Business: Human Resources

Changes in COBRA PART1 - Eligibility & How it Works (for Employers AND Employees) Posted: 01 Apr 2009 02:48 PM PDT Our government's $787 billion stimulus package mandates employer action on COBRA assistance subsidies effective March 1, 2009. If you're not sure what this means for your company specifically, read on!

Searching For Talent During the Hiring Process Posted: 01 Apr 2009 01:40 PM PDT In his book, Talent Is Overrated, Geoff Colvin hypothesizes that too much emphasis is placed on innate talent when it comes to assessing "great" performers. Providing in depth analysis of world-class talents such as Mozart and Tiger Woods, Colvin theorizes that despite their seeming ease with life's most challenging tasks, great performers are still subject to the grueling hours of study and practice it takes to accomplish anything worth accomplishing; they just realize a lot sooner than most of us that to be great takes years of disciplined loyalty to a chosen craft. Malcolm Gladwell, author of Outliers, makes a similar observation and notes that it takes at least 10,000 hours of dedicated, diligent practice in order to become an expert at anything - clearly ability and talent are not things we are born with.

The Benefits of Implementing Onboarding Software Posted: 01 Apr 2009 11:22 AM PDT Often times, organizations can realize a return on automating their onboarding process within 3 - 4 months, just from going paperless, saving time, and facilitating a happier workplace. Implementing onboarding software to help build an effective process turns promising candidates into productive employees in record time.

Paperless Employee Onboarding With Electronic Forms Posted: 01 Apr 2009 11:19 AM PDT The trend to go paperless and automate onboarding processes, making these new hire forms electronic, is catching on. The cost of continuing to maintain an onboarding process via paper is simply too high to not automate.

New Employee Onboarding in a Tough Economy Posted: 01 Apr 2009 11:05 AM PDT What happens when a company acquires or merges with another and Human Resources is faced with the daunting task of onboarding hundreds, or even thousands of employees in a single day? Employee onboarding is very much a focus of human resources departments, even during tough economic times.

Pre-Employment Screening - Why Criminal Checks Are So Important Posted: 01 Apr 2009 08:36 AM PDT Pre Employment Screening is becoming a necessary part of the application process when deciding to hire new employees. It is also your due diligence as an employer to run background checks on all potential employees. This protects you against negligent hiring law suits. Part of the background screening process should include a criminal records check. Taking a look at an applicant's criminal past can show you if this person is a potential threat to your company and employees. It may seem like an obvious starting point when deciding on background checks for your potential employees, but let's take a look at what can happen when an appropriate criminal background check is not completed on a potential employee.

Fighting For Superstars Posted: 01 Apr 2009 08:35 AM PDT It's superstars who make the critical difference in your company's performance. Everyone wants the superstars, and you have to fight for them - both the ones you have and the ones you want. Winning takes a multi-faceted approach that includes building a healthy culture and involves everyone in the organization.

Are You Hiring the Best Candidates? Posted: 01 Apr 2009 08:10 AM PDT Who are the best? Who among the thousands of available potential candidates would bring just what you need to your next open position to ensure that you don't make a rushed hiring decision, one that after a few weeks or months you will come to regret?

The History of Empowerment Posted: 01 Apr 2009 06:22 AM PDT For the success of the mission-type tactics it is especially important that the subordinate leaders understand the intent of the orders and are given proper guidance and that they are trained so they can act independently. In contrast to the mission-type tactics is Command and control used by American armed forces.

Diversity and the Art of Inclusion Posted: 31 Mar 2009 12:26 PM PDT Of the four diversity cornerstones (Inclusion, Outreach Programs, Equal Employment Opportunity, and Affirmative Action) Inclusion is my favorite because it is the most basic and it can't be regulated. This article explores the art of inclusion as it is practiced in the workplace.

Learning Frameworks - The Learning Modules Posted: 31 Mar 2009 12:22 PM PDT Once your Learning Framework is established, the modules can be developed to whatever degree required, and by using whatever delivery method is most appropriate. This article outlines what each framework module should contain.

Getting Ready to Hire Your First Assistant Posted: 31 Mar 2009 11:42 AM PDT There comes a time in every entrepreneur's life when they realize they just can't do it alone. They realize they're maxed out - either on time or ability - and there's no way their business will grow until they start delegating some tasks.

Union Avoidance - The Positive Approach Posted: 31 Mar 2009 09:55 AM PDT In our two previous articles, we reviewed the devastating impact that the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) could have on employers who wish to remain union free. In the most recent article, we discussed the employer's decision to remain union free and the implications of that decision. Now we examine the positive steps that the employer must take to implement management's adopted policy to remain union free.

While Others Are Firing, You Should Be Hiring Posted: 31 Mar 2009 09:53 AM PDT In tough economic times, most organizations' first and most predictable reaction is to cut expenses; in today's service economy, the largest expenses are manpower-related. The result is that thousands of talented employees have been released into the marketplace. This increase in talented unemployed workers creates a great opportunity. When others are cutting, now is the time for you to redefine, realign and rehire to pick from the best and create a more powerful and greater performing team.

Curbing Employee Dissatisfaction - 3 Steps to De-Stressing Your Workplace and Beyond Posted: 31 Mar 2009 09:19 AM PDT I know "you've been there". The supervisor is requesting the report that was due yesterday. You have been on your feet all day. Mom is in the midst of being transferred to the nursing home and the daycare just called with news that Cameron has a fever of 104. What about ME?

Does the Way I Treat My Employees Affect My Business? Posted: 30 Mar 2009 12:37 PM PDT Employee morale can have a significant impact on the performance of a business. Who wants to work for an employer who is not appreciative or empathetic? And who especially wants to work hard for such an employer? If you want to get the most out of your employees, you've got to treat them with respect and understanding.

Nurturing and Keeping Your Talented Millennial Posted: 30 Mar 2009 09:01 AM PDT We've all read far too much information about the 80 million strong Millenial generation, those born between 1980 and 2000. Those of us who have worked with them know they are different than past generations entering the workforce. Now their world is changing in this recession even more than ours. How to keep the ones who show the most promise.

Is Employment Branding a Part of Your Organization's Recruitment Strategy? Posted: 30 Mar 2009 08:43 AM PDT One of the most important aspects of your organization's overall recruitment strategy is developing and managing your employment brand. Candidates rate an organization's employment brand the 2nd most influential factor when considering employment opportunities.

Recruitment Video is an Important Part of an Employment Branding Strategy Posted: 30 Mar 2009 08:42 AM PDT Video is the #1 form of Internet communication and can be one of the most effective medium an organization uses to build its employment brand. Recruitment videos posted on an organization's career site, distributed via podcasts and posted on YouTube and social networking sites can create excitement for the organization by allowing potential candidates to experience an organization's corporate culture, values, see multiple employees' passion for the organization and see what it's like to live and work in the organization.

Is Your Organization Ensuring a Positive Candidate Experience? Posted: 30 Mar 2009 08:39 AM PDT A positive candidate experience goes far beyond an effective recruiting and on-boarding process. Candidates need to be kept informed of their status, given timely and valid feedback and treated with respect at each step in the process.

Building a "Recruitment Culture" in Your Organization Posted: 30 Mar 2009 08:20 AM PDT An important step in any recruiting strategy is to go beyond the typical employee referral program and build an internal Recruitment Culture. A Recruitment Culture is a mindset where every employee in an organization is responsible for helping to uncover talent every day. Referral bonuses or rewards are a primary tool but the mindset must be that it is in an employee's best interest to work with the best talent available - and understand the role they can play in securing that talent. A Recruitment Culture dramatically increases the amount of people and hours involved in recruiting without hiring additional recruiting staff.

Top 3 Tips For Hiring in a Soft Economy Posted: 30 Mar 2009 06:25 AM PDT A soft economy requires extra care in hiring. A bad hire can be much more costly in a soft economy because that person can make or break your organization. Learn the top 3 tips on hiring employees in a soft economy

Why Managers Don't Manage Pay Posted: 27 Mar 2009 02:26 PM PDT Managers have the authority to spend the company's money, but often lack the knowledge or supervision to do so in an effective and prudent manner. Like well-intentioned amateurs they often make emotional vs. business decisions that increase the company fixed costs, while at the same time alienating a fair portion of the employee population.

Why Invest in Training During and Economic Downturn? Posted: 27 Mar 2009 01:47 PM PDT During an economic downturn, businesses seem to turn to their marketing and training budgets to make cut backs. I look at some of the reasons why businesses should still be investing in training.

Learning Frameworks - Why Your Organisation Needs One Posted: 27 Mar 2009 11:38 AM PDT In its simplest form, the Learning Framework is a diagrammatical representation of all the learning and development activities for a role, structured in the ideal order. Is it really worth the effort? Read on...

Learning Frameworks - 7 Key Elements Posted: 27 Mar 2009 11:38 AM PDT To be fully effective, a Learning Framwork needs 7 key elements. Make sure your Framework inlcudes each of these elements...

What Types of Jobs Require Background Checks? Posted: 27 Mar 2009 05:52 AM PDT People who work with children need to have their backgrounds checked meticulously. Why is this so? Being innocent and helpless, children need someone responsible to protect them and to look after them. How ironic and tragic it would be if the very people tasked to protect and nurture them turn out to be their own abusers. That's why background checks are imperative to weed out would-be predators preying on those under their care.

Ill-Fitting Jobs Cause More Than Blisters Posted: 26 Mar 2009 02:25 PM PDT Are you in the right job? When you are everything seems to go better. So now that you've answered about yourself, what about others - like those working for you?

Best Hiring Secrets - Staff Your Firm With Highly Productive Employees Posted: 26 Mar 2009 01:46 PM PDT Statistics tell us that two-thirds of all hiring decisions fail within 36 months. Managers tend to fall into the same traps again and again when hiring employees. To eliminate those errors hiring managers can greatly improve their results by following a few simple rules.

Background Checks - How to Be Sure You Can Trust Your Employees Posted: 26 Mar 2009 12:10 PM PDT Why should you entrust your company to persons based on first impressions or on outward appearances alone? The old saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover" rather than "First Impression Lasts" proves to be the wise thing to follow these days. By conducting a comprehensive employment background check you will get all the information suitable for the company's specific needs.

Play Improves Morale and Productivity Posted: 26 Mar 2009 11:39 AM PDT Most employees and supervisors realize that people do better when they enjoy their work. It has been said that a 15% increase in morale can account for a 40% increase in productivity. The art is in knowing "how" to do it right. Here are 13 ideas.

Human Resources and Recruiting During the Recession Posted: 26 Mar 2009 11:37 AM PDT Some useful advice to help your company tackle the demands of the recession. Tips on how healthy, growing companies should approach recruiting in the upside down job market and helpful points to navigate effective downsizing.

Looking For an HR Consultant? Consider These Factors Posted: 26 Mar 2009 08:00 AM PDT Lifesaver, what else would a business want from an HR Consultant? From the organizational perspective this impression is based on a variety of things. What turns them off and what makes clients sign the dotted line?

Hiring and Retaining Talent in a Tough Economy Posted: 26 Mar 2009 07:41 AM PDT Downturns, stagnations, slowdowns and even recessions are normal, and inevitable, economic cycles. We survive - some much better than others. In any economic crisis, a cool head and long-term thinking produce the best outcomes, and that holds true when it comes to talent management.

The Proper Way to Find Out If Your Associates Are Criminals Posted: 25 Mar 2009 05:36 PM PDT We can never be too careful these days. Having a criminal background check is a must and an essential part before hiring people in companies or letting tenants or baby sitters into your homes. Every business owner and property owner should check the background of every individual, especially their criminal records, before taking them in.

How Thorough Are Online Background Checks? Posted: 25 Mar 2009 03:23 PM PDT Investigating the background of an individual involves a combination of intelligent deduction and painstaking leg work. In order to obtain the necessary facts, many avenues are explored. No stone is left unturned, so to speak, to ensure client satisfaction.

Hedge Fund Job Interview Questions - A Job Seekers Guide Posted: 25 Mar 2009 01:02 PM PDT A short guide to successfully interviewing with a hedge fund manager or private equity firm. Sample hedge fund interview questions and more.

Telework Programs - Making the Case For Company-Sponsored Implementation Posted: 25 Mar 2009 12:17 PM PDT Let's face it. Going virtual works for some companies. Here are some tips on how to approach telework implementation.

The Third R Read in Under 200 Seconds Posted: 25 Mar 2009 09:15 AM PDT In amongst all the rhetoric about the 2 big R's (Recession and Redundancy!) the companies and business's who are bucking the trend are focusing all their efforts on the vital ingredient to success - the most important 3rd R - that of Retention.

Small Business - How To Avoid the Traps of Exit Interviews and Get Real Value From Them Posted: 25 Mar 2009 06:50 AM PDT Exit interviews are discussions between terminating employees - those who've resigned of their own accord - and employers. They are your last chance to benefit from the resignee's experience with you. Use them to obtain information which you can use to improve systems and relationships in the company. They are not "to discuss problems of working for us"

All Answers Begin With 'R' - Strategies to Improve Job Satisfaction Posted: 24 Mar 2009 02:14 PM PDT There is a simple process that will improve job satisfaction by creating workplace and self awareness and allowing you to turn a rant into a reward by changing your attitude, behavior and / or environment. This back to basics approach consists of 4 'R''s: rant, reality, revelation and reward.

Why Everyone Should Have a Flexible Spending Account Posted: 24 Mar 2009 01:37 PM PDT We've all sat through enrollment meetings, received promotional materials from human resources and been told by co-workers that everyone should have a Flexible Spending Account. If you're like the 80% of U.S. workers who are asked why you don't participate, your answer has always been, "WHY PARTICIPATE?"

Crisis Management Team Posted: 24 Mar 2009 01:15 PM PDT So what plans do you need to put in place before a crisis hits your business? You must implement a system or policy that will allow you to deal effectively, and professionally with any situation. It's simply a matter of being as prepared as possible in times of a crisis.

Why Do Background Checks on Work Applicants? Posted: 24 Mar 2009 12:55 PM PDT As employers or business owners, we are always looking at ways to improve our business and find great people to do that alongside us. Nowadays, it is becoming more and more important to make sure that you are entrusting your business to capable and faithful individuals.

Are You Passing Up Staffing Business? Posted: 24 Mar 2009 11:36 AM PDT It's no secret - the economy is currently in the tank. Businesses are laying off workers, bankruptcy is at an all-time high, the housing market is terrible, and companies are cutting expenses to survive. To say the least, the forecast for success, for the most part, is bleak for the foreseeable future. However, there are some areas that are seeing some slight growth, or growth potential, to include the health care and information technology staffing sectors. My question is, if you are staffing/recruiting in those areas, especially on a contract basis, are you turning down business because of lack of funding to support that business?

A Lesson in Psychology Posted: 23 Mar 2009 02:19 PM PDT Both the bully and victim are motivated by both their respective psychologies. Some trace the aggressive behavior of the bully back to childhood experiences, describing it as a "chain reaction of abuse," leaving behind very deep and pervasive scars. Their disruptive upbringing has conditioned them into believing that what is hard and difficult is normal.

Profile of the Bully Posted: 23 Mar 2009 01:56 PM PDT Bullies, like alcoholics, are compulsive liars who are so excellent at it that others are 'taken in' frequently by their deceptive talk. It appears that bullies genuinely believe what they say, even when confronted with evidence to the contrary. The bully as he selects the victim is principally because they are perceived to be 'different' in some way from others - good looks, slower at work, better qualified, spineless, popular and successful. The list is endless - any reason will do. The only sure-fire way of pointing out the bully is to observe his/her behaviour.

Human Capital - Modern Tools and Strategies For Human Resources Posted: 23 Mar 2009 01:49 PM PDT An insightful article about the current state of human resources, hiring and retaining talent. Some useful advice to help manage, attract and retain your company's most valuable asset, your employees.

Planning a Workforce Reduction? - Read This First Posted: 23 Mar 2009 01:40 PM PDT Despite many economists' predictions, the economic recovery remains elusive and layoffs continue. If your company is or will be laying off employees, the following information should help you with the process.

Online Recruitment Databases Posted: 23 Mar 2009 01:37 PM PDT Online recruitment databases can be a valuable asset for finding employees for your small business. They can find qualified personnel without hassle. However, given the number of online recruitment databases, finding one that is suited to your company's needs can be quite challenging. There are many to choose from and many that will help you, but it is worth shopping around and looking at reviews before making a choice.

What is New Employee Onboarding? Posted: 23 Mar 2009 01:27 PM PDT Onboarding is a systematic and comprehensive approach to integrating a new employee with a company or department, and it's culture; as well as getting the new hire the tools and information they need to become productive, contributing members of an organization's workforce. A well-designed, fun and engaging onboarding process has a significantly greater affect on employee engagement and thus retention when compared to the old school mentality of one-day "orientation."

Could the Recession Be the Answer to Wales' IT Skills Gap? Posted: 23 Mar 2009 01:12 PM PDT With hundreds of people being made redundant each week and 80% of jobs now advertised online there has been a huge surge in the number of people accessing the Welsh Assembly's ReAct fund to improve their poor IT Skills. The ReAct fund provides those who have been made redundant within the last 6 months, or who are under a notice of redundancy, with up to £2500 worth of training. With time to reflect on their careers and this funding availableto them, people in Wales are addressing their poor IT Skills.

Action Learning - A Practical Approach to Problem Solving Posted: 23 Mar 2009 12:47 PM PDT Action Learning is a way of addressing real problems in the workplace. It gives people a structure and setting to reflect on the issues and often they come up with the answer themselves.

Simplifying the Open Enrollment Process Posted: 23 Mar 2009 12:41 PM PDT How can HR make sure its next open enrollment is as headache-free as possible? Timing and technology can be key. This article will discuss these and other tips for managing the open enrollment process from HR experts. First and foremost-start planning.

Face to Face Communication, 5 Reasons Why It's Still Important Posted: 23 Mar 2009 12:41 PM PDT In today's world, reliance on technology is a fact of doing business. However, the value of face to face communication within your organization and with your clients should not go unrecognized. Whereas technology has increased the number of people that we can communicate with, it has also increased the amount of techno-chatter that we experience on a daily basis. Here are 5 reasons why it's important to utilize face to face communication:

Working Abroad at the Expense of Indian Organizations Posted: 23 Mar 2009 12:07 PM PDT Many organizations sent Indian residents for special abroad at their own expense, expecting that these people will return and give back to the organization or to the country what they learned abroad. Instead, they got resignation letters from most of these people who opt to settle down abroad, thus disappointing not only the specific organization, but also the entire country. There must be something that makes them behave like this.

Training - Necessary Or Perk? Posted: 23 Mar 2009 12:05 PM PDT Are you treating training as a perk? If your organization has chosen to forego training sessions for your people at this time in our economy, then you are telling your people that training is not really necessary. You're telling them that their improvement on the job is a perk. And that's a horrible message to be sending your people at this time. Employees are looking for reassurances right now.

Working With the Generations - An HR Perspective Posted: 23 Mar 2009 11:45 AM PDT You look over today's inbox and shake your head. Although it's a new day, it seems to be the same old issues cropping up again and again. Jody, a Boomer manager, is hiring again after losing another "disloyal Gen X-er". Greg, also a Boomer manager, is complaining about his staff of mostly Gen Y employees - surely HR can "fix" these folks - perhaps a course or workshop on professional office behaviour would do the trick? In another department, Susan, a newly-hired Gen Y would like to talk to you about career opportunities in the organization. Given that she's been employed for 6 months, surely it's time to move up and take on tasks with greater responsibility. Lastly, your CEO has again declined your suggestion that employees of different generations want different things.

Why Do Employers Run Background Checks? Posted: 23 Mar 2009 11:08 AM PDT You haven't truly known a person, unless you've done a background check on them. Although, this may not be something that everybody has to do, you should consider it for the following reasons: 1.Getting through lawsuits and bogus claims. Before you give in or get duped by misleading individuals who are always on the prowl to take advantage of businesses, consider doing some simple background checks. (This may include civil, criminal and Workmen's Comp histories.) Spending a few dollars on these will not only significantly cut down your risk of going through a full-scale lawsuit; you also save thousands of dollars with an average estimated cost of $7,500 per incident.

Transforming HR and IT From "Wayward Children" to Drivers of Business Success Posted: 23 Mar 2009 10:59 AM PDT It is my belief that sound human resource (HR) and information technology (IT) practices are capable of driving organizational success. Yet my observation and experience indicate that far too many HR and IT departments do not even come close to realizing this capability. To the contrary, both areas often are viewed internally as obstacles to individual and organizational success that divert scarce resources from areas that do the "real" work.

Is Recognition Really Important? Really Necessary? Posted: 23 Mar 2009 08:49 AM PDT This is a simple question with a difficult answer. Really it depends on what you want, expect and demand from your employees. First you have to consider and hopefully agree on what recognition means! For some companies and managers it means having an occasional pizza party while for other companies to goes to the very heart of the employee people culture that sustains every aspect of the company's growth and success. Other companies would define it as providing some promotional products with the company's name branded on jackets, apparel or bags, pens,. Additional organizations may have a more formal program in place that consists of service awards or tenure awards (still one of the most popular forms of recognition programs in North America). Incentives/Rewards programs are also considered by many as a form of recognition.

Business Services - The Right People Make a Big Difference Posted: 23 Mar 2009 08:27 AM PDT This story starts with what might seem some difficulty. I was working for a non-profit that helped people with disabilities get work. My supervisor, who tended to be a little on the pessimistic side, would measure the difficulty of a client getting a job by how high the file was.

Strategic Human Resource Management Posted: 23 Mar 2009 08:17 AM PDT Calling in the Professionals. When the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) was set up in 2002 it called in a number of human resource specialists to help. The NCSC is part of the Government's modernisation agenda to promote and protect the well-being of users of regulated services such as residential nursing homes, private hospitals and boarding schools. It also covers services that weren't previously regulated, including laser clinics and private and voluntary hospitals.

The Effects of Workplace Bullying Posted: 23 Mar 2009 07:15 AM PDT Workplace bullying is a traumatic experience occasioned by anti-social behaviour at work. Its effect are far-reaching, including demotivation, dissatisfaction with life, and feelings of isolation. The ripple effect of this toxic activity on the part of management draws in family relationships, and renders the target incapable of supporting the pressure under which this places him/her. Marriages have been broken up, promising careers ended, and changes for the worse the personality of the victim.

How to Justify Spending Money on Workplace Wellness During a Recession Posted: 20 Mar 2009 01:09 PM PDT In the current economic climate, how do you justify spending money on wellness schemes at work when the company has canceled bonuses or is making redundancies? How do you ensure these initiatives are received positively both by those in the business and those outside of your organization?

'Me' Time - 38% of Brits Work Over 60 Hours a Week Posted: 20 Mar 2009 01:04 PM PDT Work life balance issues have been on the agenda for many years and according to a recent survey Brits are lacking in 'me time'. 75% of us claim that work negatively impacts on our free time with 38% claiming to work more than 60 hours a week.

Recession - Good Or Bad News For HR Consultants? Posted: 20 Mar 2009 12:45 PM PDT In Today's economy, how do we keep Employees Engaged? Will companies still outsource as often?

What a Temporary Employment Agency Can Do For You Posted: 20 Mar 2009 11:44 AM PDT The purpose of a Temporary Employment Agency is to find qualified employees to fill temporary positions in other companies. Companies who only require short term employees retain the services of these temp agencies. Using a temporary agency is beneficial for the employers and temps who fill the positions.

Hiring People With Disabilities - The Untapped Candidate Pool Posted: 20 Mar 2009 11:09 AM PDT In the United States there is a growing pool of viable job candidates who are disabled and looking for meaningful employment. Recent metrics indicate that there are over 11 million working-age adults with disabilities. Of these, only 37% are currently employed. Many myths concerning the hiring of people with disabilities exist among both recruiters and managers. Overcoming these misconceptions is one of the first steps that must be taken in order to help tap into this talented pool of qualified workers. Here are a few facts that should help to dispel some commonly held, but incorrect assumptions.

Recruiting For Less - Ten Proven Techniques Posted: 20 Mar 2009 10:22 AM PDT Are your hands tied when it comes to getting more money for recruiting? Although recruiting is a vital component to any growing company, economic worries are slashing many budgets. Here are ten cost effective ways to get qualified candidates through your doors.

Surprisingly Strong Hiring Outlook For Long Island in 2009 Posted: 20 Mar 2009 09:18 AM PDT Although the U.S. economy is officially in a recession, many Long Island businesses are still experiencing growth and continue to hire. Some of Long Island's largest employers -- including North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System (27,000+), The Diocese of Rockville Centre (17,000+) and Stony Brook University (13,000+) -- continue to offer opportunities in a diverse range of careers. In addition, many Long Island companies are in industries that are essentially "recession proof."

Why So Many Professional Development Opportunities Don't Produce Lasting Change Posted: 20 Mar 2009 08:14 AM PDT There are countless opportunities for business and individual professional development. Do you know the different kinds and why they may or may not be effective?

Top Reasons Top Talent Leaves Posted: 19 Mar 2009 02:34 PM PDT When Calvin Coolidge announced he would not run for re-election to the Office of the President of the United States he surprised many people. No reason for the retirement was given so one reporter felt duty bound to ascertain the reason. Coolidge replied, "I'm leaving the office because there is no room for advancement."

Temporary Help - Permanent Liability Posted: 19 Mar 2009 02:28 PM PDT The use of temporary, leased, and contract employees is a growing part of daily life in many North American businesses. In fact, according to the American Staffing Association, 90%of companies use contract staffing services - to the tune of more than 2 million employees each day.

Imprinted Lunch Coolers Are Great Employee Incentives Posted: 19 Mar 2009 08:28 AM PDT Once upon a time, lunch coolers were considered some of the most unfashionable items to carry to work or any other place where lunch was being served. Only those who were considered the odd crowd brought lunch coolers to work and it was often at the expense of being ostracized by co-workers and friends for carrying an unsightly box that contained a lunch made a home.

Restaurant Management - Hiring and Training Employees Posted: 19 Mar 2009 07:43 AM PDT Restaurants and commercial kitchens have always been relatively high turnover work environments, making new employee recruiting and training a constant chore for management. A few basic procedures can help you maximize employee retention and reduce turnover, which in turn reduces costs and increases efficiency.

The Benefits of Benefits Posted: 18 Mar 2009 11:23 AM PDT In today's economy, it's vital that all employees have an understanding of the cost -- and value -- of their benefits package -- as well as how it fits into their total compensation package. With more and more Americans out of work, this is a huge financial consideration. In addition, knowing the value of a benefits package helps people to know that their company values THEM. And at this time, that goes a long way toward loyalty, hard work, and enthusiasm.

Encrypting Employee Information and Identity Theft Posted: 18 Mar 2009 11:19 AM PDT Massachusetts is leading on the issue of safekeeping critical information and data encryption. With millions of records already lost and millions more at risk, however, there's simply no way to get around the fact that encryption of records MUST be part of a comprehensive plan of data security and planning.

A Better Job Ad Gets You Better Candidates Posted: 18 Mar 2009 11:08 AM PDT The old "help wanted" ad is gone. You won't hear from the qualified candidates that you're looking for by posting a four-line job ad in the classifieds. Whether you're putting your job ads on internet sites or in traditional media, keep in mind the following points.

Employee Retention - An Employer Hero in the Recession Posted: 17 Mar 2009 02:21 PM PDT Here's great news amidst all of the bad news about the US and world economy. True story of an outstanding employer that purchased and reopened a closed factory and took a bold action to prove it wanted and valued the employees. In return, the company will get tons of employee cooperation and improved day-to-day job actions while improving employee retention, motivating employees, and lowering employee turnover. What can your organization do? Read on.

Hidden Disabilities - What Employers Need to Know Posted: 17 Mar 2009 01:01 PM PDT It is important that human resources and hiring managers be aware of two hidden disabilities that often look like attitude or behavior problems. Asperger's Syndrome and Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD) affect, in varying degrees, an individual's communication skills and ability to organize information. The prevalence of Asperger's Syndrome alone is estimated to be as high as 1 in every 250 people in the United States.

Time to Terminate an Employee? Rules For Handling the Unpleasant Task Posted: 17 Mar 2009 12:32 PM PDT Unfortunately there comes a time in every leader and manager's career that they are faced with the unpleasant task of terminating someone. While it is never an easy task, here are several tips to make the process easier on everyone.

How to Properly and Safely Fire Someone Posted: 17 Mar 2009 11:08 AM PDT Maintain your integrity and your company's best interests! Learn the right way to fire someone!

Why Employees Dislike ID Badges Posted: 17 Mar 2009 10:09 AM PDT Over the past few years, reasons for wearing ID badges have changed greatly. The initial reasons employers provided ID badges for their employees were not necessarily for security. The original ID was most likely intended to allow customers and coworkers to display their name to others during the workday.

The Birth of the Auftragstaktik and Its Meaning For the Modern Enterprise Posted: 17 Mar 2009 08:49 AM PDT Around 1810, after the battle of Jena when Napoleon achieved a sensational victory over the Prussians, the Prussian generals Scharnhorst and Gneisenau came to the conclusion that the commanders behind the battlefield, due to the "fog of war", were unable to obtain an accurate view of what was really happening at the front and in the chaos of combat. Those who knew what was actually happening were actually the subordinate commanders and officers in the field. As a battle is always plagued by uncertainties and is characterized by unforeseen situations,the Prussian generals tried to find a concept of planning - and a system of command - that would ensure flexibility.

The Right Training Process Posted: 17 Mar 2009 07:28 AM PDT When new employees join your team there is a need to get them up to speed quickly. In most cases we hire these days based on attributes and passion rather than experience. Nothing wrong with these concepts. However, they all to often lead to failure of the employee to succeed. It is no longer acceptable to leave the development of new people to chance.

Increase Your HR Salary - One Sure-Fire Way to Hike Your HR Pay in Tough Times Posted: 17 Mar 2009 06:00 AM PDT In a competitive economy, one way to set yourself apart from the rest of the Human Resources pack and increase your HR salary is by being the one person in your organization who is consistently bringing new ideas to the party.  Believe, I'm no genius.  But, I've advanced my HR career and my pay -- in good times and bad -- based on an obsessive compulsive desire to learn and using that desire to learn to bring in new HR programs or ideas.

Your HR Career - The Biggest HR Career Mistake Just About Every HR Professional Makes Posted: 16 Mar 2009 11:51 AM PDT HR professionals are stuck in the old-school mindset that HR career success comes from following some kind of rigid, carefully laid-out career plan. Some companies have even taken years to develop carefully constructed "HR career paths" or "HR career ladders" for their HR folks. This is all a bunch of bunk. And this is the biggest career mistake just about every HR professional makes.

Confidence and the Workplace Attitude Posted: 16 Mar 2009 11:49 AM PDT Organizations work fine - it's people who screw them up. Fix the people and you fix the organization. Stop wasting money on a useless things like personality assessments and team building until you have solved the root problem in any and all organizations - soft skills training to address "self" issues. Build your people stronger and the organization must get stronger by default. Better people offer better service, make better sales, better communicate, build better relationships, focus better, achieve better and ultimately lead better.

HR Career - How to Layoff-Proof Your HR Career & Avoid Losing Your HR Job Posted: 16 Mar 2009 09:07 AM PDT Thousands of HR professionals are losing their jobs during the recession. Why? Because they are doing work that is not perceived to add value to the business. As a result, they're seen as expendable by the higher ups that are making the layoff decisions.

How Leaders Can Delegate Effectively Posted: 16 Mar 2009 08:01 AM PDT Managers and supervisors often get in the way of their own success. Call it what you will, but sometimes leaders can be his or her own worst enemy. The problem usually lies in an inability to delegate work to others. If this is you, this article offers useful tips on how to delegate to others to ensure success in your organization.

Global HR Posted: 16 Mar 2009 06:19 AM PDT With so many of today's businesses expanding to various parts of the globe, a new business management phrase has emerged. It's called global hr or "human resources and it refers to anything that has to do with human recourse issues of a multinational business. You see, things can become very complex when a company has hundreds and even thousands of employees in several countries.

Expatriate Compensation Posted: 13 Mar 2009 02:31 PM PDT Can you imagine for a moment the problems that a company would face it were to take on the responsibilities of having to handle all of their employees' domestic expenses? After all, they still have a business to manage and that alone is problem enough. So what about complex expatriate compensation packages?

New Employee Orientation - Sleep, Weep Or Reap? Posted: 13 Mar 2009 12:26 PM PDT New employee orientations seem a bit "ho-hum"? If so, you're not alone in your thinking. Reviewing personnel policies and procedures is a bore for both employer and employee. So let's reconsider what the goals of effective orientation should be so that they have greater meaning to both parties.

Games the First Boss Should Play With the Fresh Recruits From Colleges and Universities Posted: 13 Mar 2009 09:46 AM PDT Games the First Boss should play with the fresh recruits from Colleges and Universities This is the hiring time for all fresh engineers and MBAs. Every year they join the corporate in the month of April, May, and June. With lot of expectations, energy, vigor, optimism and with good academic and training background they are recruited from colleges and universities to the corporate.

How to Protect Company Culture Posted: 13 Mar 2009 07:46 AM PDT Recently we have seen instances where family-owned businesses have brought in new executives to help grow the business. These executives professed a love of the "old" culture from the "cut-throat" culture of the corporate environment from whence they came. Yet they immediately began pushing their weight around and threatening the very culture they claimed appealing. This article offers tips to keep your company culture--what got you where you are today.

How to Resolve Office Disputes With a Big Baby Posted: 13 Mar 2009 06:52 AM PDT How many times have you been called upon to resolve disputes between managers or employees and find yourself wanting to say: "The problem is you are a big baby. Grow up. Act like an adult." This article contains tips to make business relationships more effective by addressing common problems in this area.

Executive Recruitment Articles - Staff Retention Starts With an Effective Recruitment Process Posted: 12 Mar 2009 02:03 PM PDT Human capital is widely perceived to be the most valuable asset any business can hope to attain. The due diligence process for mergers, acquisitions and business valuations look's closely at the management capabilities of a business to determine the future sustainability and validity of a company and its business objectives. Therefore, the retention of your team's best people should be high on the list of priorities for any manager.

Losing Your HR Job - One Unfair Reason You May Get Fired From Your HR Job Posted: 12 Mar 2009 01:39 PM PDT Thousands of HR managers have lost their jobs during this recession. Many have been whacked despite being the best at what they do or despite spending decades with the same company. Many didn't even see the ax coming until they were called in by their boss and given the bad news.

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