Work flow
We were settling in nicely a week after moving from our old Mainebiz offices into our new digs at 48 Free St. in Portland. But I was sorely missing the water bubbler we had in our old location. At least four times a day, I would descend the stairs to the office kitchen, fill my mug with steaming hot spring water and return to my desk to tackle the next editing conundrum or deadline refreshed and rehydrated.
So I was very glad to see the delivery man from a Maine-based water company bring a bubbler and many jugs of spring water to our new address. But that week-long absence really underscored how much my beverage consumption habits have changed in 20 years. Where once I happily ordered a diet soft drink with lunch, I now order just water — unless I'm in a particularly festive mood and ask for it with a slice of lemon.
Apparently, I'm not alone. As Senior Writer Lori Valigra's cover story, “Making a splash,” reveals, more and more Americans are switching off soda and switching on to bottled water. That's a trend 18 Maine-based water bottlers are hoping to capitalize on. Several are jockeying for position and targeting marketing strategies to grab a bigger piece of that $11.8 billion pie.
My HR director applauds my commitment to drinking water. It's a healthy choice, and she's all about looking out for employee welfare. So, too, are the authors of two how-to pieces for this issue. Anne-Marie L. Storey, an employment lawyer with Rudman and Winchell, writes about the legal dangers of HR departments going paperless on page 13, and Eric Uhl, an employment lawyer with Fisher & Phillips, writes about the need for a weather/emergency policy so workers know when it's OK to stay home. His piece appears on page 17, part of our focus on human resources and benefits.
Human resources is already a complicated topic, made more so by the Affordable Care Act. Senior Writer Jim McCarthy speaks to some staffing agencies that are grappling with how to monitor variable-hour employees in accordance with ACA mandates. Luckily, there's a one-year grace period, but how they are sussing out who is full time and what it means holds a lesson for any business that relies on seasonal or part-time workers. Jim's story, “By the hour,” starts on the cover.
And finally, we chat with Jim Coen, who provides the momentum behind the newly formed Maine Franchise Owners Association. On page 21, Jim talks about why the time is now for franchise owners to pool their political might and advocate for change in the State House.
Speaking of go-getters, we are accepting nominations for our annual Mainebiz Business Leaders of the Year until Feb. 7. If you know an outstanding senior executive who has led his or her business to a significant milestone in 2013, demonstrates exemplary leadership skills and is an all-around great person, consider submitting a nomination. The categories are divided into large company (50 or more employees), small company and nonprofit sectors. Go to mainebiz.biz/BLOY2014 to submit a nomination, or for more information.
Then reward yourself with a bracing mug of sparkling Maine spring water. Ahhhh.
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