Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Paid time off (PTO) is a mainstay of benefits packages, but too many companies are failing to maximize its value. A significant majority of employees don’t use all the PTO allocated to them each year, and this creates a series of problems for companies. For one thing, it means employees aren’t getting the full benefit […]
Part of the burden of being the boss is making the important decisions: whether it’s necessary to authorize costly overtime to meet a production deadline; if the company should apologize to a customer over a disagreement or stand firm in its position; if a supplier should be replaced; etc.
Everyone in the working world has probably heard the term “burned out.” The term is often used even in nonemployment settings, such as by students in higher education feeling burned out by intense studies. Being burned out is generally considered negative, but there isn’t really a precise definition of the term. Defining Burnout “We tend […]
by Dr. Jamison Green Corporate leaders agree that diverse and inclusive workplaces are more productive, versatile, and adaptive in a changing marketplace. But often, when managers think of gender diversity, they think only about gender parity between men and women, or about opening traditionally male occupations to women, or vice versa. Creating a transgender-inclusive workplace […]
It is that time of year again—time to plan for and implement annual open enrollment processes. At least it is that time for the typical group health plans that operate on a calendar-year basis. For most plans, this means it is time to reprint plan-related material such as enrollment forms (electronic or otherwise), summary plan […]
Employer-sponsored healthcare has long been a highly valued benefit for over 60% of employees—and with good reason. Healthcare is expensive and can lead to financial hardship in the absence of a comprehensive, affordable health plan. Yet, navigating the U.S. healthcare system has become increasingly challenging for employees, leading to widespread frustration and lack of understanding […]
By Bonny Mak Waterfall Minimum wage increases may not be quite as controversial in Canada as they appear to be in the United States, but the issue is certainly alive. Four Canadian provinces and one territory have announced increases to their minimum wage rates for 2014:
By Anita Bowness, Halogen Software It’s important for managers to keep the lines of communication open with their staff. Good communication practices can elevate employee engagement and foster collaboration, ensuring that employees understand what is expected of them, how the work they perform contributes to what their team and their organization is striving to achieve, […]
It used to be easy, says Attorney Matthew Effland. If you spotted someone reading on the job, you just told them to go back to work. Now, they have headphones on—are they listening to an audio conference on HR compliance, music that relaxes them, or a digital book? Unfortunately, you are going to have people […]
If you require employees to attend training or other meetings off-site, do you have to pay them for the extra time it takes them to get there? The answer is not always, at least if you’re a public employer. We’ll focus on a new case addressing this issue and then look at common travel time […]