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!

The C Word: Not Your Grandmother’s Concierge

Ever since I started Errand Solutions, we’ve been called a “concierge company”. And it makes me cringe! Our team is full of wonderful people whose job is to take care of our customers’ errands and help them live purpose-driven lives. But when I think of a concierge, I think of a snobby person behind a desk. They make recommendations based on who gives them kickbacks, not on what’s best for the customer. That’s not what I built. All I want to do is make people happy and make the companies they work for popular.


What makes us different? Let’s compare:

  1. We are kind—not rude. Seriously, you cannot train a smile. Only happy, generous souls work at Errand Solutions.

  2. We are inclusive—not exclusive. We want everyone and their grandmother using us. We are not just for the well-heeled; we exist to save people time and money.

  3. We are proactive—not reactive. We use the information you share with us to create a personal profile that drives recommendations and suggestions tailored just to you.

  4. We care about you and listen; we don’t answer another call when you’re standing in front of us. If you just need someone to talk to, come on by! We’ve saved choking iguanas, imploded pools, found the perfect tutor for an autistic child and got an appointment with an oncologist on Christmas Eve. We’re here to help.

  5. We communicate with you in the ways you want to be communicated with—whether it’s in person, on the phone, via a text, in our app or an email—not just the way that’s fastest or easiest for us.

  6. We’re available to serve you anywhere, at any time—there are no desk hours or lunch breaks. Our Luv Your Life App makes it easy to contact us whenever you think of a chore.

  7. We complete the request and never say NO (unless it’s illegal or unethical – but we don’t judge)—you’ll never hear an “I don’t know,” or “Let me transfer you,” or “I can’t help you with that,” or “Are you crazy?” from us.

  8. We develop relationships with you as a person—we don’t treat you as a transaction. We want to be your friend, confident and personal superhero.

  9. We have a large network of partners who are vetted, insured businesses that only get paid after they delight you with their service—we don’t work with shady people trying to make an extra buck on the side.

  10. We want your feedback—and won’t avoid it, even if it’s not 100% positive. We won’t even let you pay us until you let us know if you loved what we did and how we did it.

  11. We are data driven—not impulse driven. Our data analytics platform gives us a shortcut for finding the best answer for you.

  12. We’re in this for the people—not the money. We don’t even accept tips, just hugs and high-fives.

  13. You are always in our thoughts and we are constantly trying find ways to make you happy!

So what industry do you think we belong in? Can happiness be a category all on its own? Because that’s where I’d put us.

The 5 Biggest Contributors to Job Satisfaction

“Employees are a company’s greatest asset- they’re your competitive advantage. You want to attract and retain the best; provide them with encouragement, stimulus, and make them feel that they are an integral part of the company’s mission.” 

– Anne M. Mulcahy

From the outside looking in, your team may appear to be content . . . But are they really?

According to a report from Teem earlier this year, 48% of employees are unhappy (or only somewhat happy) at work. That’s nearly half of the workforce that’s unsatisfied with their current jobs!

Our job is to make sure employees are happy, engaged and satisfied. We don’t claim to be experts, but we have plenty of knowledge to share!

So how do you improve your workplace to make your employees happy? Unfortunately, there’s no way to please every last person in your company. Your workforce is made up of an eclectic group of people, and they may want very different things. However, there are five contributing factors that every employee values. These contributors are so foundational that your company might have already all the resources it needs to implement them. But they will require attention and commitment to seeing them through. Focus on improving in these areas, and you’ll increase employee satisfaction across the board. 

1. Respect for Employees

“Your employees come first. And if you treat your employees right, guess what? Your customers come back, and that makes your shareholders happy. Start with employees and the rest follows from that.” 

-Herb Kelleher

This should go without saying, but time and time again, employees cite disrespect as a significant factor for leaving their employers.

A report issued by Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) noted that 65% of employees saw “respectful treatment of employees at all levels” as an important contributor to job satisfaction. Only 38% of these employees were satisfied with the treatment they received.

Do your managers talk down to other employees? Does your company neglect employees who are in a lower tier? Do female employees feel as though they are treated unequally? This lack of professionalism drags companies down, and it creates unnecessary turnover.

Respect is something you can implement immediately. Start by being self-aware. Recognize the diversity that exists within your company. Make an effort to accommodate everyone, regardless of age, income, or walk of life. 

2. Fair Pay and Benefits

“It is not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handle the money. It is the customer who pays the wages.”

– Henry Ford 

Of course, financial stability is important to your employees; but their financial stability should be just as important to you. When employees are poorly compensated, stress can easily infiltrate the work environment, affecting their performances and those of the people around them.

Make every effort to be fair and considerate about what you pay your employees. If your company is unable to pay employees the salaries it would like to, there are still ways to provide better compensation for your employees.

A report issued by Project Time Off stated that the five most important employee benefits are health care, paid vacation, retirement plan, flexibility, and bonuses. Invest in these employee benefits.

Does your company offer a reasonable number of vacation days and sick days? Do you offer employees any opportunities to work from home and save money on their commute? Do you provide flexspending accounts to reduce tax payments?

Don’t just think about cash flow. Providing your workforce with a strong benefits package can offset whatever salaries you’re able to pay.

3. Transparency at All Levels

“I believe fundamental honesty is the keystone of business.” 

-Harvey Firestone

In a study conducted by IBM, 83% of employees noted a more positive work environment when there was trust between employees and senior management.

How do you build that trust?

First, emphasize transparency. Hiding the truth or withholding information is poor practice. Keep your employees involved and engaged by being honest about your business, about their development, and about the future.

Second, create an environment where anyone can approach upper management with a question, concern, or idea, without hesitation or fear. Your employees should feel confident that their feedback will not only be heard, but that it also will be passed through the appropriate channels for consideration.

4. Job Security

“Anything that you do to increase job security automatically does work for you. It makes your employees a closer part of the unit.” 

– Roger Smith

Per research from America’s SBDC and The Center for Generational Kinetics, 61% of millennials believe that there is more job security in owning their own business than in working for another company.

Employers are failing their employees in this regard.

How do you make workers feel more secure about their long-term future at your company?

Start by encouraging your employees to seek feedback regarding their development. Again, this is why transparency is so vital in the workplace. Employees need open communication to help validate their hard work.

Second, put recognition systems in place that reward employees for good work. If employees sense that their efforts are both appreciated and needed, they’ll feel more comfortable in their roles.

5. Development opportunities

“Without investment, there will not be growth, and without growth, there will not be employment.”

-Muhtar Kent

Employees want to know that you’re invested in them and that you see long-term potential in the talents and abilities they possess. 

One way is to use opportunities to deploy them in areas where they can be successful. This could mean promoting them to a different position within your company that better suits their strengths and advantages.It could also mean identifying a particular strength and pairing them with a senior manager who can mentor them and help them develop that gift.

These five contributors to job satisfaction are often the difference between good and bad company morale. As an executive, go out of your way to ensure your employees are satisfied with their work environment. At the end of the day, it’s all about building a culture that values people – their backgrounds, their ideas, and their futures.

Make Each Day a Happy One

March 20 is the International Day of Happiness! And since it’s Friday, and the sun is out here in Chicago, and Pharrell Williams is playing the background, I decided it was a good time to see what other people are saying about happiness. On a related note, if you need a pick me up, just head over to Google and do a search for “happiness” (and while you’re there, click the link for the Global Happiness Party). Go ahead. I’ll wait.

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Good stuff, isn’t it? It’s nice to see that the happiness movement is really a global phenomenon. Tons of research has been done about the science of happiness. In fact, “recent research has shown that only 10% of our happiness is due to our external circumstances. A full 90% is based on our inner environment. 50% of our happiness level comes from our genes and 40% comes from intentional activities like self-reflection, mindfulness, and gratitude.” (Project Happiness)

While we can’t help with your genes, we can definitely impact the other 50%. We’ve actually been talking a lot lately about how Errand Solutions can help you to live your best life. I urge you to ask yourself “What would make me happy? What would make my family, friends and co-workers happy?” Then come to us with the list—we’ll figure out a way to make it happen.

Now it’s back to the Global Happiness Party for me. Maybe I’ll see you there!