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Resignation Letter: Future Plans - Sample
Sample letter of resignation or a resignation letter for the human resources policy, checklist, procedure, and samples directory. This resignation letter informs your current employer of your future plans. Paid Vacation Days Policy
Paid vacation days are time off work an organization provides employees as a benefit. The number of paid vacation days is generally accrued by employees based on years of service to the organization. How to Break Into a Career in Human Resources
Many people are eager to start a career in Human Resources, as it is a fast-growing field with many lucrative opportunities. Career analysts expect the number of HR jobs to increase in the projected future and the median annual income is above the national average. Learn more. Job Search Books for Grads
Thinking about your current job search after graduation? These books will help you find your way. Learn about the job market. Translate your most important needs, interests, and goals into a rewarding career. Find techniques for a successful online and offline job search. These are my long term favorite job search books. Gift a favorite graduate with the opportunity to explore their desired futur… Human Resources Job Prospects and Earnings
Many people are eager to start a career in Human Resources, as it is a fast-growing field with many lucrative opportunities. Career analysts expect the number of Human Resources jobs to increase in the projected future and the median annual income is above the national average. For these reasons and more, you are probably wondering how to start an HR career of your own. Find out more about breaking into a career in Human Resources. Paid Sick Days Policy
Paid sick days are time off from work that an organization voluntarily provides employees as a benefit. The number of paid sick days is often accrued by employees based on years of service to the organization and the level of their position. Other companies, however, keep paid sick days simple - every employee receives the same number of paid sick days. Paid Time Off Policy Sample
The purpose of a Paid Time Off (PTO) policy is to give staff the opportunity to take paid time off from work that can be used flexibly for such needs as vacation, illness, personal time, doctor appointments, school or volunteerism, and other activities of the employee's choice. The company's goal, in providing PTO, is to reduce unscheduled absenteeism and reduce the need for supervisory oversight. Use LinkedIn for Recruiting Employees
LinkedIn and other social networking sites are advantageous for employers who use them for both networking and recruiting. I am increasingly receiving email notes from my LinkedIn contacts asking me to refer potential employees or help them make a contact for hard-to-fill positions. The potential for LinkedIn and other social networking sites to play a major role in your employee recruiting strategy increases as millions of potential employees profile themselves on these sites each year. More Tips to Reduce Employee Turnover
Competitive salary, competitive vacation and holidays, and tuition reimbursement are three basics in employee retention. Especially for millennial employees, these are the holy grail for recruitment and retention. But, employers can reduce employee turnover in many other ways. (If you think these read like the Golden Rule, you're right, they do.) Reducing employee turnover is dependant on the total work environment you offer for employees. Learn more. Sample Human Resources Letters
These sample Human Resources letters provide guidance for common letters you encounter in business and human resources. Use these sample human resources letters to make job offers, thank rejected job candidates, resign from your job, review resume cover letters, review interview thank you letters, and provide effective employee recognition. Find sample human resources letters. Strategic Human Resources: Avoiding Circular Conversations
We've been talking about making Human Resources strategic for decades, but organizational readiness, resistance to change, and complicated and expensive technology issues continue to get in the way. So strategic human resources remains a challenge. But, if you do the right math and talk about the bottom line, strategic human resources thinking will occur. In Sales and Marketing Hiring, You Can't Always Get What You Want
Hiring employees is becoming more challenging as employers are hiring employees from a shrinking pool of qualified candidates. Hiring employees is easier of you are willing to settle for 80% of your requirements and training the employee in the rest. You don't have to wait for the perfect sales and marketing candidate when you're hiring employees. Thinking Strategically First Makes Strategic Planning Work
Strategic planning for organizations is not fun. Strategic planning is often done under duress because it is required. Strategic planning is important yet many plans are found on bookcases, not on the desktops being used. Done well, strategic plans provide a useful focus that energizes and moves the organization toward its mission, plus it provides a document to recruit others to the mission. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Health care premiums continue to increase and employers are shifting part of insurance costs to employees. Or, employers are not offering comprehensive health care benefits because of their cost. To help offset the sting associated with these higher costs to both employers and employees, some employers are implementing Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Learn more about the benefits. Electronic Surveillance of Employees
There are pros and cons about the electronic surveillance of employees at work. This review of the pros and cons of electronic surveillance of employees at work will help employers decide what is best in their organization. Not every workforce, workplace, or work culture and environment is a candidate for electronic surveillance of employees at work. In some work environments, depending on the culture and environment desired, electronic surveillance of employees would injure trust and culture. Surfing the Web at Work
Employees spend between one and three hours a day surfing the Web on personal business at work, depending on the study reviewed. Since most studies depend on employee self-reported data, this productivity loss, combined with the concerns employers have for "where" their employees are surfing the Web at work, causes more employers to monitor employee use of the Internet. From the survey results, 66% of employers are monitoring Internet connections. Learn more. Recession Planning for Employees
Given the downward spiral of CEOs' confidence and with the talk about a potential recession, what have you done to plan for the possibility that the downturn becomes severe and impacts employees? These are some of the actions to take in recession planning for employees, for your HR department and other departments within your business, perhaps for your whole company, if recession looms. Sample Human Resources Assistant Job Description
This is a sample job description for a Human Resources Assistant. While all Human Resources Assistant job descriptions need to be customized to meet the needs of their organization, this sample Human Resources Assistant job description will give you ideas and sample phrasing, too. The job description of the HR Assistant can range from clerical to responsibilities that cross over into those of a Human Resources Generalist. Develop Your Leadership Brand
These are tips about how to provide effective training and leadership development so that you are actually investing in developing your leadership brand. Enormous research has been done on how to train adults with impact. Here are some specific tips that will increase the impact of your investment in building leadership brand, as opposed to developing leaders. Help Develop Employee Strengths - Not Weaknesses
A management philosophy, that flies in the face of conventional thinking, compels you to help employees continue to develop their strengths rather than trying to help employees develop their weaknesses. This theory was proposed by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman in First, Break All The Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently as a result of the Gallup organization's interviews with 80,000 effective managers. Learn more about helping employees develop their strengths. Candidate Rejection - Candidate Rejection Letter Sample
Sending a candidate rejection letter to the applicants who were not selected for the job is an extra, but positive step, your company can take to build good will with candidates and establish yourself as an employer of choice. See a sample candidate rejection letter. Candidate Thank You Letters
People forget that the purpose of a job interview is not just to get the job. Sound strange to you? It’s not. You go to a job interview to discover whether your talents, abilities, interests and direction are a good fit for the job, the company, and the company’s mission. Learn more about the match that needs to occur during a job interview for a subsequently successful employment relationship. Customer Service Success
Most businesses spend more time and energy trying to find new customers than they spend retaining the customers they have. The logic behind customer retention is simple - it costs far less money to keep current customers happy than to spend much more money to recruit new customers. Loyal customers tell their friends about your business and will spend more money than new customers. Here are seven steps to superior customer service. Workers' Compensation
Workers' compensation laws make certain that an employee who is injured as a result of an accident on the job or who contracts a disease as a result of performing his or her job, will receive compensation and medical benefits. Every state requires that employers purchase workers' compensation insurance to ensure that employees, who are affected by illness or injury, and their dependants, are protected against significant hardships in case of injury, illness, or death. Are You the Victim of a Bad Boss?
How many times have you witnessed someone working in a supervisory position without the necessary supervisory competencies? How many times have you questioned why some leaders get the roles that they do? It should not come as a surprise to you, then, that at least once in your life, you will be the victim of a bad boss. These ideas will help you deal with your bad boss. Telecommuting
Telecommuting or working from home is a flexible work arrangement that enables an employee, a consultant, or a contractor, to work distantly from the employer's location all or part of the time. Learn more about telecommuting. How to Make Your Messages Memorable
When a piece of communication is to the point, relevant, worthwhile, and compelling, it moves you—the listener or reader—to action. Moving people is not magic—it’s all about effective communication. Anyone can achieve effective communication by using a simple tool that has an uncanny ability to pinpoint why any message works or doesn’t work, and how to improve it. Find out more. How to Manage a Deadbeat Employee
A deadbeat employee is an employer's nightmare. You know the occasional employee I am talking about. He doesn't show up for work, calls in sick, and milks the time off policy, always walking on the edge, but never falling off. He walks the edge of the work policies and processes, too. He does just enough to stay employed but doesn't grow professionally nor contribute like your other employees. The deadbeat employee impacts your workplace and employees negatively, constantly, and insidiously. Sales Compensation: Retain Sales Super Stars
Keeping salespeople motivated can be a real challenge. What motivates one might not motivate another. Good sales managers know this and are always aware of where their individual salespeople are on that "motivational" scale. Sales compensation is a crucial factor in motivation. Learn more about keeping great salespeople with successful sales compensation. Indicators of Leadership Potential
In my many years of observing leaders, I have noticed a number of signs that a person has high potential for corporate leadership. A wide cognitive "bandwidth" - the capacity and inclination to see things in a broader context - is an earmark of a CEO. Other signs of high-potential leaders include integrity, decisiveness, drive, aggression, and setting direction. There are many more indicators of high-potential leaders. Learn more. How to Celebrate Halloween at Work
Traditions are important in companies just as they are in families. And, Halloween is one of the best holiday traditions to celebrate at work. Halloween is the second most popular holiday, second only to Christmas, so it's popular with employees, too. Celebrating Halloween at work appeals to the child in each of us and helps create a motivational, team work-oriented work culture. Your Personal Best
Picture this. I'd been asked to lead the final team building activity of the day before drinks and dinner. The audience had been in meetings since eight in the morning. The attendees were police officers who are experts at what they call, "cop faces," expressionless features that don't provide much information for the facilitator. Want to see the team building activity I created? Keep Company and Employee Information Safe
Right now, someone within your company may be accessing confidential corporate information either dishonestly or by accident. In the news, you read about well-known companies suffering the loss of sensitive corporate information at the hands of employees. HR departments often hold the key to valuable corporate and employee information, so the risk of data breaches presents unique challenges. The Role of the Supervisor in Managing Absenteeism
Almost two out of three employees who are absent are not ill. For most companies, the responsibility for managing absenteeism has fallen primarily on immediate supervisors. These supervisors are often the only people who are aware that a certain employee is absent. They are in the best position to understand the circumstances surrounding an individual’s absence and to notice a problem at an early stage. Their active involvement in managing absenteeism is critical. Job Analysis
A job analysis is the process used to collect information about the duties, responsibilities, necessary skills, outcomes, and work environment of a particular job. You need as much data as possible to put together a job description, which is the frequent outcome of the job analysis. A Formal, Professional Dress Code
Your Company's objective in establishing a formal dress code is to enable our employees to project the professional image that is in keeping with the needs of our clients and customers. Because our industry requires the appearance of trusted business professionals and we serve clients at our site on a daily basis, a more formal dress code is necessary for our employees. See a formal dress code. Work Dress Codes Collection
A work dress code is a set of standards that companies develop to help provide their employees with guidance about what is appropriate to wear to work. Work dress codes range from formal to business casual to casual. The formality of the workplace dress code is normally determined by the amount of interaction employees have with customers. See sample work dress codes. A Relaxed, Casual Dress Code
Your Company's objective in establishing a relaxed, casual, and informal work dress code is to enable our employees to work comfortably in the workplace. Yet, certain standards are established so employees are not confused about the meaning of the terms: relaxed, casual, and informal dress. Because no customers or clients are served in person at our company location, our chief concern is the comfort of our employees. See a casual work dress code. Recognition Success Tips
This tip about reward and recognition will help you create a profitable business and develop the talented workforce you need for progress, resiliency and agility. You need solid criteria in place before providing recognition that involves money and rewards. Everyday recognition that shows appreciation needs nothing but your commitment to providing recognition. Learn more. Reinventing HR from the Classroom to the Boardroom
We need to reinvent the field of HR in our HR educational programs and in our businesses. We have all heard that HR needs to be more strategic to gain a seat at the “proverbial” table, and that we need to be more business-oriented. However, unless the whole HR community starts investing in educating, certifying, and mentoring junior HR professionals, we will never see the industry gain the respect it deserves. We can reinvent the field of HR is we just make these recommended changes. How to Develop a Job Description
The process of developing a job description helps you articulate the most important outcomes you need from an employee performing a particular job. A job description is also a communication tool that tells coworkers where their job leaves off and the job of another starts. A well-written job description tells an employee where their job fits within the overall department and the overall company. Job Description
Job descriptions are written statements that describe the duties, responsibilities, most important contributions and outcomes needed from a position, required qualifications of candidates, and the reporting relationship of a particular job. Group Mentoring
Effective relationships and learning are the mainstays of organizational success today. Organizations that find meaningful ways for their employees to connect are more likely to realize greater productivity, enhanced career growth, freely flowing innovation and overall improvement in employee performance. Group mentoring is a value-added tool for connecting employees and advancing learning within the organization. Tips for HR Training
In every company, Human Resources (HR) training in many employee-related and legally-related topics is mandatory, especially for managers and supervisors. We need to equip our employees to handle their employee relations responsibilities competently. But, for maximum positive impact and learning, we need to make the HR training motivational and engaging. Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment occurs when one employee makes continued, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, to another employee, against his or her wishes. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws make it illegal for employers to discriminate against an employee or potential employee in certain workplaces. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which was created by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, is the federal agency that has the responsibility to handle discrimination complaints. Tips for Weekly Training
In my usual approach to training, I meet with groups weekly for a two hour training session. These sessions can last for several years, although we do tend to limit the frequency over time. Goals of the 360 Degree Feedback Process
Join the great debates about 360 degree feedback. Find out more about the pros and cons of the various facets of 360 degree feedback. This article considers your organization's goals in offering a 360 degree feedback process. Learn more about 360 degree feedback goals. Recommended Methods for Your 360 Degree Feedback Process
One of the great debates about 360 degree feedback is how to collect the data, administer the chosen method of data collection, and provide feedback to the participants. If you are offering a 360 degree feedback process, the method you use to collect and share the information will make or break your process. Learn more about 360 degree feedback processes and methods. Outcomes From Your 360 Degree Feedback Process
The outcomes you experience from your 360 degree feedback process are dependant on the decisions you make about the goals you want to achieve. The most important outcome of the 360 degree feedback process is personal and career development for the staff person whose skills and performance are rated. And, these decisions have sparked more debate in organizations about 360 degree feedback. Learn more about 360 degree feedback processes and methods. The Case for Web-based 360 Degree Feedback
The outcomes you experience from your 360 degree feedback process are dependant on the decisions you make about the goals you want to achieve. The most important outcome of the 360 degree feedback process is personal and career development for the staff person whose skills and performance are rated. And, these decisions have sparked more debate in organizations about 360 degree feedback. Learn more about 360 degree feedback processes and methods. The Great Debates About 360 Degree Feedback
Join the great debates about 360 degree feedback. Anonymous or shared? Web-based or paper and pencil? Affects compensation or not? Organization or employee-owned? Find out more about the pros and cons! The Impact of the Minimum Wage Increase
The increase in the minimum wage on July 24, 2007 from $5.15 to $5.85 an hour, is expected to have minimal impact on most employers nation-wide. That's because 32 states and the District of Columbia have already established minimum wage levels higher than the new federal level. The minimum wage will increase again to $6.55 on July 24, 2008, and to $7.25 per hour on July 24, 2009. It is the first increase in the federal minimum wage in a decade. Find out more about the minimum wage. Baby Boomers
Baby Boomers is the name given to the generation of Americans who were born in a "baby boom" following World War II. Baby Boomers were born between 1944 and 1964. Training: Your Investment in People Development and Retention
The right employee training, development and education at the right time provides big payoffs for the employer in increased productivity, knowledge, loyalty, and contribution. Learn the approaches that will guarantee a return on your investment. Tuition Assistance
Tuition assistance is an employer-provided employee benefit that is a win-win for your workplace. In a tuition assistance program, an employer pays all or part of an employee's cost to attend college or university classes. Laughing Your Way to Organizational Health
Workplace wellness is a serious issue. With stress-related-illness and burnout becoming household words, you are increasingly looking for ways to keep your workforce happy, healthy and productive. David Granirer's humor insights tell you how. How to Add Value in Continuing Strategic Change
HR is the stabilizer and champion during organizational change. HR adds value by ensuring change efforts deliver lasting results. How? Use a principle-based approach to promote stability and manage your organization's embedded polarities. Learn more! Elan at Work
Are you capturing the ardor and the spirit of your work force? You want to maximize contributions from people. You want to fuel excitement. You want people to fulfill dreams, plans and needs. You want to be the chosen, valued employer. Find out how! What Do You Mean My Company’s a Stepping Stone?
With baby boomers – all 80-plus million of them – starting their exodus from the workforce and into retirement, the labor pool is shrinking. No, Chicken Little, that doesn’t mean the sky is falling. But it does mean that organizations that distinguish themselves as destinations for talented and valued employees will see their stock rise - and not just on Wall Street. Find mentoring to be an employee recruitment and retention strategy. Work Like You’re Showing Off
I’ve come to think of high performance as showing off. Showing off, as I define it, isn’t about bragging or arrogance. Showing off simply means bringing your best to everything that you do. It’s about being focused and working with the intention of creating results that benefit the stakeholders in any given situation. Showing off means creating value through accomplishment. Here are four keys to “showing off” your high performance at work in the best sense of the term. Video Resumes
If you haven't received your first video resumes from candidates yet, you will shortly. The buzz is growing and video resumes are the next "cool" thing to do. In fact, the conversation has already moved from whether to make a video resume to how to make a professional video resume to enhance job applications. So, employers will be seeing video resumes - whether you want them or not.[p] Myths About Millennials
You've hired millennial employees. Now how can you keep your millennials around? Things aren't always what they seem. If I could give you one bit of advice about dealing with the latest generation of employees to come under your management, it would be to remember those words. Things aren't always what they seem about your millennial employees. Policy Samples, Checklists, Sample Forms, and Sample Procedures for Businesses
Looking for policy samples, sample checklists, sample procedures, sample forms, and examples of Human Resources and business tools? You've found the site for policy samples, sample checklists, sample procedures, sample forms, and examples of Human Resources and business tools. These samples are provided for personal use, if you cite the source. Contact the Human Resources Guide to inquire about use of the samples for publication or any other use. Who Owns Reference Checking?
Reference checking is often relegated to Human Resources in organizations. In my mind, that's not who should own reference checking. The manager of the position should check the employment references. He or she has the most to lose if the needed skills and cultural fit don't work out. The manager's "feel" for the viability of the candidate is also key for the person's eventual success as an employee. Managers own reference checking. Performance Management Strategies
Do you have responsibility for supervising the work of others? If so, you know that employees don't always do what you want them to do. On the one hand, they act as if they are competent professionals. On the other, they procrastinate, miss deadlines, and wait for instructions. So, what's a supervisor to do? Performance management is your answer. You must begin by finding out why the employee is not meeting your expectations. This checklist for employee performance management will help. Form a Green Team to Improve Your Work Environment
To raise employee awareness of opportunities to save energy and contribute to a healthy work environment, form a green team at work. While debate exists about recycling and other aspects of environmentalism, a green team is motivational for employees who want to make a difference in their work environment. Effective Delegation
Delegation can be viewed as dumping by the employee who receives more work to do. . So, the manager must carefully balance the delegation of more work with the delegation of work requiring more responsibility, authority, and challenge. Here are more tips about effective delegation. Behavioral Interview Questions Tip
I differentiate behavioral interviewing from speculation. But, the supposed behavioral interview questions that I most often hear employers ask in their behavioral interviews, require speculation on the part of the candidate. Tips for Weekly Training
In my usual approach to training, I meet with groups weekly for a two hour training session. These sessions can last for several years, although we do tend to limit the frequency over time. Book Review: Birth of the Chaordic Age
Birth of the Chaordic Age, by Dee Hock, opens the door to exciting ideas and new ways of thinking about organizations. Birth of the Chaordic Age is a landmark book in which Hock provides his philosophy about the fundamental nature of people and organizations. Read a full review of this book. Explore the New Science of Complexity
The emerging science of complexity is a way to better understand how organizations actually work. This knowledge will help you enable your organizations to flourish in a world of constant change. Here's more on exploring the new science of complexity. Sample Human Resources Generalist Job Description
This is a sample job description for a Human Resources Generalist. While all Human Resources Generalist job descriptions need to be customized to meet the needs of the organization in which they serve, this sample Human Resources Generalist job description will give you ideas and sample phrasing, too. Corporate Data Security Challenges
Identity theft resulting from a corporate data breach is big news. The extensive media coverage and damage to the organizations and brands involved in recent data security breaches has brought identity theft detection and prevention to the forefront of corporate America's concerns. Meeting Management - Competing Conversations
Want to develop effective working relationships with people at work? Effective interaction by people in business meetings can create effective work relationships. Effective group meetings manage the interaction of difficult people holding competing conversations. Here's more on how to effectively manage a meeting, and make sure that this meeting is productive, too. Talent On-the-Bubble: Addressing Human Behavior at Work
One of the great lessons from Talent IQ is that the performance of talent gone awry is very seriously under-addressed in organizational life. Called “Talent On-the-Bubble,” a pattern of human behavior was identified that can take any organization and its leadership team down if left untended. Talent On-the-Bubble can make a mockery of organizational values, sap creative energy and drive highly talented top performers out. Find out how human behavior must be managed at work. Q. Should My Husband Ask for a Raise at His Troubled Company?
Couple spent on the assumption that the husband's base income included both his base pay and his profit sharing bonus. When his company experienced problems, the profit sharing ceased and they found themselves unable to live on his base salary. They want to know if he should ask for a pay raise to make up the difference. Their question is answered. What Is the Human Resource Department?
Departments are the entity organizations form to organize people, reporting relationships, and work in a way that best supports the accomplishment of the organization's goals. Departments are usually organized by functions such as human resources, marketing, administration, and sales. But, a department can be organized in any way that makes sense for the customer. Variable Pay
Variable pay is used generally to recognize and reward employee contribution toward company productivity, profitability, team work, safety, quality, or some other metric deemed important. Variable pay changes depending upon the circumstances. Learn more about variable pay. Profit Sharing
Profit sharing is an example of a variable pay plan. Profit sharing is taking a percentage of a company’s annual profits and then dividing the pool of money generated across all employees using a formula for distribution. Profit sharing payments are only made if the company has been profitable for the time period specified. Find out more about profit sharing. Managing Human Resources
Managing human resources refers to the functions that a manager performs relative to the organization's employees. Managing human resources includes, but is not limited to these functions. Learn more about managing human resources. What Is Human Resources?
Human resources are the people that staff and operate an organization. Read the definition of Human Resources. What Is a Human Resource?
A human resource is a person or employee who staffs and operates a function within your organization. Read the definition of a Human Resource. What Is Human Resource Management?
Human Resource Management is the function within an organization that focuses on recruitment, management, and the direction of the people in the organization. Human Resources management is also performed by line managers. What Is Human Resource Development (HRD)?
Human Resource Development is the framework for helping employees develop their personal and organizational skills, knowledge, and abilities. Human Resource Development includes such opportunities as employee training, employee career development, performance management and development, coaching, succession planning, key employee identification, and organization development. Human Resources Information System (HRIS)
The Human Resource Information System (HRIS is a software or online solution for the data entry, data tracking, and data information needs of the Human Resources function within a business. Normally packaged as a data base, hundreds of companies sell some form of HRIS and every HRIS has different capabilities. Pick your HRIS carefully based on the capabilities you need in your company. Telephone Use Policy - Manufacturing Facility
Company employees may receive or make personal telephone calls during break periods only. If a telephone call is received during a non-break time, and the call is not an emergency, callers will be asked to leave a message. See the sample telephone use policy for manufacturing facilities. Sample Personnel File Policy
The Company maintains three employee files for each employee. The files maintained include the personnel file, the payroll file, and the medical records file. Employees may access their personnel file by contacting Human Resources staff. See more about personnel files in this sample personnel file policy. Personnel File Access Policy
All employees, former employees, and representatives of employees may view certain documents from their personnel file with advance notice to Human Resources staff. Documents that relate to the employee's qualifications for hire may be viewed. Documents that may not be reviewed are also described. Job Search Tip: How Employers Hire an Employee
Sometimes when you're job searching, the wait at each step in the hiring process can feel interminable. check. Perhaps some insight into the steps an employer takes to hire an employee will help you understand what is going on behind the scenes. It's really not about you, for the most part. To recruit and hire an employee usually starts with a recruitment planning meeting, and moves on from there until the employes hires an employee. Fair Labor Standards Act
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), first enacted by the United States Congress in 1938, sets standards for the basic minimum wage and overtime pay. The FSLA also sets standards for recordkeeping and for child labor. The FLSA affects most private and public sector employment, including state, local, and federal government. Severance Pay
Severance pay is money that an employer might want to provide for an employee who is leaving their employ. Normal circumstances that might warrant severance pay include layoffs, job elimination, and mutual agreement to part ways for whatever reason. Severance pay usually amounts to a week or two of pay for each year of service to the company. In some instances, a severance package might include extended benefits and outplacement assistance. Human Resources Information System (HRIS)
The Human Resource Information System (HRIS is a software or online solution for the data entry, data tracking, and data information needs of the Human Resources function within a business. Normally packaged as a data base, hundreds of companies sell some form of HRIS and every HRIS has different capabilities. Pick your HRIS carefully based on the capabilities you need in your company. I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification)
The Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9) is the form that is required by the Department of Homeland Security - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to document eligibility for employment in the United States. All employees, citizens and noncitizens, hired after November 6, 1986, must complete Section 1 of this form at the time of hire, the actual beginning of employment. Wholesome Organic Profits
Recent corporate financial scandals have called into question the quality of corporate earnings. Find out how twenty-two big companies thrive and prosper by consistently producing high-quality organic growth and homegrown profits. Organic growth does foster successful employees, company profit, satisfied customers, and measurable contributions. How to Fire an Employee: Legally, Ethically
Assuming that you have taken all possible steps to help an employee improve their work performance, it may be time to fire the employee. These are the legal and the ethical steps in how to fire an employee. Ensure that the company's actions are above reproach. How you fire an employee sends a powerful to your remaining staff - either positive or negative. How you fire an employee matters. Career Savvy
Career Savvy focuses on your life long career: how to find a career, how to progress in your career, possibilities for careers, switching careers, and how your career fits in your life. Think about becoming a regular reader of the Career Savvy blog. Team Norms Sample
Every team has two components that team members must pay attention to if the team is going to succeed. The team must pay attention to the content (or goals or outcomes expected). The team must also carefully shape and monitor the process it uses to accomplish the goals. Here are sample team process norms or guidelines that a team might use to effectively conduct its business. Top Ten Ways to Be Happy at Work
Working at Google sounds very cool. I'd be the first to tout Google as a motivating employer: free food, fun ... Google and other top 100 employers provide best workplaces. But, perks that enable employees to spend all their time at work exploit people and destroy life balance. So, even the best employer may not be best for everyone. These are the factors that will help you find happiness at work. Keeping the People You Really Need in the Outsourced Economy
The outsourced economy is here to stay. As a leader, you may not relish the idea of outsourcing. However, the reality is that you may soon need to. When that happens, you will want a workforce that is nimble, adaptable, and prepared to participate in your organization at a new level of competitiveness. Organizations that partner with their employees will retain those employees when they have the opportunity to become free agents. Handbook Introduction
Use this employee handbook introduction as the basis for your introduction to your employee handbook. Customize this handbook introductory letter for your company's needs. Handbook Acknowledgement of Receipt
Use this employee handbook acknowledgement of receipt as the basis for your employee signoff for receipt of your employee handbook. Customize this handbook acknowledgerment letter for your company’s needs. Cell Phone Policy Sample for Workplaces
You can make this cell phone policy the basis for your work place cell phone policy. This cell phone policy sample is not to be construed as legal advice. Concealed Weapons Sample Policy
This is a sample, simple concealed weapons policy for workplaces. Please utilize this policy to form the basis for your work concealed weapons policy. This concealed weapons policy sample is not to be construed as legal advice. What Makes a Bad Boss - Bad?
Nothing sparks more commentary than asking about what makes a manager a bad boss. With my Web site poll and its lengthy comments thread, I found some common themes in site visitor responses. Want to avoid becoming a bad boss? Afraid that you may already be considered a bad boss? Just want to commiserate with other people who have bad bosses? Here are the pertinent themes about bad bosses. Top 10 Principles of Employee Empowerment
Looking for real management advice about people? You want to create an environment in which people are empowered, productive, and happy. Don't hobble them by limiting their tools or information. Trust them to do the right thing. These are the most important principles for managing people. They reinforce employee empowerment, accomplishment, and contribution. These actions enable people to soar. Strategic Planning Pitfalls - to Avoid
I have mixed feelings about what many companies call strategic planning but creating an overall direction for your company, office, or work group is necessary for success. People need to feel as if they are part of something bigger than themselves. At the same time, they need clear direction to know what "bigger thing" they are part of. Learn strategic planning pitfalls to avoid. Develop a Drug-free Workplace
In a drug-free workplace, the employer has taken steps and initiated policies to ensure that employees, vendors, and customers are not taking or using alcohol or drugs, selling drugs, or affected by the after effects of indulging in alcohol or drugs outside of the workplace during non-work time. Additionally, the goal of a drug free workplace program is to encourage an employee with a substance abuse problem to seek treatment, attain recovery and return to work. To Drink or Not to Drink?
To drink or not to drink at work related events is a question every employee has to ponder for one occasion or another. Whether the business occasion is lunch during an interview, the company holiday party, or a staff networking event on Friday afternoon, alcohol is usually an option. My limit is two. How about you? Make your decision about how much to drink before you are faced with choices. Stop Being Miserable at Work
Are you miserable at work? Do you never feel good about heading to work? Do you feel unchallenged, unhappy, or not in control? Is your boss the worst? Do your coworkers engage in unjustifiable complaining. If you continue to participate in any of these situations, you will ensure that you will continue to hate your job. And, hating your job is the centerpiece for a miserable life. Why go there? Job Descriptions: Why Effective Job Descriptions Make Good Business Sense
Effectively developed, job descriptions are communication tools that are significant in your organization's success. Poorly written job descriptions, on the other hand, add to workplace confusion and hurt communication. Here's why effective job descriptions are so important. Preventing Predictable Decision Making Errors
Predictable errors in decision making are preventable errors. And a few simple techniques can help you steer clear of the most common wrong turns in decision making. They can get you to your go point, that decisive moment when the essential information has been gathered, the pros and cons weighed, and the time has come to get off the fence and make your decision. Learn more about decision making. How to Create Team Norms
The members of every team and work group develop particular ways of interacting with each other over time. Effective interpersonal communication among members and successful communication with managers and employees external to the team are critical components of team functioning. With the potential power of the impact of these interactions on team success, why leave team interaction to chance? Form team relationship guidelines or team norms early to ensure team success. Learn about team norms. How to Develop Group Norms: Step by Step to Adopt Group Guidelines
The members of every team and work group develop particular ways of interacting with each other over time. Effective interpersonal communication among group members and successful communication with managers and employees external to the team are critical components of group functioning. With the potential power of the impact of these interactions on group success, why leave group member interaction to chance? Adopt group relationship guidelines or group norms early to ensure group success. How to Respond to a Reference Check
Checking job or employment references is time-consuming and frequently unsatisfactory, as many employers, despite recent legislation, refuse to offer more than dates of employment, salary history and job title. Here is the format I use to check references. Take a look; it provides a format for reference checking that you'll find helpful. Paid Time Off Policy
Definition of the paid time off approach to employee vacation, sick days, and personal days for the human resources glossary of human resources related terms. Paid time off has advantages and disadvantages that are explored in this definition of paid time off. The Family and Medical Leave Act
As most employers are now aware, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires covered employers to provide twelve weeks of unpaid leave to eligible employees within a 12-month period. The FMLA applies to private employers with 50 or more employees, and to all public employers. Learn the answers to several common questions you may have about the Family and Medical Leave Act. Three Shining Work Moments Ice Breaker
Looking for a winning team building ice breaker that you can use for meetings, training classes, team building sessions, and company events and activities? My three Shining moments ice breaker makes group cohesiveness and cooperation a natural extension of this team building ice breakers. Your participants will learn to know and appreciate each others' strengths with this ice breaker. A New Role for HR: Support Your Company's Brand
"I once read an article in which Mickey Mantle tells about a recurring dream. He's racing to get to Yankee Stadium in a panic, because he's late for the game. To his horror the gates to the field are locked. He finds a hole in the centerfield fence and sticks his head through. As he tries to wiggle through the small hole he wakes up drenched in sweat!” Like Mickey Mantle, one HR challenge … Job Interview Tips: How to Interview Potential Employees
The job interview is a powerful factor in the employee selection process in most organizations. While the job interview may not deserve all the attention that the job interview receives, it is still a powerful force in hiring. Other background checking and work history references provide much less personalized and more factual information, and hopefully, you have also added these checks to your hiring decisions, too. But the job interview remains key to assessing the candidate's cultural fit. How to Implement a Book Club at Work
Looking for an easy way to share information and develop employees at work? Form a book club in which a group of employees voluntarily read the same book. Combine the book reading with a regularly scheduled discussion meeting to double the impact of the book. Ask one employee to lead the discussion about the week's assigned chapter or two. Ask a second employee to lead the discussion about the relevance of the book's teachings to your organization. You'll magnify learning from the book club. The Five of Anything Ice Breaker
Looking for a winning team building ice breaker that you can use for meetings, training classes, team building sessions, and company events and activities? My five of anything ice breaker makes group cohesiveness and cooperation a natural extension of the discussion when you use this team building ice breaker. The Bottom Line for Employee Retention
Want the bottom line when it comes to employee retention? The quality of the supervision an employee receives is critical to employee retention. People leave managers and supervisors more often than they leave companies or jobs. Learn how to help your managers address employee retention. Build an Organization Based on Values
"Our people are our most important asset." You’ve heard these words many times, if you work in the human resources field. Yet how many organizations act as if they really believe these words? Not many. These words are the clear expression of a value, and values are visible through the actions people take, not their talk. Magnify the Retention Value of Your 401k Plan
Tired of feeling as if your 401k plan doesn't get the appreciation and participation it deserves? You can maximize the impact of your 401k retirement plan to benefit the people you employ. These necessary and recommended actions will help you create an appreciated, valued benefit that helps you achieve your business goals. Your 401k Plan is a Recruiting Magnet
Competitive base pay, medical insurance and a 401(k) plan are the must have benefits necessary to attract and keep talent in your company. Read more about retirement resources and your 401(k) plan, including how to use it for recruiting. Human Resources Director Job Description Sample
This is a sample job description for a Human Resources Director. While all Human Resources Director job descriptions need to be customized to meet the needs of the organization in which they serve, this sample Human Resources Director job description will give you ideas and sample phrasing, too. The Americans With Disabilities Act - An Employer’s Responsibilities
The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) makes it unlawful for an employer with 15 or more employees to discriminate against a qualified individual with a disability. The Michigan Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act, which is similar to the ADA in many respects, covers employers with one or more employees; other states may similarly define different laws for workplace treatment of people with disabilities. This article addresses disability law issues relevant to employers. Resignation Letter
Definitions for a letter of resignation or a resignation letter for the human resources glossary of human resources related terms. Resignation Letter Sample
Sample, simple letter of resignation or a resignation letter for the human resources policy, checklist, procedure, and samples directory. How to Change Your Culture: Organizational Culture Change
Are you ready to change the culture that exists in your organization? Your assessment of your organizational culture may make you happy; your organizational culture assessment may make you sad. Whatever your organizational culture assessment teaches you about your culture, though, your culture is what it is. To change your organizational culture, to enhance your organizational culture, to benefit from your organizational culture, you need to see and understand your culture. Take the first step. Meet and Greet Meeting Icebreakers
Want to know more about creating quick, fun ice breakers for meetings? I am a proponent of ice breakers that reinforce the content and goal accomplishment of a team building or training session. There is a place, however, for a fun ice breaker whose only purpose is to help session attendees know each other. Here are ice breakers that take time to prep, but are quick to do at the meeting. HR as Product: Be the Brand of Choice
It is time for Human Resources practitioners to rethink their role and that of the HR department, not only for the purposes of contributing to the organization's bottom line, but also for their own survival. Read more about tips for image, reputation, and brand. Twenty Dumb Things Organizations Do to Mess Up Their Relationship With People
Even the best organizations periodically make mistakes in dealing with people. Here are twenty mistakes that organizations make - mistakes that mess up their relationship with their employees. Top Ten Ways to Turn Off a New Employee
New Employee Orientation is a critical factor in helping a new person develop a productive, lasting relationship with your organization. Learn the top ten ways to turn off a new employee. Employee Orientation: Keeping New Employees on Board
You want your new employee to experience his new job as a major turn on. Here are tips, tools, and examples for new employee orientation processes that promote longevity and loyalty. Dress Code for Work: Manufacturing and Office
The Company's objective, in establishing a dress code, is to enable employees to project a professional, business-like image while experiencing the comfort and advantages of more casual and relaxed clothing. Casual dress is the standard for this dress code that differentiates between clothing worn in manufacturing and clothing worn in the office. Learn more about casual dress in this dress code. Dress Code: Letter of Introduction
The Company's objective, in establishing a dress code, is to enable employees to project a professional, business-like image while experiencing the comfort and advantages of more casual and relaxed clothing. This letter is a sample letter to introduce the concept of the dress code to your managers and supervisors. Policy Receipt Acknowledgement Sample
The Company's objective, in establishing a dress code, is to enable employees to project a professional, business-like image while experiencing the comfort and advantages of more casual and relaxed clothing. This policy receipt acknowledgement allows you to track that every employee has received and understands the new policy. Trust Rules: The Most Important Secret About Trust
Without trust, you have nothing. Trust forms the foundation for effective communication, employee retention, and employee motivation and contribution of discretionary energy, the extra effort that people voluntarily invest in work. When trust is present, everything else is easier. Learn more about how to build trust in your workplace. How to Hold a Difficult Conversation
If you manage people, work in Human Resources, or care about your friends at work, chances are good that one day you will need to hold a difficult conversation. As an example, people dress inappropriately and unprofessionally for work; personal hygiene is sometimes unacceptable. These steps will help you hold difficult conversations when people need professional feedback. How to Win the Job Search Competition
Reasons for hiring one employee over another are as varied as the employers hiring employees. But, there are critical factors that can help you win the job search competition. Employees who were hired did a lot of things right. Better, they did almost nothing wrong. Find out why Mary got the job. Creating a Mentoring Culture
More than ever before, organizations, large and small, are looking outside traditional mentoring paradigms to raise the bar on the practice of mentoring by creating a mentoring culture. A mentoring culture continuously focuses on building the mentoring capacity, competence, and capability of the organization. Discover the hallmarks of a mentoring culture. Culture: Your Environment for People at Work
People in every workplace talk about organization culture, the mysterious word that characterizes a work environment. One of the key questions when employers hire an employee explores whether the candidate is a good “cultural fit”. Culture is difficult to define, but you generally know when you have found an employee who appears to fit your organizational culture. Learn more about organizational culture. How to Understand Your Current Culture
Are you ready to take a look at the culture that exists in your organization? Your assessment of your culture may make you happy; your assessment may make you sad. Whatever your culture assessment teaches you about your culture, though, your culture is what it is. To change your culture, to enhance your culture, to benefit from your culture, you need to see and understand your culture. Take the first step. Job Search Tip: Prep Your References for a Reference Check
Prepping your references can make all the difference in whether you get the job you want or not. A positive reference check is a priority in the hiring decisions of many employers. Make sure your references are prepared to respond favorably when the potential employer calls for a reference check. Change Management Tips
As the speed of change continues to increase, change management is a fundamental competency needed by managers, supervisors, Human Resources staff, and organization leaders. To tap your wisdom, my recent survey about change management afforded me the opportunity to consolidate hundreds of years of experience in change management. Here, in your words, is your best advice about change management. Change Lessons From the Field
Change is possible; the need for change is increasing; change capability is necessary for organizations that will succeed in the future. So say the respondents to my recent survey about change management success. Check out the first installment of results! Much more to come! Communication in Change Management
You cannot over-communicate when you are asking your organization to change. Every successful executive, who has led a change management effort, in my experience, makes this statement. I have never worked with a client organization in which employees were completely happy with communication. Communication is one of the toughest issues in organizations. Learn more. Change Management Lessons About Employee Involvement
Change can succeed. Effective change management helps change succeed. The role of employee involvement in change management is explored. Your change management efforts can succeed. Learn more about change management. Executive Support and Leadership in Change Management
Change is possible; the need for change is increasing; change capability is necessary for organizations that will succeed in the future; effective change management strategies rule. Learn about executive support and leadership for change management. Check out the results of my change management survey about the impact of executive support and leadership in change management. Planning and Analysis in Change Management
Change is possible; the need for change is increasing; change capability is necessary for organizations that will succeed in the future; effective change management strategies rule. Learn about planning and analysis in change management. Check out the results of my change management survey about the affect of effective planning and analysis in change management. Build Support for Effective Change Management
Change can succeed. Effective change management helps change succeed. The role of building support for change prior to the change and during the change in change management is explored. Your change management efforts can succeed. Learn more about building support for change. Change Management Wisdom
As the speed of change continues to increase, change management is a fundamental competency needed by managers, supervisors, Human Resources staff, and organization leaders. To tap your wisdom, my recent survey about change management afforded me the opportunity to consolidate hundreds of years of experience in change management. Here, in your words, is your best advice about change management. Top Ten Reasons to Quit Your Job
Are you feeling increasingly unhappy about your job? Then, it may be time for you to quit your job. Or, address the issues that you dislike about your current career. Without leaving your job, you may be able to solve the problems. Take a look at these reasons to determine whether it's time to quit your current job. Perhaps you can identify adjustments that will re-invigorate your job and career. How to Make Your Current Job Work
Are you feeling increasingly unhappy about your job? Then, it may be time for you to quit your job. Or, address the issues that you dislike about your current career. Without leaving your job, you may be able to solve the problems. Take a look at these reasons to determine whether it's time to quit your current job. Perhaps you can identify adjustments that will re-invigorate your job and career. Email and Internet Policy
This is a sample simple, straightforward email and Internet policy. Please utilize to form the basis for your work email and Internet policies. This policy sample is not to be construed as legal advice. Hostile Environment Claims – Not Limited to Sexual Harassment
Most employers are aware of problems related to and have adopted policies prohibiting sexual harassment. An employer who limits its anti-harassment efforts to claims of sexual harassment, however, does so at its own risk. Both the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) have taken the position that conduct constituting harassment on the basis of any protected class is unlawful. Employee Onboarding: One Chance for a Positive New Employee Experience
In the talent management universe, the new employee orientation and mainstreaming process is known as “employee onboarding.” Keeping in mind that you never get a second chance to make a first impression, your business should make absolutely sure that new hires feel welcomed, valued, and prepared for what lies ahead during your new employee orientation or onboarding process. Learn more. Play Well With Others: Develop Effective Work Relationships
You can submarine your job and career by the relationships you form at work. No matter your education, experience, or title, if you can't play well with others, you won't succeed. Effective relationships create success and satisfaction on the job. Learn more about seven effective work relationship musts. How to Ask for a Pay Raise
Want more money than you're currently making? If your goal is to stay in your current job working for your present employer, you'll need to ask for a pay raise. Planning and preparation are key when you ask for a pay raise. So are timing, your employer's pay practices, and the market-based pay rates for your job. Nine Recruiting and Selection Tips to Ensure Successful Hiring
These nine tips will help you in recruiting and hiring a candidate who will become a successful, contributing superior employee. Learn how job analysis helps you in recruiting and hiring a superior staff. Recognition Success Tips: Recognition or Entitlement?
These tips about reward and recognition will help you create a profitable business and develop the talented workforce you need for progress, resiliency and agility. What makes reward and recognition memorable? The element of surprise is big for effective reward and recognition. Learn more. Conduct a Simple Training Needs Assessment
Want to quickly learn the training needs of a group of employees who have similar jobs? Yet, you don't want to develop and implement a survey, put the questions in a computer program, or run analyses on demographic information you collect. This training needs assessment works best in small to mid-sized organizations. It will give you a quick assessment of the training needs of an employee group. This training needs assessment helps find common training programs for a group of employees. Make More Money: Your Lifetime Income Potential
Work is about the money. Work only becomes not about the money when you have sufficient income – however you define sufficient income – to support your chosen life style. With sufficient money, work becomes about other motivations. Maximize lifetime income potential by the choices you make for your career and how you work with your employer. Learn how to maximize your lifetime income potential. The Scoop on Salary Increases
Do you believe your work is worth more money than you are making? If so, you are not alone. According to a Salary.com survey of 13,500 random visitors, sixty-five percent of respondents said they are looking for a new job within the next three months. Of those, fifty-seven percent say they are looking because they believe they are underpaid. But, you may not be underpaid. See what salary increases are available for pay raises currently. You might be surprised. Why This Resume Rocks
When employers receive 100 resumes in response to a job posting, the resume that catches your eye has to stand out from the crowd. This sample resume was accompanied by an exemplary cover letter. Here, I'll show you the resume that accompanied the cover letter that did capture my attention and tell you why. This sample resume sets a standard employers need to seek and candidates need to emulate. My Favorite Resume Cover Letter
Resume cover letters ought to matter to employers. As an employer, you are seeking the resume and resume cover letter that describe the candidate who will best fill your position. A thoughtful resume cover letter tells you that the candidate took the time to customize his application to fit your needs. Perhaps the applicant with a superior resume cover letter, will make a superior employee. Moneyball Hits a Home Run: Implications for Managers
If you're a baseball fan and in business, too, this book hits a home run. Billy Beane, the Oakland A's General Manager, had to select players he could afford. Beane used selection methods not widely accepted in baseball recruiting. He used baseball statistics to predict what a player could contribute to the team. Despite Beane's recruiting success, these statistical methods are not widely used. How to Develop and Write a Policy
You want to have the necessary policies and procedures to ensure a safe, organized, convivial, empowering, nondiscriminatory work place. Yet, you do not want to write a policy for every exception to accepted and expected behavior. Policy development is for the many employees not for the few exceptions. Learn How to Develop and Write a Policy. Smoke Free Workplace Policy for Your Company
This smoke free workplace policy guarantees that employees, customers and guests will not be subjected to second hand smoke in the workplace. No smoking and no tobacco products are allowed. Read more about this smoke free workplace policy. Becoming a Sage: The Keys to Life-long Self-development
Successful people practice life-long self-development. Studies show that successful people have similar characteristics. They are self-confident without being arrogant. This comes from being self-aware: knowing one’s strengths and weaknesses, knowing one’s goals and remaining true to one’s values and capabilities. They are willing to grow by challenging their limits of knowledge and experience. Find out how else to continue your life-long self-development. Open Door Policy: Policy Sample
Your company has adopted an Open Door Policy for all employees. This means, literally, that every manager's door is open to every employee. The purpose of our open door policy is to encourage open communication, feedback, and discussion about any matter of importance to an employee. Our open door policy means that employees are free to talk with any manager at any time. How an Open Door Policy Ought to Work
Want to bypass levels of management, strike fear in the hearts of supervisors, and undermine your chain of command? Adopt an open door policy that states any employee can talk with any level manager about any issue at any time. Isn't that the point of an open door policy, you may ask? My answer? Yes and no. Create Your Personal Vision Statement
Your personal vision statement guides your life. Your personal vision statement provides the direction necessary to guide the course of your days and the choices you make about your career. Your personal vision statement is the light shining in the darkness toward which you turn to find your way. Your personal vision statement illuminates your way. Find out how to develop your personal vision statement. How to Build a Teamwork Culture: Do the Hard Stuff With Teams
Fostering teamwork is creating a work culture that values collaboration. In a teamwork environment, people understand and believe that thinking, planning, decisions and actions are better when done cooperatively. People recognize, and even assimilate, the belief that “none of us is as good as all of us.” (High Five) It’s hard to find work places that exemplify teamwork. Learn more. . Team Building Activity: Radio-controlled Cars
Readers often send in ideas, initiatives, and team building activities and icebreakers that worked for them in their organization. It's great to have examples, and in the spirit of this article, I value your collaboration and ideas. Recently, I received a note from Keith Hamm which began: "You were asking about fun things in HR.” A fun team building activity was enclosed with his note. My Favorite Team Building Icebreaker
I've used this successful team building icebreaker for so many years that I don't remember where it originated. This team building icebreaker is fast, easy, and fun. Try out this always successful, laughter-generating, team building icebreaker. Business Management Success Tips - Space Planning Feedback
This tip about how to gain management input for people needs and space planning will give you a proven approach to try to stay one jump ahead of your company’s growth. These are the questions to ask as you plan space for people. How Real Women Get Ahead: The Woman’s Advantage at Work
Forget what you’ve heard about “being one of the boys,” “having it all,” and “going for the jugular.” Here is how real working women get ahead. Working women favor smarts and skills over sexy, communicate superbly, and earn and learn from line management positions. Learn more about how real working women get ahead: the woman’s advantage at work. Communication Success Tips: Interpersonal Communication Dynamics
Each of us is a radar machine constantly scoping out our environment. Human beings are sensitive to body language, facial expression, posture, movement, tone of voice and more. To effectively communicate, these interpersonal communication dynamics must match your words. Leadership and Management Success Tips: Business Management Success Tips - Why Human Resources Leaders Need Degrees
Human Resources leaders need degrees. If you are considering a career in Human Resources, or trying to advance your current HR career, a Bachelors degree, and even a Masters degree, will assist you to achieve your goals and dreams. As organizational expectations of the potential contributions of an HR pro have increased, the need for the HR leader to possess both experience and a degree has increased, too. Find out why a degree is essential. Job Interview Match Dance
People forget that the purpose of a job interview is not just to get the job. Sound strange to you? It’s not. You go to a job interview to discover whether your talents, abilities, interests and direction are a good fit for the job, the company, and the company’s mission. Learn more about the match that needs to occur during a job interview for a subsequently successful employment relationship. About What Employees Want From Work: Employee Motivation
Every person has different reasons for working. The reasons for working are as individual as the person. But, we all work because we obtain something that we need from work. The something obtained from work impacts morale, employee motivation, and the quality of life. To create positive employee motivation, treat employees as if they matter - because employees matter. These ideas will help you fulfill what people want from work and create employee motivation. Tips for Managing Stress and Change at Work
Stress is normal. Everyone feels stress related to work, family, decisions, your future, and more. Stress is both physical and mental. It is caused by major life events such as illness, the death of a loved one, a change in responsibilities or expectations at work, and job promotions, loss, or changes. Read on to understand the impact of stress and stress in the workplace. Understanding Stress and Workplace Stress
Stress is normal. Everyone feels stress related to work, family, decisions, your future, and more. Stress is both physical and mental. It is caused by major life events such as illness, the death of a loved one, a change in responsibilities or expectations at work, and job promotions, loss, or changes. Read on to understand the impact of stress and stress in the workplace. Leadership and Management Success Tips: Recruiting and Staffing Success Tips - Second Interview Tip
Genentech, Fortune magazine’s pick as the best company to work for, regards recruiting talented employees as a top priority. Recruiting the “right” employees is a lengthy process that can include a candidate returning to the company to interview 5-6 times. A candidate may participate in as many as 20 interviews. I’ll bet other best companies approach employee selection with just as much care. So should you. Genentech: Best Companies' Practices
Genentech has a mission, vision, and cultural values that thoroughly engage staff. Ninety-five percent of Genentech employees own stock in their best company. Genentech is philanthropically and community outreach oriented. Genentech provides a leading edge package of benefits and perks to their employees. Learn more. Employment Terminations – How To Avoid Legal Problems
The decision to terminate an individual’s employment carries with it the risk of a possible legal challenge. Depending upon an employer’s policies or whether an employee has an employment contract, an employee may, for example, have a breach of contract or “wrongful discharge” claim. Learn the right questions to ask before you terminate an employee's employment. Leadership and Management Success Tips: Business Management Success Tips: How to Manage Gossip
These leadership and management tips will help you create effective interpersonal relationships. This leadership and management tip about interpersonal relationships will speed up your progress and profitability. Plan Your Recruiting to Ensure Successful Candidate Selection
Do you select new employees based largely on an attractive resume and the candidate’s performance at the resultant interview? If so, you are missing the opportunity to use additional recruiting and screening methods that will ensure a superior hire. Learn how a recruiting planning meeting can ensure you hire candidates who will perform successfully in your work place. Quick Start Learning Guide: Strategic Planning
Want to learn about strategic planning quickly and efficiently? Don't want to read all the site resources about strategic planning and strategic Human Resources just yet? These are the articles I'd like you to read in this order and why. This is the quick path to learning about strategic planning. Business Management Success Tips - Why HR Should Report to the CEO
People are the most important resource of your business. One of your biggest challenges will be attracting and retaining a superior workforce. Your HR staff members are key players in recruiting and retaining staff. Your HR staff should also lead your efforts in training and organization development. They are the heart of helping you form a positive, employee and customer-oriented culture. Provide Motivational Employee Recognition
You can avoid the employee recognition traps that: single out one or a few employees who are mysteriously selected for the recognition; sap the morale of the many who failed to win, place, or even show; confuse people who meet the criteria yet were not selected; or sought votes or other personalized, subjective criteria to determine winners. Learn more. Five Tips for Effective Employee Recognition: How to Reward, Recognize, Award, and Thank People
Employee recognition is not just a nice thing to do for people. Employee recognition is a communication tool that reinforces the important outcomes people create for your business. When you recognize people effectively, you reinforce, with your chosen means of recognition, the actions and behaviors you most want to see people repeat. An employee recognition system is powerfully reinforcing. Sample Hourly Employee Attendance Policy
Excellent attendance is an expectation of all employees of Your Company, Inc. Daily attendance is especially important for hourly employees whose customers and coworkers have the expectation of on-time product shipping and delivery. Emergency personal time is made available to employees for such unscheduled events as personal illness, immediate family member illness, and doctor appointments. See a sample attendance policy. Ten Days to a Happier, More Successful Career and Life
”We hold these truths to be self-evident,” said our Founding Fathers. The truths you will discover over the next ten days or lessons are self-evident, too, but they are profoundly difficult to practice. Even as I write this series, I find myself questioning whether I am practicing what I am recommending. So, consider the pursuit of happiness and success in work and life - a journey. These practices will get you started on that success journey. How to Take Responsibility for Your Life
You are totally responsible for your life. This is the foundation principle you must embrace if you plan for happiness and success in life and work. The most important aspect of taking responsibility for your life is to listen to the little voice in your head. We tend to become what we think about most of the time. Your thoughts are powerful. Learn more. Stay the Course or Change the Course: Practice Persistence and Self-discipline
Practicing the self-discipline and persistence to stick with the course you’ve set to attain your goals and purpose is the single most important factor in determining whether you will achieve them. Self-discipline to stick with the direction you have set, or to purposefully change it, allows you to persist every day on your journey. Note that purposefully changing your course, is perfectly okay. Drifting away is not. Learn more. Identify and Live Your Personal Values
Values are traits or qualities that are considered worthwhile; they represent your highest priorities and deeply held driving forces. When you are part of any organization, you bring your deeply held values and beliefs to the organization. There they co-mingle with those of the other members to create an organization or family culture. Your Ten Toughest Questions - Asked and Answered
Regular emails from readers ask hundreds of questions each year. Patterns emerge about the toughest situations you face in your organizations. These are the ten toughest, but most frequent questions you send my way. I’ve written a how-to piece to answer each question you’ve asked. These articles address and answer your toughest questions. Holiday Pay Practices: Do You Know What Your Legal Requirements Are?
The end of the year is a good time to review your company’s holiday pay practices. This article answers common questions regarding holiday pay related issues. Most Popular Topics at the Human Resources Website
Looking for some of the most popular topics on the human resources site? New articles and articles I blog usually become the most popular topics for a time. But these ten pieces are among the site’s most popular topics about human resources issues over time. Enjoy reading. How to Deal With a Negative Coworker: Negativity Matters
Some people exude negativity. They don’t like their jobs or they don’t like their company. Their bosses are always jerks and they are always treated unfairly. The company is always going down the tube and customers are worthless. You know these negative Neds and Nellies – every organization has some – and you can best address their impact on you via avoidance. Quick Start Learning Guide: Performance Management and Development
Want to learn about performance management quickly and efficiently? Don't want to take the email class in performance management and performance development planning? These are the articles I'd like you to read in this order and why. This is the quick path to learning about performance management and performance development planning. Holiday Stress Hotspots: Manage Stress with Knowledge
There are four main causes of holiday stress: gift giving obligations, expenses, a lack of time, and unrealistic expectations about creating a perfect holiday. To reduce holiday stress, arm yourself with knowledge. Know the ins and outs of these top four holiday stress hotspots and follow these effective stress-reducing tips. The Five Causes of Employee Negativity
The typical workplace has its ups and downs in terms of employee negativity. Many workplaces are trying to be employee oriented. But, even the most employee oriented workplace can shudder under the weight of negative thinking. When employers understand the causes of employee negativity and put in place measures to prevent employee negativity, negativity fails to gain a foothold in the work environment. Learn the five key causes of employee negativity. Appreciating Diversity During the Holidays: Diversity’s About More Than Just a Simple "Happy Holidays" Greeting Card
Guess who's not celebrating Christmas this year? Millions of people in the United States. That's right. Tens of millions of Americans don't hold Christmas religious or holiday celebrations either as followers of non-Christian religions (Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Jews) or as individuals with no religious affiliation. Find out more about honoring diversity and religious or holiday celebrations. Training and Development for Motivation and Retention: Training and Development Options
One key factor in employee motivation and retention is the opportunity to continue to grow and develop job and career enhancing skills. There are a couple of secrets to what employees want from training and development opportunities, however. Plus, training and development opportunities are not just found in training classes and seminars. Learn more about what employees want in training and development opportunities. Progressive Discipline Warning Form: Counseling Record for Disciplinary Warning
Disciplinary action is sometimes necessary when an employee's behavior is negatively impacting his or her work, his or her coworkers' work, or the workplace. This disciplinary warning form documents the discipline warning. This disciplinary warning form also documents and records the coaching or counseling discussion that accompanied the discipline warning. Employee Recognition Rocks: Kick Employee Recognition Up a Notch
Employee recognition is limited in most organizations. Employees complain about the lack of recognition regularly. Managers ask, “Why should I recognize or thank him? He’s just doing his job.” And, life at work is busy, busy, busy. These factors combine to create work places that fail to provide recognition for employees. Managers who prioritize employee recognition understand the power of recognition. How to Implement Strategic Planning: Vision Statement, Mission Statement, Values, More
In an earlier article, I gave you a strategic planning framework, samples, and examples for creating your organization’s mission statement, vision statement, and more. As a result of the strategic planning article, people ask: now that I know what all of this strategic planning should look like, how do I actually make strategic planning happen in my organization? This strategic planning question strikes at the heart of how to make change of any kind happen in your organization. Find out how. Profit from Life’s Losses: Find Significance
Sometimes life throws us unexpected curve balls. When you get yours - and we all will at one time or another - how you choose to respond to it will set the course for the rest of your life. John Chappelear, author of "The Daily Six" says, "When I received my 'Gift of Desperation' I began to notice, FINALLY, something was missing in my life. It wasn’t success that was missing. It was significance." Upon this realization, he set upon a path to find significance - and he found it. Learn more. Network Your Way to a New Job or Career: Connections Made by Business Networking Are the Key to Finding a Job
Many people think of business networking as circulating around a room and exchanging business cards. But a broader view of business networking is creating a pool of contacts from which you can draw leads, referrals, ideas, and information for your job search. You can network without ever attending an official business or social networking event, although attending events is useful in networking. Find out more about how to do business networking successfully. When Management Systems Fail: Why Employees Don’t Do What You Want Them to Do
Managers perennially ask why employees don’t do what they are supposed to do. While part of the responsibility falls on choices individual employees make, managers need to shoulder part of the blame, too. Employees want to succeed at work. I don’t know a single person who gets up in the morning and says, “I think I’ll go to work to fail today.” Many of the reasons employee responsibility fails is due to a failure in the employee management systems. Resume Cover Letters Matter: Why Resume Cover Letters Should Matter to Employers
Job searching specialists and career counselors recommend that job applicants write a customized resume cover letter to accompany each resume sent to an employer. They’re right. As an employer, a customized resume cover letter matters. A resume cover letter saves you time, connects the candidate’s relevant experience to your advertised job, and provides insight into the candidate’s skills, characteristics, and experience. Look for a resume cover letter from a good applicant. Gone in Thirty Seconds: How to Review a Resume
The work of resume review starts well before applicant resumes fill your inbox. Reviewing a resume starts with a job description or role profile so you know broadly what the job entails. Part of the job description, in an effective job description, details the qualifications and experience of the candidate you seek to fill the job. Find out how to effectively review resumes to select superior candidates. Inspirational Quotes for Business and Work: Trust and Trustworthiness
Looking for an inspirational quote or a business quotation for your newsletter, business presentation, bulletin board or inspirational posters? These trust and trustworthiness quotes are useful to help motivation and inspiration. These quotes about trust and trustworthiness will help you create success in business, success in management and success in life. Management Skill Job Interview Questions
The following sample job interview questions about management and supervisory skills enable you to assess your candidate’s skill in the management and supervision of employees. Feel free to use these job interview questions in your own candidate interviews. Top Job Interview Questions to Help You Select the Best
The job interview is a powerful factor in the employee selection process. You can use behavioral-based job interview questions to help you select superior candidates. Ask interview questions that help you identify whether the candidate has the behaviors, skills, and experience needed for the job you are filling. Review sample job interview questions, both legal job interview questions and illegal job interview questions. Interpersonal Skills Job Interview Questions
The following sample job interview questions about interpersonal skills enable you to assess your candidate’s skill in interpersonal and work relationships. Feel free to use these job interview questions in your own candidate interviews. Team Work Job Interview Questions
The following sample job interview questions about teams and team work enable you to assess your candidate’s skill in working with teams. Feel free to use these job interview questions in your own candidate interviews. Leadership Job Interview Questions
The following sample job interview questions about leadership enable you to assess your candidate’s skill in leadership. Feel free to use these job interview questions in your own candidate interviews. Motivation Job Interview Questions
The following sample job interview questions about motivation enable you to assess what motivates the candidate you are interviewing. Feel free to use these job interview questions in your own candidate interviews. Communication Job Interview Questions
The following sample job interview questions about communication enable you to assess your candidate’s skill in communication. Feel free to use these job interview questions in your own candidate interviews. When Tragedy Strikes: Eleven Tips for Your Workplace Response
A national tragedy or a personal tragedy has a huge impact at work. And, workplaces can help people successfully weather the tragedy. They can ease the passage people experience during tragedy. They can help people deal with the helplessness and grief they experience during tragedy. They can provide a support system to help prop people up. Find our more about the workplace response to tragedy. Job Offer Letter
Looking for a sample job offer letter? Your candidates appreciate the job offer terms spelled out in detail. Use this job offer letter as a base for developing your own employment offer. Executive Job Offer Letter Sample: Introduction and Sample Executive Job Offer
Looking for a sample job offer letter for the executive, director, or other high level employee? Your candidates appreciate the job offer terms spelled out in detail. Use this executive job offer letter as a base for developing your own executive employment offer. Sales Representative Job Offer Letter Sample: Introduction and Sample Sales Job Offer
Looking for a sample job offer letter for a sales candidate? Your candidates appreciate the job offer terms spelled out in detail. Use this job offer letter as a base for developing your own employment offer for your sales candidate. Managing Millennials
The millennials joining your workforce now were born between 1980 and 2000. Unlike the Gen-Xers and the Boomers, the Millennials have developed work characteristics and tendencies from doting parents, structured lives, and contact with diverse people. Learn more about millennials. Three Tips for Business Blogs While 43 percent of online weblog or blog readers visit political/news blogs, the percentage of the online audience reading blogs is skyrocketing. Why does this growing blog readership matter? A business blog is an ideal way to highlight your successful company and products to prospective employees, vendors, customers, and your industry. Convinced you need a business blog? Use t |