What is the definition of gig economy work?
“The term “gig” is a slang word for a job that lasts a specified period of time.” Even though your income is from many smaller jobs, this work is taxable and you should be aware of what you owe at tax time. For more information, reference this article from the IRS website, Gig Economy Tax Center.
Tag: work
Disabilities at Work
Choosing to disclose a disability at work comes with a host of possible outcomes. Many who have hidden disabilities strive to keep them that way, fearing they’ll be treated differently if their co-workers are aware. Accommodations are required under the law but may be viewed as a burden by the employer and even though mandated, often are denied. If you find yourself in this position, what should you do? Liz Schumer for the New York Times thoughtfully explores this topic in her article, How to Disclose a Disability to Your Employer (and Whether You Should)
Hurry Up and Do Nothing
In our current state of technology overload and the expectations of busyness, we’ve seemingly forgotten our need for quiet and calm. New studies are showing that our bodies need this time to rest, reconnect, and even become more creative. The New York Times article, The Case for Doing Nothing recommends finding the state of “Niksen,” a Dutch word meaning to do nothing. Keeping our bodies in motion and our brains occupied may feel productive but often leads to exhaustion and a reduced capacity to work efficiently. Turns out that we actually need extreme down time, or as they say in the article, boredom. Give it a try! Take an afternoon to sit and daydream, go to the park and people watch, sit on the couch and imagine, then see how you feel afterward.
Retirement?
As clients approach the presumed age of retirement, some are beginning to question this expectation. In her article, Why retire? 10 reasons clients should keep working, Ann Marsh for financialplanning.com offers ten valid reasons why you might want to continue working, drawn from money management professionals. One sites this article as well, Voices The worst retirement advice I ever gave. What will you do when the time comes?
Calling All Creatives
Work conferences sound like a boring proposition? Then check out the latest one coming to Austin, Texas. The Creatives Meet Business Experiences (CMBXP) will combine creatives from many fields with their business minded counterparts in an effort to foster new partnerships and offer affordable access to content. Want to be part of this innovative, new concept? More details in this article from Culture Map Austin, Austin’s newest conference connects creatives in a whole new way.
Pink Collar?
As more and more traditionally male, “blue-collar” jobs disappear, a new trend of “pink-collar” work is on the rise. This is causing an interesting divide in the workplace where unemployed men are not willing to move into these jobs such as health aide. One that takes soothing and calm, a “woman’s touch,” one man quipped in the article, Why Men Don’t Want the Jobs Done Mostly by Women. Even as factories continue to close or automate, men are not seeking these types of middle-skill jobs. Although lack of training and need for extra schooling play a part, researchers and sociologists are finding that the biggest reason is how the jobs are viewed. At this point, many employers are turning to rebranding to encourage more men to apply. One such ad in a hospital compared the excitement of being a surgery nurse to the rush of mountain climbing.
Hope For The Urban Worker
But small manufacturers like Marlin are vital if the United States is to narrow the nation’s class divide and build a society that offers greater opportunities for everyone — rich and poor, black and white, high school graduates and Ph.D.s.
Factories such as Marlin Steel who make very specific products, are still providing jobs in the urban setting where there is a great need for employment. As more and more jobs are lost to automation and outsourcing, these smaller companies are making a difference and creating hope in cities across the U.S.
Read more about this current development here: Small Factories Emerge as a Weapon in the Fight Against Poverty. Maybe there truly is a light at the end of the tunnel for those seeking skilled work in urban settings and for the crisis of unemployment in our country.
Who Has The Higher Unemployment Rate?
This month, many high school graduates walked the stage and are now preparing for the next step in their education. Will the college training they seek really help them get a better job and make more money? According to the current unemployment statistics, the answer to that question is, Yes. Quoctrung Bui for the New York Times highlights this point in the article, The One Question Most Americans Get Wrong About College Graduates. Even when the economy is down and college grads have difficulty finding work, those with degrees have a better chance of acquiring sustainable jobs that ultimately make more money than their non-degreed counterparts.
Are You Effective or Just Busy?
Ever have that feeling that your day will never end? Smartphones and other electronic devices make us available 24/7. Keeping our minds spinning, and making it seem that our time is constantly filled. In the Entrepreneur 360 article, 5 Ways to Stop Being Busy and Start Being Effective, four simple steps explain how we can accomplish work in the most effective way and help shed the constant feel of busy-ness.
- Don’t say yes to every task.
- Create time for your family and friends.
- Prioritize.
- Do not let others distract you.
Give it a try, and let us know how it works for you!
What’s On Your Desk?
Make yourself number one! Keep in mind that when you are happy and taken care of, you are able to do much more efficient and focused work. Not to mention warding off the temptation to feast on the chocolates at your neighbor’s desk or the donuts in the break room. The ideas shared by Danielle, a contributor to apartmenttherapy.com, in her article, Be Happier at Work: Try This Simple Desk Update Today make sense. Who doesn’t enjoy drinks and delicious snacks at his/her fingertips, as well as a little beauty added to the space?
Shall we give this a try?
Tell us your experiences in the comments section and we’ll share ours too. Now, get to work!