Subtle Signs

With the downturn of the economy and recent flurry of layoff stories in the news, one can’t help but wonder, “Am I next?” Very few receive fair warning of an impending doom and even if you do this is tough news to swallow. While there are some obvious signs that a staff reduction is forthcoming, like boxes in the hallway or the CEO gets escorted out the door, there are other tell-tale signs that are a bit more subtle.

If your company gets acquired, most likely the result is that some employees are going to be eliminated due to redundancy. Take note if other employees have similar jobs as you. If so, do your best to integrate with the new culture and learn how to do other functions fast.

Plummeting stock prices can also trigger corporate downsizing. Today’s market is fickle, but it is nonetheless a good indicator of a company's financial health and future well-being. Financially unstable companies can eventually go under or get acquired by stronger competitors.

If your job functions are suddenly minimized it may be a sign that your worth to the company has been devalued. For example, if you went from handling your company's biggest Fortune 500 accounts to doing data entry and menial tasks, your position may not be as vital to the company’s future.

An extreme measure to retain staff during challenging times is to ask an employee to take a pay cut. Naturally, most people raise serious objections, but for some this can be a last ditch effort before reducing headcount. If you are able to stick it out, there is the possibility the company’s stability and your salary will rebound.

Of course, there's always the chance that you hate your current position and are actually looking forward to a severance package. I’ve been laid of twice, and in hindsight, there can be some positives. So if the ax happens to fall on your desk, take a deep breath, smile and relax. There are thousands of others in your shoes and this time away from the daily grind can be a valuable learning and soul-searching experience. Keep your head up, maintain your tech-savvy and stay connected!

Work and Family

Life can be crazy and chaotic and it is a challenge for most of us to achieve a balance between work and family. October is the month to recognize this challenge and hopefully you are making some strides in the spirit of it being the fifth anniversary of National Work and Family Month. The month of October was designated as National Work and Family Month by a Resolution of the United States Senate in 2003.

"Reducing the conflict between work and family life should be a national priority."– U.S. Senate Resolution 210

For the remainder of the month, conduct an evaluation of your work-life situation. Do you spend enough time with family? Do you feel as if work takes precedence over family priorities? If so, look to your Human Resources office to provide assistance. There may be many resources available to you that you’re not aware of. Investigate if your employer offers Employee Assistance Programs, help with finding child care, options for special educational arrangements, teen communication or identifying dependent elder care resources.

If appropriate, you may also want to seek information on your companies flexible work options, such as flextime, compressed schedules and job sharing. These arrangements support efforts to manage work and family responsibilities, professional development activities, and even community service commitments.

It is possible for today’s tech savvy fashionista to achieve career success while maintaining a home life environment that is healthy and fulfilling. To help you with balancing your budget, this month She-Tech is offering 60% off of selected totes, messenger bags, accessories and more. If you have work, family and fashion…You have it all! Cherish all three and stay connected.

Generation Next

Much like our families, technology also births new generations. New generations of personal computers, iPods, video games and more are consistently produced. The next wave or generation of cellular phone service has been referred to as “3G.” So what’s all the hoopla about related to these third-generation services for mobile phones? What the heck is 3G?

Simply stated, 3G cellular technology will bring wireless broadband data services to your mobile phone. Providers are touting speeds up to 2.4Mbps, which closely parallels cable-modem speed. 3G networks allow you to fly through Web pages and enjoy streaming music video, on-demand video programming and play 3D games. If this isn’t enough, you can even videoconference with your fellow 3G comrades.

The surfing experience you have on a cell phone is undoubtedly different from a PC or laptop, but the connection speed and streaming stands to be very close to that of a broadband connection on a computer. Sounds good to me!

Well the age-old adage applies here as well. “You get what you pay for.” Three major carriers have introduced 3G services along with a decent variety of 3G-enabled handsets. Visit Verizon Wireless, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile to learn more. Presently, only those that live in urban areas will be afforded the luxury of 3G services, but most carriers plan nationwide rollout eventually.

With each generation there is always something new and it seems as if things can only get better. The quest for faster speeds, enhanced clarity and better sound will never cease. What can we expect from the next generation? One can only wonder. Enjoy, imagine and stay connected!

A Season for Fashion

Fall fashion is here ladies and I am pretty excited about what I have seen come down the runway. While I am the biggest supporter of individual style, there are a few Fall “must haves” that can accent and upgrade your wardrobe.

The staple accessory this fall is the belt. Belts can be worn with just about anything and can help to highlight a small waist. Wear them with sweaters, dresses, coats, blouses and anything else you can pull out of your closet.

The colors of the season are the ever so fabulous jewel tones; sapphire blue, claret red, maroon and deep gold's. The premier colors that I think you will see a lot of in most high-fashion collections is grey and purple.

If you’re a shoe lover, you should be happy to know that the high-heeled pump will be big this season. Pumps can be worn with dresses, skirts and your skinniest of jeans. The other shoe trend for fall is the flat riding boot. While those under five feet four inches tall may not be thrilled about this trend, if you’re a fan of comfort it’s nice to know that you can feel good in your shoes and still look hot.

You can also embrace your femininity this season by wearing more dresses. While the shirt dress will be popular, dresses all around have made a come back. The most common length will be those that are just about the knee, which is flattering on all shapes and sizes!

To complement your new fall fashion items, be sure to visit She-Tech for that laptop tote or digital accessory bag. There are many rich fall colors to choose from so that you stay in the mode. It's okay to be tech savvy and chic. Have fun and stay connected!