Alan L. Sklover - Sklover Working Wisdom

“Outer order contributes to inner calm.”

– Gretchen Rubin

Got a few minutes waiting for a phone call? Arrived at the office a little early due to light traffic? Perhaps you came into the office on a Saturday to retrieve something. One of the best things you can do is to take the time to declutter your desktop or organize your office. Even if it is to refill your pencil holder. It may sound like wasted time, but it surely will make the next month that much calmer, focused, efficient and effective. Give it a try. It sure can’t hurt.

This quote was sent to us by Delia of New York City. Our thanks are sent to Celia. If you would like to submit a proverb, quote or thought, please submit it to us at vanessa@executivelaw.com.

Need a model memo or letter to transmit a request or complaint? A good checklist or form agreement? For a complete list of our Model Letters, Memos, Checklists and Sample Agreements, Just [click here.]

Interested in Membership? It’s free, and has advantages, including discounts on our products. Just [click here.]

Need a private telephone consultation? Just [click here.] Evenings and weekends can usually be accommodated.

© 2018 Alan L. Sklover. All Rights Reserved and Strictly Enforced.

“Set a goal so big that you can’t achieve it until you grow into the person who can.”

– Zig Ziglar

There’s nothing like a great challenge, an outsized goal, a vision both clear and far from today, to light a fire under your chair. Like shooting for the stars . . . you are likely, at the very least, to get to the moon. And, like a rocket, the farther you go, the more you will escape gravity’s pull.

This quote was sent to us by Corey of El Dorado, Arkansas. Super appreciated, Corey. If you would like to submit a proverb, quote or thought, please submit it to us at vanessa@executivelaw.com.

Need a model memo or letter to transmit a request or complaint? A good checklist or form agreement? For a complete list of our Model Letters, Memos, Checklists and Sample Agreements, Just [click here.]

Interested in Membership? It’s free, and has advantages, including discounts on our products. Just [click here.]

Need a private telephone consultation? Just [click here.] Evenings and weekends can usually be accommodated.

© 2018 Alan L. Sklover. All Rights Reserved and Strictly Enforced.

“It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the Spring who reaps a harvest in the Autumn.”

– B. C. Forbes

At work, in career, and in other aspects of our lives, thinking, planning and acting for the long term are almost always prerequisites for succeeding in the long term. Learning now will more likely lead to earning later. Building in the sunshine prepares you to safely shelter in the storm. Even nature shows us that is true. Sure, “here and now” issues arise every day, but tending, as well, to the needs to arise in later times cannot be forgotten or ignored.

This “autumnal” quote was sent to us by Meghan of Salem, Oregon. Thanks go out to Meghan, who is no doubt now harvesting the fruits of her springtime labors. This is a wonderful quote, applicable to so much of life. If you would like to submit a proverb, quote or thought, please submit it to us at vanessa@executivelaw.com.

Need a model memo or letter to transmit a request or complaint? A good checklist or form agreement? For a complete list of our Model Letters, Memos, Checklists and Sample Agreements, Just [click here.]

Interested in Membership? It’s free, and has advantages, including discounts on our products. Just [click here.]

Need a private telephone consultation? Just [click here.] Evenings and weekends can usually be accommodated.

© 2018 Alan L. Sklover. All Rights Reserved and Strictly Enforced.

“Either you run the day,
or the day runs you.”

– Jim Rohn

At work, achievement counts. Yet we have to make time for personal, family and unexpected matters, too. The best solution, the greatest path to personal productivity, is making a “Daily Agenda,” first thing every morning. Before you answer a single call, respond to a single email, or sip your first cup of coffee, prepare a list of items you need to attend to, and the priority of each item. Sure, the phone will ring, others may visit, urgent emails will arrive, but with a Daily Agenda on your desk, you always know what to turn back to when each diversion, interruption or crisis is over. It is a healthy habit that provides crucial focus of the mind when we are multi-multi-multi-tasking. It yields greater achievement each day, each week, and each year. If you don’t do it already, make your own Daily Agenda first thing in the morning. You’ll be glad you did. Now, excuse me, my own Daily Agenda is calling . . .

This quote was sent to us by Tiana M. of Meridian, Mississippi. Thank you, Tiana, for sharing these wise words. If you would like to submit a proverb, quote or thought, please submit it to us at vanessa@executivelaw.com.

Need a model memo or letter to transmit a request or complaint? A good checklist or form agreement? For a complete list of our Model Letters, Memos, Checklists and Sample Agreements, Just [click here.]

Interested in Membership? It’s free, and has advantages, including discounts on our products. Just [click here.]

Need a private telephone consultation? Just [click here.] Evenings and weekends can usually be accommodated.

© 2018 Alan L. Sklover. All Rights Reserved and Strictly Enforced.

— Danger Ahead:
Expense Reports Are Ending Careers Like Never Before —

According to published reports, Wells Fargo has recently suspended or terminated scores of its employees for errors and mistakes in expense reimbursement reports – believe it or not – in some cases for ordering in meals an hour before they were permitted to do so.

In the case of one terminated employee who contacted us, her intent was merely to have her meal waiting when her conference call ended, yet the outcome was her firing, her forfeiture of $2.5 million in unvested stock, and the end of her career.

Is it a coincidence that Wells Fargo also just announced that it was planning to reduce its workforce by tens of thousands of employees in the coming year?

According to published reports, Fidelity has recently terminated hundreds of employees for allegedly submitting false or misleading receipts related to employee benefit programs that permitted employees to be reimbursed for computers they purchased for work.

In finance, most of such firings or forced resignations must be reported publicly, ending not just jobs but careers and reputations, as well.

Is it a coincidence that Fidelity also just announced that it was planning on reducing its workforce by thousands in the coming year?

I am not one to believe very much in coincidences. And, I am acutely aware that fired employees must forfeit unvested equity, are not entitled to COBRA insurance benefits, and do not get offered severance. It just makes sense to me this might well make many employees especially attractive targets for such “cost savings.”

The same goes for those forced or “permitted” to resign under the dark cloud of such allegations.

And, too, clients in HR Planning suggest that, despite press reports of a shortage of workers, we may be on the verge of a large wave of layoffs – some honest, some disguised – enabled by the introduction of artificial intelligence software.

So, tread ever-so-carefully when incurring any reimbursable expense, and requesting any type of expense reimbursement. Don’t cut corners, bend the rules, or twist the truth. And don’t expect flexibility or reasonability in enforcing “the rules.” The potential consequences are so much greater than the potential benefits.

Forewarned is forearmed. Careful navigation is required.

Caution: There may be Danger Ahead.

For a review of our articles on allegations of misconduct, just [click here.]

For a complete list of our Model Letters, Model Memos, Checklists and Form Agreements, just [click here.]

To arrange a telephone consultation on strategies to deal with such workplace issues, just [click here.]

© 2018 Alan L. Sklover. All Rights Reserved. Commercial Use Strictly Prohibited