Kris Ann Valdez

2 weeks ago | businessinsider.com | Rosemary Donahue |Kris Ann Valdez |Henry Blodget

I thought I'd return to work after the birth of my first son, but once he was born, the thought of leaving him felt like a sucker punch to the gut. When I announced I would stay home, my friend gave me a "Congratulations on Your Retirement" card. I was 24 at the time — hardly ready to retire. It was a tough decision to makeFor me, like many other new parents, the decision to leave the workforce was multifaceted.

3 weeks ago | success.com | Kris Ann Valdez

In 2021, Better.com stirred controversy when it laid off 900 employees via a Zoom webinar. In 2023, when Google cut its workforce by 12,000, some employees say they learned of their termination by email or abrupt loss of system access. This detached style of layoffs demonstrates a chilling lack of personal connection, reflected in the often-heard phrase, “It’s just business.” But “you don’t have a business without the people,” points out Sacha Thompson, CEO of The Equity Equation.

3 weeks ago | success.com | Kris Ann Valdez

Humans are hard-wired for connection—we want to belong to something greater than ourselves. And for many people, that “greater something” is the workplace, says Beth Kaplan, author of Braving the Workplace: Belonging at the Breaking Point. With new work structures established in the 20th century, including the 40-hour work week, minimum wage requirements, and the rise of labor unions, people began to view the workplace as a “stable source of community,” Kaplan says.

1 month ago | citylifestyle.com | Kris Ann Valdez

The delicate balance between career and family is more precarious than ever, thanks to the constant accessibility of our digital lives. For Juan Roque and Joshua Wagner of Viking Law Group, a locally-based firm specializing in personal injury, prioritizing fatherhood despite their demanding careers is something they take very seriously. In a profession known for long hours and high stakes, Roque and Wagner prove that being present for their families is possible.

1 month ago | parents.com | Kris Ann Valdez |Sarah Scott

Photo: Parents/GettyImages/PeopleImagesIn a new study from the University of Surrey, researchers looked at genetic information of more than 70,000 infants. They found genetics accounted for nearly 25% of the variation in the walking milestone. This information may help health care providers assess and evaluate reasons for a child’s delay in walking. A baby’s first wobbly steps are a source of pride for many parents. A child’s environment has long been associated with when they will walk.