As we head into the first long weekend of the summer, I'm thinking about the disconnect between our collective anticipation of a vacation day and the reason we have that day off.  Memorial Day - a day to plant the tomatoes, go to cookouts, spend a leisurely day with family and friends, shop the retail sales.  The weather here in the Northeast is forecast to be cold and rainy, but we'll soldier through.

Memorial Day - a day to remember those soldiers who've served and those who currently serve our country in the armed forces.  Memorial Day - a day to remember those who've made the ultimate sacrifice serving our country.  My grandfathers, all my uncles, my father and brother all served in the military.  One of my clearest memories of my paternal grandfather was finding him weeping as he read a history of Gallipoli, overwhelmed as  those memories flooded back of an experience he doubted he'd survive. He was a highly decorated combat veteran in WWI, wounded at Gallipoli and the Sommes.  He returned from the war and found work on the Boston Fish Pier, eventually launching his own company.  He was proud of his military service, but prouder still that he was able to return from combat and get on with his life.

On this Memorial Day weekend, by all means thank your family members, friends and neighbors who've served.  Take a moment to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy, that few of us have truly had to fight for.  And if you're in a position to do so, help today's veterans return to work and get on with their lives.  Unemployment among veterans who've served since 9/11 was reported at 9.9% for 2012 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics vs. 8.1% for the overall population. The US Department of Labor Veterans' Employment and Training Service site has job search resources veterans and  for employers who'd like to hire them.

What's your organization doing to support veterans?

What we're reading this week:

How to Get Better at Spotting Opportunities:  http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2013/05/how_to_get_better_at_spotting.html

Every Application Under the Sun Now Ripe for Cloud, Survey Shows: http://www.forbes.com/sites/joemckendrick/2013/05/22/every-application-under-the-sun-now-ripe-for-cloud-survey-shows/

The Obamacare Myth About Small Business: http://money.cnn.com/2013/05/21/smallbusiness/obamacare/

Made in the USA Back in Style for Some Small Businesses as Reshoring Brings Manufacturing Home: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/made-in-the-usa-back-in-style-for-some-small-businesses-as-reshoring-brings-manufacturing-home/2013/05/22/a680b224-c314-11e2-9642-a56177f1cdf7_story.html

Experience Trumps Device: Adaptive Engagement in an Omnichannel World: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/200573/experience-trumps-device-adaptive-engagement-in-a.html#axzz2U3RE9Fgj

Omnichannel Marketing–So Much More Than Just Mobile: http://www.retail-digital.com/retail_technology/omnichannel-marketing-so-much-more-than-just-mobile

How Employers Can Get a Grip on Sickness Absence: http://www.wsandb.co.uk/wsb/feature/2268387/how-employers-can-get-a-grip-on-sickness-absence

Half of Companies Report Higher Turnover: http://www.tlnt.com/2013/05/23/survey-half-of-companies-report-higher-turnover-than-last-year/

Employee Engagement: Every Leader's Imperative http://ow.ly/lczzW via @Forbes @MeghanMBiro

Telework Supernova http://ow.ly/lcASx via @HuffingtonPost

Larry King - HR Director http://ow.ly/lf0Ek via @FistfulOfTalent @SteveBoese

How To Make Company Employees Think Like Their CEO http://ow.ly/lhvYw via @Forbes

#HREOnline: Wellness in the Land of Confusion http://ow.ly/lhARY via @HRExecMag

Kronites are talking about:

New Time Well Spent #Cartoon: http://ow.ly/lcvBP

Understaffing: “to tell or not to tell” - The Patient! http://ow.ly/lcHYt via @sreeseRNMBA

No Klingons on Kronos! http://ow.ly/lf00Q via @SmarterCafe

There's “Moore” to this disaster than I realized… http://ow.ly/lhyAF via @sreeseRNMBA #Oklahoma

RT @SmarterCafe: Need #Kronos training? Check out KnowledgePass! http://ow.ly/lhAKK #kronoslive2013

The CEO's Balancing Act http://ow.ly/ljUyl via @GreggLean

The Future of Workforce Management & 10 Deadly Sins of Software Development http://ow.ly/ljUEa via @simonmacpherson @KronosUK

RT @SmarterCafe: Help #Kronos give back to the community by helping kids in Lowell, MA. http://ow.ly/lknSJ #Liveunited

Kronos Recognized as a Best Place to Work by @BostonBizNews: http://ow.ly/lcyCE

Inaccurate employee data is costing your org money. Watch short video: http://ow.ly/lcAa0

Live Demo:See the time and attendance capabilities within Workforce Ready. Tuesdays, 1 - 2pm ET http://ow.ly/lcBrz #SMB

Vision from the Top 2013 http://ow.ly/ldDBz via @SIIAContent

Single. Simple. Smart! Video shows how one #HR & #payroll solution delivers it all. http://ow.ly/lhtrV

6/5 Webinar: #BigData research reveals big surprises. Reserve your spot. http://ow.ly/ljUeR via @IndustryWeek #manufacturing

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