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Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

Employment law attorney Michael Maslanka reviews Chip Heath and Dan Heath’s book Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard, finding it both interesting and useful. Maslanka particularly focuses on the authors’ idea of fighting “the negative” by focusing on “bright spots.” In the book Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard, […]

Contracting out union work – comparing cases

By Brian P. Smeenk An interesting series of recent labor tribunal decisions provides lessons about the application of contracting out clauses in union agreements. These cases demonstrate how virtually the same collective agreement requirements can be handled quite differently, with dramatically different outcomes. They also demonstrate that contracting out bargaining unit work in the face […]

How to Determine the ROI of Your Mentorship Programs

One of the most notable studies available about the financial impact of mentorship programs was highlighted by The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania and conducted by Gartner. The study found that employees who participated in a mentorship program (mentors and mentees alike) were more likely to be promoted and/or receive salary increases and were […]

5 Tips for Tough Conversations with Employees

It’s a moment that any HR professional experiences sooner or later: a tough conversation with an employee. Maybe you’re implementing a professional improvement plan, maybe you need to discuss ways the individual can improve his or her performance, or maybe you need to implement a consequence for unprofessional behavior. No matter what the circumstance or […]

Cost

Is Cost of Living Hurting Your Chances at Retaining Top Talent?

High property taxes, student loan debt, and stagnant wages are causing many workers to be more selective in where they live and work. Because of this, many employers are missing out on top talent as more workers are choosing quality of life over working for big name brands in expensive cities.

How One HR Pro is Helping Talent Successfully Fly the Coop

Kathryn Minshew has always been fascinated when asked, “What do you want to do with your life?” When she was younger, Minshew was captivated by stories of CIA agents, ambassadors, and television characters like Alias’ Sydney Bristow – so she thought the answer to that thought-provoking question was the U.S. foreign service. However, it wasn’t […]

6Everyday Practices for Building Trust, Especially in Times of Change

When I work with our clients who are implementing an organizational change, the most critical ingredient to a successful change or transformation is always trust—trust among leaders, within teams, and across the employee culture. However, if we find that trust is missing, eroded, and/or neglected, even before the organizational change is initiated, we know we’re […]

Voluntary Benefits Can Help Employers Both Attract and Retain Employees

As a consultant who feels strongly about providing employees with both choice and value in their overall benefits package, I am heartened to see that employers increasingly see voluntary benefits as a means of enriching their core benefits plan by allowing employees to choose more personalized benefits.  However, it is important to focus on providing […]