Displaying All Posts by Bob Bessette

Health Savings Account: A Year in Review

Bob Bessette 26th January Your Job 3 Comments
Image credit to Alan Cleaver

Back in August of last year, I wrote an article here that asked if you should you switch to a Health Savings Account.This article was popular – and garnered some controversy. I think the controversy was due to the fact that there is still a large percentage of the population who are misinformed on what a High Deductible Health Plan with a Health Savings Account(HDHP/HSA) really entails.
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5 Signs That You May be in Your Last Job

Bob Bessette 29th November Your Job 5 Comments
i Love My Job

If you have worked for a number of years at an array of different companies, you certainly can recognize when you have come upon a really good thing. When you are content in a job you can really focus on the work rather than office politics and various power plays within the company. Eventually, you will come across a job where you might say to yourself,  “I could really stay here until retirement.”
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5 Tips to Better Serve Your Internal Customer

Bob Bessette 3rd November Communication Leave a Comment
5 Tips to Better Serve Your Internal Customer

If you are in a support role at your job, one of your main responsibilities is interacting with customers. In the Information Technology world, your customers tend to be internal customers or your coworkers. This may make the job easier or more difficult, depending on your perspective. It’s important that you approach your role as effectively as possible. Hopefully the following tips will yield positive results for you as well as your internal customer. Read More



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Productive Kitchen Gadgets #4: Food Processor

Bob Bessette 23rd October Productivity 3 Comments
Productive Kitchen Gadgets #4: Food Processor

For those of you out there who like fresh produce, there is one kitchen gadget that you should not be without. That gadget is the food processor. If you grow your own vegetables, and end up having a bumper crop, the last thing you want to do is waste any of that produce. So, what are your options? Bring them to work and supply your coworkers with an abundance of fruits and vegetables. Drop by your neighbors’ houses and give them your excess produce before they start to rot. There is something very giving about these options but don’t you really want to consume the produce that you spent the past summer cultivating and nurturing? Read More



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Are You Maxing out Your Employee Benefits?

Bob Bessette 14th October Your Job 3 Comments
Are You Maxing out Your Employee Benefits?

If you are employed, especially in these tough economic times, it behooves you to explore all of the employee benefits that your company has to offer. You definitely don’t want to leave anything on the table as far as work benefits are concerned. It always amazes me when coworkers neglect to do their research when it comes to their compensation package. I certainly understand that there are many workers out there who don’t get any benefits from their employers. But if you do, make it a point to stop by your Human Resources department and read up a little on your employment benefits. You just might be surprised at what you may potentially be “leaving on the table”. Read More



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Productive Kitchen Gadgets #3: Immersion Hand Blender

Bob Bessette 18th September Productivity 7 Comments
Productive Kitchen Gadgets #3: Immersion Hand Blender

Being productive in the kitchen is a priority in our household. The next productive kitchen gadget that I would like to feature is the immersion hand blender. How often have you had to quickly blend up something? I use this gadget for mixing up a quick smoothie or a protein shake. It is also great to puree solid food into a liquid mixture for a baby’s digestive system. It’s also handy when you want to whip up some heavy cream into whipped cream for your dessert. Read More



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Being on the Wrong Side of Internet Policy at Work

Bob Bessette 8th September Office Life 41 Comments
Being on the Wrong Side of Internet Policy at Work

For many years, at my company, employees were able to surf the internet at will. I was able to check my personal email online, listen to my favorite streaming sports talk show or, God forbid, check the lottery numbers from the night before. But, after being acquired by a large conglomerate, a few changes were initiated in my working and internet world. A strict internet policy was enforced. Social media sites like Twitter and Facebook were prohibited. Quickly viewing my personal internet email was also forbidden. And my precious streaming radio was heartlessly taken away. My internet world at work was now a privilege of the past. Read More



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11 Tips for Training People at Work

Bob Bessette 2nd September Communication 8 Comments
11 Tips for Training People at Work

If you’ve ever had to train people at work you will certainly learn, over time, the right way to do so. Winging it is not part of my vernacular when it comes to training others. Here are some tips that I have picked up during my career that have helped me immensely when training people at work. Read More



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Would You Ever Go Postal at Your Workplace?

Bob Bessette 24th August Office Life 23 Comments
Would You Ever Go Postal at Your Workplace?

One of the most publicized incidents currently in the U.S. news is the case of the flight attendant, Steven Slater, who had a tirade at the end of his shift on board a JetBlue flight. This tirade came after an unruly passenger, at the end of the flight, decided to unload her baggage from the overhead compartment before the crew had given the OK for passengers to leave their seats. Slater asked the passenger to sit down but the passenger refused. At the same time, her luggage fell from the overhead compartment onto the head of Slater. Slater then requested an apology from the passenger who then cursed at him. Slater then used the plane’s public address system and declared, in rather colorful language, that he had enough after 28 years as a flight attendant and cursed the passenger who cursed at him. He then grabbed two beers and opened the rear exit and deployed the emergency exit slide and exited the plane via the slide. He was since arrested later at his home. Read More



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Productive Kitchen Gadgets #2: Enameled Lemon Squeezer

Bob Bessette 13th August Productivity 2 Comments
Productive Kitchen Gadgets #2: Enameled Lemon Squeezer

In an earlier article, I touched upon productive kitchen gadget #1, which was the microplane. In my house, we love kitchen gadgets. There are so many products out there that have sprung up in recent years that can really add to your productivity in the kitchen. It is in this series that I will highlight a lot of these gadgets that can simply make your kitchen life a whole lot easier and more productive.

In this post, the kitchen gadget that I would like to feature is the enameled lemon squeezer. Read More



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Productive Kitchen Gadgets #1: The Microplane

Bob Bessette 12th August Productivity 2 Comments
Productive Kitchen Gadgets #1: The Microplane

In an earlier article, I touched upon fast cooking tips for increasing productivity in the kitchen. Kitchen gadgets have become increasingly prevalent in this day and age – and we all know how much productivity-types get into their gadgets!

The first kitchen gadget I would like to feature is the microplane. Read More



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