People are a company’s greatest asset. Regardless of how you feel about the phrase, the reality of the situation is that organizations are successful because of the work that their employees achieve each and every day. The fourth and first quarters are an important times in most companies to focus on the workforce. During this time, health and welfare benefits are assessed and provided, annual merit or cost of living increases are determined, performance evaluations and goals are put in place. All designed to ensure that the People aspects of business are attended.
Professionally speaking, the fourth and first quarter is an excellent time to reflect on the past year and to plan for the year ahead. The following three activities are designed to assist you in achieving work/life integration.
1. Close out Health and Welfare Benefits:
a. Review your Retirement Savings Contributions. Assess whether you are contributing enough to your retirement savings account. If you are 50 years of age or will have a birthday by the end of the year you are eligible to contribute an additional $5500.00 in makeup contributions. Understand your company match and evaluate whether or not you can contribute as a minimum up to this percentage.
b. Review your Flexible Spending Account. Flexible spending whether it is a healthcare or dependent care account in most cases is a use or lose benefit. Review your account balance and ensure that you have maximized this benefit and will not be losing money.
c. Evaluate Your Healthcare Option. Have you selected the best program for you and your family? Are you anticipating any major healthcare procedures in the upcoming year to include medical, dental or optometry?
2. Create a Professional Portfolio
a. Conduct a Desk Audit – review your annual goals and objectives. Are you on target? What changes will you need to make for the upcoming year?
b. Prepare for your Performance Review. Be brutally honest with yourself on your strengths, weaknesses and accomplishments. Determine what skills will need to be enhanced and create a development plan. Solicit feedback.
c. Update your Professional credentials. Incorporate any new skills, work assignments, or education that has been achieved during the past year.
3. Schedule Your Spring Break
a. Review vacation balances. Time off from work is an essential component of wellness. Understand if your company has a use or lose policy. Is the vacation program a PTO which is inclusive of all time off or is it a vacation/sick policy.
b. Schedule a vacation, staycation or playcation. A vacation is time away from home and work and usually involves a trip. A staycation – is time away from work and is usually at home or in the vicinity of home. A playcation is spending time with family and friends doing fun activities with family or friends.
These are just a few tips to assist you in being An Integrated Professional.
Daphne B. Latimore is a keynote speaker, executive coach and HR consultant. She is the President of DB Latimore Professional Services Group, LLC, a boutique firm specializing in workforce productivity and the author of the forthcoming book – “Productivity Powered by P.E.O.P.L.E.® – Aligning your P.E.O.P.L.E.® with your Organizational Purpose”