The Motherhood Penalty

There’s a debate in workplaces about whether women who have children are subject to a professional disadvantage that other female co-workers don’t face. It’s called the motherhood penalty because mothers are said to be paid less, have fewer promotions, get smaller raises and be viewed as less reliable than women (and especially men) without children. There is some movement to change employment laws to specifically protect parents, but that doesn’t mean you have to sit around and hope lawmakers protect your career.

There are ways women can proactively immunize themselves if they believe they are facing the motherhood penalty.

The truth is, working mothers juggle two full-time jobs. There are only 24 hours in each day, and sometimes the penalty arises because choices are made to prioritize the job at home over the job in the office. While it might seem unfair, such choices often give employers the perception that a parent’s commitment is lacking.

But it is a choice. It is OK to be a full-time mother. It is OK to be fully committed to a career path. And it is OK — and possible — to do both without derailing either.

For women who fear facing financial or career penalties while parenting, it is important to be proactive. As with all career goals, the key is setting realistic expectations and communicating them effectively to others. Think of these following six points as a guide:

Read more here.

Before You Send That Angry Email, Read This

It happens to us all. In dealing with a colleague, employee or even a customer of business partners, something rubs us the wrong way. Big time.

In the old days, we might manage the situation by walking down the hall and have a quiet chat. Well, it would most likely be a loud conversation. But we wouldn't throw too many verbal punches because we were looking the other person right in the eye.

Email and instant messaging changed everything. Since those are the most common forms of office communication nowadays, we get a bit of digital courage and write things we often wouldn't say. Oh, and what is written lasts forever, since people on the receiving end can keep it.

The good news is that if you use the written word correctly, you can speak your mind, and still avoid total office warfare. The next time you find yourself at your wit's end and ready to throw an electronic barrage, consider these seven steps to getting your point across professionally and resolving the issue.

Read more here.

6 Questions to Help Unleash Your Inner Entrepreneur

When I was a kid, the majority of adults in my life were business owners. Both of my parents, my grandfathers, uncles and even close friends of the family were entrepreneurs. To me that seemed normal. It was what people did when they grew up. While most of them started from very humble beginnings and struggled to make ends meet, their commitment to their ventures was something I greatly admired.

The idea of working for someone else was foreign to me. Yet, when it was my time to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up, I wasn't sure. In fact, I didn't even think about following in their entrepreneurial footsteps. Instead, I did the opposite: I decided to work for someone else.

Eventually, I found myself feeling unfulfilled, unsettled and extremely antsy. I was always successful at the jobs I held. I had a strong work ethic and I went above and beyond the call of duty. But at the same time, I felt like I wasn’t working for the right cause. Deep down, I knew I was meant to do more with my life and...

Read more here.

How to Snap Back After You Blow Up at Your Staff

As a business leader, you hold most of the cards when dealing with your staff. Generally, what you say goes, and employees must obey if they want to succeed within the organization.

But leadership is more than just wielding power. It’s your job to set an example on every level, including when employees or situations stretch your patience to the limit. But you’re also human, and you might lose your temper sometimes, even yelling directly at an employee or two. That creates deep problems in the organization, since it can leave your staff feeling uncomfortable, dejected and even doubtful of your ability as a leader.

Thankfully, if you take a proactive approach to repair any damage done, you can make sure that the impact of your tirade is short-lived and doesn’t ruin morale. Follow these six steps to quickly win back your employees’ trust and repair any damage to your reputation.

Read more here.

4 Signs It's Time To Quit Your Job

Keeping work life separate from your personal life can be difficult. What’s going on at the office inevitably seeps into our private life—for better or worse.

When life at the office gets bad it can impact everything in your life, whether you realize it or not. And knowing when it’s time to walk away from a job can be tough to do. After all, the labor market isn’t exactly thriving at the moment. But there are signs that it’s time to plan you're your exit strategy and move on.

Sign No.1: You Don’t Feel Well. An unhappy professional existence can...

Read more here.

How to Overcome a Workplace Confrontation

Most people don’t enjoy confrontation—especially when it happens in the workplace.

Engaging in an office confrontation can leave you feeling uncomfortable and even remorseful. Whether the clash was your fault or your colleague’s, participating in an office conflict can bring irreparable reputational damage. But before you start hiding in your cubicle or start looking for another job, consider this seven-step guide to help you repair any damage:

Read more here.