It's the most wonderful time of the year… at least that's what we've been told. But chances are, you're probably a little stressed out with all of the end-of-the-year tasks to complete and holiday festivities to keep up with. So to ease your stress level, we are taking some of the burden off of your shoulders by doing your holiday ...

Even though there are many reports about unemployment at record setting levels…hiring is still taking place. Jobs are still available. And, one of the most cost-effective ways to recruit is via an employee referral program. (Please note: I said ‘one of’ and not ‘the only’ because organizations should source candidates from a variety of methods.) If you have an employee referral ...

The calendar has already turned to December and with it the promise of a new year. While in our personal lives a new year usually signals "New Year's Resolutions," our organizations practice another ritual: assessing the current year's accomplishments and setting goals for the coming year. Although most Americans will abandon their personal resolutions before February 1st, organizations will toil, gnash ...

It is a disturbing trend: Companies are asking stupider questions of candidates than ever before. You know why? Because they can. Look, I get it. You heard about some tech company doing it. You read How Would You Move Mt. Fuji? and thought it was brilliant. You want to be innovative. Or hip. Or whatever. Hell if I know, I’ve never ...

In phone interviews, I always ask the candidate to tell me what he or she knows about the job so far. It's surprising how many people reveal in response that they either have a complete misunderstanding of what the job entails, maybe because they haven't bothered to read the job description since applying two weeks ago. (Keep in mind that these ...

The recession may have weakened the war for talent, but the battles have intensified. In the latest member-driven study by the Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp), which looked at competitive recruiting practices among organizations, a quarter of companies said they recruit new talent by contacting their competitors' employees directly. Over 40% say they actively source competitors' employees in certain positions to ...

CREATIVE, NOT DISRUPTIVE, COST CUTTING In a slowing or declining economy, organizations look at controlling internal expenditures to improve the bottom line. Human resource (HR) costs are typically the organization's biggest expenditure and can often be the first area targeted for cost reduction or control. Disruptive changes such as reducing benefit levels or eliminating programs often leave a bad taste in ...

I’ve seen some recent rants about transparency being nothing more than a buzzword. The implication being, transparency is just a trendy fad. It got me wondering if it’s true. So I looked up the word buzzword in the dictionary. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a buzzword is: 1. an important sounding usually technical word or phrase often of little meaning used ...

Human Resources was all the rage this year – especially in Hollywood. It's no surprise, considering that the economy has inspired many storylines where employees were fired, hired, downsized, promoted, etc, etc. And we all know, HR is where the action's at, right? However, you may have noticed HR cropping up in the most unlikeliest of places… from scripted dramas ...

I have been inundated with e-mails regarding the H1N1 flu virus that is sweeping the world. Whatever I did to get on these lists, I appreciate the reminder that living in a state of physical isolation helps insulate me from all of your petty diseases. For those of us who don’t have that option though, what can you do to fight ...

We heard the news not too long ago that U.S. unemployment hit the double digits for the first time in over 25 years. It’s not a surprise. All of the economists and business experts told us it was coming. But I am surprised that we aren’t talking more about people who have been out of work for months. I know people ...

A reader writes: I have a general question regarding minorities and employers. I am an African-American female, who like many Americans is out of work and looking, which means continuously applying for jobs. I can say with full confidence that I fit the requirements, but when it comes to filling out voluntary EEOC questions that ask one's race and sex, I ...

At many companies in Silicon Valley, the "open enrollment" period for employee benefit plans is in full swing. Jenny Vonderwerth, a human resources and benefits consultant with Liberty Benefit Insurance Services in San Jose, says a majority of companies renew their employee benefit plans as of Jan. 1 each year, and many employees are enrolling for their 2010 benefits this month. ...

Dealing with a poor performer has to be one of the hardest responsibilities of a leader. Great leaders confront performance issues head on. They provide feedback, coaching, counseling, and if all else fails, real leaders fire underperformers. It’s all part of earning your scars as a leader. Cowardly managers come up with all kind of creative ways to avoid dealing with ...

I just read a post titled, “The Only Number that Matters in Business.” It took me back to a few months ago when I had the opportunity to hear Kevin Wheeler speak on trends in the area of talent management. One of his discussion points was about management focusing their energy on the needs of top revenue producers of the organization. ...

Maybe you have a vague recollection of Plato from your college days. You know, the Greek philosopher who believed in the existence of some ideal world that's separate from our physical world? He is, of course, the source of the term "Platonic ideal." Whether we know it or not, most modern managers have a Platonist streak in them, a streak that ...

States pummeled by the recession and heavy job losses are moving to bar government employees from "double dipping" -- the practice of collecting a pension and a paycheck at the same time. The new rules are meant to curb employees from retiring only to return to their old jobs. They come at a time when unemployment has climbed to its highest ...

What do you do when a soon-to-be former employee asks for a reference letter as he or she goes out the door? Does your company have a "no comment" approach to references for employees? Are there risks in giving someone a half-true recommendation? Some companies, fearful of discrimination and slander suits from former employees, will only verify dates of employment, salary, ...

Being laid off is an emotional event that can leave you feeling wronged. Knowing the difference between an illegal layoff and an unfair layoff can help you decide whether to fight or move on. “It’s difficult for employees to see layoffs from an objective perspective,” says Marilyn Conyer, vice president of Accord Human Resources, an Oklahoma City HR consulting firm. “Many ...

Half of employers still lack policies addressing their employees1 use of social networking Web sites outside of work, even though one- quarter have already disciplined an employee for improper activities on Facebook and Twitter or similar sites. This was a finding of a survey by the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) and the Health Care Compliance Association. Most employers ...