Displaying All Posts by Bob Bessette

Health Savings Account: A Year in Review

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.
Click Here to Read Article …

Popular search terms for this article:

hsa reviews, health savings account reviews, hsa account reviews, hsa review, health savings account review, hsa plan reviews, health savings accounts reviews, reviews of health savings accounts, reviews of a health save account, hsa account review

5 Signs That You May be in Your Last Job

Bob Bessette 29th November Your Job 6 Comments

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.”
Click Here to Read Article …

Popular search terms for this article:

signs you have a good job, 5 signs of a great job, what are the five things you would change about your current or last job?, signs you\re not wanted at work, signs will you lose your job, signs that you are not happy with your job, signs of losing job, signs of a good job, Love your job signs, list five things you would change at your current or last job

5 Tips to Better Serve Your Internal Customer

Bob Bessette 3rd November Communication Leave a Comment

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. Click Here to Read Article …

Popular search terms for this article:

internal customer, internal customers, how to serve customers better, how to serve customer better, how to better serve customers, serving internal customers, how to serve internal customer, how to serve customer, how to serve the customer better, how to serve customers

Productive Kitchen Gadgets #4: Food Processor

Bob Bessette 23rd October Productivity 3 Comments

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? Click Here to Read Article …

Popular search terms for this article:

food processor, food gadgets, best food processor for canning, (4)Food- processor, foodprocessor, Food Processor Switzerland, food processor netherlands, dont have food processor, PICTURES OF A FOOD PROCESSOR, old food processor

Are You Maxing out Your Employee Benefits?

Bob Bessette 14th October Your Job 3 Comments

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”. Click Here to Read Article …

Popular search terms for this article:

do you pay for company benefits, my company pays 80% of my benefits, 401k maxing out benefit, what do you get if a company offers benefits, take advantage of employer benefits, should my company offer employee discounts, out employee insurance, in & out benefits for the job, have you maxed out benefits before leaving a company, find out about your companys employee discounts

Productive Kitchen Gadgets #3: Immersion Hand Blender

Bob Bessette 18th September Productivity 7 Comments

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. Click Here to Read Article …

Popular search terms for this article:

kitchen gadgets, hand mixture, immersion hand blender uses, hand blender uses, use of hand blender in kitchen, uses for hand blender, productive kitchen, hand blender in kitchen, uses for handblender, uses of a hand blender in kitchen

Being on the Wrong Side of Internet Policy at Work

Bob Bessette 8th September Office Life 43 Comments

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. Click Here to Read Article …

Popular search terms for this article:

internet policy at work, facebook policy at work, Internet policy, Internet policies at work, wrong side of the internet, work Internet policy, facebook work policy, the wrong side of the internet, internet at work policy, email and internet policy

11 Tips for Training People at Work

Bob Bessette 2nd September Communication 8 Comments

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. Click Here to Read Article …

Popular search terms for this article:

training people, how to train people in the workplace, training people at work, training at work, tips for training, people at work, how to train people at work, tips on training people, tips for training people, how to train someone at work

Would You Ever Go Postal at Your Workplace?

Bob Bessette 24th August Office Life 25 Comments

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. Click Here to Read Article …

Popular search terms for this article:

why people go postal, why do people go postal, going postal workplace, GOING POSTAL AT WORK, why do people go postal?, what makes people go postal, how not to go postal, psychosomatic cause for going postal, person goes postal, people gone postal

Should You Switch to a Health Savings Account?

Bob Bessette 17th August Your Job 39 Comments

The high cost of health insurance has led to the expansion of an extremely popular type of healthcare plan called a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). This type of plan, in conjunction with a Health Savings Account (HSA), is becoming the healthcare plan of choice in the United States. It is clear that the enrollment trend is way up for this type of coverage. At my place of employment, this option was added to our available healthcare choices, a couple of years ago. Click Here to Read Article …

Popular search terms for this article:

interview, should I switch to an hsa, hsa maximum contribution 2013, should i get a health savings account, should I max out my hsa, Health Savings Account Negative, should I switch to a hsa, should i switch to hsa, how much should i contribute to my hsa, should i get a hsa account

Productive Kitchen Gadgets #2: Enameled Lemon Squeezer

Bob Bessette 13th August Productivity 2 Comments

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. Click Here to Read Article …

Popular search terms for this article:

how to use a lemon squeezer

Productive Kitchen Gadgets #1: The Microplane

Bob Bessette 12th August Productivity 2 Comments

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. Click Here to Read Article …

Popular search terms for this article:

types of kitchen gadgets, microplane kitchen gadget, what is a microplane, microplane uses, how i grate garlic using microplane, what do i use a microplane for?, microplane kitchen gadgets, kitchen gadget articles, how to be productive in the kitchen, how the micro plane works