Friday, February 3, 2012

HR as the Chief Happiness Officer

[published in Manila Bulletin, January 2012]

One of the best advices that I have ever received on leadership is from a long-time client of ours who regularly invest in training for his people. He had a simple philosophy when it comes to people management. He said, "Take care of your people, and your people will take care of you and your business."

Being a business owner myself, I find that this piece of advice, when applied properly, does wonders for your company. As soon as we adapted this philosophy, running our business and managing people became easier and fun.

That is why I now see the role of HR practitioners as not just transactional or strategic. HR people are present in our companies not just because we need someone to process our salaries and keep our employment records. HR people are here not just to make people productive. More importantly, HR people have the important role of ensuring that the people are well taken care of in the company.

HR leaders are Chief Happiness Officers. They occupy the important role of ensuring the employees' well-being, while the employees work tirelessly in marketing, selling, finance and operating the business. The logic behind this is that "Happy employees stem from good morale. Good morale leads to enthusiastic employees and a harmonious workplace."

Thus, the challenge for Chief Happiness Officers is this: How do you make employees happy and productive without spoiling them to a fault?

Well, here are a few important guidelines that Chief Happiness Officers follow...

Cover the Basics

Salaries and benefits are important things that need to be processed promptly. The reason people get up day in and day out to go to work is so that they can earn a living for their families. They work hard and the last thing they want is to worry about is getting paid or not. They are employed, that's why salaries and benefits must be given regularly, without delays and difficulties.

This rule is basic and yet not all companies have efficient systems for this. A group of employees from a popular internet company I know was not happy with their HR because of delays in salary and benefits administration. They did not have a high regard for their HR because of this. Fortunately, their big boss realized this early enough and approached our company to help iron out the issues and develop a more efficient system. As a result, they were able to retain key people in their company.

Encourage a Fun and Caring Environment

All work and no play, makes a dull workplace. In our company, we try to provide fun activities for the team that isn't just centered around work. There are movie nights, periodic raffles, teambuilding activities, sports fest and other programs just to break the monotony of work.
Fun activities, rewards and gimmicks are HR's creative outlet. This is where HR people can unleash their creativity and establish a dynamic and vibrant image for the department. There are many HR departments who are thought of as boring and unexciting. That is why when they hold in-house events, they generate yawns and it's difficult to get people involved. So I suggest overhauling your image by creating fun programs with a little more noise for a change.

Meanwhile, it is also important to project a caring image. it's quite easy to show people that you care, but another thing to show that the company cares. It's easy if you get naturally caring leaders. I'm quite lucky because one of my business partners really excels in this. One of our new staff recently had a heartburn episode and rushed to an emergency clinic. My business partner took the time to call her and see how she was which the new employee really appreciated. It may look like a simple gesture, but it does wonders to a person's sense of worth. Who wouldn't want to work for a caring leader?

Help People Grow

Employees spend one-third of their adult lives at work. It's easy for them to stagnate if the work environment does not encourage learning and growth. This is why, no matter how busy we are, it's important to take some time to provide learning opportunities for employees.

One of our corporate clients takes this seriously. They invest in "extra-curricular" seminars and workshops for their people that's not necessarily work-related. They provide money management seminars, livelihood workshop and even language classes. They focus not just on the professional growth of their employees, but also the spiritual, emotional and financial aspect. That is why people stay with the company. They are happy, which is what HR as Chief Happiness Officers' role is all about.

After I started viewing HR work as a Chief Happiness Officer's role, managing the HR department became more fun and exciting. More importantly, it improved our company's morale and made running the business easier. I hope leaders out there will open their minds to the idea as it really works. Take care of your people and your people will take care of you and your company!

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Special Note: Allow me to take this opportunity to invite leaders, managers, administration personnel and HR practitioners to the second annual HR leadership conference to be held on February 9-10 at the Grand Auditorium of the Philippine Stock Exchange Building in Ortigas Center where you can network, benchmark and explore ways and means to develop your team, retain and keep them happy! For inquiries, call (632) 6874645 or visit www.hrleadershipconference.com

How to Discipline Employees

[published in Manila Bulletin, January 2012]

All bosses will eventually have to correct their staff whether they like it or not. It simply comes with the territory. As a leader or a manager of people, your role is to guide your people towards the right direction. This often means supervising and monitoring your staff closely. If they make mistakes, as their boss, you need to correct them. If they exhibit negative attitude or behavior, you need to deal with it. If they are stagnating, you need to find ways to motivate and help them grow.

To a certain degree, being a leader is a bit like being a parent. When your child makes mistakes in the process of growing up, you are responsible in correcting them so that they will learn. If they are acquiring inappropriate behavior, you need to set them straight or else they won't grow up to be well-adjusted and productive individuals. If you go with the easy route and just leave them be, you'll have more problems in the long run and you are giving your child a disservice.

There is no doubt that some form of discipline should be instilled upon people, whether young or old, at home or in the workplace. The question, however, is not why discipline is important, but rather, how do you instil discipline.

How do you properly correct the mistakes of others without hurting their feelings? How do you admonish an employee who has been slacking off on the job and still show respect for his dignity? How do you keep your own emotions in check when you are angry yourself? How do you maintain a positive vibe when you need to discuss negative things? And more importantly, how do you ensure that the person improves after you've disciplined him or her, instead of just ending up with a deflated and disgruntled employee? --- These are just some of the issues many bosses have to deal with on a regular basis. See, it's not easy telling people that what they are doing wrong.

It's not easy being the boss. But once you develop the skills to lead and manage people, your work life becomes easier. Once you have mastered how to discipline your employees the proper way, you will reap the rewards of having competent and happy people.

Here are a few things I've learned in the art of Employee Discipline...

1. Do not admonish at the heat of the moment

Bosses often get upset with stupid mistakes of others. It's normal to feel angry since you need to spend valuable time and effort managing the damage. But at the heat of the moment, do not talk to your staff or write a memo. Pause for awhile. Things will get clearer the day after and you'll be glad that you didn't embarrass yourself, your staff or issued a demoralizing memo that’s not easy to take back.

2. Listen to all sides

If there is conflict between your people or a mistake is committed by an employee, don't lash out immediately and tell them what they should have done. Instead, ask questions first and listen to find out why the employee did what he or she did. When you open your mind and listen, your staff may surprise you with good reasons for doing his or her thing. Who knows, he or she may have come up with better solutions. So listen first, before correcting.

3. Look at the big picture

Mistakes are not all equal. There are petty and minor ones; there are also major business-threatening ones. Although equally irritating, mistakes should be measured. Try to look at the overall picture. If it's petty, don't make a big deal about it. Don't sweat it. If you perceive that all mistakes are major catastrophes, the more stressed and angry you will become. So spend time correcting major mistakes, but be more forgiving towards petty ones. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

4. Correct and Count

One of the board members of a company I used to work for has a simple but practical guideline in disciplining employees. He advised, "If you tell a person to do something the first time and he makes a mistake, talk to him. Perhaps you failed to communicate it properly. If the same person commits the same mistake the second or third time, correct him. This time, he already knows what is expected of him and needs to be corrected. If he does the mistake the sixth time, fire him. This means that he already knows the mistake but cannot or would not follow you.

5. Monitor Improvements

So you need to monitor your staff closely. After spending time and effort in disciplining a person, what results can you see? Has the person improved? If so, then you are doing things effectively. If the person's attitude or performance deteriorates, re-examine your methods. Perhaps the discipline method you chose is not suitable for that particular staff. If you've tried everything and there is still no improvement, perhaps the problem is not how you communicate but instead the person you are communicating with. If the person is the problem, you have to decide whether he or she is worth keeping.

6. Motivate or Terminate

There are employees that only need a nudge to get back on track. These are the people that will benefit most from progressive employee discipline. So seek ways to motivate and encourage them to improve. Meanwhile, there are those that no matter what you do, it seems like a hopeless case. When you find yourself spending too much time and effort fixing things and correcting problematic employees instead of focusing on your main job or business, you seriously need to think about letting the person go.

7. Know the Labor Law

Should you decide to let the person go, be sure to know and abide by the Labour Code of the Philippines. There are important keys steps that you need to take to legally terminate an employee, be sure to follow them to avoid future problems and DOLE complaints. Every business owner, boss, manager and supervisor should know the basics of Human Resource Management. There are important guidelines that will help you manage your people better.

Correcting the mistakes of people is not the easiest task in the world, but somebody has got to do it. Disciplining your people will feel awkward and painful most of the time, but it is something that needs to be done if you want a harmonious and effective workplace. So it is important to take the time to learn explore effective methods of disciplining employees. To learn more about best practices in progressive employee discipline, I encourage you to join HR Club Philippines's upcoming HR Leadership Conference on February 9 and 10 at the Philippine Stock Exchange Auditorium in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Do visit www.hrleadershipconference.com for more information.

How to Professionalize Your Business Through HR

[published in Manila Bulletin, January 2012]

When business owners and entrepreneurs establish their companies, their main challenge is to survive. This means that they have to focus on sales and cash flow first and foremost to stay in business.

Because of this, Human Resource is often placed as low priority. Aside from the initial hiring of people and computing for salaries, the business owner tends to move on, busy operating the business and solving problems encountered on a daily basis.

This may go on for years until the business owner gets burnt out and realizes that one of the best ways to improve sales, to make your company run smoothly and to avoid having to keep on solving problems is by professionalizing your business through good Human Resource practice.

Like many business owners, I went through this. My partners and I were too busy micro-managing our business to the point of exhaustion. As a result, we encountered many problems within our company and we couldn’t make the business fly at the start. That was until we focused on HR. Once we developed the HR side of our business, sales got better and our people became equipped to solve day-to-day problems, allowing us to take a breather and work on other important matters in our business.

So here are the seven keys that I have learned to professionalize your business through HR…

HR as Strategic Partner

Fortunately for my partners and me, we realized in time that HR is not just about computing for tardiness or absences and preparing the payslip. Instead, HR is a terrific tool for business progress. HR can and should be used by businesses as a way to make important changes in the company and to improve the effectiveness of each employee.

Through HR’s help, leading the company towards the direction that you want to take it is easier. You’ll be able to manage people better if you don’t just look at HR as just a transactional department, but instead look at it as a strategic partner.

Every time we have a new product, a new system or new division that we want to introduce, we include HR input into the mix because it is critical to our success.

Develop Your HR System

Many functions of HR are repetitious and transactional. To save on time and effort, our company created an HR operation manual and toolkit that has a complete compilation of templates, letters and contracts that we may need in our business. This way, every time there’s a new employee or there’s a disciplinary action that we need to take, we don’t have to start from scratch to do the paperwork.

We consciously designed a system for Human Resource that guides us in processing the regular needs of each employee. Due to this system, we found more time to focus on creative programs that motivated our team and increased morale.

Let the Law Work for You

Every business owner and entrepreneur should know the basics of the Philippine Labor Code. I attended the extensive seminar on Labor Law that was being offered publicly by our training company and found it very useful.

One of our trainers mentioned that the Labor Code was designed to protect employees since that is the mandate of the Department of Labor and Employment. But upon studying it, I realized that it also serves to protect the interest of business owners, as well.

By knowing the law and being guided with knowledge, it makes it easier to run your business. The Labor Code provides specific guidelines on leaves, separation pays, etc. All you have to do is know it and follow it, then you should be able to avoid labor problems and complaints. My two-days of learning saved our company from expensive lawsuits and it was worth the time and effort to learn it.

Recruit the Right People

If you want capable people running your business, the solution is finding the right people for the job and your company. This includes job and value fit---the process of hiring people with the right skills set, but also a value system that matches that of your company culture.

When you find the right people who have the ability to stay in your company for a long-time, you’ve hit the jackpot. The reason why I am able to work from home when I choose to is because we have very good people that I can rely on at work. This is why I personally manage recruitment in our company. It’s not easy finding the one, but once you’ve found him or her, life becomes so much easier.

Train Your People

Once you’ve found the right people, training must be done continuously and regularly. As soon as we hire people, we give them an orientation about the company, basic sales and customer service training and product knowledge training. Aside from this, they get trained on the job and get additional training on skills needed for the job.

The key to have a professional team is to invest in professional training. And this should be done on a regular basis so that they do not forget what they have learned and the training can adapt to the changing needs of the company.

Employee Discipline

This is probably one of the most difficult areas of people management. Many Business Managers and HR practitioners have asked, “How do I correct my staff without hurting her feelings?”, “How do I discipline a habitually erring employee?”, “How do I fire someone the legal way?”.

If you have been in business long enough, employee discipline is something that every manager, whether specializing in HR or not, should master. It is something that you will have to do time and time again.

Interestingly, there’s a legal, humane and professional way of doing it. Do learn about the many styles available and prepare yourself to avoid grief and heartaches.
Recognize and Reward

Having great programs that reward employees with sufficient compensation and benefits are very important if you want your people to stay with you for a long time. Balancing it with how much you can afford to give and making sure that your employees remain grateful is the challenge.

There are many companies who offer great compensation and benefits, but I noticed that sometimes, employees take it for granted or become “spoiled”. So instead of becoming a positive HR program, it becomes counter-productive.

It is therefore critical to present programs in a way that people will appreciate. It is important to let your people know that you are taking care of them, so that they can take care of the business.

By focusing on these things, you will be on your way to having a professional and successful business.

Top Ten Work Life Resolutions for the New Year

[published in Manila Bulletin, January 2012]

Another year is passing and after the merriment and festivities of the holiday season, we are faced once again with a chance to start a new leaf. A fresh start, a new perspective and an opportunity for new beginnings await us as we celebrate the new year with hopeful cheers.

Here are a some of the most popular work life resolutions that people around the world make. If you have not thought of your own new years resolution, take your pick below and see if you can make it stick as you go through life in the coming year.

Resolution Number 1 - I will be on time at all the time.
One of the most basic but difficult habits to develop at work is being prompt. Perhaps due to the long ingrained culture of Filipino time or maybe the unforgiveable traffic that we have in the city, most of us find it hard to be on time to start the day at work, meet people and keep appointments.

Should you wish to improve in this area, allocate 30 minutes extra to what you would normally budget for travel time. Bring a book or gadget that you can work or play with, just in case you arrive early. This way, you will not get bored waiting for your appointment.

Resolution Number 2 - I will work better with my boss and co-workers.
We all want to be in a happy work environment. One of the keys to work happiness is acceptance and respect by our bosses and co-workers.

If you want to be able to work better with others, be helpful. If you want be respected, give respect. At the same time, you also need to respect and protect yourself. Go the extra mile to assist others in their tasks but don't overdo it to a point where you start becoming miserable. Stay happy.

Resolution Number 3 - I will learn something new.
Life is more exciting if we continue to grow and learn new things. When we learn something new, our minds get sharper and our value increases. If you want to develop yourself, make it a point to read books, attend seminars and learn from other successful people.

Resolution Number 4 - I will build a stronger network of friends.
Success isn't just about what we know, it is also about who we know and associate with. Having a strong network of friends, associates and connections can bring us more success in our career. But a strong network of friends takes time and effort to build.

So to build your network, invest the time and effort to meet and connect with people. Join associations and community organizations. Use social networking to keep in touch with people and stay connected.

Resolution Number 5 - I will invest in a new look and image.
There's nothing like a trip to the salon or barber's chair to revitalize our looks. A new haircut or makeover does wonders to our mood and self-esteem. This is a quick fix that can easily make us feel great.

This new year, take a trip to the salon or barbers shop. Invest in new work clothes and grooming tools to greet the year with an amazing look that you can continue through out the months ahead. Look good, feel good.

Resolution Number 6 - I will lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle.
This is one resolution that can significantly improve the quality of our lives. If we can eat right, exercise well and remove the vices that we have like smoking, excessive drinking and too much television or computer games, our mind, bodies and moods will be lighter.

If you want to improve in this area like I do, it takes a lot of resolve to stick to a healthy diet and to keep exercising. Get a buddy or a coach to help you stay on track. Keep reminding yourself and find your source of motivation to keep at it.

Resolution Number 7 - I will spend less and save more.
We all want to have enough money to live a good life and to take care of our families. We all want to free ourselves from money woes and worries. We work hard to earn a living and more often than not, we spend more in the process.

If you want to learn proper money management, invest in a notebook and calculator and record your income and expenses. This will also allow you to keep track of where your money is going and figure out what you can do to save for a rainy day. Make this a habit and you should be able to take charge of your finances soon enough.

Resolution Number 8 - I will spend more time with my family.
For the workaholics among us, this is one resolution that will improve our hearts. Sometimes, we get so caught up with our careers that we push away the most important people in our lives. They become second priority and we lose the chance to witness our children grow, to spend time with our parents and to make good memories with our brothers and sisters.

If you care about family, cut back a little from work, stay offline and turn off your mobile phones for awhile. Balance work with life. Give your time to your family so you won't lose your family's warmth.

Resolution Number 9 - I will go on a fun and exciting trip.
After working day in and day out, it is also important to enjoy life through adventure. What better way to do so with an exciting trip out of town or even abroad. This resolution is quite easy to commit to but it requires a bit of preparation. As early as now, check out the public holidays so that you can schedule your trip. Grab deals from group buying sites and enjoy a great vacation with your family or friends.

Resolution Number 10 - I will nourish my soul.
Inner peace and happiness comes when we find joy in the simple everyday things that we do and when we are able to have quiet time for ourselves to reflect, commune with God or nature, to get to our center. This holiday break, find the time to just be on your own even for a little while. Get some quiet time before you face the hustle and bustle of the year. We all need it to nourish our souls.

New years resolutions often do not stick because we try to do too much or forget them along the way. In order to improve our lives and stick to our resolutions, we should just keep it simple. Choose a couple from the list above or create your own. The point of new years resolutions is to improve our lives. It feels official to start on a new year. But remember that every day is a new one so we get to start over again every day. Isn't that great? Happy new year to all!

Christmas Gift Ideas for Your Co-workers

[published in Manila Bulletin, December 2011]

I did my Christmas shopping early this year. I didn't want to join the December madness, brave through the heavy traffic and rush to buy gifts from crowded stores. This year, I was prepared with my shopping list and I was able to get cool stuff at good prices in a leisurely manner. Aside from retail shopping, I even researched online and got good deals.

Since I'm done with my buying and some of you may just be starting this week, let me share with you a few gift ideas that you can give your friends at work.

Personalized Items

Simple things like towels, mugs, pens, shirts, stationary and bags can be made special by just adding the name of your recipient on it. When you choose personalized gifts, it shows your friend that you took the time to plan your gift and it was made especially for him or her. The best part is, with today's technology, you don't have to wait too long to have this done. Most personalized items can be done in less than an hour or so if there isn't a lot of pending jobs. You can have this done and shop while you wait.

Novelty Items

Interesting and unique novelty items like statement shirts, couple statement pillows, toothpaste tissue holders, keyboard style bowls, animal shaped lamps or coin banks add the fun factor in gift-giving. One of the memorable gifts my husband and I received is a towel set that says “The Boss” on one and “The Bigger Boss” on the other. We had a blast deciding which of us should take the bigger one. There are many stores that carry these interesting items. Not only will you amuse your co-worker, you will also have fun shopping for these gifts items.

Decorative Items

Decorative items add personality and warmth to the workplace. Indoor plants, photo frames, mobile phone holders, decorative cork boards, bottled scents with sticks are lovely gifts that your co-worker can display in their cubicles and remember you by. These gifts will surely brighten your friend’s year and best of all, it won't deplete your budget since most of them are very affordable.

Practical Office Things

Anything that your co-works can use to make their work more efficient always make good gifts. Daily planners, memo pad set, business card holders, calendar mats, desk sets are very useful for work.

You can also give your co-workers something they can wear to work such as neck ties, polo shirts, belts, watches, handkerchief for men or shawls, jackets, office bags for women.

Utility items also make practical gifts such as water jugs, airtight food containers, lunch boxes, toiletry bags and umbrellas. This are things they can bring to work.

These things are so useful. Most of these do not end up as recycled gifts because you can never have enough of these. People use it all the time.

Goodies and Sweets

Yum. These things will only last a few minutes, but they surely will be well appreciated. There are many baked goodies that are being sold during the holiday season. But I would veer away from fruitcakes unless your recipient loves it. These things get passed on from one person to another and they are so yesterday (as in 1980's yesterday).

You can go for interesting treats like colourful French macaroons or cake pops with Christmas designs. Last September, I personally grabbed an exciting coupon deal at half the price for cake pops---dozens of bite-size cake lollies that you can have custom designed. They make for fun and tasty gifts.

You can also go for classic baked goodies and treats such as hot fudge brownies, food for the gods, lemon squares or Filipino favourites like polvoron, ensaimada, lengua de gato or creamy cassava cakes. Mmmm... I’m getting hungry just writing about it.

Goodies and sweets are great gifts for clients, group of people in departments and important people in your line of work.

Gift Baskets

If you have the budget and time you can even make gift baskets for special people at work. There are many unique themes that you can do, so you don't have to limit yourself to the grocery basket variety. For movie lovers, how about a movie night basket filled with DVDs and popcorn. For dog lovers, why not create a pet care basket with treats and toys for the dog. For spa lovers, an aromatherapy basket with a good book would be great.

This type of gift is relatively more expensive so reserve it to important customers or friends you hold very dear.

Cocktails, Wines and Spirits

This is my go-to gift for men or older couples whom I have no idea on what to give. Red wines or sparkling wines are good. But since I'm no wine connoisseur, I often end up giving non-alcoholic beverages in wine-like bottles to be on the safe, but slightly boring side. Hey, some of us like those grape sparkling juice. And those bottles are inexpensive too!

There are so many things that you can give colleagues, business associates and customers. Whether you choose to give gifts or choose to send simple greetings instead, the point of Christmas gift-giving is to show that you are thinking about your co-worker and you care enough to share your Christmas Spirit with them. Happy shopping!

Dealing with Retrenchment

[Published in Manila Bulletin, last November 2011]

Retrenchment, downsizing, early retirement---whatever you call it, it is one news that many employees dread to hear in their careers. This is because news of such means that you or your colleagues can get fired. And that is hard to swallow.

If you are part of the group that will be let go, this means loss of income, uncertainty and worries. Suddenly, it would seem as if the rug has been pulled underneath the ground you stand on. You will experience the pain of rejection, even if the termination is not about your work performance. You will experience great stress, knowing that you will lose your main source of income. You might even get depressed for awhile until you realize that life goes on. Losing your job is not the end of the world. It is only the beginning…

So how can you deal with retrenchment? How can you overcome this unfortunate experience? What can you do to survive such a fate and come out victorious in the end?
Here are some tips for people who are going through this stressful event in their lives:

Ride Your Emotions

As a natural response to job loss, you will experience many emotions such as:
Denial – “No, this is not happening to me.”
Anger – “How dare they do this to me after all the hard work and years I’ve given them?!”
Bargaining – “Maybe they made a mistake… if I talk to them, they’ll see this is a mistake.”
Depression – “I feel really really bad. I want to go home and sleep this off.”
Acceptance – “I guess this is for real. Now what do I do?”

The best thing to do is to allow yourself to grieve. Feel your pain. Cry if you have to and dwell on it for awhile. It is important to acknowledge what you are feeling and I’d advise you to ride it out. But I’d give it a timeline. Give yourself a few days, a week or a month at the most, depending on your threshold for pain. After that, you got to pull yourself together and stop dwelling on the problem and start moving forward.

Reflection

While you’re at it, start reflecting on your work life. Ask yourself questions: “What type of work do I enjoy? What talents and skills do I have? What new skills do I want to learn? Do I want to do the same work as I did before or is there something else that I would like to do or a new career that I want to pursue. How’s my family? How will they feel about this? What can everyone do to cope with the situation.”

Taking time to think about the past and the present will help you with your future. So pause for awhile. Find a quiet place and reflect on your life.

See the Silver Lining

Sooner or later, you will see the silver lining if you open your mind and heart to it. For one thing, your retrenchment comes with a severance package and perhaps some benefits depending on the generosity of the company. If you’ve worked with the company for a long time, then your years of service will give you a sizeable payout that can tide you over during this transition.

This also gives you the opportunity and time to take a short break. It will allow you to spend precious time with family. It may even give you a chance to begin anew.

Clean House

I’m not talking here about sweeping your floors and purging your stuff (although that may prove therapeutic during this time). Nope, this is where you roll up your sleeves and look into your finances. You have to organize your bills, check and update your bank accounts and see where your finances are at. You need to check how much money you still have. Check if you have loans or mortgages to pay, as well as, how much will you need to pay for monthly expenses. It is important to do this step so that you can preserve the severance pay you received and not waste it all away. This will help you survive the uncertainties since you are not sure how soon you can have another job right away.

Talk to Your Family

I know of some men who after losing their job, hide the fact from their wives. They do this because they are either ashamed or afraid to tell their wives. I think this is not a good idea. At times like these, you need your spouse on your side. She can provide you with emotional support and she will also find ways and means to save money. She can also teach the kids to scale back a little and even make it an exciting journey if she is creative enough.

Of course, not all wives will react positively at first. Like you, your spouse will also go through the emotions and she’ll have to ride it out. Just expect some stressful discussions and try to be understanding. When you show patience and understanding, sooner or later she will understand and even support you in your next decisions.

Plan Your Next Step

Once you’ve spoken with your family, you can then plan on your next move. There are generally two options: find another job or start your own business.

If you want to find a new job, you’ll have to update your resume. You can also find a head hunter to help you or you can post your resumes online. If you have a good network of friends and associate, let them know you are now free to work for another company. You can also continuously look at the job opportunities in Manila Bulletin Classified Section and submit your resumes to potential employers.

If you want to start your own business, you will have to decide whether you want to start if from scratch, buy a franchise or an existing business. Now working as an employee is very different from entrepreneurship. I suggest that you read books, take seminars and talk to entrepreneurs first before your take the plunge.

Move On

If you have no ill-feelings with your former employer and understand the reason for the retrenchment, exit gracefully and maintain contact. Who knows, they can even refer you to their friends who can give you a job or even be your customer for your business.

Of course, there are some cases wherein employees oppose retrenchments and they battle it out in court with their former employers. There’s really nothing wrong with that if you have the legal basis and resources to do so. If in case you want to battle it out, think about it carefully and fight for your rights if you must. But don’t make it your career to stay stuck in battle. File the legal charges if you will, but you have to move on still. You have to deal with your emotions positively, you still have to find sources of income and make sure that your family is well-provided for. So don’t stay stuck. Move on.