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How to Stop Thinking About Work After Hours

Relaxing properly is essential to maintaining your physical and mental health. (The Japanese actually have their own word, karōshi, to refer to death from overwork.) In a professional context, failure to relax can impact the quality and quantity of work you produce. Learning not to think about work outside of working hours can, in fact, […]

May I Refuse to Hire a Pregnant Applicant?

Yesterday’s Advisor discussed interviewing candidates with disabilities; today, more on disabilities and pregnancy, plus an introduction to an extraordinary collection of pre-written job descriptions. Pregnancy and the Interview During the interview, do not ask candidates about whether they are pregnant, whether they have any pregnancy plans, or what their plans are for a family. But […]

vacation

Vacation Rules! (All Work and No Play Makes Workers Leave Your Employ)

Do you ever find it interesting that some of the most tangled topics of HR administration primarily concern the hours when your employees aren’t at work? When employees are in the workplace, we have a pretty good idea of what they should and shouldn’t be doing and how to reasonably regulate their work-related behavior. But […]

Cross-Training Methods and Metrics for Your Organization (Part 2)

Here’s another cross-training method and some useful metrics for evaluating cross-=training results. [Part 1 of this article appeared in the previous issue.] Cross-Training Across Functions Develop programs that allow employees to see what leadership within their own department is like. Or develop a program that allows employees to discover whether they’d rather be a general […]

tiger

HR ‘Don’ts’ Inspired by Netflix’s Tiger King

In the midst of our pandemic-induced self-isolation and, in many cases, mandatory shelter-in-place orders, some of you have probably used this time to better yourselves. Perhaps you’ve tried out some new recipes or began an exercise regime or learned to knit or played Monopoly with your housebound children. If that is you, I say bravo! […]

engagement

Help Employees Embrace Change with These 4 Strategies

Workplaces have changed a lot in the last decade, but in the last 2 years, the rate of that change has accelerated exponentially. In 2020, for example, we saw 10 years of technological change in just 10 months. After all, we’re in the midst of an era of change in the workplace known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. New tools […]

conference

Should You Practice Dry Runs Before Doing Product Demos?

One of the most uncomfortable aspects of many employees’ careers is the need from time to time to give a presentation or to demonstrate a product to a potential customer. Some employees get extremely nervous during such public presentations.

disaster

How to Help Your Employees in the Wake of a Natural Disaster

When natural disasters such as Hurricane Dorian strike, work may not be the first thought for those hurt and those wanting to help, but it’s not far down the list of concerns. Getting back to work is an important part of getting back to normal for many storm victims. And those not in the path […]