Visions of candied apples dance in their heads November 26, 2007

Hour by hour lawyers sacrifice their lives to serve their firms and their clients in exchange for high-paying salaries and lavish job perks, but a recent New York Times article has some weighing in on the value of those perks.

Statistics show that attorneys have the highest rates of depression and suicide of any profession, and it’s not surprising when their 60- to 80-hour work weeks strip them of personal lives.  Several law firms have resolved that the ramped-up services and bonuses made available to employees will increase job satisfaction.  However, I was disappointed to learn that many benefits are offered not out of genuine care for the workforce, but rather to attract and retain talent. 

“We’re in a war for talent,” Gary Beu, chief human resources officer at the firm of Kirkland & Ellis, said in the report. 

The Times article hit American Madness blogger Josh Friedlander’s hot button.  He chastized lawyers for living in a “state of denial and rationalization,” and Lynnley Browning, author of the article, for buying into the absurd trade-offs between employers and employees in American corporate culture.

Healthy people makes a happy company November 16, 2007

At my mom’s house this past weekend, I came across an Avery Dennison internal communications publication USA Connection.  I enjoyed reading the content because it allowed me to better understand my mom’s employer.  But, I also appreciated the objective served by the literature.  In fact, I was delighted that one of the main purposes of the publication was to promote employee wellness.

Half of the twelve articles addressed health-related topics including informative reports on corporate-sponsored health services, diet and nutrition tools and where to find low-cost prescriptions. But, the article I found most inspiring told the story of a nearly 350-pound employee who made the decision to get in shape after seeing a five-pound mass of human fat on display at a Painesville health center. 

Boeing derives value from best practices in KM November 9, 2007

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For while knowledge defines all we currently know and understand, imagination points to all we might yet discover and create.”

Words wisely spoken by Albert Einstein — for it’s imagination that propels innovation.  Although knowledge may only be second in the mind of the great innovator, one can not discount its value — as I’m sure Einstein didn’t.

Knowledge is power. It’s cliche, but it’s true! Knowledge is an asset that can give you or your company a competitive advantage—if it’s managed effectively.