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For the past couple of weeks, I’ve taught a college class a segment about legislation that impacts organizations in Canada, specifically Ontario, and I thought I would highlight information and web links this week and next about two bills that have been in the news.   How will they impact your organization and what are you doing to ensure your oganization complies with the changes?   

Ontario’s Bill 118, The Countering Distracted Driving and Promoting Green Transportation Act, 2009

The Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) states that:  “Ontario’s new law prohibiting the use of hand-held cell phones and other hand-held communications and entertainment devices while driving is expected to come into effect in fall (October) 2009.  Once the new law is in place, drivers who text, type, email, dial or chat using any hand-held device will face fines.  Hands-free use will still be permitted.”

A recent Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of RBC indicates that 92% of the drivers in Ontario support (71% – strongly support and 21% – somewhat support) the new cell phone driving ban. There were some generational differences in responses as follows:

• aged 55+:        83% strongly support the ban,
• aged 35 – 54:   72% strongly support the ban, and
• aged 18-34:     57% strongly support the ban. 

This information is helpful to focus where greater emphasis and reinforcement may need to take place. Old habits are hard to change, and I know I’m as guilty as others about using my cell phone while driving.   

A very graphic video showing the consequences of texting while driving was posted and subsequently pulled off You Tube. Is answering a call or texting someone so important that we put our lives at risk? What are you going to do to make sure you comply with the law and keep yourself safe?  

I have three solutions to consider when driving:

1. turn the volume or vibrate option off, or turn your phone off completely so you won’t be distracted;
2. pull safely off the road before using your phone / PDA or
3. (if you really have to) purchase a hands-free device.  

It’s as simple as that.    I like option #1 the best.   Which do you prefer?

If you need a financial consequence, any driver who texts, emails, dials or chats using any hand-held device can face fines of up to $500.   The police can charge drivers for careless driving if they are not paying full attention to driving.  A conviction can result in fines up to $1000 and/or a jail term of six months, six demerit points, and the possibility of a driver’s license being suspended for up to two years. 

To read Bill 118, click here.

Do you have policies in place?   Have you adapted them for these changes?  Are you being proactive?   Click here to email or call us to arrange a complimentary review of your policies.

Respectfully yours, Joanne

Joanne Royce is the Founder of Royce & Associates, a Human Resources and Training Solutions consulting company.   She helps organizations develop policies and procedures creating happy, healthy and productive workplaces.

Murphy’s law is the adage that “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.”

Murphy’s law is the reason we should never procrastinate!

Murphy first appeared when I had computer troubles last week, which was very frustrating and meant I stayed up very, very late to catch up.  I don’t mind because I seem to be at my creative best after midnight when all through the night, not a person is stirring.  But not for too many nights!

With a busy week coming up, I decided to go out of town on the weekend for a day with my husband. It was a glorious day, until Murphy showed up.  I sprained my toes!  (Don’t ask). With doctor’s orders to stay off my feet, I hobbled around most of the week with (un)fashionable white running shoes and iced my foot whenever I could. Funny thing about a day off, even with sprained toes, the next day I was incredibly creative!  Ideas poured out of me. Could it be that a day off is actually good for you?  What do you think?

Murphy didn’t seem to care that I was invited to lead a group discussion on onboarding and orientation for the Human Resource Professional Association of Halton (HRPAH). So off I went in my “flat black shoes.” Last time I facilitated a discussion on “trying to do more with less.” Thank you to the great group of HR professionals who shared their onboarding stories and tips.  

Murphy didn’t care that I was teaching a HR college course to 42 students either. Try staying off your feet … harder said then done! Wonders what an ice pack does at the end of a day.

Finally, Murphy didn’t care that I delivered a full day workshop - Generations At Work. Thanks to the great group that shared their stories, issues, and ideas. You made the day fun with lots of thoughtful discussions and learning taking place. My ”flat shoes,” did nothing for my fashion style, but wonders for my feet; the first time for painless feet after a day of training. Hmmmm …maybe “flat shoes” will become a habit! 

Tips to prevent Murphy from getting you!

1. Don’t procrastinate.  Break down a project into little steps and start at it early.
2. Know your most creative time of the day and use it to your advantage.
3. Create a back up plan and schedule extra time into your calendar.
4. Be open to new ways of doing things; maybe there is a better work process or way to accomplish tasks.
5. Know when you need help and ask for it, or accept when others offer.  
6. Say “No” once in awhile or say “Yes” with conditions.
7. Keep an organized workspace.
8. Don’t be a perfectionist.   Know when good enough is good enough.
9. Take a day off to clean out the cobwebs in your mind and allow a fresh perspective and ideas to flow again.
10. Smile.  Sometimes stuff just happens.

Oh yes, number 11,

    11.  Don’t look somewhere else when stepping up onto the curb.  Murphy might get your toes!

If you are interested in preventing Murphy from getting you, book a Time Management Workshop to help your people and organization succeed. Click here to call me.

Have a great weekend,  Joanne

Joanne Royce is the Founder of Royce & Associates, a Human Resources and Training Solutions consulting company.   She delivers Generations At Work, Time Management and other workshops customized to your needs, creating happy, healthy and productive workplaces.

Summer is almost over with September 22nd being the first day of fall.    I read a wide variety of books this summer.   In Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating, the author Mark Bittman promotes a back to the basics way of eating.   He provides details about the food industry (which can make for a queasy stomach when you read between the lines) and states we eat way too much animal protein (too many cows for food is bad for the environment).    His slant on food reminded me of the way my grandmother grew and prepared food and the way she lived.  

Grandma lived most of her life in one home in an urban centre and was fortunate to live in that home until she passed away in her mid 80′s.   I spent many weeks during summer vacation visiting her.   She had spectacular roses and she had snowball hydrangeas that drooped over after heavy rains.   (I have snowball hydrangeas planted in my garden in her memory).     She had a vegetable garden in her small back yard that supplied fresh vegetables for lunches and dinners.   Meals consisted of a little bit of protein, whole grains, and the rest of the plate full with home grown veggies!    No prepackaged food for this lady.  She had a compost area behind her garage before it was fashionable to do so.   She made aprons on her trundle sewing machine out of men’s shirts that she bought for pocket change from the church bazaar.  When the collars of her shirts wore thin, she turned them around to get more use out of them!   I spent my summer vacation walking to do errands and walking home with her environmentally friendly expandable net-like shopping bags filled to the brim!   (I was always amazed at how many items she could put in those things!)  Grandma didn’t own a car because she never learned to drive, so we shared a ride with her friends and neighbours to pick strawberries, and fruit like cherries, peaches and pears!   We preserved pickles, jam, and tomatoes, and we shucked peas and parboiled corn to freeze.   Best of all, I enjoyed grandma’s homemade pies, especially the cherry ones.   After my summer vacations, I jokingly (but seriously) commented I needed another holiday to recoup!   She left a lasting impression on me and also with others in my family, as three out of four great-granddaughters bear her name.

Something about Mark’s book resonated with me.   His book is a guide to conscious eating, but it also promotes a guide to conscious living!  We need to slow down, be conscience of what we are eating, and look at where our food comes from.  With Loblaw’s looking to buy local, I’m not the only one thinking of the days when carrots tasted like carrots and tomatoes tasted like tomatoes!  We need to go back to, what I think, is an lovely way of living, spending time enjoying the simple things in life, such as gardening, preparing and eating meals together, that provide memories to last a lifetime.  So thank you Mark Bittman for triggering a trip down memory lane.    And thank you grandma for providing me with those memories. 

Nostagically yours,  Joanne

Joanne Royce is the Founder of Royce & Associates, a Human Resources and Training Solutions consulting company.   She is committed to Creating Happy, Healthy and Productive Workplaces.   Whenever she sees snowball hydrangeas she thinks of her grandma.

In previous blogs I’ve discussed The Power of Two Little Words and More On The Power of Thank You as part of  A Values Based Retention Strategy.  This week, I’d like to share tips on creating a powerful thank you!   

1.  Be specific.

Describe what you like and why you are saying thank you.   “Thanks for solving the overpayment problem with Ms. Customer.  You used the steps for dealing with difficult customers very effectively.”  Let the employee know specifically what you liked.

2.  Say thank you immediately.

Do say thank you immediately.  Immediate praise has a greater impact.   Waiting a week lessens the impact of your thank you. 

3.  Say thank you in person.

This will add impact and will let others know that you recognize the great job.   With voice mail it is tempting to leave a voice mail, but an in person thank you shows that you are making an effort and the thank you will mean more. 

4.  Say thank you in public.

Say thank you with the appropriate audience through public forums, newsletters and updates.  When praising in public, a word of caution is appropriate.  Not all employees are comfortable with public praise, so knowing  your employee is key to success.   

5.  Make sure that your boss knows.

Make sure you let senior management know what a great job your employee is doing AND let your employee know you have passed this information on to senior management.

6.  Be genuine!

Make sure that your body language matches your thank you.   Smile and say thank you in person whenever possible.   Focus on the thank you and the person by making eye contact.  Spend the time and don’t rush.

7.  Follow up with a written thank you.

Some managers might think this is overkill, but most employees like to display cards.  With email and texting, it is easy to send a quick message but it has more of an impact if the thank you is written on a nice card!

Now you have the recipe for a successful thank you.   What are your tips for a powerful thank you?   Share them with us!

Joanne

Joanne Royce is the Founder of Royce & Associates, a Human Resources and Training Solutions consulting company. She is committed to Creating Happy, Healthy and Productive Workplaces. She believes in the power of “Thank You.”