Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Many companies are increasingly relying on informal training and mentorship as valuable parts of their learning and development programs. Mentors not only impart valuable skills to their mentees, but create positive company culture and increase employee engagement.
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! […]
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 […]
Q Can a pregnant employee start their 12 workweeks of Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave before delivery, and if so, will this shorten their amount of postpartum leave? Yes, if eligible, a pregnant employee may take their FMLA leave before the delivery of their child. For context, the FMLA is the federal law that […]
Performance evaluation—it’s hard to get it right, but, unfortunately, it’s easy—and expensive— to get it wrong. We’ve identified the 10 most common mistakes of managers and supervisors who conduct performance appraisals. We call them the “10 Sins.” Sin #1. Failure to set meaningful goals “Well, Sandy, I think we did fairly well this year, […]
In a knowledge-based economy, companies upgrade their “capital” not by overhauling outdated machinery but by upskilling their workforce. That’s because human capital is increasingly the most important asset companies possess. And while humans aren’t as static as machinery, they still need to be retooled and upgraded.
If you’ve ever thought about forgoing a background check, think again. The small expense now can save you a lot in the long run. Rotten Apple A perhaps underestimated part of the hiring process is the employee background check. Employers may find them unnecessary or not worth the expense. One Pizza Hut location started sweating […]
It seems that the number of people with allergies or sensitivities to various scents and smells has grown substantially. Some of those allergies can be severe, causing severe respiratory difficulties and other serious health issues. Questions continue to arise about the often competing rights of allergic employees and coworkers who wish to be able to […]
You take precautions to prevent workplace harassment by providing employees with up-to-date harassment policies, by training management on how to prevent harassment and by setting up an avenue for complaints. When an employee reports an instance of inappropriate behavior, you promptly investigate and respond following set procedures. But then an employee sues you, claiming a […]
Does your organization use a (paid time off) PTO bank instead of having separate vacation and sick days? It’s becoming increasingly popular for ease of administration alone. But using PTO is not without its own problems, especially if not implemented well.