Are you sometimes surprised by how people respond differently to changing business environments? The American workplace is a fluid environment that is constantly changing and this is especially true of the combinations of people that need to work together. Today’s managers have to make critical decisions in an ever changing,…
There have already been countless laundry lists published of the HR tasks generated by the new economic stimulus package. HR departments everywhere are scrambling to make the nuts and bolts changes needed to comply. Rather than focusing solely on the new tasks generated by the stimulus package it may be…
Another CEO that I respect stated; “There is no doubt of the potential of HR to move my business forward; what is in doubt is the ability of HR to live up to that potential.” While this is stinging comment about the HR profession it is a reasonably fair comment.…
Take our quiz to find out what kind of leader you are. Keep in mind that leadership qualities can change depending on your role, your manager’s leadership style, and your employees’ differences. Also, you might use a combination of several styles depending on your team’s personality, the type of role…
This week Barack Obama appointed a Chief Performance Officer for the Federal Government, focused on assessing the performance of government programs and finding opportunities to reduce waste and eliminate low-performing investments. So who is the Chief Performance Officer in a business? We have been studying this issue and I wrote…
On September 25, 2008, President Bush signed the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), for an effective date of January 1, 2009. The Act updated the Americans with Disabilities Act to provide broader protections (at the federal level). The Act is intended to strengthen the original intent of the Americans…
None of us can be certain of what to expect in these turbulent economic times but we can be certain most of us will see increased workplace challenges. HR professionals and the labor law community are being advised to anticipate significant increases in work related complaints and lawsuits as the…
“The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was” -Walt West Most employers are still using the interview as their primary screening device. While the interview is an important aspect of the process, it is very subjective. Studies show that using an…
Strong interviewing skills enable hiring managers to avoid crossing the “too much information” (TMI) line and to rein an interview back in when a job candidate oversteps that boundary. Interviewers who are not skilled in the process sometimes ask questions or make comments that are inappropriate or irrelevant. They intentionally…
Cell phones are a valuable tool in conducting business and more employees are using them to perform their jobs. Cell phones can positively support productivity by connecting employees to the office and to clients. On the down side, cell phones bring up a number of issues involving safety, security, and…
