With so much change happening in the world, many people feel anxious, as uncertainty abounds. One critical area that is a source of concern is job security. With hiring freezes, lay-offs, and many areas being put under a microscope, people are worried about their livelihood ─ their jobs. It seems that most people are trying to stay under the radar to keep their heads down while attempting to keep functioning as normal. For those managers and leaders who must be … Read the rest
Category Archives: HR Practice
Helping the Sandwich Generation Thrive at Work
This article is from the February 2025 issue.
Many of us are aware of the significant challenges faced by employees balancing work and caregiving —often at the expense of their well-being and engagement. Half of caregivers adjust their work schedules, and one-third leave their jobs altogether. For the 11 million Americans in the sandwich generation (those who are caring for both children and aging relatives), the pressures are even greater. Without workplace support, the challenges that these employees face can be overwhelming ─impacting not just caregivers but entire … Read the rest
Eight Strategies for Becoming a Great Leader
This article is from the December 2024 issue.
The legendary American football coach Vince Lombardi once said: “Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work.” Great leaders aren’t always found with the title of CEO or manager either. Leadership is not a natural trait, but rather something that can be cultivated through learning, practice, and dedication. Yes, there is a debate that some people have natural charisma, confidence, and the ability to get people to follow them. However, it … Read the rest
Establish a Culture of Opportunity to Become an Employer of Choice
This article is from the November 2024 issue.
What is the best way to keep your best-performing employees? Besides the obvious response of increasing pay, this article suggests that employers create a culture of opportunity ─an environment that drives workers to assertively seek increased responsibility and promotion.
The article suggests that this can be accomplished when managers/leaders make and regularly renew a personal commitment to several practices which include:
- Delegation
- Encouragement to Lead Change
- Listening
- Speaking with Respect
- Avoiding Micro-Management
- Training
- Public Celebration of Success
- Constructive Criticism in
Managing Election Turmoil in the Workplace
This article is from the October 2024 issue.
Dealing with political tension in the workplace can be a challenge. While some open dialogue can be healthy, too much talk of politics can lead to tension, conflict among colleagues, and increase employee stress and anxiety. Employers should have policies and procedures in place to help employees navigate what could be a tumultuous time. Here are a couple of suggestions from Business Management Daily for actions employers should take.
Review your civility rules. You probably already have rules banning inappropriate … Read the rest
Interview Best Practices for Hiring Managers
This article is from the September 2024 issue.
A really good hire can start with the first communication with a candidate and ramp up with the interview. But you know what? So does a really bad hire. And sometimes knowing what not to say or do is just as important as knowing what to do or say. Good interviewers understand that interviews are not just about asking a slew of questions and having the “right” responses given. A good interview has a conversational flow and feels more like … Read the rest
Managing Terminations
This article is from the August 2024 issue.
Terminating an employee is never easy. Even when a worker isn’t performing as desired, no one enjoys saying, “You’re fired.” For that matter, no one wants to be on the receiving end in hearing those words either. We all know, however, that there are times when termination is necessary. Although an employer is not required to give a reason for terminating an employee, it is usually best to terminate someone based on specific behaviors, such as poor attendance, persistent negative … Read the rest
How to Meet Employees’ Expectations and Build a Thriving Workplace
This article is from the August 2024 issue.
There was a time when people went to work, punched a time-clock, did their jobs with very little interaction with coworkers, and punched out at the end of the day. They asked nothing of their employers besides a meager paycheck. How dreary those days must have been. Thank God they’re over! Today, workers expect more from their employers and their workplaces. Workers want flexibility, work-life balance, growth opportunities, appreciation, respect, healthy work environments, and employers who care about their overall … Read the rest
The Pros and Cons of Sharing Interview Questions Early
This article is from the July 2024 issue.
How often have you scheduled interviews with candidates who appeared to be perfect matches for your open positions only to be disappointed with the candidates’ performances in interviews? You could tell the candidates were nervous (i.e. fidgeting, playing with their hair, speaking too fast, stumbling over their words, sweating, etc.). Have you ever wondered if perhaps candidates would do better during the interview if you shared some of the questions in advance? How different would candidates feel and perform in … Read the rest
3 Ways to Develop Your Employees When the Career Ladder is Broken or Non-Existent
This article is from the July 2024 issue.
Why do people leave their jobs? Most people might instantly respond, “For more money, of course.” However, many companies that consider themselves experts on employee retention might tell you that money is not always the top reason people change jobs. People leave their jobs for various reasons ─toxic work cultures, lack of confidence in management, no sense of belonging, etc. According to this article, opportunities for career growth, along with increased responsibilities accompanied by an appropriate boost in pay, … Read the rest
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