Show your support during Pride Month!

Happy Pride!

Pride month is celebrated every June to honor the progress that has been made in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights, as well as to commemorate those who have fought and continue to fight for equality. It is also a time to reflect on the challenges that still face the community, and to work towards creating a more inclusive world for all.

There are many ways to participate in Pride month, including attending Pride events, displaying the Pride flag, and supporting LGBTQIA+ owned businesses. However you choose to participate, remember that Pride is about celebrating diversity, uniqueness and standing up for the rights of all people.

Here is a list of ways that you can get involved with, and support, Pride Month!

1. Support LGBTQIA+ art and businesses

The LGBTQIA+ community is home to some of the world’s most talented and influential artists, artisans and performers. You can support them in a variety of ways including purchasing their art, visiting a museum or gallery, or catching a concert, play, poetry reading or drag performance.

LYLA can help you plan a night out, recommend LGBTQIA+ films and literature and connect you with local LGBTQIA+ owned businesses to support!

2. Educate yourself on the history of Pride Month

Pride Month is celebrated every June to coincide with the Stonewall Riots, which is considered by many to be the starting point of today’s gay activism. The first Pride parades marked the anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, when police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City in 1969.

The protests marked a turning point in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights and helped to catalyze the modern Pride movement. This month is about uplifting voices, celebrating culture and supporting the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights.

3. Display the Pride flag

Perhaps the most accessible way to participate in Pride Month is displaying the Pride flag. The original rainbow flag, developed in 1978, was designed to reflect the spectrum of human sexuality and gender. The Progress Pride Flag, designed by Daniel Quasar in 2018 is currently the most-used and accepted flag, due to the pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement and current issues surrounding trans people. The Progress Pride Flag is even more inclusive of the greater diverse community. To read more about the Progress Pride Flag, visit this link.

Whether you’re flying the flag outside your home or business, or displaying a sticker on a desk, a shop window, a car windshield or a pin on a jacket, the flag is a symbol of your support and inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community.

4. Evaluate your place of work’s LGBTQIA+ Inclusivity

Today, mental health and inclusivity are at the forefront of conversations around workplace culture. At LYLA, we know the importance of these conversations and work with our clients’ Employee Resource Groups to elevate their activities and messages. Pride Month is the perfect opportunity to take the time to evaluate your company’s inclusivity initiatives to create a workplace where LGBTGIA+ employees will feel valued and accepted.

5. Volunteer or Donate

Pride Month is a time to come together and support one another by getting involved with charities and organizations that work to improve the lives of members of the LGBTQIA+ community. These organizations provide vital services like counseling, crisis intervention, and advocacy while also working to create inclusive environments where all people, especially young people, can feel safe and supported.

By donating to and volunteering for LGBTQIA+ charities and organizations, you can help create a more inclusive world for everyone. Let LYLA help you find causes to support in your area!

6. Have open conversations

There are myriad challenges that still exist within the LGBTQIA+ community, and it’s important to have open conversations about them and how we can work together to create a more accepting world. It provides an opportunity for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities to come together and share their stories. These conversations help to build understanding and acceptance and are an opportunity to ask questions and educate others.

If you’re looking for ways to initiate these conversations within your workplace, with your friends or even in your home, LYLA can help! Visit our app for a list of curated resources that can help you to host open, productive discussion!

There are many ways to show your support during Pride Month, both big and small. Be sure to check out the LYLA app for more ideas on how you can make a difference.

Supporting Mental Health Awareness Month

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, and it’s important to talk about the various ways that mental health affects people in the workplace. It’s a month dedicated to educating, promoting positive conversations and ending the stigmas surrounding mental health.

It’s crucial for companies to understand how they can create a healthy workplace environment that supports employee mental health. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s explore some of the ways you can support your employees and become a mental health ally.

An article published by the Harvard Business Review reported that, “To be a mental health ally at work is to help those struggling with mental health issues feel valued and needed. This can have positive long-term benefits, including increased employee engagement, productivity, and loyalty. Strengthening and deepening relationships between colleagues can also benefit the broader employee community. When we’re supported, we’re also often eager to support others, creating a virtuous self-reinforcing cycle.”

At LYLA, we’ve seen the incredible impact that providing support to employees has on companies as a whole. When you take care of those that take care of your company, your workplace environment becomes a positive one.

Everyday Practices

Supporting the mental health of the people around you is sometimes as simple as checking in. We’ve grown accustomed to answering questions like, ‘How are you feeling?’ or ‘How was your day?’, with simple pleasantries that are oftentimes untrue. Openness and transparency is key when it comes to feeling supported and conquering mental health stigmas.

Prepare yourself to be more vulnerable and empathetic when doing employee check-ins! When you share your honest experiences with your coworkers and employees, it opens the door to building deeper relationships and establishes a foundation of trust within your workplace. And if your employees are vulnerable with you in return, ask how you can help! Feeling heard and understood is imperative when it comes to mental health conversations.

Education and Resources

Mental health awareness in the workplace is essential for employees to be able to identify symptoms of mental illness and feel comfortable seeking help. Mental health education can take many forms, from informational sessions led by mental health professionals to workshops on stress management and self-care.

By providing mental health education in the workplace, employers can create a more supportive environment, help employees to thrive and can also help employees to understand how to support each other in the workplace.

Many companies offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) to help support employee mental health. However, when it comes to resources that are successful at making a positive change in the workplace, it’s become clear that traditional EAPs often fall short.

We emerged during the coronavirus pandemic to get ahead of employee burnout and help with their mental health in a way that traditional Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) have not been able to. By combining artificial intelligence with an empathetic human touch, LYLA offers personalized solutions to today’s most pressing personal needs.

Sometimes the little things, like the stress of scheduling doctors appointments or making dinner reservations, can have just as big of an impact on mental health as monumental life events. We’ve accomplished over 7 billion tasks to help alleviate the everyday stressors of employees, so they have more time to focus on what really matters.

At LYLA, mental health awareness and support is a cause near and dear to our hearts every month. This May, take the time to think about ways you can help support your employees mental health and create an accepting, positive workplace environment.

Interested in learning about how LYLA can help your employees? We’d love to hear from you!

LYLA Celebrates Women’s History Month 2022

March is officially Women’s History Month. It’s a month dedicated to celebrating women’s contributions and accomplishments throughout American history, and looking forward to future achievements.

Gender equality has always been a hot topic. In the last 100 years, we’ve seen more women in politics, powerful female entrepreneurs and female artists changing the creative industry. While these contributions have changed what it means to be a woman in modern day, true gender equality in North America isn’t expected until 2084.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2021 indicates that closing the gender gap varies by country and continent. At the current relative pace, gender gaps can be closed in 52.1 years in Western Europe, 61.5 years in North America, 68.9 years in Latin America and the Caribbean and in all other regions of the world it will take over 100 years to close the gender gap.

Supporting and acknowledging intersectional groups of women is imperative to making progress in the fight to close the gender gap worldwide.

“… intersectional feminism is the understanding of how women’s overlapping identities — including race, class, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation — impact the way they experience oppression and discrimination.” – USA Today

Women’s History Month is dedicated to celebrating all women. LYLA’s partnerships with minority and women-owned businesses, are providing access to potential customers and to data that, on their own, they couldn’t have access to. We’re boosting their visibility, sending clients directly to them, and improving their sustainability as small businesses.

As a female owned and operated organization, LYLA is dedicated to continuing to support our clients in their daily and professional lives–it’s the core of our foundation.

This month, let’s celebrate the many contributions and accomplishments of all women by supporting female and minority-owned businesses, educating ourselves on women’s history, and doing our best to make the future of female stronger than ever before.

Check out the LYLA app for more ways to get involved with Women’s History Month.

New year, new you….?

New year, new you. That’s something we’ve all probably said before. A new year means many things, including busier schedules and less time to focus on you. The key to making a great new year’s resolution (one that really sticks) is finding one that works for you.

The first step is making sure your resolution is doable. The best way to determine if your resolution is realistic is to make a plan. Start with a specific goal and ask yourself, how am I going to get this done?

When you are able to envision how your resolution fits into your life, you’re more likely to stick with it!

If you don’t have a specific resolution in mind, or even if you do, let’s commit to making 2022 the year we get your to-do list done!

“A new year is the best time to show gratitude for the past, accept the present moment with joy, and get ready for the change to begin again.”

― Debasish Mridha, MD

LYLA is a 24/7 virtual personal assistant that seamlessly fits into your busy life. Whether it’s connecting you with the right resources to help make positive changes in your life, or just freeing up your schedule, LYLA can help you with the little, and big, things life throws your way.

Getting Through December With Zen

The holiday season is officially here! This time of year brings about colder weather, holiday shopping and calendars packed with festive activities. Between getting your home ready for the cold, planning holiday trips and finding the perfect gifts for your loved ones, the most wonderful time of the year also tends to be the most stressful.

LYLA can help! LYLA is a 24/7 support system that can help you with the little (and big) things so you can spend the holidays doing what you love, with the ones you love!

Below are a few ways LYLA can help you get your holiday to-do list done:

Planning holiday activities!

December marks the beginning of a month full of holiday activities. From planning secret Santa to finding the best spots for winter fun, LYLA is here to help you and your loved ones make the most out of the holiday season.

Getting your home ready for the holidays!

Bring LYLA home for the holidays! The weather is getting cooler, which means it’s time to winterize your home! You can schedule cleaning services, window repairs, snow removal and much more through simply making a request in the app!

Travel plans!

Heading somewhere for the holidays? Beat the dreaded ‘holiday travel rush’ with help from LYLA! LYLA is here to make your travel experience a seamless one. Whether it’s planning your stops, overnight stays or booking reservations, let LYLA do the planning, so you can arrive safely!

All things gifts!

One of the best things about the holiday season is giving gifts to your loved ones. However, the gifting experience can also be stressful. Let LYLA help take the stress out of gifting during the holidays! We’ve got you covered from finding last minute gifts to wrapping them all up. Simply make a request through the app!

New Year’s Eve!

No matter how you plan to ring in the New Year, LYLA is here to make sure you start 2022 off right! We can help you plan family activities, make reservations and find the perfect recipes all through a simple request in the app!

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

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! 🙂

Sham-Rock Your St. Patrick’s Day Office Festivities

With Christmas and New Years in the rear-view mirror, St. Patrick’s Day is creeping up on us faster than we know. Soon enough, the 17th will arrive and every street corner and pub will be decorated in Irish green.

St. Paddy’s is a day when everyone – Irish or not – can get involved and join in on the joyous festivities. Over the course of the holiday, you might attend a few parties with family and friends; but you might also find yourself charged with the task of throwing together something special at your workplace.

One roadblock in planning a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at work is that many of the traditional holiday events aren’t exactly…office-friendly. Chances are your boss won’t appreciate their employees getting drunk on the job (talk about unproductive!), so celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in the workplace can prove to be quite the challenge.

How can you make St. Patrick’s Day fun while still complying with company protocol? Let’s look at six creative, office-friendly ways to celebrate St. Paddy’s with your coworkers!

1. Ask Everyone to Wear Green

This is just about the easiest way to get all of your coworkers involved and into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit! Blast out a short email to everyone in advance, and then maybe send everyone a simple text the night before as a final reminder. Try your best to get everyone on board! You could even entice with them a small prize awarded for the most spirited outfit.

If your workplace has a strict dress code, be sure to convey those standards again so that you don’t get any coworkers in trouble – unless, of course, your boss is willing to make an exception for this particular day.

2. Create an Irish Music Playlist

Ireland has produced some of the greatest music of all time. Start the day with some of the traditional Celtic songs to set the right St. Paddy’s Day mood (Spotify makes it easy with plenty of already-curated playlists and albums). If the Celtic folk tunes songs get a little grating after a few dozen passes, switch to a more subtle Irish homage with U2, The Cranberries, or Van Morrison. The variety of famous Irish artists should be enough to last the entire workday.

Create your playlists the night before, keep your phone charged, and let it play! Just be mindful that others are working, so find a soft, comfortable volume that doesn’t inhibit anyone’s ability to get work done.

3. Learn an Irish Jig

While we’re on the topic of music, nothing compliments upbeat Irish tunes like a fun Irish jig. The Internet is a beautiful thing – search for a few simple tutorials online, and teach yourself an Irish jig. If it’s easy enough, you may be able to teach a few employees on the fly, too!

A break for a short, lighthearted dance is a great way to get the blood flowing and lift the spirits of your coworkers!

4. Decorate! Decorate! Decorate!

It won’t feel like St. Patrick’s Day if there aren’t any green decorations around the office. Speak with your boss first and determine whether there’s any budget for such decorations; and if not, you can still find inexpensive decorations or even DIY something simple.

You can also ask each person in the office to handle a different decoration. This keeps costs low and makes everyone feel as though they are an important part of the day!

5. Share a Green Potluck Meal

You can’t have a St. Patrick’s Day celebration without green food! Ask each employee to bring a small dish of his or her favorite green colored food or (non-alcoholic) beverage. Cupcakes with green frosting, pesto pasta salad, spinach and artichoke dip, guacamole, key lime pie…the possibilities are endless!

This also doesn’t have to amount to a full-blown feast or even a full meal. An arrangement of light snacks or desserts may be plenty to keep the blood sugar up, as well as give people a chance to relax and mingle with their coworkers.

6. Hold Games and Contests

Break up your company’s workday with a few holiday games and contests. There are plenty of quick but fun Celtic-themed events to choose from.

Here are a few ideas:

  • Gold Hunt (with chocolate coins!)
  • Irish Trivia
  • An In-Office Parade
  • Jig Contest
  • Costume Contest

Bonus Tip!

Do you know any Irish folk at your workplace? Collaborate with them! Pick their brains and find out if they know of any special traditions or ideas that you can incorporate into your office celebrations.

And remember – if you choose to hold any (or all) of these six office-friendly St. Patrick’s Day activities, be sure to clear them with your boss in advance. Even though alcohol may not be involved and everything might seemingly respect company protocol, it’s best to ensure that there are no issues with anything that you’re planning. The last thing you want is for you or someone else to be disciplined as a result of some party planning gone wrong!

Enjoy bringing the spirit of St. Patrick to your festivities. Be safe and have fun!

International Women’s Day

Today (March 8) is International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate the social, economic and political achievements of women. Here at Errand Solutions, we celebrate those things every day.

Errand Solutions is made up of 80% women, including our founder and CEO Marsha McVicker. When I was interviewing with the company, hearing that the CEO was a woman immediately piqued my interest because that’s not something you see very often in the corporate world. In addition, as someone who has previously experienced sexist comments in the workplace, I knew that type of behavior would never fly here. I was excited to join a team filled with talented and respected women and I couldn’t wait to learn more from them.

While I’m lucky to work for a woman-owned and operated business, it’s unfortunate that there aren’t more like it. Despite making up more than 50% of the population, only 4.6% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women. Furthermore, according to a CNN Money analysis, only 14.2% of the top five leadership positions at the companies in the S&P 500 are held by women.

Of course, there’s more to our company than just the women. Not only do we have plenty of amazing male co-workers as well (Hi Micky!), but we also have a great mission. Errand Solutions is a unique service that can help any company change the lives of their employees.

It also makes sense that as a mother herself, our CEO Marsha created a service that would especially benefit working mothers. Between running their everyday errands to helping them find the perfect nanny, Errand Solutions makes it easier for women to propel their career without falling behind on their motherhood duties. We make it possible for working mothers to sustain the work/life balance they desire.

If like me, you want to support a woman-owned company, give Errand Solutions a call to find out how we can help your company today. You can reach us at info@errandsolutions.com or 312.475.3800.

Best Ways Welcome a New Employee

Errand Solutions is always growing and we’re about to welcome a new executive assistant to our team! As her start-date approaches, it got me thinking about the best ways we can welcome her to the HUB. While Errand Solutions is a small company, these welcoming tips can work for a company of any size. So whether your company has 50 employees or 500, a new employee should feel as if they’re joining a family, which they are. Here are some great ways to do just that:

Be Prepared for Them
This is one of the easiest ways to instantly make someone feel more at ease about their new job. Before their first day, clean their desk and stock it with pens, pencils, post-its, tape and any other supply they could need. Also, make sure their computer is all set up and any credentials are in order. This will greatly decrease the awkwardness that is a first day, as well as save on-boarding time.

Hand Write a Note
While emails are quick, most people still appreciate the art of the handwritten note. Write a quick note welcoming them to the company and expressing your excitement for them to get started. You can send it via snail mail, or just give it to them in person on their first day. It adds a personal touch and is sure to make anyone feel appreciated from the start.

Hold a Meeting or Conference Call
There’s nothing worse than new hires going unnoticed by current staff. Make a point to hold a conference call (for remote workers or other offices) or an in-person meeting to give the new employee a warm welcome, introduce them to their co-workers, and make sure everyone is on the same page with their role in the company.

Give Them a Tour
While it may take a little time for a new employee to know exactly what they’re doing, they should at least be comfortable with where they’re going. Give them a tour of the office, including where to find everyone and where the kitchen, break room, and bathrooms are located.

Treat Them to Lunch
For their first day a small company, treat everyone to lunch. If it’s a larger company where this might be difficult, you can do the same for just the department or floor. Whether you get something catered in or go out, a group lunch is the perfect way to welcome someone to the team. It gives employees an opportunity to get to know them on a more personal level. Plus, who doesn’t love free food?

Give Them Something to Do
You want your new employee to feel needed, so while it might not be much, make sure that they have something to do during their first couple days. Whether it’s reading the training manual or assisting with some simple tasks, there are plenty of easy assignments you can give them that will make them feel useful but not overwhelmed.

Check in Before You Leave
Before you leave for the day, make the effort to stop by their desk. Ask them how their first day went and how they’re feeling about their role. Be sure to reiterate how excited you are to have them here. Also, make sure they know what time they can leave, or even send them home a little early.

Show Them the Perks
A great company should have some great perks that go along with it. Whether it’s free snacks in the break room or a concierge service like Errand Solutions, make sure the new employee not only knows about them, but is encouraged to take advantage. Great employee benefits are an easy way to make a new employee feel excited about the new company and ready to dive in.

If your company’s perks aren’t up-to-par, give us a call at 312.475.3800 or email info@errandsolutions.com. We’re just what you need to get both new and old employees excited about your company.