Semana Santa--- a gift to non-Catholics

the blog title seems controversial as i have mentioned a specific religious organization. but this season is indeed a Catholic holiday. Semana Santa or Holy Week is being observed by Catholics yearly, as the climax of Jesus Christ's life--- or death for that matter. for non-Catholics, like me, this is a perfect time to catch time with your loved ones. FAMILY TIME! 'holy week' is always a gift to Filipinos who seem to crave for long vacation from working daily, much more if work requires a 6-day attendance in a week.

driving home this early evening, we passed by the 'headquarter' of our homeowners (phase) officers and they've already set-up a pabasa already in their tent. the pabasa used to be music to my ears during my high school years when i used to live with my Catholic grandparents. our house was just in front of the barrio's bisitas and the pabasa will definitely not be missed by our ears. for over four years, i have become accustomed to it.

"di ba wala kayong holy week?" is the question i get pretty a lot recently (since i moved to a new work group). i could have answered with yes and followed it with a "kase lahat dapat ng linggo, holy tayo" but it may sound offensive as we know why it was labeled "holy week" and i have grown to learn to respect other beliefs as well, even if it's contradicting to mine.

nowadays, more people seem to see "holy week" as a time to unwind, rather than strictly do Catholic traditions. this may be debatable but i don't know. perhaps i am just around people who seems to view this season as a prelude to the real summer vacation. "Saan kayo sa holy week? Kami Boracay." "Ah kami sa puerto galera lang." "Disneyland Hongkong kami, Lunes na balik..." and the likes. of course i could be wrong. Many of my Catholic friends (and some relatives) still observe the Lenten 'rituals.' but for me, yeah, it's purely family time! this is indeed a perfect time to catch up with my loved ones from being chained to a 6-day workweek.

today, i took my girls to Greenhills and gave them a treat. but really, the priceless thing about this is the time spent together. i can just imagine how happy our little girl is upon learning that i'll be with them for the whole day. of course, i still need to work on an official business i was tasked but being the master of your own time is another priceless thing!

i was able to visit our *new* office this afternoon and was able to took a glimpse of our soon-to-be workplace. looks very old outside but inside, it looks pretty fine. it's more spacious also compared to the current workplace. our group is expanding, the organization is growing... it means one thing: our job is secured... well at least for more five years? :D

[caption id="attachment_2966" align="alignnone" width="300"] the new office being "dressed-up" for Monday[/caption]

before going there, we grabbed two cold drinks from Tokyo Bubble Tea and their teas taste good (not yet tongue twisted? repeat last three words 10 times and faster) :P
then we toured the prime shopping area of the yesteryears, had a date with my two girls, and enjoyed every minute of it. we also (finally) purchased a memory card for our free tab, and have games, songs and applications installed in it. now we have more gamesssssssss in our fingertips, woooooohhhh! :D time well spent is really PRICELESS... even if you spend the last centavos in your pocket, the moment can not be compensated.

[caption id="attachment_2967" align="alignnone" width="225"] Little Aya ang her newly-purchased pink mobile phone :D[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2968" align="alignnone" width="225"] taken last Friday, my two girls never fail to amuse me![/caption]

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for whatever this semana santa season will bring each one of you, make the most out of it. let's thank the LORD our God for each day that we still are able to breathe. ;)

Top 10 Reasons Why Good Employees Quit

By Shel Myeroff

According to the US Department of Labor and Statistics, turnover can cost an organization 33% of an employee’s total compensation including both salary and benefits. But the impact is not only financial it also affects employee morale. Therefore, it would be prudent for hiring managers to focus on reducing turnover rates but in order to do that they must first understand the reasons why employees quit.

There have been many studies and articles written on why good employees leave their current positions. As a veteran search consultant, I have heard an infinite number of reasons first hand. Over the years, I have identified and compiled a list of what I feel are the “Top Ten” reasons why good employees quit:

1) The job was not as expected. All too often the job changes from the original description and what was promised during the interviewing stages. It becomes painfully clear to the new hire that their new company played the bait and switch game which ultimately leads to mistrust. The new hire is now thinking, “What else are they lying about?”

2) Work/Life imbalance. There are times when management demands that one person do the jobs of two or more people. This is especially true when a company downsizes or restructures resulting in longer hours and possible weekend work. Employees are often forced to choose between a personal life and a career.

3) Mismatch between job and new hire. No matter how much you love the candidate, don’t hire them unless they are truly qualified for the job and they mesh with your company culture. Too many times, I’ve seen hiring managers try to fit a square peg into a round hole especially when it comes to a sales position.

4) Management freezes raises and promotions. Money isn’t usually the first reason why people leave an organization but it does rank especially when an employee can find a job earning 20-25% more somewhere else. Make sure your wages are competitive and your benefits package is attractive. Resources like www.salary.com can provide accurate and appropriate information.

5) Feeling undervalued. It’s human nature to want to be recognized and praised for a job well done. And in business, recognizing employees is not simply a nice thing to do but an effective way to communicate your appreciation for their efforts and successes while also reinforcing those actions and behaviors that make a difference in your organization.

6) Lack of decision-making power. Too many managers micromanage down to the finest detail. Empower your employees and allow them the freedom make suggestions and decisions. I realize that Empowerment is a ‘catch-all’ term for many ideas on employee authority and responsibility; but as a broad definition it means giving employees latitude to do their jobs and placing trust in them.

7) Too little coaching & feedback. Many managers have no clue on how to help employees improve their performance. In addition, many managers put off giving feedback to employees even though they instinctively know that giving and getting honest feedback is essential for growth and in building successful teams and organizations. Your role as a manager is to help your people find the right behavior, not just tell them what to do.

8) Management lacks people skills. Remember that many managers were promoted because they did their first job well, but that doesn’t mean they know how to lead others. People skills can be learned and developed but it really helps if a manager has the natural ability to get along with people and motivate them.

9) Too few growth opportunities. One of the most common reasons employees express for leaving their jobs is lack of challenge and potential for career growth. The most successful employers find ways to help employees develop new skills and responsibilities in their current positions.

10) Loss of faith and confidence in corporate leaders. With employees being asked to do more and more, they see less evidence that they will share in the fruits of their successes. More often than not, when revenues and profits are up, employers are still thinking competitive wages but employees are thinking bonuses, stock options and creative development

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^ if the HR department feels that their employees experience any of the above-given points, alam na! pag mabilis ang turn-over rate ng isang kumpanya, alam na! :|