communication

Could Texting Messages To a Patient be Considered as Hipaa Violent?

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“Whatever I see or hear in the lives of my patients, whether in connection with my professional practice or not, which ought not to be spoken of outside, I will keep secret, as considering all such things to be private.” — The Hippocratic Oath, translated by Michael North (2002)

The Hippocratic oath that doctors take means that they have vowed to a number of different deities that they will protect their patients and provide them the best possible medical care they can give them. By taking the Hippocratic oath, doctors also swear not to divulge any private information of their patients to others. If everyone stuck by this oath, there would be very few HIPAA violations. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case. With communication between doctors and their patients being done through a myriad of channels, it isn’t uncommon to think about any of these breaching HIPAA compliance. Is it possible that checking in with your doctor for an appointment schedule is something to be worried about? Here’s a link to learn more about that: https://www.providertech.com/5-hipaa-rules-regarding-text-messaging/

Source:physicianspractice.com

Prevalence of Texting

Texting has become one of the quickest and most efficient ways to communicate. According to Text Marketing Statistics “Daily Mobile phone activity is dominated by messaging above other apps and activities.” It isn’t a question about your patients not being able to get your text or you not getting theirs. Texting has become an option for health care providers, doctors, and medical staff simply because it provides many great benefits.

Benefits of Texting

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is advised that individuals are to stay at home so as to contain the spread of the virus as well as to keep themselves safe. Now more than ever are people wary about their health. Having the need to see your doctor for any old reason may now seem like a daunting task. With the option to text your doctor in between appointments you can get their opinion on whether or not you will need to see them for an in-person appointment. Should you need to make an appointment, texting will allow you to communicate with your doctor or their staff easier regarding the schedule. Should you need to suddenly reschedule, letting them know will just be a matter of seconds with a text. If you are able to make it, your doctor can let you know exactly what time they will be able to accommodate you, allowing you to make the most out of your own time to gauge how long your travel will be and not subjecting you to leaving too early only to sit in a waiting room until it is your turn. Texting also has the added benefit of allowing your doctor and their staff to get into contact with you for reminders about medication, exercises, diets, etc. so you don’t forget. In the case that you do, it allows them to re-engage you when you would have possibly done otherwise.

With all of these benefits, it is a wonder why texting can be considered a HIPAA violation. Well not all texts and texting applications are created the same. Oftentime when we think of texts, what comes to mind may be the default texting application installed on our phones. If not those then instant messaging applications like Telegram, WhatsApp, etc. are commonly used as well. Unfortunately all of these fall under the category of “unsecure communication channels.” This is because they don’t meet the “Minimum Necessary Standard.” This standard is defined by the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

Texting as a HIPAA Violation

Source:fiercehealthcare.com

The requirements are as follows:

  • Those with authorization to communicate PHI must authenticate their identities with a unique username and PIN.
  • A system must be implemented to monitor the activity of text messages containing PHI and ensure message accountability.
  • Data transmitted beyond an organization’s internal firewall must be encrypted so that it is undecipherable if intercepted in transit.

Common messaging applications mentioned earlier don’t have these features, allowing just about anyone to get into your messages and access your PHI should they gain access to your mobile phone. “Without these minimum standards in place, texting is in violation of HIPAA whenever a text is sent containing PHI.” This could be a challenge as personal mobile phones or smartphones are becoming the norm in many medical practices.

HIPAA Violations

Source:securedrive.com

Sometimes it may seem like HIPAA violations aren’t all that much of a big deal. Sometimes they almost seem a little silly when anecdotes about Walgreen’s pharmacists and their husbands’ exes are the talk of the town. But there is a real severity that comes with these violations that don’t immediately click. In the case of this HIPAA violation, it was pointed out by the victim’s legal counsel that it may feel stigmatising to have your personal health information out in the open. Medical conditions may be something you want to keep to yourself until you are more comfortable to speak up about them. But in this case, it may feel so uncomfortable that a patient may even stop seeking out treatment and may cause their ailment or affliction to get worse. On the other hand, common HIPAA violations come in the form of phishing and data breaches of hospital records. This allows hackers to get crucial personal information that may be used for a variety of nefarious activity.

With all of this in mind, it may seem daunting or questionable to have texting as an option for communication between patients and their doctors. Well this doesn’t have to be the case. There are plenty of options not for HIPAA compliant communications which ensures that your PHI is protected while also providing you the benefits of regular texting. Remember that these channels were made to better service patients and not to put them at any risk. These risks aren’t just about their physical or mental health but the security of your information as well. Take a moment to go over the 5 HIPAA rules regarding texts and reach out to your doctor or healthcare provider to find out how you can get involved in HIPAA compliant communication with them now!

How Smartphones Have Transformed Our Lives

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We live in an era where it is nearly impossible to imagine our lives with our smartphones. They store everything that is relevant to us, give us access to information at all times, and help us connect with anyone with just a tap on the screen.

While most of the changes that have been brought upon us because of a smartphone are quite evident, the major emergence is of the multitasking culture. Could you have imagined a few decades ago that you can have an important business meeting from the comfort of your home through a video-conferencing application in your phone?

When we start examining the impact of a smartphone on our daily lives, it obviously sheds light on the drawbacks related to smartphone addiction and the mental pressure for constant connectivity. But considering how this invention has made our lives so convenient it would be wrong to discredit it and call it a negative impact on an average user’s life.

We have listed below the positive impacts of smartphones and how they have transformed our lives.

Source:medium.com

Enhanced tracking:

Imagine losing your phone in the 90’s. There was absolutely no way to retrieve a lost CDMA phone back in the day. With smartphones, it became easy to track a stolen or lost phone with the help of enhanced tracking through IMEI number.

The IMEI number of a smartphone is a 15-digit unique code that shows its current location. It is also very beneficial for those buying pre-owned and refurbished phones. Through an IMEI checker, you can verify if the phone you are buying was stolen or blacklisted in the past.

Visit the website to check the IMEI for free.

Better communication:

Source:indianexpress.com

The biggest advantage of a smartphone has been the ability to connect more deeply with others. With the shift to video calling, it’s become easier to have seamless conversations with a person without feeling the distance.

Considering how handy smartphones are, connecting with anyone has never been easier. Add to that the ease that comes with the instant messaging options and we have a way to convey things without the need to make a call.

Easier Socialisation:

Most smartphones today have ready access to every social media platform out there. These platforms, that emerged as a popular way to connect with existing friends and make new ones, have made socialisation incredibly easier now that they are available on smartphones.

Not to forget, the access to social media platforms on smartphones, combined with other smartphone features like the camera, have enabled many of us to boost our influence on social media.

This particular feature has completely transformed the way social media marketing is done. Marketing with the help of micro-influencers is a popular and effective marketing strategy that is currently being employed by some of the most well known brands in the world.

The socialisation aspect is not limited to these social media platforms. These days, one can even find romantic interests online through one of the many dating apps that are now available.

Education:

Source:blog.commlabindia.com

With the introduction of eLearning, learning new things has become a cakewalk. With the ability to pick up the phone and log into an online course at literally any hour of the day, it is now possible to learn the most complex as well as the most basic things at your own pace.

The eLearning courses can be accessed from any device from anywhere in the world which enhances the entire learning experience. A working student can quickly study in between office hours during breaks by just opening an elearning module in their phone.

Information:

Modern smartphones are being increasingly used to settle debates. Whenever there is a debate between friends, it can be settled by looking up authentic and verifiable information on the web.

With access to the web on our smartphones, we are practically carrying the entirety of human knowledge in our pockets. This information is easily accessible and readily available. The best part is, most of the information available on the web is absolutely free to access.

Entertainment:

Source:techgoo.net

Smartphones are currently the biggest source of entertainment. You can read books on your smartphone, watch live sports and get access to news from anywhere across the globe. You can even spend time watching an episode of your favourite TV series while traveling to work.

With the introduction of interactive multiplayer games on smartphones, it has become a favourite way to unwind after a stressful day at work.

Smooth planning:

Smartphones have allowed us to save valuable time by providing options to organize important information. With the option to store and access important documents, it has become possible to stay on top of things without feeling stressed.

There is no mental energy or time wasted in maintaining a mental checklist of everything that you need to do in a day as you can just make a to-do list on your smartphone and carry it along with you. This has ultimately made it possible to be productive throughout the day.

Navigation:

Source:deccanchronicle.com

Most modern smartphones are GPS enabled with a map application pre-installed in them. Thanks to this, anyone that has a smartphone never has to get lost. Moreover, the need of asking for directions from complete strangers has diminished.

Thanks to modern smartphones, one can find their way even if they are in a place or city that they have never been to in the past. This is especially advantageous for those who routinely travel to different cities and countries for work and for vacations.

Conclusion:

Smartphones are undoubtedly a major asset as they bring us closer to our loved ones and store everything we can think of — from the contact numbers, to the images & videos, as well as reminders about important events. Not only do they make our lives more organized but also are big time-savers.

Life without smartphones is almost impossible to imagine for most of us. Which areas of your lives have smartphones made easier? How do you use them to your advantage? Tell us in the comment section below.

7 Simple Tips That Will Improve Your Workplace Communication

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Successful businesses are a direct result of good collaboration inside the company. It applies to both small family businesses and mega-corporations. If there are any communicational issues present at the workplace, your business is likely to be stagnant for a while.

Of course, identifying the problem is only the beginning. You’ll need to work hard to find adequate ways to improve workplace communication at your company.

Source:computerworld.com

As this can be a difficult task, in this article, we’ve decided to help you out by sharing some simple improvement tips!

So, without further ado, let’s get to the bottom of it!

1. Talk to your employees

There’s nobody better to help you resolve issues at your company than your average employee. They’re the ones who experience the faults of the communication system every single day. They’ve certainly noticed these issues way before anyone else did, so it’s only natural to seek their assistance when trying to resolve these problems.

So, make sure to talk to them and try brainstorming some solutions together. They’ll be happy to oblige, as their jobs will become easier once the issue is fixed, and you’ll get the increase in productivity, so it’s a win-win situation.

2. Team-building exercises

Source:medium.com

Sometimes, the issue isn’t in the system itself, but it rather lies in the collaborative capabilities of your team. Not everyone is a born team-player, but anyone can become one if pushed in the right direction. That’s why many companies practice holding a variety of team-building exercises, helping their employees in learning how to collaborate better. Knowing each other’s strengths and weaknesses is what’s crucial for better teamwork and higher productivity levels.

So, think of some fun and practical exercises that could help your employees work as a team. It may seem like a waste of time in the beginning, but you’ll soon notice the results.

3. Give feedback and clear information

Source:callcentrehelper.com

As the company’s leader, you’re the person who sets the most important goals and objectives. So, you’ll have to convey these strategies to everyone at your company. There’s nothing more frustrating than being confused about what you’re supposed to do on your job. This is why you have to be as clear as possible when giving out tasks. Everyone should understand what their tasks for the day are.

Other than that, make sure you provide your employees with a lot of feedback. Make sure to share these observations in a constructive way, and never berate the employees for their mistakes. If they’re too afraid to ask for your advice, they won’t be able to perform well. You shouldn’t micromanage, but you have to be involved in the daily operations of your business.

So, break those communication barriers, and make your office a place where your employees feel free to share their thoughts and ideas.

4. Go digital

Investing in digital tools might be the best way to deal with communication issues in the workplace. For example, instead of holding meetings non-stop and keeping long e-mail correspondences just to get a task done, you should invest in digital signage software such as Indigo Workplace.

With this type of software, you’ll be able to make small and big announcements to all of your employees without having to hold a single meeting! Also, you’ll be able to provide your employees with constant training and educational materials.

The best part of it is that you’ll be able to do it all remotely and in no time whatsoever!

Alternatively, you can also get a VoIP system in your business for cloud-based communication. Let’s say your business is based in Vancouver. Find a local provider around Vancouver like B1 Communications to install a VoIP system into your workplace. With VoIP, you can reach out to clients and coworkers from far away countries. Pretty convenient for companies that have plenty of remote employees.

Of course, other than just digital signage, you can use many other types of software to your advantage: employee management apps, communicational platforms, and task management software!

5. Improve the HR department

Source:careerbright.com

Your HR department is there to resolve conflict and keep everyone comfortable in the workspace. If your employees aren’t able to trust your HR, you’ll certainly have a lot of communication problems.

Make sure to check on your HR from time to time, and keep them updated on the company policies. If you fail to do this, your employees will probably feel unsatisfied at their job. Employee morale is one of the most crucial things when it comes to company productivity. So, ensure your HR is a place where they’ll be comfortable sharing their issues and resolving internal conflicts. Your HR representatives have to be trustworthy, patient, and well-trained on the relevant corporate policies.

6. Reach out to your shy employees

Source:blog.namely.com

Some people are simply too shy to share their ideas during company meetings. You can’t improve your company’s communication if you don’t include everyone, so keep an eye on those introverted employees.

You should engage them in a 1-1 conversation when they feel comfortable. Every single employee is a valuable asset to your company, so remember to approach everyone differently.

Your ultimate goal should be to create a comfortable, engaging work environment where everyone is able to showcase their talents and communicate their needs and goals. Once everyone’s on the same page, your entire company will begin to flourish.

7. Attend conferences together

If only the CEO and the upper management attend important business conferences, you’ll be missing an opportunity to improve your workplace communication! The more your employees know, the more they’ll be able to utilize for their daily tasks. In addition, attending conferences as a team can be a great way to open up communication and get to know each other. Learning more about the industry you’re all in creates space for new ideas and business development.

The bottom line

Internal communication is a crucial factor in running a successful business. Improving communication in the workplace is a lasting process: it can’t be done overnight, and there’s always room for progress.

Still, implementing digital solutions and creating a comfortable working environment for everyone is a good place to start. Your goal is to make everyone work as a team, so make sure to listen to their suggestions and ideas. A strong HR department and frequent team-building exercises can be your best assets in achieving productive business surroundings.

5 Reasons Why Businesses Should Be Using Bulk SMS

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Bulk SMS is arguably one of the most powerful communication channels available today and the truth is as great as Social Media, SEO email marketing and chatbots etc. whatever the new biggest marketing channel is today SMS online still outperforms each of these channels.

In fact, the traditional online channels have become a staple amongst business owners.

Most marketing channels (even in 2020) still don’t come close to the raw marketing power of SMS online – Tim Silvia – 160.com.au

Unfortunately, too many marketers and some business owners are attracted to shiny new things which means they are more likely to jump on a new trend then actually look to channels that can actually deliver results.

What is the latest marketing funnel? Should we use webinars? Push notifications? Spreading your dollar thinner and thinner with each new marketing experiment.

Smart marketers don’t care about what’s “new” their only concern, “what’s working”.

What is Bulk SMS?

Source:polycom.rs

Bulk SMS is simply sending text messages from an online platform – this is NOT an online marketing channel.

Even though bulk SMS uses the internet to push out the text message it is still received as if it came from a mobile and is treated as an offline marketing channel.

This is important, since bulk SMS is an offline marketing channel you do not have to worry about the typical online barriers like SPAM algorithms, ranking updates, reputation scores, strict ad policies, etc.

Why SMS Online Is Growing

Source:ajuratech.com

Virtually everyone now has a mobile phone which means marketers and businesses are able to reach consumers wherever they are.

The problem for most marketers is that they are still using the same online strategies in the mobile world (i.e. push ads, email marketing, PPC etc.).

The difference between SMS and traditional online advertising is that people prioritize their text messages over all other mediums.

When a person receives a push notification, they click away from it, if they see an email they’ll get around to it (if at all) but when they receive a text message they read it almost right away.

In this article, I’ll give you 5 great reasons why you should be using SMS online inside your business.

1. Bulk SMS Gives You More Control

Source:beasmartprogrammer.blogspot.com

With other marketing platforms like Google, Facebook, Email, Publishing sites etc. you don’t really control the platform and there are restrictions on your messaging, images and even products and services that you want to sell.

With Bulk SMS you control everything with no restrictions at all.

2. Super-Fast Response Rates

It’s not uncommon to see up to 97% of people opening your bulk SMS messages, that’s huge! Not only that but when I was working for an affiliate company we would routinely see 3-5x earnings per click (EPC), up to 6x ROI over our email marketing program and up to 25% click through rates.

Source:bulksms.com

3. Rapid Response Times

On average it takes a person 4 minutes for a person to open their text message compared to 48 hours for email. Not only that but there is a lot less competition inside the SMS inbox vs. the email inbox.

4. Bulk SMS Can work in almost any area of your business

SMS online can be used in almost any area of your business for example, you can use SMS for:

  • Product fulfilment for information products
  • Abandoned cart recovery
  • Traffic monetization
  • Content distribution
  • Drive back end sales (repeat sales)
  • Product and event launches
  • List building
  • Appointment reminders
  • Two-Factor Authorization (Security)

Basically, any part of your business communication channel can benefit from having online text messaging.

5. Generate Quality Sales Leads

This is probably one of the best reasons to use SMS online if you rely on generating fresh customer leads because it allows you to attract highly-qualified leads that email or cold calling cannot match.

People are reluctant to give away their personal mobile number, it is a greater risk for them to do so.

This is a good thing if you are a marketer because it means that if they do give you their personal mobile number then chances are they are much closer to making a buying decision and ready to see and offer or be contacted by a sales person.

When I worked in sales I had an incredibly tough time trying to convert email leads into sales, at best I would be able put them on my call list to contact them in 6 months.

As a sales person 6 months is an eternity, we need to close deals today.

SMS leads on the other hand were a lot easier to convert into appointments and ultimately sales.

Source:heymarket.com

Getting bulksms SMS leads is actually very straightforward all you need is a short code, keyword and an offer for example:

Text 50 to 12345 and get 50% off all of our Summer Season shoes!

  1. ‘50’ is the keyword
  2. ‘12345’ is the short code and;
  3. The offer is the 50% off deal.

Whenever someone texts 50 to 12345 they are automatically added to a contact list for you to follow up on and generate sales from for as long as they are on the list.

One of the keys to getting a lot of bulk SMS leads is making sure you promote the offer in as many places as you can for example:

  • Email newsletters
  • Floating sticky bars
  • Home page
  • Exit pop
  • Blog posts and articles etc.
  • Social media pages

Conclusion

SMS was born in the early 90’s but is still 100% relevant due to the fact that we’re living in the mobile age which makes bulk SMS one of the greatest business opportunities available especially when you combine the open and click through rates, responsiveness and the fact that you can use it in virtually any area of your business this direct marketing channel should absolutely be integrated into your overarching communication strategy.

4 Most Powerful Languages in the World

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Since the dawn of time, humans have had some form of communication between each other. In those times, humans didn’t use a language with logical sentences and letters, but they still did have some form of understanding through certain sounds and gestures. Several thousands of years needed to pass until we finally made some kind of advancement in our communication. People started forming letters and words that had a lot more meaning to them. Basic wording for things such as water or food started to be a common thing.

Many millennia later, we finally reached a level where we can easily communicate with each other. Just the idea of how advanced we have become in forming reasonable sentences is simply amazing. There are no other species on this planet that have developed such a way of communication. It is even crazier to think about this once you find out that we might be one of the youngest species on this planet.

Once tribes started to develop in much more complicated social groups, the way of communicating started to develop and split into other categories too. The people up north would start speaking in one type of language while those south in some completely different.

Sometimes, it sounds some languages are so unlike each other, it is like they’ve come from two different planets.

The fact that there are more than 6,000 languages that are used on a daily basis around the world, is a crazy idea on its own. If you want to know which ones are the most used and the most powerful, make sure you keep reading.

English

Source: erasmuscoursescroatia.com

I think it is safe to say that English is the most known language on the entire planet. Sure, it doesn’t have the largest amount of native speakers, but wherever you go, you will find someone that knows how to speak English. They may not be fluent in it, but they would still be able to understand most of the basic stuff.

Studies have shown that there are more than 350 million native speakers of English. Combine these 350 million with the other 1.2 billion second-language speakers and you get a total of 1.5 billion. This number tells you just how popular English is around the planet.

Many people think that Mandarin should hold that first place of languages in the world because it has almost a billion native speakers, but the population that understands Mandarin is concentrated only in China. You won’t find people understanding Mandarin in Europe or America. This is exactly why English is believed to be such a powerful language.

Mandarin

Source: dragonsteaching.com

Like we already said, Mandarin has natively spoken by almost a billion people around the planet or more accurately, in China. There are also around 200 to 300 million second-language speakers which are a pretty big number too.

What is interesting about Mandarin is the fact that it is actually a group of Chinese languages that are spoken all across China. Think of it like this. The accents of English used around the world sound different, but it is still the same thing. You hear the same thing but pronounced in a different way. It may be a bit more difficult to understand someone with an accent, but with enough effort, your mind will be able to decipher the accent. Well, the dialects used in Mandarin completely change the way some words are said and the way some sentences are formed.

A lot of students nowadays are considering taking Chinese language courses. AP Chinese course is among the popular language courses yet one of the most challenging of all. Luckily, sites like ExamGenius guide students on the best study materials for the AP Chinese examination.

A person that originates from southern China won’t be able to understand Mandarin used by someone that originates from northern China. Both of them live in China, both of them use Mandarin, but they have will have a difficult time understanding each other.

Swahili

Source: stlawu.edu

Swahili is the official language in five different countries including Kenya, Tanzania, DR Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. However, it is used in a lot more countries located in Africa. It is recognized by millions of people on this continent. The exact number of Swahili speakers is not known, but experts estimate that it is somewhere between 120 or 150 million.

Many people would argue that Swahili shouldn’t be on this list, but I believe that it is interesting enough which is why it deserves a place on this list. The idea that you can use Swahili to get through every single country of Africa is something that you cannot do with any other language. Sure, you could move across the entire United States of America with the use of English, but that’s just one country. With Swahili, you can move through 30 different countries and people will still understand you.

These days, a lot of people have started to learn Swahili because they’ve understood just how powerful it is. If you are one of those people that understands just how important Swahili is, you can find additional information about it at KL Translations that may help you delve deeper into the science behind the language.

Spanish

Source: myspanishforyou.com

Another very interesting contender on this list is Spanish. Experts believe that Spanish is spoken by almost 500 million people around the planet. It is in fact, the second most spoken native language right after Mandarin. Just 600 years ago, the only Spanish-speaking language was Spain, so the total amount of native speakers in that time was only about 8 to 9 million. But, once the Americas were starting to be explored and developed, Spanish speakers started to spread.

Today, in South America, Spanish is the official language of 20 different countries including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Spain, and many more. Because it is so easy to learn and it is such a fluent speaking language, it easily spread around the entire South American continent. This is why it deserves to be put on the same level as Mandarin or even English.

So, if you’re interested in becoming bilingual or even trilingual, you can choose any of these contenders we mentioned above. Whichever you pick, you will definitely find yourself in a situation in the future when you will have to use it.

How The World Is Embracing The Work From Home Concept

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Given the advances in technology nowadays, the idea of working from home is being embraced in all respects. Aside from work from home opportunities advertised on countless social media platforms, you can still get more on this site.

However, given the recent hindrances and restrictions that have prevented people from going to work, it’s not only freelancers that have embraced this concept of working from home, but companies have also started to practice it. Even though it was difficult at first to work on these terms, people quickly adjusted, and have realized that it is very possible to do most of their work on different platforms. Here are some other insights and trends on how the world is embracing the work from home concept.

  1. Communication And Collaboration

Source:youtube

The world is embracing the work from home concept by continuing to communicate and collaborate even if people are mostly stuck at home. There will be some foreseeable challenges, especially with internet connections developing issues and things getting lost in translation.

Fortunately, with modern technology, there is video conferencing software that facilitates communication and better collaboration online. It also allows screen sharing so that you will still be able to present your ideas without having to be physically present with the audience.

Nevertheless, there are still some barriers to communication in a work from home set up. You might not be able to see what the other person is doing or feeling. So, when you message someone, it’s important to be both empathetic and to-the-point while providing complete information to avoid missing out on the important details.

  1. Technology As A Tool

With this new age of digitalization, there are many tools and software that have been made available to make working from home easier. These range from video conferencing, messaging, collaborating, and such. It is much easier to work from home with these tools, especially if you have used them before, for other businesses.

For instance, Trello was created to keep track of project status or to-do lists of subordinates and team to enhance collaboration. On the other hand, Zoom is a reliable video conferencing software that allows numerous attendees in the meeting. Moreover, the quality of the video and sound is also very good. It can be used for any type of work, conferences, and it is even used for having online classes for some schools.

Additionally, Google Docs allows you to edit documents simultaneously within the team to promote collaboration. Easy data entry tasks from home can also be done on Google Sheets. Moreover, you can also use Slack as a messaging platform. This allows you to message your co-workers and have threads within the group to avoid being off-topic.

These are just some of the tools to ensure collaboration and improve effectiveness for people who work from home. You can even use Traqq’s time tracker to ensure that your remote employees are spending their work hours on activities that benefit the company. You just need to search for them online and choose which one is right for you.

  1. Enhanced Productivity and Savings

Source:goodcloudstorage.net

People have been embracing the work from a home concept by making the most of several benefits that it presents for both employers and employees. Some benefits that can arise from planning a smooth transition to working from home include better productivity and savings.

To ensure that employees remain engaged while working from home, companies can facilitate them by extending an allowance to acquire efficient equipment for their remote workplace. In order to enhance productivity, employees should ideally create a defined workspace where they will not feel preoccupied with their home life. This would make sure that they stay focused on work while being in a comfortable home environment.

Working from home also helps save money and time spent on commuting. This presents a new opportunity for both organizations and workers. Companies can dedicate the extra time to find ways of improving the client experience, and create training modules designed to upgrade the skills of their staff. As for employees, the reduced time spent on a stressful and time-consuming commute could provide more opportunities to work on projects instead.

So it can turn into a win-win situation while getting all the work done as well.

  1. Balance Between Work And Life

Source:computercareers.org

Another way that the world is embracing the work from home concept is by targeting the goal of striking a balance between work and life. Sharing the same space for work and home might cut lines too close. The world is slowly learning to set boundaries around work timings and personal space.

If you are in work mode, it’s best that you mentally prepare yourself by dressing up professionally, developing a morning routine, and minimizing distractions. It is important that you put your mind into work so that you can do it efficiently. Also, when you are done with your work, it is important that you change into some comfortable clothes, turn off your laptop, and just focus on your personal life. It might be a bit difficult to adjust to the set up at first. But, as soon as you build a foundation through daily routines, you will be able to navigate working from home while maintaining a balanced approach.

Conclusion

With the ongoing pandemic, there is a disruption in the office working culture forcing most people to work from home. Thankfully, digital technology now supports this kind of arrangement. With the benefits above, working from home allows companies to continue business as usual without having to be physically present in the office. One day, working from home might not be considered unusual anymore.

How do you Hire a Good College Student Defense Attorney – 2020 Guide

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Hiring a good college student defense attorney is not an easy task, and one of the reasons for that is because of the number of people claiming to have the best skills and experience for your case. Obviously, marketing is something that should be and is accepted as a normal thing, so don’t be surprised if someone tells you that choosing is not an easy thing.

Thankfully, we have just the right tips for you, and in this detailed article, we’re going to talk about some of the best ways to find a great attorney. If you are currently in a situation where you need one, or you’re just looking to learn some more for any possible cases in the future, we suggest that you keep on reading until the end.

Don’t rush your decision

Source:moneycrashers.com

We do understand that in situations when you’re in a need of an attorney, it’s more than a common thing for a person to wish for things to get sorted out quickly. However, you should never rush your attorney selection process, because this can cost you a lot in the future.

Although we don’t know what your current situation is, and how serious it can get, we suggest that you should have a quality advocate even for the slightest complication. The law world nowadays can be pretty cruel, and if things end up going south, you’ll have to pay a lot of money as a penalty, or even worse.

Do a research

We tend to do a background check for many different things in life, so why exclude this one out of the list? Even when we’re ordering a burger, we always check the customer reviews and the overall history of the restaurant, simply to know what we’re getting ourselves into.

Well, the same thing should be done when you’re looking to hire a student defense attorney. Since most of these people already have websites, especially the more popular ones, you should give your best to read some more about their experience, how and where they operate, previous success cases and all of the other useful information.

If you need help with any of the following cases, you should visit Holland Law LLC.

  • Theft
  • Domestic Assault
  • Weapons charges
  • Drug charges
  • Expungements
  • Student representation

And many others which unfortunately tend to happen on a daily basis across multiple countries around the world.

Compare costs

Budget is an important thing, and these people didn’t spend their entire lives perfecting what they do to be working for free. As harsh as it sounds, sometimes justice costs money, and you’ll have to prepare at least some kind of a budget if you want to take things to the court room and leave with a won case.

However, not every attorney charges the same price, so you should try and compare the offers of a few different firms or individuals, just to know if someone is trying to charge a lot more or a lot less, which is always a great advantage to take.

Create a list

Now that you know some of the basics, you should start creating a list. This list should contain all of the choices that you think are suitable for your current situation. When you’re done putting all of those people on the list, it’s time to take their contact information and start establishing connections. You don’t have to hire until you’re one-hundred percent sure that you’re making the right choice, so don’t be afraid to ask all sorts of questions about things that interest you.

Source:patenteducationseries.com

Communicate

As we said, the next step is to establish a communication with the candidates from your list. You should contact them in any way that you prefer, but nowadays people either use the telephone or they send an email. Calling them would be much faster though, but if you have to ask the same question, maybe sending emails will save you some time.

The things you’ll have to ask are pretty basic, so start by explaining your problem and asking if they can help. Then talk a bit about the attorney’s previous experience, if they’ve worked on similar cases, and if they are familiar with all the available choices for your case.

Shortlist

Source:firstlightlaw.com

As you keep talking with all the attorneys, you will find that some offer exactly what you need, while others don’t. You’ll like the price that some of them offer, and others will seem a bit overpriced. All of this is normal, and this is why the shortlisting phase is next.

Go through your list and cross out any names that you think are not a good choice. When you’re done with this, you will have a very short list of people that are all qualified for the task, and we hope that there won’t be a lot of names on there, so that you can make a choice much more easily.

The final decision

We hope that by the end of this step you already have a few “potential winners”, and if the answer is yes, it’s time to make that one last phone call to notify an attorney that you’ve chosen them for the case. Remember that you shouldn’t take a lot of time in-between your first call with them and the moment where you end up making the final decision, because someone else can book them in the meanwhile.

Once you’re done picking your attorney, you should start working closely together with them on the case, so start by informing them about every little detail, because that’s what makes the most difference in the court.

Source:greglawlegal.com

Conclusion

Picking the right attorney is a lot more difficult than some people think, and the reason for this is either the huge number of choices in the area, or the complete opposite. Some places have one or two companies only, while busier cities have hundreds of them.

In both scenarios, making the right decision is not really easy, but our list of tips is here to help you out. We hope that you found everything on this list useful, and we wish you a great luck with your upcoming case.

Don’t Want Be Lonely Anymore? Here is What You Can Do

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People are sociable beings, meaning we depend on interacting and communicating with others. And even though communication is easier than ever thanks to the convenience of the internet, individuals can still often feel isolated.

Feeling lonely because one is single is also possible, especially if the person is surrounded by friends who are all couples or has always been in a long-term relationship but has now been single for some time. It is definitely something that can be difficult to deal with but instead of sitting around and feeling sad about one‘s situation, people should take steps to change that.

There are so many ways an individual can beat this horrible feeling and make themselves feel better, so here are some suggestions on what you can do to overcome loneliness once and for all.

Source:theglobeandmail.com

  1. Take the Time to Develop a Positive Mindset

As hard as it is to stop negative feelings, it is not beneficial to mope around and feel sorry for yourself. Instead, try developing a more positive train of thought when it comes to where you are in life.

Try to understand and accept that being in a relationship does not make you valid, more successful, and better in any way. Make a list of all the perks of being single, for example, having more freedom of choices, more time to focus on any personal or professional goals, and much more.

You can also take this time to discover new things about yourself such as who you are and what you are looking for. Accept your flaws or imperfections and even consider changing what you can. Learn to love your own company. Besides, being aware of oneself can also benefit you the next time you enter a relationship.

  1. Build Up Your Social Confidence

Source:greystar.com

Do not be afraid to take healthy social risks and challenge yourself to try new things. Putting yourself out there, meeting new people, and making connections can greatly help you overcome solitude. Engage in unfamiliar situations and do not hesitate to try things out.

If this sounds daunting, take small steps and build your confidence gradually. You can maybe start by saying hello to a neighbor you have never talked to before or asking questions about a person‘s hobby, work, and interests if you have met them for the first time.

Why not join a new social group? Check if there are any book clubs in your area, do some research and see if there are any clubs or organizations you are particularly passionate about. Or how about video chatting? There are a lot of great options out there, such as Chatki, which is an Omegle alternative that can help you meet people online instantly. These are all great ways to meet new people.

  1. Find and Join a Dating App

Source:cellularnews.com

If you are ready to start a new romance but have been unlucky finding a partner in your surroundings, why not give dating apps a try?

They can be a great way of finding someone special and you can do that with a single click of a button. For example, LuckyCrush offers you an opportunity to video chat with random people one on one which is a great way to add a bit more fun to the experience. If you do not vibe with your matched individual, you can simply click ‘next‘ and be connected with someone else.

  1. Start a New Hobby

Besides learning a new skill, investing your time and effort into something new can be an extremely rewarding experience. You can start learning a new hobby on your own or take a course which is another great way to socialize. Find something you always wanted to try but never got around to actually doing it.

  1. Treat Yourself

Source:mattlandsiedelfitness.com

Self-love is always important, so take some time to go out a treat yourself to anything you want. You can go shopping, to your favorite coffee shop, or a nice restaurant. Get a haircut or your nails done, go watch a concert, movie or play. You can do all of these activities by yourself but if it makes you stressed, you can always bring someone along.

  1. Consider Getting a Pet

Walking into an empty house or apartment can certainly make you feel blue but having a furry companion waiting for you might make you feel less alone. Not only that, but animals are beneficial for health since they can reduce stress levels, lower blood pressure, and much more.

You can also take them outside for a walk and even start great conversations about pets. However, getting an animal and taking care of it is a huge responsibility, so do not do this unless you are fully committed.

  1. Go on Dates

This can be a great opportunity to have fun while spending time with someone you are attracted to. You do not have to commit if you are not ready, but you might also meet the right person.

That said, to not set expectations that are too high and never lower your standards just so you will not be alone anymore. Even if you make an instant connection with someone, do not rush into it. Take your time, get to know the person, and then see if they are the right one for you.

  1. Connect with Your Family and Friends

Source:smct.org.au

Nobody knows you better than the people you are closest with. Go to lunch or coffee with a family member, call a friend you have not talked to in a while and catch up, go out on the weekend with your best friends, or even organize a game night for your group.

Your loved ones will attentively listen to everything you have to say and they will be there to hear you out if you ever need to vent your feelings.

Conclusion

Happiness is one of the most important things in life and people should always strive towards it. If you are feeling lonely and are getting tired of the feeling, get up, be proactive, and find ways to be happy and satisfied. Utilize technology and the internet to help you in your journey and who knows, maybe you‘ll end up meeting that special someone along the way. Especially when you least expect it.

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