Pivot! Pivot! Pivot! Adjusting to the New Workplace Normal
by Iris Alexander
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You would think that after over a year of pivoting that we could finally put the sofa down. But just as Chandler, Racheal, and Ross in friends figured out, sometimes, you can pivot a couch as much as you want, but it still won't go up the stairs. The work world parallels the sofa situation. We have spent the past year and a half pivoting our way around the problem that it's high time we go in through a window.
Flexible work is that window. Flexible or remote work is when a business goes away from the 40 hours in a physical office. Instead, it offers employees the ability to work from home all the time, work from home on specific days, or general flexibility on hours worked for salaried employees if their work is done to the agreed-upon set standard. Flexible working or Hybrid workplace models allow employees to commit to their whole selves.
Society has created an environment where employees pick between their personal and professional needs rather than finding cohesion between both.
Businesses can lead that change.
Now I do not suggest that you send all your cooks home to be at-home chefs as restaurant owners. Service-based careers rely on the physical presence a person brings to the workplace. The guys at G. E. Roofing need to be physically present to do their job. But your I.T. Analyst probably doesn't need to be sitting in an office building five days a week. So maybe in your company plan, you apply a hybrid policy that would allow that employee to work from home on set days of the week. Or if they are salary, you are flexible on the actual hours they spend in the office as long as the work gets done.
I know it's a significant change, and not all offices are set up for flexible/hybrid/remote work, but the numbers don't lie. A Citrix study found that 70% of respondents believe flexible working would make a job more attractive. Even more remarkable was the 92% of respondents identify flexibility as the top priority when job hunting or staying in a position (Burnford 2019).
Knowing that one-size-fits-all tends to only work for stretchy pants, it is safe to say that business and thus the workplace needs to adapt for all people who work within it. Bring inclusive workplace policy around flexible work is what companies should implement to maintain their competitive standing in the job market. For example, Maine is now facing a demographic shift. The Median age in Maine is 45.1 years old (Statista Research 2019). Meaning your workforce is compiled of Baby Boomers at the end of their careers. Generation X with children, Millenniums are starting to settle down and hungry for change, and finally, Generation Z, your youngest employees born with technology seamlessly integrated into their lives.
Building a workplace that integrates themes for all active generations is a donating task. But it is achievable if you're willing to go through a window and not the same old stairs. Some Maine companies have already started going to that window to flexible work; L.L. Bean, Visit Portland, Wex, MEMIC, and Camden Nation Bank, have adopted a hybrid/in-person work situation. They are proving that business of all kinds can pivot their workplace situation in a new direction.
To See the Couch pivot situation referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n67RYI_0sc0
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October 13th, 12:00-1:00pm via Zoom-
Donna will discuss the latest breast cancer preventative strategies, including but not limited to lifestyle, mammogram screenings, and risk factors. We encourage all members to learn more about breast health and what they can do to stay informed in their health practices. Additionally, we hope that all attendees support Breast Cancer Awareness Month by wearing pink in support.
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Thank you to our Women's Network Sponsor! |
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So, you've experienced the Grammys and the Emmys, but are you ready for the Kenney's?
The Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce is proud to present The Kenney Awards! The Kenney, named for the region we hail from, will be awarded annually to area businesses and professionals deserving of our attention and recognition.
The Kenney's will recognize six awardees: Peter G. Thompson Lifetime Achievement, Large Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, President's Circle Award, Community Service, and the Cynergy Young Professional.
So, we ask that you take a moment to nominate who you think was that light.
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October 20th, 10:00-11:00 via Zoom-
Join the Chamber and Dr. Diaz Chief Medical Officer for MaineGeneral to hear the latest updates on COVID and what you need to know when it comes to your business.
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Thank you to our Chamber Connection Sponsors! |
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Thank you for making our Golf Tournament Successful!
The 26th Annual KV Chamber Golf Tournament is in the books, and what a great day it was! We could not have asked for more perfect weather, and warm temperatures. As always, we had the best group of participants, sponsors, volunteers, and staff, and on behalf of the KV Chamber, we would like to thank all of you for your support in making this years’ KV Chamber Golf Tournament a success. There were so many fun times shared, connections formed, and lost balls found. Thank you again for your participation, and we already can’t wait until next year. We hope to see you there!
The class of 2021 would not have had the fantastic opportunity to cultivate leadership skills without your support.
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Augusta Natural Gas | Blane Casey Building Contractor, Inc. | Brookewood Realty
Cross Insurance | Days Jewelers | Free ME from Lung Cancer | Ganneston Construction | G&E Roofing
Kents Hill School | KV Federal Credit Union | Performance Food Service - NorthCenter | Smart Eye Care Sprague & Curtis Real Estate | Uncle Henry's | Vickerson Appraisal | Walton External Affairs
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Snack Sponsor
Performance Food Service - NorthCenter
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American Awards, Ink
Justin Wing, (207) 622-5067
info@americanawardsinc.com
Everything KIDS
Sandra Rubchinuk, (207) 395-8086
Gold Star Mortgage Financial Group
Elizabeth Jean, (207) 222-3110
ejean@goldstarfinancial.com
Lakepoint Real Estate
(207) 495-3700
info@belgradelakepoint.com
The Shop CrossFit
Beth and Shawn Cyr, (207) 669-2583
theshopathletics@gmail.com
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40+ Years
Townsquare Media
30+ Years
Century 21 Venture Ltd., Cribstone Capital Management, Eaton Peabody Consulting Group, Everett J. Prescott, Inc., Lajoie Brothers, Inc., Longfellow's Greenhouses, PERFORMANCE Foodservice – NorthCenter, Greater Augusta Utilities District, Northeast Bank, FSB
20+ Years
City of Gardiner, Gagnon Home Improvements, Housing Initiatives of New England, Lamey Wellehan, Sparetime Recreation, Tri-State Staffing, Inc., Vickerson Appraisal Services
10+ Years
Black Diamond Consultants, Inc., BNI - Kennebec Networkers, Brookewood Realty
C. Caprara Food Service Equipment, Dance Unlimited, LLC, Kennebec Valley Community College,
Rotary Club of Augusta, Sam's Italian Foods, Aveda Institute Maine, GHM Insurance Agency
5+ Years
Augusta Food Bank, Albison's Printing, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, Belgrade Lakes Marine & Storage, Choice Wealth Advisors, Knowles Lumber Co., Mitchell Tardy Government Affairs, Redzone Wireless LLC, V1 Media, and Consulting, John Sullivan's Pub
Renewing
City of Hallowell, Earthly Delights, Hallowell Area Board of Trade
J.M. Arbour Wealth Management, Vision Hallowell
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The United Way of Kennebec Valley Kennebec County’s two United Way organizations announced that United Way of Mid-Maine (UWMM) of Waterville has transitioned leadership of its Northern Kennebec region to United Way of Kennebec Valley (UWKV), headquartered in Augusta. This resolution was driven by the organizations’ joint belief that a unified effort throughout Kennebec County will strengthen collective impact in local communities.
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New Dimensions Federal Credit Union (NDFCU) will join over 56,000 credit unions around the world to celebrate International Credit Union (ICU) Day on October 21, 2021.
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Augusta Elks Lodge #964 is excited to announce our upcoming community event, the 1st Annual Augusta Elks Festival of Trees, to be held from December 6th to the 11th, 2021. The Lodge is looking for tree donations to make a fantastic holiday spectacle. If your business is interested in sponsoring a tree (provide artificial tree, decorations, and gifts) or provide an item or gift card to assist in decorating the community tree, please contact.
Tim and Vicki Rodrigue email: trodrigue@texttechindustries.com or rodriguevivki8@gmail.com
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MaineGeneral's Day of Hope is going virtual this year, but we are visiting these great sponsor businesses along the way. See us, and learn more about the Day of Hope, which supports local cancer care and our cancer patients, at give.mainegeneral.org/hope. |
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The Art Walk Shop & Studio raised $4,000.20 for Make A Wish Maine!! They are looking forward to an even bigger 2022 event.
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Kennebec Savings Bank VP Amos Byron announced that Thomas Trafton and Olivia Varney were awarded scholarships from The Benjamin Apthorp Gould Fuller and Harriet S. Williams Fuller Fund and The Horace Williams Memorial Fund. Kennebec Savings Bank’s Trust and Investment Management Department administers the funds.
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Earl Kingsbury, Chair*
Augusta Civic Center
Tim Walton, Chair-Elect*
Walton External Affairs
Michele Pelletier, Vice Chair*
PERFORMANCE Foodservice - NorthCenter
Matthew Tardiff, Treasurer*
J.S. McCarthy Printers
Alec Rogers, Past Chair*
Quality Inn & Suites Maine Evergreen Hotel
Chuck Hays, Past Treasurer*
MaineGeneral Health
Cathy DeMerchant, Human Resources*
Capital Area Staffing Solutions, Inc.
Katie Doherty, President & CEO*^
Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce
* Executive Committee ^ Full-Time Executive

Karen Boston
Lipman Katz & Boston, P.A
Nathan Cotnoir
Camden National Bank
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Lori Dube
Sprague & Curtis Real Estate
Sue Grenier
G&E Roofing Co., Inc.
Eric Jermyn
Cross Insurance Agency
Steven Marson
Central Maine Pyrotechnics
Stacey Morrison
Ganneston Construction Corp.
Richard Parkhurst
Stained Glass Express
Lynn Quirion
Macomber, Farr & Whitten
Andrew Silsby
Kennebec Savings Bank
Eric Stinneford
Central Maine Power Company
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KVCC Staff

Katie L. Doherty, President & CEO
Lindsay L. Corbett, Chief Operating Officer
Melissa L. Walden Membership & Development Manager
Iris R. Alexander, Marketing & Events Manager
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