Spotlight

• Personal Branding

  By John Mack Freeman

  Everyone has a brand. Whether you’re managing it or not is an entirely different question.

  I’m getting my MLIS right now, but before this, I was the marketing director of a statewide photography company and I’ve worked in PR and content development for a lot of other people. I think it’s incredibly important to have a personal brand. I know that it’s not something that we like to think about. Everybody wants to be unique and … Read the rest

ALA-APA News

• Worker turnover is poised to pick up, adding urgency to employers’ focus on retention

  By Sarah Halzack, The Washington Post: January 22, 2013

  Economic recovery has led to growing voluntary turnover among highly skilled employees who are seeking greater pay and professional opportunities with other employers. The result: employers – who once could rely on dissatisfied workers to accept long hours and pay freezes – now grapple to retain star employees.

   … Read the rest

Career Advancement

• Inc.: 8 Ways To Be a Memorable Boss

  In his article on Inc., Jeff Haden argues that “employees don’t leave jobs; they leave bad bosses–and even mediocre ones.” To help managers avoid poor – or even mediocre – performance, he outlines advice on how best to inspire employees. Read the full article.… Read the rest

• From Para-Professional to Director: A Librarian’s Tale

  By A.D. Beman-Cavallaro, MLS

  Over my academic and professional career, I attended Florida State University, (attaining my B.S. in Geography in ‘05) and University of South Florida, (to receive my MLS in ‘08). My time at USF, (as a Master’s Student: ’05-’08 and para-professional Library Employee: ’05-’10), prepared me for a position of Reference/Instruction Librarian at the Bartow Public Library in Polk County, FL, (’10-’12). I then returned to the academic world as Associate Library Director for Pasco-Hernando Community College’s (PHCC) … Read the rest

• Career Hub Offers Advice to Job Candidates Battling Ageism

  Age discrimination has always been an obstacle for job seekers, and as the U.S. work force ages, more and more job candidates find themselves facing HR professionals who prefer to higher younger workers for lower wages. Career Hub offers excellent advice to older job seekers.… Read the rest

HR Practice

• Customer Service Smart TALK

  By Charles Marshall

  Editors’ note: Reprinted with permission from M Power Resources, LLC.

  When I walked into the electronics store the other day, I noticed that the customer service rep was talking to someone on her cell phone. I waved hello to her but she turned away from me and continued talking on the phone. I didn’t saying anything to her, thinking that I’d just let her finish her conversation.

  From what I was able to hear of the … Read the rest

• Best Communication Practices in Emergencies

  The recent city-wide shutdown following the tragic events at this year’s Boston Marathon have caused employers to reevaluate how best to communicate with employees during fast-breaking emergencies. The Harvard Business Review reflects on how various Boston employers responded in the wake of the attacks, and offers advice to HR professionals on best practices for communication during emergencies.… Read the rest

Recruitment

• Honest or Not? 10 Questions to Spot Ethical Applicants

  Editors’ note: Permission to reprint granted by BusinessManagementDaily.com. View the original article. 

  Ethical employees are vital to the productivity of any organization. But when managers interview job candidates, it’s nearly impossible to get a good reading of a person’s moral compass.

  Still, it’s important for hiring managers to know how to weed out candidates who will undercut the company’s values and mission with dishonesty.

  In fact, more than 80% of U.S. workers say they’ve been lied to, stolen from, … Read the rest

• Recruit at ALA JobLIST Placement Center Open House

  As part of its continuing efforts to provide networking opportunities for employers and job seekers, the ALA JobLIST Placement Center will host an Open House on Sunday, June 30, 2013, from 10:30am – 12:00 noon during the American Library Association’s Annual Conference in Chicago.

  Representatives from various libraries and library-related companies can take advantage of the opportunity to talk with conference attendees about their specific work environments—things that make their place of employment unique. There is no cost to participate in … Read the rest

Statistics

• DOL Publishes Employment Data for April 2013

  The U.S. Department of Labor has published unemployment insurance data for April 2013.

  In the week ending May 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 323,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 327,000. The 4-week moving average was 336,750, a decrease of 6,250 from the previous week’s revised average of 343,000.

  The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.3 percent for the week ending April 27, unchanged from the prior week’s unrevised rate. The … Read the rest

• Gallup: 36% of Managers Report High Levels of Professional Engagement

  According to results of a new survey released by Gallup, 36 percent of “managers, executives and officials” consider themselves “engaged” by their jobs – which the survey defines as “deeply involved in and enthusiastic about their work and actively contributing to their organization.” This self-reporting of professional engagement places managers at the top of 12 different occupation types.

  Ranked immediately below ”managers, executives and officials” are “professional workers” (31%) “clerical or office workers” (30%) and “construction or mining workers” (30%).

  Read

  … Read the rest

Support Staff

• Free webinars from ALA’s Library Support Staff Certification Program

  The latest edition of the Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) Program’s Breaking News is now available for download! The LSSC Program is also offering two free, upcoming webinars open to the public. Information on how to register for these webinars is listed below:

  May 13th, 2pm Central Time – An Introduction to the LSSC Program

  On Monday, May 13th at 2:00 pm (Central), LSSC will offer an hour-long webinar on the program and how it works. The presentation will explain the value … Read the rest

Work/Life

• Making the Most of Your Commute

  By Alexandra Janvey

  The difficult economic climate has many individuals willing to endure longer commutes for a good job. In fact, long commutes have become a way of life for many and it isn’t always a welcome routine as it means getting up earlier and getting home later.

  With so much to accomplish each day, long commutes can be difficult, especially in the beginning when it can feel like an imposition and a waste of time. This is certainly how … Read the rest

• Forbes.com Offers Advice on Navigating Professional Stress and Distractions

  In her article “12 Ways to Eliminate Stress,” Forbes.com writer Jenna Goudreau lists some stress-inducing statistics about the hectic nature of the average workday (the average business professional juggles 30-100 projects at any one time, and is interrupted from completing those projects seven times per hour). Hearteningly, Goudreau also provides advice for navigating professional stress. … Read the rest

HR Law

• Do I Have To Pay Young Workers the Federal Minimum Wage?

  In its May 9 issue, the Department of Labor‘s newsletter DOL News Brief cautions employers that with few exceptions, even younger employees must be paid the federal minimum wage ($7.24 per hour as of July 24, 2009). One exception is a minimum wage of $4.25 per hour for young workers under the age of 20, but only during their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment with an employer, and as long as their work does not displace other … Read the rest

• Affordable Care Act Page Update

  … Read the rest

  The Department of Labor‘s Employee Benefits Security Administration updated its Affordable Care Act web page with the following information on the notice to employees of coverage options: Technical Release 2013-02 – Guidance on the notice to employees of coverage options under FLSA §18B and updated model election notice under COBRA, available at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/newsroom/tr13-02.html Model notice for employers who offer a health plan to some or all employees, available athttp://www.dol.gov/ebsa/pdf/FLSAwithplans.pdf Model notice for employers who do not offer a

• U.S. Court of Appeals Rules Against NLRB Poster

  In a May 7 ruling, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit announced that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) overstepped its authority in its efforts to require employers to post a notice of employee rights.

  This ruling nulls a NLRB rule in 2011 that all employers under NLRB jurisdiction—including nonunion employers—would have been required to post an 11-by-17-inch poster explaining employees’ rights to improve wages and bargain collectively with their employer. … Read the rest

• US Labor Department seeks input on regulations regarding lifetime income illustrations

  WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration today announced an advance notice of proposed rulemaking focusing on lifetime income illustrations given to participants in defined contribution pension plans such as 401(k) and 403(b) plans. The notice provides an opportunity for stakeholders to provide early input into the development of regulations.

  “We are looking for the best ideas on how to show people what their lump-sum retirement savings look like when they are spread out over all … Read the rest

LW Tip

• ALA to Host Career Development Facilitator Training

  The American Library Association will host Career Development Facilitator (CDF) sessions at its headquarters in Chicago, June 26 – 27, 2013. The deadline to register is Friday, June 14, 2013.

  As a public librarian, you’re probably seeing more patrons who are requesting resources for guidance in their job search. The impact of the recent recession is still being felt by thousands of Americans who have lost their jobs and can’t figure out how to get a new one.

  It’s also … Read the rest