Good day all. I’ve come up for air after my first full week back at a “steady job”. As you know, I recently accepted a contract position with a local firm in the homebuilding field (yes, a homebuilder had some dollars to throw around for my services!). I’ll be supporting a few North American divisions of their business while a director is out on maternity leave.
Needless to say, getting back into the swing of things took some doing. I’m fairly certain my “work” muscles had atrophied after 5+ months on the sidelines. In 7 days of work, the muscle fibers have awoken and it feels almost normal having to wake up in the mornings again.
While I had interviewed quite a lot during 2009, I’m happy that this contract gig worked out. This provides the benefit of steady income, which cannot be underappreciated in this economy, and a degree of flexibility to network the consulting business. So everyone (all five of you!) keep your ears peeled for future contracting opportunities for Mr. AZ Mobile HR.
I’m sure my re-introduction into the daily HR realm will lend some positive and interesting blogging opportunities as well……. so stay tuned!
ZW
www.azmobilehr.com
Monday, March 30, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
A Week of Choices
This past week has been intense. I've had a significant number of new interviews coupled with some conclusion to a few interview slates I've been in for a while. In the end, I was offered a short-term (3-5 mo.) contract with a homebuilder corporately based in Scottsdale and found that I had a chance to make a run for a full time position with the insurance company I've interviewed with for 10 years (oops, I mean months).
Being put to a decision and made to move forward has been the most stressful work-related experience I've had to deal with since October 1st. I hadn't realized how normal my current situation had become. But the fact is that I need to choose one of two paths:
1) Run toward the comfy security of the corporate world with all its benefit and retirement plans. The world I've called home for the last decade.
2) Take the temp job and and get real serious about coming out on the other end with a solid marketing plan to be self-employed through my AZ Mobile HR business.
Well, after some soul searching and increased heart rates, I've opted to accept the temp contract. Don't feel all bad for me, the hourly rate that I've agreed to is going to make the transition from permanent to temp work really easy.
I've been towing the fence ever since starting this blog and beginning the process of building my consulting business; arranging interviews for full time positions while still networking my personal business to the community. This decision feels good now that it's been made because it brings focus and accountability to my future actions. I'll be working 40 hours a week, which will give me less personal time to play with. It also provides a semi-concrete time frame for me to be up and running on my own. No more willy-nilly, only focus and action. It also provides a much needed influx of cash to support the family and the new business in the short term.
I'm excited to share this with you all and appreciate all the support I've received during this transition stage. I'm also excited to be mentally dedicating myself to the goal of self-employment. Feeling assured of my path in some ways makes it easier to move forward.
I'll talk to you soon to update you on my new contract job and the steps I'm taking to develop my business!
ZW
www.azmobilehr.com
Being put to a decision and made to move forward has been the most stressful work-related experience I've had to deal with since October 1st. I hadn't realized how normal my current situation had become. But the fact is that I need to choose one of two paths:
1) Run toward the comfy security of the corporate world with all its benefit and retirement plans. The world I've called home for the last decade.
2) Take the temp job and and get real serious about coming out on the other end with a solid marketing plan to be self-employed through my AZ Mobile HR business.
Well, after some soul searching and increased heart rates, I've opted to accept the temp contract. Don't feel all bad for me, the hourly rate that I've agreed to is going to make the transition from permanent to temp work really easy.
I've been towing the fence ever since starting this blog and beginning the process of building my consulting business; arranging interviews for full time positions while still networking my personal business to the community. This decision feels good now that it's been made because it brings focus and accountability to my future actions. I'll be working 40 hours a week, which will give me less personal time to play with. It also provides a semi-concrete time frame for me to be up and running on my own. No more willy-nilly, only focus and action. It also provides a much needed influx of cash to support the family and the new business in the short term.
I'm excited to share this with you all and appreciate all the support I've received during this transition stage. I'm also excited to be mentally dedicating myself to the goal of self-employment. Feeling assured of my path in some ways makes it easier to move forward.
I'll talk to you soon to update you on my new contract job and the steps I'm taking to develop my business!
ZW
www.azmobilehr.com
Thursday, March 5, 2009
COBRA - Your stimulus package
Hey all......... after receiving some grief for my inconsistent blogging schedule I'm back to wow you with my HR prowess. Today we're going to delve into serious HR territory that could have a HUGE impact on you or someone you know.
With all the job loss going on as companies struggle to stay in business and turn a profit, individuals and families are finding themselves in difficult positions when layoffs occur..... should they keep their health insurance benefits through COBRA or let their insurance coverage lapse. Often, the cost of COBRA can be similar to a mortgage payment if covering both a spouse and children and these days, keeping a roof over their family's head is a larger concern to many.
I'm really surprised that this topic didn't get more coverage a few week's back when President Obama signed the economic stimulus package into law. Hidden away in the stimulus package is a provision that cuts the cost of COBRA for employees who have been involuntarily terminated to only 35% of the total premium for up to 9 months. THIS IS HUGE!
Using the coverage premiums from my last company, a family that normally would have had to pay about $900 for total family coverage would now only have to pay $315 per month. An individual plan of around $300 a month would now only have to pay $105. WOW! This is so important, especially for all those folks who have children or a family member engaged in ongoing treatment for a medical condition.
This benefit is immediately available for employees who have lost their jobs and is even available retroactively for individuals that lost their jobs as far back as 9/1/2008. The company has to pay the remainder of the COBRA cost, but they are able to take this expense off of their payroll tax burden that otherwise would be paid to the federal government. What this means is that it is completely invisible to the employee and their is no extra paperwork or hoops to jump through. You still send your check into your former company, it's just a smaller check!
Here is a link to a newsletter I subscribe to that discusses the new regulation in more detail:
http://www.ballardspahr.com/press/article.asp?ID=2385
If you know someone that this applies to, please notify them of their rights. I would be happy to assist in any way I can. Don't wait to see this on the news; they don't focus on GOOD news that people can agree on!
See you soon.
ZW
http://www.azmobilehr.com
With all the job loss going on as companies struggle to stay in business and turn a profit, individuals and families are finding themselves in difficult positions when layoffs occur..... should they keep their health insurance benefits through COBRA or let their insurance coverage lapse. Often, the cost of COBRA can be similar to a mortgage payment if covering both a spouse and children and these days, keeping a roof over their family's head is a larger concern to many.
I'm really surprised that this topic didn't get more coverage a few week's back when President Obama signed the economic stimulus package into law. Hidden away in the stimulus package is a provision that cuts the cost of COBRA for employees who have been involuntarily terminated to only 35% of the total premium for up to 9 months. THIS IS HUGE!
Using the coverage premiums from my last company, a family that normally would have had to pay about $900 for total family coverage would now only have to pay $315 per month. An individual plan of around $300 a month would now only have to pay $105. WOW! This is so important, especially for all those folks who have children or a family member engaged in ongoing treatment for a medical condition.
This benefit is immediately available for employees who have lost their jobs and is even available retroactively for individuals that lost their jobs as far back as 9/1/2008. The company has to pay the remainder of the COBRA cost, but they are able to take this expense off of their payroll tax burden that otherwise would be paid to the federal government. What this means is that it is completely invisible to the employee and their is no extra paperwork or hoops to jump through. You still send your check into your former company, it's just a smaller check!
Here is a link to a newsletter I subscribe to that discusses the new regulation in more detail:
http://www.ballardspahr.com/press/article.asp?ID=2385
If you know someone that this applies to, please notify them of their rights. I would be happy to assist in any way I can. Don't wait to see this on the news; they don't focus on GOOD news that people can agree on!
See you soon.
ZW
http://www.azmobilehr.com
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