November 28, 2022 Hey, ref – blow the whistle already! Back in June of 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor filed suit against a New York health center due to an alleged violation of the OSH Act. It was reported that the NY health center suspended and later terminated an employee who had reported personal concerns about exposure to COVID-19. The employee, also known as the whistleblower did so under the OSH Act, which protects workers from retaliation when reporting a hazardous work condition. The health center proceeded to file a motion in October of 2021, preventing the department from seeking damages for the whistleblower. Fast forward to September of this year, a federal court has rejected the health center’s case under the protection of the OSH Act. Regional Solicitor of Labor, Jeffrey Rogoff adds, “This is a significant decision reaffirming the U.S. Department of Labor’s independent authority to pursue legal actions and relief for employees in the name of the public interest. The Office of the Solicitor of Labor will continue to aggressively bring cases seeking to vindicate the rights of whistleblowers, who are essential to the proper functioning of laws protecting the health and safety, wages, and wellbeing of the American workforce.” More investigations from the OSHA’s Division of Whistleblower Protection Programs are underway in New York. So what can we take away from this? As a reminder, the Whistleblower Protection Program enforces the provisions of more than 20 federal laws. These protect your employees from retaliation from raising or reporting their concerns about hazards of violations of various workplace safety and health. Make sure your office is a safe place where employees can voice their concerns, but more importantly you are taking the proper steps upfront to ensure your practice meets the necessary safety and health standards.
Abyde Honored in 2023 Seminole 100
November 22, 2022 Abyde has been named one of the fastest-growing companies owned or led by Florida State University alumni. They will be honored during the 6th annual Seminole 100 Celebration on Saturday, February 25, at the university’s Student Union ballrooms. Florida State University’s Seminole 100 is powered by the Jim Moran Institute of Entrepreneurship in partnership with the FSU Alumni Association. The top 100 fastest-growing FSU alumni-owned or alumni-led businesses are recognized at a celebration each year on FSU’s campus, during which each company learns its numerical ranking and received its award. This event recognizes and honors FSU’s entrepreneurs and allows them to share valuable business insights. This marks the second award for Abyde in 2022 as one of the fastest-growing companies. Abyde’s revolutionary solution is used by thousands of practices across the country, guiding them through mandatory compliance requirements such as risk management programs, training for doctors and staff, customized policy documentation, and more. As industry leaders, the software provides practices with the tools and assistance they need to achieve stress-free HIPAA and OSHA compliance. “We’ve been honored over the years with different awards, but as a proud FSU Alumni, being named to the Seminole 100 is extra special,” said Matt DiBlasi, Abyde President and Co-founder. “I learned so many business and life lessons while going to school at FSU that have carried into what we do every day and who we are at Abyde. I’m humbled to be honored with so many other great companies and leaders who embody the Unconquered spirit.” “The alumni on the Seminole 100 list represent 12 schools and colleges across Florida State University and show the immense value of a degree from FSU,” said Julie Decker, president and CEO of the FSU Alumni Association. “The accomplishments of these alumni exemplify what is possible with tenacity and innovation. We are proud to recognize them for all they have achieved as leaders and entrepreneurs.” The 2023 Seminole 100 includes companies from several industries such as construction, finance, legal, marketing, and realty. Of this year’s 100 companies, 80 are based within the state of Florida and a total of 12 U.S. states are represented as part of the 2023 Seminole 100. To qualify for the Seminole 100, a company must have operated for at least three years and generated revenue by Jan. 1, 2019. In addition, the business must have been owned or led by an FSU alumnus for three consecutive years before applying. Nominations for the 2024 Seminole 100 are currently open on seminole100.fsu.edu. Applications will open on May 1 and be accepted through July 23, 2023. View the full press release here.
Servant Leadership, the Abyde Way
November 14, 2022 Let’s set the stage for you. On the second Wednesday of every month, Abydian employees gather in our Tank with breakfast (usually catered Chick-fil-a – because that’s our favorite) at 7:45 am to participate in our Leadership Council. One of the biggest takeaways to date is the concept of servant leadership. Before we go in-depth about what that means to us, think about what leadership as a whole means to you! Servant leadership by definition can vary from one organization to the next and even person to person. At Abyde, everyone has the opportunity to lead in some capacity whether they are managing people and projects or not. We encourage the mentality of leading up rather than a top-down approach. So how can you recognize servant leadership? When the everyday, routine things bring you and those around you success and joy, you are on the right track. It’s about the ability to recognize your actions’ power and impact on the rest of your organization. “We are a team and if someone needs help, I’m always willing to be a helpful hand. This might mean learning something new and growing not only professionally and personally,” said Customer Success Specialist, Sean Harris. Alright stop, collaborate and listen – while Vanilla Ice may be more of a 90s wonder, his words couldn’t sing more true for modern-day servant leaders. If you want to start implementing this in your practice, here are a few things to consider: As cliche as it may be, there is no ‘i’ in team. We believe that we are better together – our ideas, culture, and achievements are best shared as one cohesive unit. One of our teammates, Matt Leatherman said it best, “thinking of others in a team atmosphere is huge. Even if I have hit quota, I like to pass my stronger leads to others to help propel them forward. Understanding we succeed as a team, not individuals, is so important.” The power of one’s success is significant, but the achievements of a team far surpass the benefits of a solo contributor. Servant leadership can be exercised throughout your entire day, not just in your professional life. Be the person you would look up to. Show others empathy, celebrate the small wins, and be your team’s biggest advocate. “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill
Abyde Values: Community Involvement
November 3, 2022 At Abyde, we pride ourselves on our exceptional customer experience, revolutionary software, and thought-leading education. But at the end of the day, we are more than that. Abyde upholds a set of values that guide our employees and company. Community Involvement is one of our values, led by our AbydeCARES team. It was created around the premise that even though we excel in serving our customers, we also are committed to serving our community and our people. That’s why CARES stands for Creating Community and Cultural Awareness Requires Everyone to Serve. And while that’s more of a mouthful than a sandwich from Katz’ Deli, this best represents our mindset that if we’re not giving back to our community and our people, then there’s no reason to be in business. Through AbydeCARES, we have volunteered just over 600 hours and donated more than $30,000. Shout out to some of our incredible CARES partners this year: How we support them: One of our most cherished partners, we contribute to all of their annual efforts from collecting shoes for their Kick One Back event to attending their birthday bash. How we support them: During one of their Clear the Shelter weekends, we got down and dirty with their resident dogs and cats helping to get 113 animals adopted. How we support them: Early this year we bagged hundreds of grocery hauls to later be distributed to our friends in the Tampa Bay area. How we support them: We teamed up to head out on our routes delivering hot and cold meals directly to doorsteps, easing the burden for those in need. How we support them: Our team has put in blood, sweat, and tears (ok, maybe not the last one) building homes. We look forward to adding another partner to the list when we support Keep Pinellas Beautiful by participating in a beach clean-up later this month. Fostering a sense of community and selflessness promotes a positive culture and opens the door to team building across your organization in a way that far exceeds the day-to-day grind. Our team makes it possible to set the standard for how culture should inspire innovation, growth, and success. “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” –Winston Churchill We encourage you to go out there and make a life. Create purpose outside your company’s four walls – we know from experience the impact it will have on your heart.