Stephanie Manning’s Post

Over my 26-year corporate career, I have taken leave three times: for the birth of my daughter, Madeline, 18 years ago; to care for my husband, Chuck, following his craniotomy in 2022; and now as he faces the advancement of his brain cancer with all conventional treatment options exhausted. Taking a pause from the professional side of life to prioritize caregiving and personal well-being during these defining moments has highlighted an essential truth: the decisions we make, or don’t make, today can carry significant future costs. This journey has reinforced the criticality of fostering an environment where people feel supported in managing life's critical moments without fear of future regret. My employer’s support has been a cornerstone through these challenging times, which has strengthened my dedication to our company’s mission, and deepened my gratitude for their commitment to employee well-being. The business connection is clear: to enhance workplace morale and productivity, encourage a culture of trust and mutual respect by demonstrating the importance of balancing professional objectives with personal well-being.

When I decided to quit job and take a career break, I no longer expected anything until Christmas. At that time, I accepted my feeling and decision as a new approach to listen to myself and relax for once. I have to admit, I had doubts and ups and downs. To take real action to quit takes some courage. However, once Vilma Jurgaityte-Jurciene contacted me, I felt the urge to meet and have a conversation. After the first meeting I already felt confident and had a good feeling. In the meantime, I took initiative and started participating in the life of my son's kindergarten. I was responsible for making the Christmas party and presents to happen. Today, I want to share my happiness with you all. 🌟 I am thrilled to be part of GARANT GROUP and be able to celebrate Christmas and company's 33th birthday. 🌟 I am beyond excited to be part of amazing HR people who make work environment great. 🌟 Also, my first month at Garant has passed and I didn't catch it until today (meaning it's a good sign). Once you love your work, you don't count hours and minutes, right ? 🌟 Finally, I am excited that every thought and minute put into children's Christmas presents and party was a huge success in the eyes of children. I realized how much I love planning and creating miracles. . December has never been so busy but it's rewarding once you put your soul and heart into make things happen. . Be always open for opportunities even if it seems there's none. . #hr #worklifebalance

When I returned to work post-maternity leave. I felt like a newbie. → The team had adapted during my absence. → New processes were in place. → The dynamics were different. Getting back into the swing of things was tough. So, I set some boundaries to make it easier for myself. ↳ Communicated my schedule and availability. ↳ Shared my new priorities and responsibilities. ↳ Set modes of communication and response times. Remember, your team is your support system. Returning to work post-maternity isn't about picking up where you left off. → It's about starting a new chapter, New boundaries. New rules. New you. Embrace the change. ----------------------------------------------- P.S. I’m helping women accelerate their careers alongside motherhood through my Career Accelerator Programme. Book a call with me to find out more: https://lnkd.in/eJGGNJpy

Trust the process. If you're looking -- or if you haven't invested in yourself and your path deeply in the last few years-- please check out #neversearchalone You will learn enough about yourself to get to where you want to go. #uxyourself #jobsearch #career

What a fantastic way to transition back to work. Imagine how many organisations could benefit from this type of behaviour. Imagine how many more employees could be retained and how much time and money saved with higher retention and lower turnover. Imagine committed, hard working, appreciative employees - because they were given the opportunity to juggle both and they work hard to keep it. Thanks for sharing Nicole Klasen

Stacia Gerdts recently celebrated her 10-year anniversary working at Morningside. Congratulations, Stacia! We asked Stacia a series of questions about her time at Morningside over the years. Here's what she said: Q: What’s something you’ve done at Morningside that you’re proud of? A: Became a Program Manager Q: Do you have any advice for someone new to this field? A: Take it one day at a time, continue to be open to learning and growing, be patient with yourself, the people served and stakeholders and be present. You will be greatly rewarded by the relationships you build. Q: What originally brought you into this field and fueled your passion? A: I realized the industry I’d been in for 20+ years was drastically changing, and my current employer [at the time] was not. I felt I had two options; change employers to continue my career in that field or I could look for a whole new career, as I still had many, many, years to work. I had developed a strong relationship with Morningside for at least 10 years through my (previous) employer, and on a more personal level, I've had a desire to work with folks experiencing life differently since high school, and felt this was a good opportunity to take a risk. Q: What have you learned from your 10 years with Morningside? A: I couldn’t have imagined the personal growth I've made and the wonderful people I have had the pleasure of working with and getting to know. I am truly grateful to Morningside for believing in me and supporting my growth. I have learned everything! 😊 I had 0 experience before I came to Morningside and have learned so many things, I couldn't even begin to list them. Q: What has been your most impactful memory at Morningside? A: My most impactful memories are of the clients we serve, how it feels, and what a privilege it is for me to be a part of their successes and challenges, as well as see the pride they carry for [their] accomplishments. We get to see some amazing people do amazing things. Nothing can compare to that! #Morningside #supportiveemployment #ProgramManager #individualemployment #workanniversary #Congratulations #successfulmilestones #disabilityadvocacy

Tyreek Fogle recently celebrated his 5-year anniversary working at Morningside. We asked him a series of questions about his time at Morningside over the years. Here's what he said: Tyreek: Q: What’s something you’ve done at Morningside that you’re proud of? A: When I first started at Morningside, there was a client I was assigned that just wasn’t a good fit. Instead of giving up, I advocated to continue working with the client and eventually ended up having a positive impact on the client. Do you have any advice for someone new to this field? Learn to wear many hats and learn if you have a passion for the work. You’re not in this field for the money, but for fulfillment. Keep an open mind and remember that the clients we serve are people. Q: What originally brought you into this field and fueled your passion? A: I was originally in school to be a welder and previously worked for a caretaking agency before getting into the supported employment field. My uncle told me about supported living and about what role Morningside played. He told me about the ability to help clients on the job and progress in life. I ended up getting into the supported employment field because of the prospect of learning and progressing in life by supporting someone else’s progression. Q: What have you learned from your 5 years with Morningside? A: Compassion, understanding, and social progression. In this field, you are constantly interacting with a lot of different people in a variety of environments. Q: What has been your most impactful memory at Morningside? A: After originally not getting promoted to Program Supervisor from a Career Consultant, I was disappointed. I came back to work the following week and talked with one of my mentors at the time, Stacia Gerdts, who adamantly advocated for my upward promotion behind the scenes. When I was finally offered a Supervisor Position, I realized my work could still make an impact and that there was value in it. The people around me recognized my work and advocated for me without having to ask. #Morningside #supportiveemployment #ProgramSupervisor #individualemployment #disabilityadvocacy #workanniversary #Interview

We often say that, "it's the little things that make the biggest difference". Some of those little differences are: 1) truly valuing your organizational talent by supporting their need for a recharge. 2) providing a true "out-of-office" experience by redistributing work (e.g., email messages) while away 3) recognizing that the wellbeing of our talent/teams IS what drives performance for each individual AND our customers/clients. Great role-modeling Stoltz Marketing Group! 👏

Learn more about our President and CEO Connie Benton Wolfe!

Annika Veis recently celebrated her 5-year anniversary working at Morningside. We asked her a series of questions about her time at Morningside over the years. Here's what she said: Annika: Q: What’s something you’ve done at Morningside that you’re proud of? A: Being able to work with new staff and help them find their passion for the field and support their growth and progression. Q: Do you have any advice for someone new to this field? A: Have grace with yourself and others. You have to be patient with the learning curve that comes with this field and remember that you’re still doing important work even when you have doubts. Q: What originally brought you into this field and fueled your passion? A: I used to work at a summer theater program where I knew some people who eventually went on to be Morningside clients. Working with these individuals in that program was impactful and eventually led me to the field and to work at Morningside. Q: What have you learned from your 5 years with Morningside? A: We are stronger as a team and can have a meaningful positive impact working together! Q: What has been your most impactful memory at Morningside? A: My first month at Morningside, we had the client holiday party. Another Career Consultant (CC) was supporting a client I hadn’t yet met, and asked if I could assist for a few minutes while she stepped away. She let me know that the best way to support this client was to walk around with them – I ended up walking back and forth with that client for the rest of the party. I felt like I had no clue what I was doing, but at the staff party the next week, our CEO Jonathan Pleger sat next to me and told me he was impressed by the way I supported that client and took the time to get to know her. That was the moment when I finally became confident that I could succeed in this job and have a positive impact. #Morningside #supportiveemployment #ProgramSupervisor #individualemployment #disabilityadvocacy #workanniversary #Interview