u/magdalenrichard

I run a small business with 25 employees. We started more like a scrappy startup, so for a long time, the “culture” part was mostly just everyone doing what needed to be done. With a bigger team, I’m thinking more about employee recognition and culture, but I don’t want to spend money on things people don’t value. For small business owners, what actually works best?

Birthday bonuses, extra days off, or company swag, public recognition, something else?

I’m not looking for the perfect HR answer. I’m more curious what people actually appreciate when the company is still small, and the owner is already wearing 10 hats.

When I was buying stuff for my baby I honestly thought a baby shopping cart cover would be one of those things we’d use once and forget about.

Turns out we use it constantly. Grocery carts, Costco, restaurant high chairs, basically anywhere with those hard plastic seats. My son is still a little too small for most of them, so without it he just slides sideways the whole time.

Also some restaurant high chairs are so gross and half of them don’t even have working straps anymore

Funny how the random “extra” purchase became one of our most used baby items.

What’s one baby product you randomly bought and now recommend to every parent?

Every time we go out to eat and they bring over a high chair I swear I spend the first 5 minutes cleaning it. The straps are always sticky and there’s usually old food stuck somewhere on it. My baby chews on the tray the entire time too so it grosses me out even more.

I keep wipes in the diaper bag but honestly it’s getting annoying. A friend told me to get one of those shopping cart and high chair cover things but I can’t tell if it’s actually useful or just another thing moms buy and never use lol.

What do you guys do?

Hi everyone! I'm flying to Spain next month to visit my sister and meet my niece Polina for the very first time and I am SO excited.

We haven't seen each other in a long time and this trip means everything to me!!! I really want to bring something special for the baby but I have absolutely no idea where to start. Polina is 6+ months old

Also fair warning my sister is the most practical person alive so if I show up with something cute but useless she will never let me live it down lol. Any gift ideas would be amazing, doesn't have to be anything big, just something thoughtful and actually useful.

Grateful for any tips, thank you!