bigger computer monitor, printers, scanners and all the regular office tech stuff. My apartment isn’t large enough to have all those things.
  6. Not getting jealous of my cats who spend the day napping (well, LESS getting jealous because I can’t see them blatantly throwing their relaxation in my face)
  7. Sunlight! (My Chicago apartment courtyard isn’t nearly as bright as the 12th floor of our downtown office building.)
  8. Did I mention the constant flow of Diet Dr. Pepper?
  9. All my files and “work stuff” are here
  10. A reason to take a shower and put on pants

On the other hand, my co-worker, Ellen, LOVES working at home in Phoenix. She’s got an entire home office set up in her house. She is also a much better cook than I am and her new kitten (hi Posey!) runs around all day.

But what if I had to work from home? In Chicago, we’re fortunate in that we’ve had few very restrictions about being out in public places while we continue to learn more about COVID-19 (coronavirus), but they’re probably coming soon. If I had more time in the day, maybe I’d start thinking about how I can outfit my apartment in case of an emergency without losing too much productivity (and Vitamin D). Luckily, that’s where the Errand Solutions Luv Your Life Specialists can help! I just sent them my top ten list, and they’re already hard at work on coming up with some ways I can have an easier transition to working from home if/when the time comes. (If you’re one of our current customers, take a look at the News tab of your app for all kinds of helpful info about how you can prepare yourself; don’t forget to wash your hands for 20 seconds while singing!)

What if there are members of your team who are like Ellen and always work from home? Remote workers don’t get a lot of the same perks they would find in the office, and that’s not really fair. (I feel bad that Ellen doesn’t get to use the Coke machine.) A virtual solution like the ones we provide is a great benefit that actually benefits your entire workforce, including those who work “off-campus”.

From planning out a productive home office space to finding an automated cat toy that will keep your pets entertained, Errand Solutions can help. Contact our business development team for a demo today!

7 Ways to Show Your Employees You Care

 

Showing your employees a little bit of extra love can go a long way towards increasing productivity, reducing staff turnover, and spurring innovation. In addition, employees will be happier and more likely to stay with your company long-term. Our whole mission is to make people happy, so take it from us and check out some methods to best show your employees how much you appreciate them.

Go Above and Beyond Yourself

According to a recent study by Office Vibe, 42% of employees feel their leadership does not contribute to a positive company culture. If you want staff who will go above and beyond, make sure you lead by example. If an employee is having trouble or is swamped with work—offer to help them out. Did someone’s tire blow on the way to work? Offer to come lend a hand or call a tow service. Whatever the problem is— take the time to develop a solution.

Make Time and Lift Burdens

Hard working employees are busy. Even when an employee clocks out for the day, they may have a lot of chores and errands to run. Cleaning the house, cooking dinner—these activities can eat up a lot of free time.

Many cutting-edge companies now offer maid services, dry cleaning, and assistance with other personal tasks. For example, Errand Solutions provides a concierge service solution to help with all of that. Taking care of your employees’ personal to-do list will help them free up time and get some much needed R&R.

Throw a (Surprise?) Party

According to recent studies, 60% of employees eat alone at their desk, working. Kind of depressing, right?

There’s no such thing as a free lunch, but spread the word about “free” food in the office and watch your team come running. Throw a pizza party or an ice cream social. Even something small will make a big impact.

Depending on the situation, social events can be a great way to break the ice. Organize a potluck, an afternoon at the park or a happy hour. (Just make sure you don’t go too far by staying out all night drinking!) By creating fun events, your staff will realize how much you care about them as people, not just employees.

Need help organizing a celebration? Get in touch with our team! We’ve helped plan countless awesome parties.

Get to Know Your Team on a Personal Level

Ask your employees a bit about their personal life. You don’t have to get into details; often, it’s best to keep things simple. What’s the best movie or book they’ve enjoyed recently? How’s the family? Any pets?

Also, make sure you respect any personal space and don’t badger someone to more share anything they don’t want to.

Don’t know what experience to offer? Again, get in touch. We’ll find the best venues and opportunities.

Do the Little Things

Did an employee perform above and beyond last week? Send them a thank you email, or stop by the desk to let them know how much you appreciate their hard work. Consider rewards too, even if it’s just a $10 gift card (we sell them on-site!). You don’t have to hand out compliments like candy on Halloween, but some occasional nice words or a small gift can go a long way.

Write Personalized Thank You Notes

Skip the form letters. Write a thank you note by hand, or type a personalized message and put your John Hancock on it. Personalized birthday cards and other notes are also a nice touch.

Set Proper Expectations

Don’t demand the impossible out of your employees. They’ll get discouraged, and might think that you regard them as a cog in the machine. This mindset breeds low engagement.

Let your employees provide feedback when setting expectations. By being reasonable and asking for input, you will signal to your employees that you trust and respect them.

Care For Your Employees and They Will Care For Your Company

If you want your employees to care about your company, then you need to care about your employees. It’s really that simple! Once your employees know you care, they’ll start to care more about the company and its performance. Then they’ll strive harder to pursue its vision. They’ll be more creative, innovative, and engaged—and you’ll see the results.

Stop the Revolving Door

When I first moved to Chicago, I found an awesome apartment with two friends. We were living on our own, for the first time in the big city, and we had two floors and a garage and a killer back yard with a giant grill. It was pretty much the dream of any 22-year-old college grad.

But then, the real world set in. After a few months, one of the guys missed Iowa too much and decided to move back home. So my roommate and I were left with an empty room in a great apartment.

You’d think it would have been easy to fill that space. But the next three years were a revolving door of roommates: a chiropractor, a teacher, a college freshman spending the summer taking improv classes at Second City who spent late nights playing the guitar on the back deck, another chiropractor, and finally another teacher. And that’s not counting the three other prospective roommates who backed out at the last second and left us with a larger rent check for that month.

The Consequences

A high turnover rate comes at a huge cost. Some studies have found that it costs an average of six to nine months’ salary every time a business replaces a salaried employee. That means a manager making $40K a year will cost $20K-$30K to replace. Other studies have predicted that number could be even higher. The Center for American Progress found that losing a salaried employee can cost up to two times their annual salary, especially for a high-earner or executive level employee. Between the costs of recruiting, training, onboarding, temporary hires and separation costs, this can add up quickly. In fact, companies who are continuously onboarding and failing to retain new employees are losing millions of dollars a year.

My roommate and I certainly spent plenty of time looking for new roommates. Posting ads on craigslist, sublet.com, interviewing friends of friends, and friends of friends of friends. It turned out to be a full time job, and it didn’t always yield the best results (e.g. the improv student who drank all the rum right before he moved out). And there were way too many months where I had to pay half of the rent, instead of one third.

In addition to the loss of money, companies get hit in other ways, including lost productivity. It typically takes a new employee 1-2 years to reach the productivity level of an existing employee. Additionally, companies can see a loss of engagement: when other employees start to notice the high turnover, they can tend to disengage from the company. There’s also a cultural impact that happens with a high turnover rate. When one employee leaves, other employees start to ask why. 

In case you’re wondering why people kept moving out, I’m blaming it on the fact that the third bedroom was right off of the living room, and my other roommate was on the couch every night watching the Sci-Fi network. Also, people kept getting married. As a result, our retention rate was roughly 66% each year. This could also be why I now live alone.

How’s Yours?

To calculate your company’s retention rate, just divide the number of employees who left during a period by the total number of employees at the end of the period. A healthy employee retention rate is considered to be 85% or higher. 

If your retention rate could use some work, consider taking a look at your benefits package. Are you offering the bare minimum health insurance? What about pre-tax allowances like parking or commuter benefits? And don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Investing your money into a concierge program like Errand Solutions can improve retention rates drastically. In just the first year of service, one Errand Solutions client experienced a 2% reduction in attrition. 

For more information on Errand Solutions and our solutions aimed to help your employee retention, give us a call at 312.475.3800 or email info@errandsolutions.com.

Posted by Micky & Jackie