Izquierdo Law Firm October 2019

IzLegal Illustrated 5 MONSTERS DESTROYING YOUR COMPANY CULTURE How to Dodge the Business Boogeymen This Halloween

When Halloween rolls around, it’s easy to become so preoccupied with the monsters stalking the sidewalks and TV screens that you forget about the everyday boogeymen plaguing your office year-round. While the pillagers of workplace culture don’t wear fake fur, excessive makeup, or rubber masks, they can be just as terrifying as their fictional counterparts. Here’s a list of monsters to watch for, just in time for collecting candy.

BOREDOM: THE MUMMY Though it often creeps up quietly, the boredom mummy is perhaps more damaging to workplace culture than any other monster. If excessive routine has made your office yawn-inducing or has mummified your employees at their desks, a crisis is likely nearby. One CNN article postulated that boredom is “the new stress,” and bored employees are more likely to be unhappy and seek new positions even if they’re still effective. To keep boredom levels in check, automate repetitive tasks, offer new challenges, and encourage communication. GOSSIP: THE WEREWOLF Gossip is like a werewolf. It doesn’t show up every day, but, when it does, it wreaks havoc. Rumors quickly destroy morale, erode relationships, and ramp up workplace tension. Worse, they can cause even the most dedicated employees to quit due to what’s often labeled a “toxic” office culture. Inc. magazine claims zero-tolerance policies, regular meetings to air grievances, and one-on-one discussions with loose-lipped personnel are good strategies to keep the werewolf in check. OVERWORK: THE VAMPIRE While some employees can handle packed schedules and extra work, overloading your entire team or office can be as ambition-sucking as the thirstiest vampire. Too

many tasks can disrupt your team’s work-life balance, keeping your employees up all night and inviting angst, sleepiness, and inefficiency. To stake the vampire, encourage your employees to share concerns about their workloads and embrace flextime. Meanwhile, set a good example by keeping reasonable hours yourself. ABSENTEE MANAGEMENT: THE GHOST An absentee manager can terrorize an office just as effectively as an unhappy ghost. If a manager is there one minute and gone the next, their presence will cause stress for employees, who won’t know them or their expectations well. To keep your managers from causing shrieks and scurries every time they pop in on their charges, ensure they maintain good, consistent relationships with staff and spend regular hours in the office. That way, employees will be more likely to run to them rather than from them. Like the scientist Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s tale, it’s all too common for businesses to begin projects with the best of intentions, only to create monsters instead of successes. A project that stems from a good idea but lacks realism or follow-through can turn into a money pit for your company and a time-suck for your employees, rearing its ugly head again and again like Frankenstein’s monster — and perhaps even bringing MISGUIDED INITIATIVES: FRANKENSTEIN’S MONSTER

your company down. Try preventing the monster’s rise by investigating all eventualities and assigning specific roles to team members before you put the final stitch in a new initiative. YOUR BEST DEFENSE Unfortunately, this list is a sad reality we all currently deal with or have dealt with at some point. What is your best defense if you’re spooked by one of these monsters year-round? While you may not be able to change everything you don’t like — even if you would rather not deal with it at all — there’s always something you can do to enact change. As we head into the last quarter of the year, take a moment to think about what feels a little “off” at work or at home. Then, rather than dwell on it, create a plan for improvement. Do you need better communication? Nice gestures toward the monsters so they ultimately shed their disguise? Perhaps a more positive outlook or mindset for you personally? Whatever it is, you can do it!

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SCARY MOVIES For the Whole Family!

NO. 1: ‘SCOOBY-DOO ON ZOMBIE ISLAND’ Yes, a Scooby-Doo movie is at the top of this list — and it deserves to be. As the feature-length debut of Scooby, Shaggy, and the rest of the Mystery Gang, this 1998 film doesn’t pull any punches. While the hand-drawn animation and slapstick high jinks of the original Hanna-Barbera cartoon are all there, make no mistake: There are some creepy moments in this movie. Between scary zombie elements and a spooky Voodoo doll scene, this is the perfect film to get your kids into the Halloween spirit.

With the spookiest day of the year fast approaching, there’s nothing like a scary movie night to get the whole family into the Halloween spirit. The only problem is most frightful films really aren’t for kids, and the ones that are often fall flat. But, if you’re looking for a flick that will have the whole family on the edge of their seats (without traumatizing anyone), consider our top three picks for scary, family-friendly movies.

NO. 2: ‘CORALINE’ Few authors weave creepiness with coming-of-age stories together better than Neil Gaiman, and his 2009 film “Coraline” proves just that. Based on Gaiman’s book of the same name, director Henry Selick uses his signature stop-motion animation style to bring the script to life. While young children may find the doll-like imagery too unsettling, this is a great introductory thriller for preteens.

NO. 3: ‘GHOSTBUSTERS’ “Who you gonna call” to be high on this list? The 1984 spectral classic, “Ghostbusters.”While this may be more of an action-comedy, plenty of scares and creepy imagery still get a jump out of first-time watchers young and old alike. If you’re looking for a lighthearted movie night that still captures a Halloween feel, “Ghostbusters” is a great choice.

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS A CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Despite the common misconception, Dia de los Muertos is not an offshoot of Halloween. While the two holidays often happen simultaneously, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday that originated with the indigenous people of Central America, including the Aztec and Mayan civilizations. Each year, they gathered and gave offerings to their dead. When the Spaniards came to Mexico, they fused the indigenous celebrations with their traditions of All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2). ANCIENT BEGINNINGS Ancient Mesoamerican civilizations viewed death as a beginning rather than an end. This was likely tied to agricultural practices and the seasons, with crops dying in the winter and being reborn in the spring. Dia de los Muertos evolved from those roots and is now observed throughout Mexico and the United States. It’s a time of remembering your loved ones by celebrating their lives.

FULL OF LIFE Though the name might lead you to believe

Muertos, the boundary between the living and the dead is lifted, and for one night only, spirits come back to visit and enjoy what their families have set out for them. Today, the multiday celebration takes place throughout Central and North America. As tiny Batmans and Skywalkers add the final adjustments to their costumes, other families clean their homes and prepare to honor the spirits of their loved ones. And in today’s beautiful blend of cultures, many families celebrate both holidays.

differently, Dia de los Muertos is a joyous time. If you visit Mexico during the holiday, the air is filled with music, and the streets are full of dancing and color. Instead of a sorrowful mourning of the dead, it is a vibrant, joyous celebration of life. Intricate altar displays, called ofrendas, honor the spirits of relatives who’ve passed. Families fill them with photographs and the relatives’ favorite food and drinks. It’s believed that during Dia de los

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IDENTITY THEFT AWARENESS Take Steps to Reduce Your Risks

to commit, or to aid or abet, any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of federal law, or that constitutes a felony under any applicable state or local law.” HOW THEFT TAKES PLACE Many victims of identity theft don’t realize their information has been stolen until after it’s happened. They may start noticing extra charges on their credit card when they receive their statement or when they’re trying to get a loan. Sometimes, a victim’s information can be stolen from their home or from their personal belongings, but it can also be exposed if physical or digital security measures at a company or bank they’re associated with is breached. PROTECTING YOURSELF There are several steps you can take to reduce the risk of having your identity stolen. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) gives suggestions like the following: Set up active duty alerts, place a credit freeze on your

When someone gains access to and uses any of your personal information for financial gain, it is considered identity theft. Having your identity stolen is one of the most terrifying possibilities of today’s modern world, and, over the past several years, it has been on the rise. Thieves can use a number of methods to obtain sensitive information, such as hacking the internet or even digging through someone’s trash. IDENTITY THEFT AS A FEDERAL OFFENSE The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), a sector of the U.S. Department of Justice, states that throughout the 1800s and most of the 1900s, identity theft was charged under “false personation” statutes. However, Congress passed the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act in 1998, which made identity theft a federal crime. This act is defined as when a person “knowingly transfers or uses, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person with the intent

report, safeguard all your personal information, and invest in identity theft protection services. You can also set up a fraud alert, which will make it difficult for identity thieves to open accounts under your name. If you believe you’re a victim of identity theft, you can visit IdentityTheft.gov to report the incident and begin recovery.

Laugh Out Loud

Miso Caramel Apples Ingredients

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2 tbsp light corn syrup

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3 tbsp sesame seeds

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4 Granny Smith apples

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1/4 cup heavy cream

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2 tbsp white miso, divided

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1/2 cup raw pistachios

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1/4 tsp kosher salt

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4 Popsicle sticks

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1 1/2 tsp plus 1 cup sugar

Directions

minutes, swirling infrequently, until caramel is a light amber color. 5. Add cream and salt to caramel, whisking to combine. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and quickly whisk in remaining miso. 6. To assemble, first roll apple in caramel, then in pistachio mixture, before resting on greased baking sheet. 7. Let cool 30 minutes and serve.

1. Heat oven to 275 F. 2. In a food processor, pulse pistachios and 1 1/2 tsp sugar. Add sesame seeds and 1 tbsp miso, pulsing until miso is fully broken up. Spread evenly on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 15–20 minutes and let cool. 3. Meanwhile, insert a Popsicle stick into the center of each apple. 4. In a saucepan, bring corn syrup, 1 cup sugar, and 2 tbsp water to a boil. Boil for 5–7

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INSIDE this issue

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5 Monsters Destroying Your Company Culture

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Frightful Films for Families

The Meaning of Dia de los Muertos

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Be Aware of Identity Theft Miso Caramel Apples

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‘Mr. October’: The Legendary Reggie Jackson

Reggie ‘Mr. October’ Jackson’s Legendary Game HOW’S THAT FOR ODDS?

“I feel that the most important requirement in success is learning to overcome failure. You must learn to tolerate it, but never accept it.” –Reggie Jackson Some people shine brightest in the spotlight. When put to the test, they deliver every time. Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson is one of those people. During the sixth game of the 1977 World Series, Jackson hit three home runs in a row, securing the Yankees’ victory over the Dodgers and winning them their 21st World Series title. The legendary playoff game also earned Jackson the nickname “Mr. October,” which has stuck to this day. Like many stories of greatness, Jackson’s featured a lot of hard work behind the scenes. He dedicated himself to his sport and constantly worked to improve his play. Growing up, Jackson played baseball, basketball, and football and excelled at all three, though football was his strong suit. He was scouted

and given opportunities to go pro straight out of high school, but, on the advice of his father, he went to college on a football scholarship. Thanks to a $5 bet, he tried out for the baseball team at Arizona State University and made it. Jackson was the first black person on the team, and, even though he experienced discrimination, he never let it stop him. From the minor leagues into the majors, Jackson’s ambition got him through many tough times, as did the constant support of his father and of Oakland A’s manager John McNamara. Jackson always dreamed of playing for New York, and, eventually, his dream came true when he signed with the New York Yankees in 1976. To this day, Jackson holds many prominent records, including being the first player to earn more than 100 home runs for three different teams (the A’s, Yankees, and Angels). He even has his own candy bar, the “Reggie! Bar,” which debuted during a

Yankees game in 1978. Let’s see if any of this year’s playoff games stir up as much excitement as Reggie Jackson’s did in his heyday.

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