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The Military Way of Writing Emails

We can learn a lot from the military. One such lesson: how to write effective emails, those that are read and understood. “How to Write Email with Military Precision” by Kabir Sehgal appeared in the Harvard Business Review on November 22, 2016, and it was an eye-opener for me! Make the Subject Line Count The […]

Beyond Discrimination: What Else Can You Be Sued for?

West, principal of Employment Practices Specialists in Pacifica, CA, offered her tips at SHRM’s Employment Law and Legislative Conference, held recently in Washington, DC. Defamation In the HR world, defamation often rears itself in relation to references. What exactly is defamation? West says that it has the following characteristics: False statement of fact (opinions are […]

Surviving R. Kelly Raises Potential Issues of Employees Aiding and Abetting Abuse

Over the holiday break, my wife and I watched the documentary series Surviving R. Kelly. In six hour-long episodes, alleged victims of R&B singer Robert Kelly (known by his stage name “R. Kelly”) provided first-hand, detailed accounts of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse by Kelly. In addition to adult women, Kelly preyed upon teenage girls, […]

COVID Vaccines: When is Employee’s Vaccination Status HIPAA-protected?

Whether an employee’s COVID-19 vaccination status is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has been (or should be) on the minds of all HR personnel as of late. That’s especially true as we await the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) impending rule that will likely require employers with 100 or more employees […]

10 Most Outrageous Things Applicants Have Done that Did and Didn’t Work

Candidates want to stand out from the crowd and be memorable. However, sometimes their outside-the-box methods work, and sometimes they just bomb. CareerBuilder had Harris Interactive Inc. ask 2,076 hiring managers and human resources professionals nationwide to share the most memorable methods candidates have used to stand out from the crowd and whether their creativity […]

Investigating Sexual Harassment Complaints: What To Do When The Victim Wants To Keep It Confidential

An employee who is being sexually harassed may want to keep matters private because of embarrassment or fear of retribution. She might complain to you, but refuse to reveal names or ask that you not disclose anything she told you. Or you might hear about the harassment from a concerned co-worker because the victim doesn’t […]

Age Does Not Dictate Talent, Drive, or Success

I recently wrote that we shouldn’t overlook the contributions the younger generation can make. In business, we often assume that experience equates with success and therefore conclude it’s unlikely that a 20-something can make a significant contribution. I think that’s complete hogwash, but so is assuming people can’t have a major career breakthrough in the […]

360 Performance Reviews—Powerful But There Are Pitfalls

By William Taylor Performance reviews and 360-degree feedback are important in any company because they help boost productivity and revenue, facilitate the assessment of potential issues at the workplace, and find sensible solutions to compel employees to do their job at their fullest potential. A 360-degree performance review has the power to transform a one-way […]

Hyatt’s Next Gen Leader on How to Win in the Age of AI

The world is changing. The world of work is changing. According to Carlee Wolfe, Associate Vice President of Leader Development at Hyatt Hotels Corporation, HR should be leading it. As a featured speaker at the upcoming Spark Talent 2025 conference, Wolfe’s vision for “Next Gen HR” is clear and bold: HR must be the driving force behind […]