Rachel’s Writing Portfolio

  Moving from a structured classroom job as an English teacher to a more ambiguous and unstructured position in the corporate world, I had a sharp learning curve. The style of work and what was expected of me were different. The process was full of false starts and wasted time trying to strike the right balance of utilizing my skills and adapting. The most important thing I learned was to be more intentional with my time. In a school/education environment, everything can feel urgent. If you don't finish something, the children will suffer. Your classroom will be chaotic if you don't work after contract hours. It can feel like there is no option to slow down or relax because everything  must  be finished by its deadline.  While that's just a toxic mentality drilled into teachers, it's definitely not the case in the corporate world. Suppose you overwork yourself to the brink of exhaustion. No child or community benefits. Only a corporation that won't even notice your ...

  According to Fernando Lozano, a labor economist writing for the  New York Times , the number of white-collar workers putting in longer than 50 hours a week has increased over the last 30 years. While Dave at the office putting in unpaid overtime looks a lot different from the 14-hour factory shifts of the past workforce, it shows that businesses continue to put the profit over the worker, no matter the industry. The 40-hour work week was primarily a response to workers' first organized demand for work-life balance in America. The history of American labor unions is one of constant pushback for worker protections. Big business has always had a problem with worker abuse, and although it looks a bit different now, that is still the case today.  The history of the 40-hour workweek. Despite its acceptance worldwide, our current system of 9-5, Monday through Friday, does not have a long history. It's relatively recent and due entirely to the hard fight of industrial-era labor...

  What is quiet quitting, and where did it come from? Quiet quitting is the newest hot phrase trending across the internet. This trend is being covered by middle-aged media analysts tripping over themselves to blame young people's work ethic, secretly worried over its implications for their stock portfolios. Is it the next step after the great resignation? Is it going to affect companies’ bottom lines? Why doesn't anyone want to work anymore? Gaining popularity on TikTok, where all serious business news happens, this idea has astronomically resonated with the younger generations. However, despite the name, quiet quitting is not quitting at all. Rather it's the commitment to do only what you are paid to do and nothing more. If you are paid to work 40 hours a week, then you work precisely 40 hours. When the work day finishes, you don't stay an hour late to wrap up loose ends. You go home. If a big deadline is coming up, you don't take your work home and finish it over...

  You are getting ready for work, about to leave the house, and then remember. Today is the office potluck.  Groan. We all know that feeling. You have to bring something, and you don't have any time. You could stop at the store and get some overpriced party platter, but why should you spend a bunch of money for a company that doesn't pay you enough? You look online, but every recipe takes 2+ hours and requires 15 steps. You need something fast, cheap, and effortless that won't taste horrible. Fear not; we are here to help! Here are five simple, fast recipes that won't break the bank but will make all your coworkers think you know what you are doing in the kitchen. Cowboy caviar - cowboy caviar, or Texas caviar, is a staple in the south for potlucks, picnics, and tailgate parties. It's a super simple salad made from canned beans and veggies and takes about 15 minutes to throw together. Plus, since a lot of it is canned, it's easy to keep in the pantry until an e...