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Browsing posts in: Confessions

The Bonus Changes Are Worse Than We Thought

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No bonus

A few weeks ago I wrote about the changes happening at my partner’s work. We learned that the bonus structure was changing in a way that would negatively affect bonuses. Well, unfortunately the situation is worse than we thought. My partner is now receiving no bonus at all in this new system and likely won’t throughout the rest of the winter and spring.

We used to receive a couple hundred dollars per month in bonus income through the slower part of the year (which starts in late fall and ends in early summer). When business picked up in the summer, bonuses were $1,000 per month, sometimes more if things were going really well. Under this new structure, we think that summer bonuses will get a haircut too and will only be a couple hundred dollars instead of the $1,000 we’re used to.

We Didn’t Rely on Bonuses

I didn’t think this change would reduce my partner’s bonus income so drastically overnight. I’m grateful that I never budgeted based on bonuses. I would simply decide where to allocate the money when it hit our bank account and put it toward savings or debt repayment. My dad also works in sales and has had inconsistent income throughout his career. Watching him struggle with money management made me wary of counting bonuses as part of our expected income and financial plans.

Because we don’t budget or plan based on bonuses, we’ll still be able to pay our bills and make progress on our financial goals despite this setback. However, this change in bonus structure is still disappointing because it means losing thousands of dollars of extra income each year. The bonuses accelerated our debt payoff and enabled us to reach goals faster. Although we would love to replace that income by side hustling, my partner has been pretty tired lately due to having a bigger territory size and more accounts. It’s sad that the workload increased and the financial payoff decreased, but it seems to be happening to a lot of people. I’m seeing lots of posts online about layoffs and decreased wages, so it seems like the economy in general is a bit shaky.

How We’re Moving Forward

I can probably pick up the slack by taking on additional clients. However, one of my immediate family members is having significant health problems, so it may not be the right moment to load up my schedule. We may just continue to monitor the situation and see what happens. My partner is also planning to ask for a raise due to the increased workload at the next annual performance review, which is in late summer. When the economy improves, my partner may consider looking for a new (likely remote) job to get a pay bump.

What would you do in this situation? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments, as this sudden change has kind of thrown me for a loop.

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6 Tips for Creating a Teacher Break Room

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Creating the perfect teacher’s break room is a way for your staff and employees to decompress during a long day at work, especially during high-stress periods of the year. When you are in charge of creating a teacher’s break room, there are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind along the way. The more cognizant you are of your teacher’s needs and demands, the easier it will be for you to incorporate a winning strategy that is sure to please those who currently work in your school.

1. Provide Plenty of Open Space

Once you are given a location for your teacher’s break room, consider providing as much open space as possible. Using an open floor plan is a way to help give the impression of a much larger space, which can help teachers feel much more relaxed once they enter the room to decompress during the day. Avoid cluttering the breakroom with too many pieces of furniture, including tables and chairs.

2. Paint the Interior Walls

Even if you are on a budget and need to save money, you can still transform the entire look, feel, and atmosphere of any teacher’s lounge you’re creating by painting the interior walls of the space. Painting the interior walls of any break room you’re in charge of managing and maintaining is a way for you to truly bring the space to life, even if you are on a strict budget at the time. Fortunately, even if you are unable to hire a professional interior commercial painter to get the job done, you can do so on your own with the proper gear, equipment, and high-quality paint in your possession.

3. Invest in Comfortable Furniture

Depending on the budget you have available at your disposal, you may also want to consider investing in new cabinetry. Most cabinets on average range in width from 12 to 36 inches, according to Bob Vila, which is important to keep in mind if you are thinking of creating a brand-new layout in your break room. Investing in new cabinetry is a way to provide your teachers and employees with additional countertop storage space and storage space in cabinets for personal items and belongings.

4. Provide Relevant Decor

Depending on where your school is located, the type of decor you choose to implement is likely to vary. In America today, there are more than 30,000 private schools alone, according to CAPE. If you’re in charge of a private institution or charter school, you will also want to determine what type of decor and furnishings are appropriate for any teacher’s break room you’re creating. Adding relevant decor to go along with the current season or holiday is also a way to boost morale in the workplace.

5. Add Useful Amenities

Incorporating useful amenities will demonstrate the respect and appreciation you have for your teachers and employees. Amenities may include coffee makers, microwaves, nap pods, and even smart TVs with access to the internet. Make sure everything is up to code and extremely safe in order to avoid lawsuits. Just as a reminder, in Texas, the “statute of limitations” on personal injury lawsuits is two years. Avoid this altogether with the right equipment.

6. Offer Free Snacks and Drinks

Providing free snacks and drinks in any teacher’s break room is key to ensuring the morale remains high at all times. Provide teachers with vending machines, sodas, and even free snacks, including healthy fruits and vegetables to provide the fuel they need each day. Switching up the snacks and drinks you offer will also keep your teachers happy and excited to come to work.

Creating the ideal teacher’s break room is not difficult once you have a vision in place, and you understand what your teachers and staff need most throughout their days. With the right creative vision in mind and a working plan of action, you can completely transform the teacher’s break room in any school, big or small. The right teacher’s break room will not only provide your staff with a safe space to decompress and relax, but it will also help keep workplace morale high year-round.