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Faces of HR: Jeff Ostermann on His Best Mistake, Seizing the Moment, & Making a Positive Impact

Before Jeff Ostermann got his start in the HR industry, he held various finance and business leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies. Now with nearly three years of skin in the HR industry, Ostermann says stepping into a Chief People Officer role was a “natural evolution.” “Throughout my prior business career, I had always been […]

4 Technologies to Ease the Work of L&D Pros in 2022

The demand for learning and development (L&D) specialists has almost doubled around the world during 2021, immensely increasing pressure and reducing time for personal learning to a minimum, says LinkedIn’s 2022 Workplace Learning report. L&D experts questioned for the report mentioned technology use as one of the key areas they need to improve to overcome […]

Back to the Salt Mines: Not a Veiled Antiunion Threat

President Joe Biden has made clear he intends to be “the most pro-union president you’ve ever seen.” The National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) recent initiatives under the direction of General Counsel (GC) Jennifer Abruzzo are definitely in line with the administration’s pro-union regulatory agenda. Abruzzo has recently targeted what employers may communicate regarding unionization. What […]

A Good Mentor Can Keep Your Potential Jedis from Turning to the Dark Side

As if that title didn’t give it away, I’m kind of a sci-fi nerd. I don’t speak Klingon, and I’ve never watched a single episode of Dr. Who, but my current reading list includes a revisit of Foundation, I have a Starship Enterprise pizza cutter, and I lose more time than I like to admit […]

Thinking Differently About Incentivizing High Performance

The traditional employment relationship is a relatively straightforward exchange between employee and employer whereby an employee provides labor in exchange for money and benefits—health insurance, paid leave, etc. An employee’s incentive to do adequate work is the desire to keep his or her job; fail to meet expectations on an ongoing basis, and sooner or […]

SCOTUS Abortion Ruling Raises Complex Policy Problems for Employers

A number of high-profile companies are speaking out against the U.S. Supreme Court’s (SCOTUS) decision overruling Roe v. Wade, and they are backing up their criticism by vowing to help employees wishing to travel for legal abortions. But employers taking such action may face tricky legal issues.

SHRM 2022 Recap: HR’s New Role in the World of Work

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) hosted its annual conference and expo in New Orleans June 12–15. HR professionals, executives, managers, and students gathered from all over the country to connect and learn together. Over 200 sessions provided expert industry insight on recruiting, career growth, HR technology, diversity and inclusion strategies, leadership skills, and […]

A Look at a Deserving and Underexplored Talent Pool

You’ve done it. You’ve found the ideal candidate for that position you’ve been trying to fill for weeks. In training and experience, the person is perfect. The interview was stellar. The employee has not only the skills you’ve been searching for but also that welcoming personality that you know instinctively will mesh beautifully with the […]

‘I Got Fired . . . But I Still Want My Commissions’

Although it involves Texas law, a recent case illustrates the pitfalls an employer can face when former employees make claims for commissions or compensation after their employment has ended. It also offers suggestions on how employers with commissioned salespeople can avoid the same traps.

TikTok as the Hottest Job-Bashing Forum

Decades ago, the grumblings, complaints, and revelations of employees were limited to the watercooler. Outside of the office, those grumblings may have found their way to the dinner table or the local watering hole, but that was about the extent of it. Today, of course, social media has dramatically expanded the reach of anyone with […]