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A forum for discussion on work-life balance, wellness and tips for enjoying life.
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2008
Executive vs. Personal Assistant
It’s been a true benefit for me to have an executive assistant, and I’ve been lucky to have several great ones over the years. They have done everything a man can dream of and more: listened carefully to me, cleaned my desk, scheduled my meetings and even gotten me a latte every once in awhile (after all, Starbucks is practically next door). Knowing my executive assistants could do everything I asked, you would think my life would have been so easy.
But it’s wasn’t - I could never ask my assistant to pick up my dry cleaning, find rare wines on the internet, clean out my garage, or complete the many other everyday chores I needed done. In my industry, these types of errands were (and rightfully so) beyond the scope of the professional obligations of an executive assistant. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not crying tears of distress because I’ve had to walk my own dog and wait on hold while calling the cable company for an appointment, it’s just that now I know there are ways to make my life easier and my free-time more fulfilling. While my assistants have always been a part of that puzzle, now that I am working at The Modern Concierge, my eyes are opened to what is possible with just that little extra help. Life is good!
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2008
Easy & Affordable Perks at Work
I just heard about an amazing corporate perk that I had to share (other than The Modern Concierge that is!). A friend of mine works for a company that wasn’t able to give her the raise she (and they) knew she deserved. So, along with a slight monetary increase, they offered her one morning off per month. A half day off each month doesn’t seem like much at first, but just think about it, all of a sudden a weekday is available to you to sleep in, to make those hard to schedule doctor appointments or even to have crowd-free shopping opportunities at Target and Costco.
I remember the first time that I went to Target on a weekday morning during my maternity leave. I was in a different world. Plenty of parking! Clean, organized shelves! No lines! Suddenly I had the opportunity for quiet meandering around the aisles- pure joy.
Office perks come in different shapes and sizes, and creativity in today’s workplace are key. There are lots of easy and affordable ways to show employees that you value their service to your organization. What’s your company doing to show they care?
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2008
Perfect Perks
Last week, The Modern Concierge exhibited at a tradeshow for Human Resources professionals in Los Angeles and Orange County– the HR Star Conference at the LA Convention Center.
In attendance were 750 HR executives, and one of the hot topics of the day was employee benefits: How can companies best recruit and retain employees? The more than 30 vendors onsite were more than happy to tell these executives what they needed – pre-paid legal services, pet insurance, fancy coffee machines, chocolate, and of course our suggestion – concierge services!
But what we learned while talking to the hundreds of people who came by our booth is that employee benefits are most beneficial only when they are tailored to a company’s culture. Employees at a manufacturing firm near LAX may want different perks than corporate lawyers downtown – and the goal of a good HR manager is to match its company’s benefits to its employees needs. Out of all the workplace perks available today, what could your company offer that would make a difference to you?
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2008
Making Time for the Things that are Important to You
While I do not dare to compare the launch of this website with the birth of my (now almost 2-year old) son, there were definitely similar moments of fear, excitement and even some pushing to get it out into the world. I’m now experiencing the same feelings of joy, relief and excitement as it begins to grow and take on a life of its own.
We all have lives outside of the office, things that compete for our time and energy. That’s why, as a business owner and mom, I am so committed to the services that The Modern Concierge provides. It’s about letting someone else conquer the items on your to-do list that always get pushed to the bottom, so that you have more time outside of work to enjoy the things that are most important and enjoyable to you. What’s important to me is my family, my work, spending time with friends and even trying to fit in some “me” time.
What’s important to you?
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2008
Welcome to The Modern Concierge Blog!
Welcome to the new and improved website for The Modern Concierge!
As a team of concierges, event planners and HR professionals, our staff works hard to provide services and information that bring a better sense of balance to work and life. Our motto is Redefining Work-Life Balance and we strive everyday to help our clients achieve this.
We know that finding the balance between work and our personal/family life is not always easy - but it is possible, especially with guidance and support. This blog will provide a forum for The Modern Concierge staff, clients and friends (and even first time visitors), to share how we pursue this lofty goal. Through a combination of our own real-life experiences, first-hand knowledge gained by working with our clients, and cutting-edge information based on research studies, we hope we can keep you inspired in your search for balance.
Please check back regularly (we promise to post often) - to read about our adventures, tips and challenges. We hope you will share your comments as well!
Melanie & Amy
Principles, The Modern Concierge