http://humanresources.about.com/ Get the latest headlines from the About.com Human Resources GuideSite. http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hh http://www.about.com/ 118 20 en-us 2009-11-05T13:42:37Z Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:42:37 +0000 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/06/when-tragedy-strikes.htm <p>A national tragedy or a personal tragedy has a huge impact at work. And, workplaces can help people successfully weather the tragedy. They can ease the passage people experience during tragedy. They can help people deal with the helplessness and grief they experience during tragedy. They can provide a support system to help prop people up during grief.</p> <p>Thursday's murder of 13 people and wounding of 31, who had promising lives, families who loved them, and futures yet unexperienced, at <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://usmilitary.about.com/od/armybaseprofiles/ss/hood.htm">Fort Hood</a>, by Major Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://mentalhealth.about.com/b/2009/11/06/fort-hood-shootings.htm">psychiatrist</a> soon to be deployed to Iraq, is a major workplace tragedy. Fortunately, most of us will never experience a tragedy of these epic dimensions.</p> <p>But, anyone who works and develops relationships in their workplace experiences tragedy, nonetheless. Coworkers die; their family members suffer catastrophic illness, and dreadful incidents happen to good people. So, even when tragedies are closer to home, these thoughts will help you <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/healthsafetyandwellness/a/tragedy_work.htm">deal with your workplace tragedies</a>.</p> <p>While the Fort Hood shootings will be remembered for their tragic consequences, heroism lived there, too. Celebrate <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6907235.ece">Sergeant Kimberly Munley's heroism</a>. Perhaps none of us will ever experience the terrifying reality of an armed gunman, but I'd like to think that if we did, we would rise to the occasion just like she did. And, even as I speak, more <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6516674/Fort-Hood-shooting-victims-families-speak-of-unfathomable-betrayal.html">stories of heroism</a> emerge from Fort Hood.</p> <p>Officials at Fort Hood have <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://usgovinfo.about.com/b/2009/11/06/fort-hood-opens-family-information-hotlines.htm">established two hotlines</a> for family members to obtain information about their loved ones.</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag=ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/06/when-tragedy-strikes.htm">When Tragedy Strikes</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 15:03:37.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/06/when-tragedy-strikes.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/06/when-tragedy-strikes.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/06/when-tragedy-strikes.htm&zItl=When Tragedy Strikes">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/06/when-tragedy-strikes.htm Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:03:37 +0000 2009-11-06T15:03:37Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/05/its-the-economy-little-job-creation.htm <p>My accountant told me recently that, to her knowledge, not a single one of her clients offered employee raises in 2009. The economic outlook is too foggy and employers are uncertain about where and how political decisions at both the state level and the federal level will impact their companies.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/4/E/solemnbusinessman.jpg" align="left"></p> <p>At the same time, the engine of job creation is sputtering. In the IT industry, near and dear to my heart, and provided as an example, some older companies are expanding their employment ranks, while others such as Microsoft are <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/technologybrierdudleysblog/2010201710_microsoft_cuts_800_more_jobs_i.html">shedding jobs</a>. But the real story is that startup companies that can generally be counted on to create new jobs, are <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://pajamasmedia.com/edgelings/2009/10/23/missing-the-meat/">not starting up</a>. Not good news for jobs and I recognize I am using just one industry as an example - but it's a powerful one.</p> <p>Hiring new employees is also relatively at a stand-still for this reason, too. Although employers are replacing critical positions, many have stopped expanding because of increased uncertainty. Employers are waiting for the next decision that will affect business taxes; employee healthcare; employer requirements such as <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2008/05/07/why-legislated-paid-sick-days-may-not-be-win-win.htm">paid sick time</a>, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/glossaryv/g/paid_vacation.htm">paid vacation time</a>, and workplace regulations; the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://usconservatives.about.com/od/economytaxes/qt/LibBill5.htm">Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA)</a>; taxes on carbon emissions, and so forth. This list highlights just the tip of employer concerns.</p> <p>In this environment of employer unease, the national unemployment rate rose to 9.8% (with some states and segments higher) in September, 2009, according to the figures available from the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/laborrelations/g/dol.htm">the Department of Labor (DOL)</a>. My understanding is that these numbers exclude the 400,000 or so people who have given up on job searching this summer, so my speculation is that unemployment is much higher than announced.</p> <p>Edited (11-6) to add: In breaking news, the Washington Post reports that <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/06/AR2009110600555.html?hpid=topnews">unemployment in October jumped to 10.2%</a>. When you add in the people who have given up looking, the national unemployment rate is actually closer to 17%.</p> <p>While the legislature passed an <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://jobsearch.about.com/b/2009/11/02/senate-unemployment-extension-vote.htm">unemployment extension</a> on November 5, the overall news on the employment front is not good.</p> <p>The Federal Reserve, in a little remarked upon announcement in July, projected that unemployment would rise to over 10% in the next few months and that <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=32813">no net new jobs</a> would be created for five years. News this week from the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://tcb.org/pdf_free/HWOnlineOct09_PR.pdf">Conference Board indicates</a> that, while 3,280,000 jobs were advertised online in October, 2009, this is a decrease from September, 2009 of 83,200 openings.</p> <p>Much of this is sobering news if you are employed or an employer, and disheartening news if you are currently unemployed. My point, in making this post, is not to spread economic gloom, but to take a realistic look at what this means for employers and their employees. Alison Doyle, my colleague at About.com Job Searching, offers <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://jobsearch.about.com">advice for the unemployed</a> and job searchers.</p> <p>Today, I'll focus on advice for employees and in a subsequent post, I'll feature thoughts for employers.</p> <p><b>Advice for Employees in This Economy</b></p> <p><b>Hold on to the Job You Have</b></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/careerplanningandadvice1/a/time_to_go.htm">How to Make Your Current Job Work</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/careersuccess/a/recession_proof.htm">How to Keep Your Job</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/whenemploymentends/a/employ_term.htm">In Danger of Getting Fired or Laid Off?</a></li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/boss_relations.htm">How to Get Along With Your Boss</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/difficultpeople.htm">How to Get Along With Coworkers</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/layoffsdownsizing/a/survivors_cope.htm">How to Cope When Coworkers Lose Their Job</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/selectemployees/tp/job_offer.htm">Job Offer</a>.<br /><br /> If you do leave your current employer, do not resign until you have a written job offer in hand, signed, and accepted.</li> </ul> <p>_{Image Copyright Paul Conrath / Getty Images}</p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/05/its-the-economy-little-job-creation.htm">It's the Economy: Little or No Job Creation</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 13:42:37.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/05/its-the-economy-little-job-creation.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/05/its-the-economy-little-job-creation.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/05/its-the-economy-little-job-creation.htm&zItl=It's the Economy: Little or No Job Creation">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/05/its-the-economy-little-job-creation.htm Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:42:37 +0000 2009-11-05T13:42:37Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/04/pursue-happiness-at-work.htm <p>Next week is Pursuit of Happiness Week, so I'm featuring some articles about how to manage those aspects of your work life that contribute to your happiness at work. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/boss_relations.htm">Getting along with your boss</a> and <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/careersuccess/a/recession_proof.htm">holding on to your job</a> are excellent places to start if you value success and happiness at work.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/6/E/excitedbusinessman.jpg" align="left"></p> <p>The best place to start first is to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/careerplanningandadvice1/a/loveyourwork.htm">love your work</a>. If you love your work, just about everything work related can be managed. Consider subscribing to my weekly newsletter, <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/c/ec/4.htm"><i>Your Tip of the Week for Success in Work and Life</i></a>. In a hurry? Try <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/c/ec/59.htm"><i>Ten Days to a Happier, More Successful Career and Life</i></a>.</p> <p>_{Image Copyright Tom Fullum / Getty Images}</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag=ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/04/pursue-happiness-at-work.htm">Pursue Happiness at Work</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 19:21:39.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/04/pursue-happiness-at-work.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/04/pursue-happiness-at-work.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/04/pursue-happiness-at-work.htm&zItl=Pursue Happiness at Work">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/04/pursue-happiness-at-work.htm Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:21:39 +0000 2009-11-04T19:21:39Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/03/write-company-stories.htm <p>November is National Life Writing Month and Family Stories Month so I've been thinking about how writing and stories affect <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/organizationalculture/a/culture.htm">work culture</a>.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/r/E/telecommutinglaptopnewspaper.jpg" align="right"></p> <p>It's not such a big leap to move from your <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://genealogy.about.com/od/writing_family_history/a/write.htm">personal life stories</a> to the workplace. I have long encouraged you to write your <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/success/a/personal_vision.htm">personal vision statement</a>, your <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/ua/success/set_goals.htm">goals</a>, and your company <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/cs/strategicplanning1/a/strategicplan.htm">strategic plan</a> so that you and your coworkers are grounded and feel connected to a whole greater than yourselves.</p> <p>It strikes me that writing out your company history and stories is equally important. Whether available in your <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/handbookspolicies/a/sample_handbook.htm">company handbook</a>, a company history book, or shared in periodic meetings and at company events, these stories define your culture. A written source for <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/glossaryn/a/neorientation.htm">new employee onboarding</a> is also helpful in teaching your culture and communicating expectations to new people.</p> <p>For newer employees, this is one of only a few ways they have to understand your history and your culture. Another is the stories shared by coworkers. In the best workplaces, these stories promote your positive employee and customer culture. You can help shape the stories by the environment you create for people. </p> <p>Wouldn't you rather have an environment in which employees talked about who was a workplace hero and why? Much better than an environment in which complaining about the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/ua/dealingwithabadboss/boss_opinions.htm">bad boss</a>, meaningless tasks, or <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/negativity/qt/gossip_i2.htm">workplace gossip</a> is the norm.</p> <p>_{Image Copyright Michael DeLeon}</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag=ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/03/write-company-stories.htm">Write Company Stories</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 16:11:07.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/03/write-company-stories.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/03/write-company-stories.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/03/write-company-stories.htm&zItl=Write Company Stories">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/03/write-company-stories.htm Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:11:07 +0000 2009-11-03T16:11:07Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/02/deadbeat-employees.htm <p>A reader requested an article about managing deadbeat employees quite a while ago. It took me some time to write it - not because I don't think it's an important topic - I do - but here's the deal.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/_/A/deadbeat.jpg" align="right"></p> <p>Deadbeat employees, for the most part, are made, not born. For most of them, it's not nature but nurture in our workplaces. The majority of your employees do not start work at your company thinking, I'd like to become a difficult, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/manageperformance/a/dead_beat.htm">deadbeat employee</a>. Nor, do they get up in the morning planning how to screw up their day - and yours, even if it may not always seem this way.</p> <p>They come onboard excited, hoping to achieve their most important <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/managementtips/qt/four_factors_b4.htm">goals, needs, and dreams</a>. But, somewhere along the way, their organization stomps the life right out of them. Sure, sometimes employees are unrealistic, immature in their opinions and goals, and looking for the <p>A <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/cs/selectionstaffing/a/hiringchecklist.htm">carefully orchestrated hiring process</a> should screen out the few really bad apples. Would you agree?</p> <p><b>Favorite Quotes - <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/quotations_dir.htm">More Quotes</a></b></p> <p>"Do not follow the ideas of others, but learn to listen to the voice within yourself. Your body and mind will become clear and you will realize the unity of all things." <b>--Dogen</b> </p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=mailto:humanresources.guide@about.com">Share a favorite quote</a> of yours. I'll give you credit or not, as you prefer. Please tell me whether to credit you by first name, first and last name and whether you'd like me to use your company name and a link.</p> <p>_{Image Copyright Joshua Blake}</p> <p><b>More About Managing Difficult Employees</b></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/manageperformance/a/improve_perform.htm">Coaching for Improved Performance</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/manageperformance/a/manage_perform.htm">Performance Improvement Strategies</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/motivationsuccess/a/manage_systems.htm">Why Employees Don't Do What You Want Them to Do</a>.</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag=ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/02/deadbeat-employees.htm">Deadbeat Employees: Made or Born?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 04:42:15.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/02/deadbeat-employees.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/02/deadbeat-employees.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/02/deadbeat-employees.htm&zItl=Deadbeat Employees: Made or Born?">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/02/deadbeat-employees.htm Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:42:15 +0000 2009-11-02T04:42:15Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/01/business-presenter.htm <p>Today's new article, while hardly a comprehensive guide to making effective business presentations, does offer you my <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/presentations/qt/presentation_skills.htm">most important tips</a> for speaking to groups.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/w/A/continuingchange.jpg" align="right"></p> <p>I had to learn all of these the hard way and my stories are legion from the process. Perhaps these tips will shorten your learning curve and calm the fear of speaking queasiness you may experience at the thought of speaking to groups.</p> <p>Starting today, this is World Communication Week. Beginning with today's lead article, I'll focus on some successful communication skills and considerations. Let's start with how to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/cs/communication/ht/Feedbackimpact.htm">give feedback</a> with impact and how to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/cs/communication/ht/receivefeedback.htm">receive feedback</a> with grace and dignity. Remember, feedback, done with care and with maximum impact as the goal, is a two-way street.</p> <p>_{Image Copyright Jeffrey Smith}</p> <p><b>More About Effective Communication</b></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/changemanagement/a/change_lessons2.htm">Communication in Change Management</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/interpersonalcommunication/qt/memorable.htm">How to Make Your Messages Memorable</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/interpersonalcommunication/a/com_questions.htm"> Communication Job Interview Questions</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/interpersonalcommunicatio1/qt/feedback_com6.htm">How to Hold a Difficult Conversation</a>.</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag=ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/01/business-presenter.htm">Become a Better Business Presenter - Almost Instantly</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 10:57:59.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/01/business-presenter.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/01/business-presenter.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/01/business-presenter.htm&zItl=Become a Better Business Presenter - Almost Instantly">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/11/01/business-presenter.htm Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:57:59 +0000 2009-11-01T10:57:59Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/31/happy-halloween-3.htm <p>Happy Halloween everyone. I haven't seen a trick or treater in twenty years, except at work, since we live too far back off the road for them to walk.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/3/A/Pumpkin.jpg" align="right"></p> <p> Hmmm, walk? I think most kids are driven around by parents in my area since homes are far apart. Do kids walk anywhere anymore?</p> <p> I had earlier written about how to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/teambuildingholidays/a/halloween_work.htm">celebrate Halloween at work</a> and hope you have bookmarked the page for next year or planned something fun for now. Regardless, you have plenty of opportunities to do something fun and motivating at work this fall and winter for your employees. These ideas for establishing <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/motivationrewardretention/a/holidays_work.htm">traditions for the fall and winter holidays</a> will help.</p> <p> Julie Ferguson at <i>HRWebCafe</i> offers several additional ideas for <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.hrwebcafe.com/2007/10/halloween_in_the_workplace.html">responsibly celebrating Halloween at work</a> including a bank that has two rules: no masks and no toy weapons. Good rules. She also says that a <i>Vault.com</i> study showed that 37 percent of workers say they celebrate Halloween with their coworkers. Julie's post is worth your time.</p> <p>_{Copyright Nazarethman Productions}</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag= ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/31/happy-halloween-3.htm">Happy Halloween</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 12:01:17.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/31/happy-halloween-3.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/31/happy-halloween-3.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/31/happy-halloween-3.htm&zItl=Happy Halloween">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/31/happy-halloween-3.htm Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:01:17 +0000 2009-10-31T12:01:17Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/30/halloween-traditions-carnival-of-hr.htm <p>The HR Bartender hosts this week's Human Resources Carnival. She themed the Carnival around a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/motivationrewardretention/a/holidays_work.htm">holiday tradition</a> in her Cincinnati neighborhood when she was growing up.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/G/D/carnival2.jpg" align="left"></p> <p>Apparently, the parents followed their trick or treating children around the neighborhood savoring adult beverages at the homes where the children were treated with candy.</p> <p>So, the Carnival theme closely echoes this neighborhood tradition. Pour yourself a hot or cold something and settle in to read <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.hrbartender.com/2009/training/the-october-28-carnival-of-hr-%E2%80%93-halloween-spirits-version/">this week's HR Carnival</a>.</p> <p>_{Image Copyright Mark Tantrum}</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag= ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/30/halloween-traditions-carnival-of-hr.htm">Halloween Traditions Carnival of HR</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 14:26:17.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/30/halloween-traditions-carnival-of-hr.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/30/halloween-traditions-carnival-of-hr.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/30/halloween-traditions-carnival-of-hr.htm&zItl=Halloween Traditions Carnival of HR">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/30/halloween-traditions-carnival-of-hr.htm Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:26:17 +0000 2009-10-30T14:26:17Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/29/worst-job.htm <p>At some point in most careers, you will have had a job that you hated. No matter whether your <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/sty/resigningfromyourjob/worst_job/">worst job</a> offered you lousy or distasteful work, a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/ua/dealingwithabadboss/boss_opinions.htm?from=lb">boss you hated</a>, or coworkers who constantly <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/difficultpeople.htm">undermined you or complained</a>, you remember the job as your worst job - ever.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/I/A/stopbeingmiserable.jpg" align="left"></p> <p>I thought back over my career, and mind you, because I have been writing and consulting for years, I have not taken any jobs except for clients I loved and for whom I really thought I could make a difference, in a long time. But, in the earlier days, I worked at a GM education center as a management development specialist.</p> <p>I really liked the director, the clients, and the work, but my immediate boss was petty, self-serving, and a tyrant who wanted her way all of the time. Plus, coming out of 16 years in an education setting, I was first of all, used to running things, but secondly, I felt as if I was, once again, managing another school - the environment I had just left - on purpose.</p> <p>The job gave me connections, however, and I was soon able to move to a GM plant where I learned a whole new world - and even became friends with my former boss when I no longer reported to her. If that opportunity had not come up, however, I would have spent all of my time job searching to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/retention/a/manager_role.htm">get rid of a bad boss</a> and a public sector repeat career in an industry setting.</p> <p>I also worked as a Good Humor ice cream truck substitute driver during the summer of the Detroit riots in 1967. But, I loved that job, and its unexpected dire environment, is a story for another day.</p> <p>Okay, I've shared my worst job story. What's yours? Compared to the stories I regularly hear about on this website, my story is mild, and fortunately, I got out of there quickly.</p> <p><b>Please <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/sty/resigningfromyourjob/worst_job/form.htm">share your worst job - ever</a> - story.</b></p> <p>_{Image Copyright Bobbieo}</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag=ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/29/worst-job.htm">Describe Your Worst Job - Ever</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 01:29:02.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/29/worst-job.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/29/worst-job.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/29/worst-job.htm&zItl=Describe Your Worst Job - Ever">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/29/worst-job.htm Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:29:02 +0000 2009-10-29T01:29:02Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/28/a-family-affair.htm <p>October is National Work and Family Month. It's a good time to remember that employees must create <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/glossaryw/g/balance.htm">work-life balance</a> if they are going to be successful employees.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/Y/A/familyfriendlyedited.jpg" align="right"></p> <p>At my company, many of our employees are young. They are getting married, starting families, and raising young children.</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/09/ready-for-halloween-in-the-office.htm">Halloween</a>, as an example, has become almost completely a family affair. No more carving pumpkins, but the staff bring their children to trick or treat from office to office and everyone joins in the fun. I admit that seeing the children in costumes is one of my fun days of the year. At my home, we live so far off the road that no trick or treaters ever come back to see us.</p> <p>Just a reminder that Halloween in the office is a great employee morale builder, but avoid the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/teambuildingholidays/a/halloween_legal.htm">Halloween hi-jinx</a> that can create a hostile work environment for employees.</p> <p>_{Image Copyright Kelly Young}</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag=ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/28/a-family-affair.htm">A Family Affair</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 11:29:20.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/28/a-family-affair.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/28/a-family-affair.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/28/a-family-affair.htm&zItl=A Family Affair">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/28/a-family-affair.htm Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:29:20 +0000 2009-10-28T11:29:20Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/26/never-trust-hr.htm <p>Another reader comments with thoughts about the comments on the article, <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/05/08/still-hate-hr.htm"><i>Still Hate HR</i>?</a> I bring these comments forward as they present a prevalent point of view that I believe all of us should know.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/i/A/BagOverHead.jpg" align="right"></p> <p> For everyone who loves HR, there are an equivalent number of people who feel differently. A reader, So Far So Good, says:</p> <p>"Eh...I have to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/05/08/still-hate-hr.htm#comments">agree with the article</a>. I have never, ever - not once in my entire career - had a positive experience with HR.</p> <p>"In one example, I was in the darkroom at work when a male employee came up behind me and ground himself against my back. I told HR, who then called the male employee in and asked him about it right in front of me. Then I started getting micromanaged to death and getting called in until I looked at each new workday with dread and finally left.</p> <p>In another example, our VP wanted to make budget cuts and decided my position was no longer fiscally justifiable. Instead of being fair about it and working out a way for me to leave gracefully, he put me on probation without any basis for doing so.</p> <p?"There were outright false claims made about me acting out in the workplace. My manager who sat in the initial HR review with me, even whispered, 'I've never witnessed any of this behavior from you.' I was told I had to sign the write up anyway.</p> <p>"I don't know about anyone in HR, but I was always told that the burden of proof is on the accuser. If HR is going to be effective in this scenario, they have to learn that there are two sides and be savvy enough to read between the lines and make sure all are treated fairly. I was completely confident that my VP was lying (he has since been fired) in order to circumnavigate the process of laying someone off and save the company some dough.</p> <p>"When the probation didn't provide the results he wanted, he told my boss that he 'didn't do it right' and to put me on probation again. HR acted as an extension of him and enabled his harassment by allowing this behavior without any documented instance for why it was a valid course of action.</p> <p><b>"THIS I KNOW FOR CERTAIN:</b></p> <p>"You will never be treated 'fairly' by HR. If you are being mistreated or harassed, you'll be making waves by saying a peep. All going to HR does is flag yourself as someone who needs to be swimming with the fishies, not helped out.</p> <p>"Try it. Go to HR and let them know that there is anything slightly out of the desired norm and watch how fast you get on their radar and drummed out of town." <p><b>Your thoughts for this reader?</b></p> <p>_{Image Copyright Mary Gascho}</p> <p><b>More About Human Resources</b></p> <ul><li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/glossaryh/f/hr_management.htm">What Is Human Resources Management?</a></li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/careersinhumanresources/HR_Careers_Careers_in_Human_Resources.htm">Breaking Into a Career in HR</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/careerinhr/a/transition_to_hr.htm">Transition to a Career in Human Resource Management</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/hrbasicsfaq/a/hr_horror_stories.htm">Please Don't Let HR Be Misunderstood</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/ua/hrbasicsfaq/hr_problems.htm?from=lb">You Know You're in HR When...</a></li></ul> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag=ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/26/never-trust-hr.htm">Never Trust HR</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 16:06:00.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/26/never-trust-hr.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/26/never-trust-hr.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/26/never-trust-hr.htm&zItl=Never Trust HR">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/26/never-trust-hr.htm Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:06:00 +0000 2009-10-26T16:06:00Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/25/difficult-coworkers.htm <p>Do your coworkers drive you crazy sometimes?</p> <p><b>What Coworker Behavior Drives You Crazy?</b></p> <table align="right"> <tr> <td> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE= "javaScript" SRC="http://guidepolls.about.com/humanresources/7563794235/poll.js?linkback=http://humanresources.about.com/b/a/257723.htm"></script> </td> </tr> </table> <p>Most people have pet peeves about their coworkers. And, why not? Even relatively sane and likeable people do things that can drive their coworkers to distraction.</p> <p>People miss work; they miss deadlines. Some people are perpetually late for meetings. They dress unprofessionally: in one client company, a customer service representative wears crumpled cotton capris and beachwear to work everyday and wonders why no new opportunity appears on her horizon.</p> <p>In another, a manager talks down to employees and acts as if he is the only one contributing to accomplishing work. In still another, an employee, who regularly interacts with the public at trade shows, decided to grow long hair and a beard and wear jeans to trade shows.</p> <p>An otherwise valued employee at another company spoils her boss's day three times a week by repeatedly asking for a raise when the company is not giving raises.</p> <p>In some organizations, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/ua/dealingwithabadboss/boss_opinions.htm?from=lb">bad boss behavior</a> is legendary. Sometimes, a new boss is assigned a dysfunctional team. Every workplace has different stories about employee behavior that can drive others crazy.</p> <p>This new resource about <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/difficultpeople/tp/dealing_difficult.htm">dealing with difficult people at work</a> can help.</p> <p>Check them out.</p> <p>Is the behavior that most drives you crazy on the list? If not, add yours in "comments" below. Please take the time to vote in the poll.</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/a/257715.htm">Recent survey/poll: What Do You Do?</a></p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/pollingcenter/">All prior polls</a>.<br /> Vote in previous polls.</p> <p><b>More About Dealing With Difficult People at Work</b></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/difficultpeople.htm">Deal With Difficult People at Work</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/badmanagerboss/a/bad_boss.htm">Bad to the Bone: Dealing With a Bad Boss</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/managementtips/a/leader_tips_ind.htm">Tips for Working With People at Work</a>.</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag=ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/25/difficult-coworkers.htm">Dealing With Difficult Coworkers</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 12:59:11.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/25/difficult-coworkers.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/25/difficult-coworkers.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/25/difficult-coworkers.htm&zItl=Dealing With Difficult Coworkers">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/25/difficult-coworkers.htm Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:59:11 +0000 2009-10-25T12:59:11Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/23/team-norms.htm <p>Several teams have requested <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/involvementteams/a/team_one_stop.htm">help with their team work process</a>. They are product development teams that are integrating new members that represent other functions in the company.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/e/A/teambuilding.jpg" border="0" align="left"></a> </p> <p>And, the integration can be rough, especially when the teams are not used to the input and the oversight from the new functions. And, they don't particularly welcome it either.</p> <p> Plus, the new function doesn't understand that ninety percent of their success will come from successfully building a relationship with the long term team members. They just think they should be accepted because they exist and they are a positive, forward thinking innovation. It doesn't work that way.</p> <p> These are the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/involvementteams/a/twelve_tip_team.htm">twelve components of successful team building</a> that must be in place for teams to operate successfully. Absent any of these, focus attention on discussing the issues the teams are experiencing. You can do this through the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/teambuilding/qt/norms.htm">team norming process</a>.</p> <p>These are the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/teambuilding/ht/group_norms.htm">steps in establishing team norms</a>, the process of establishing how people in groups are going to relate to each other. Done effectively, norms will determine where one function leaves off and the others start. They establish boundaries and determine needed group relationship guidelines. If your team is not functioning effectively, start with these twelve areas and establishing team norms.</p> <p>_{Image © Monika Wisniewska}</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag=ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/23/team-norms.htm">Consciously Choose Team Norms</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 16:29:32.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/23/team-norms.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/23/team-norms.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/23/team-norms.htm&zItl=Consciously Choose Team Norms">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/23/team-norms.htm Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:29:32 +0000 2009-10-23T16:29:32Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/22/reduce-employee-turnover.htm <p>I'm talking about your good employees in this post - you know those employees that you really want to keep so that your business thrives. In that context, reducing employee turnover is a topic that seems to be all over the map these days. One day I read that employee retention is a challenge since, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/managementtips/a/millennial_myth.htm">particularly millennial employees</a>, change jobs frequently.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/h/A/BusinessSuccess.jpg" border="0" align="left"</p> <p>The next day I find that baby boomers are beginning to retire at a rate that will deplete the workforce of needed employees quickly. Then, I find that baby boomers cannot afford to retire. Next, I'm told that people change jobs over five times in a life time. This is a new model, but here is what I believe:</p> <p>Employee-friendly organizations that value, empower, recognize, enable, provide feedback to, and fairly pay their employees will not have a recruiting or an employee turnover problem.</p> <p>Yes, employees are more difficult to find, especially employees with Web, software development, IT, and science experience, and in some career fields the rate of college graduation is way below what the world needs universities to produce. But "good" companies will attract employees more successfully than others. "Good" companies will experience less employee turnover.</p> <p> Competitive salary, competitive <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/glossaryv/g/paid_vacation.htm">vacation</a> and <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/glossaryh/g/paid_holidays.htm">holidays</a>, and <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/glossaryt/g/tuition.htm">tuition reimbursement</a> (employees want time off for <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/glossaryw/g/balance.htm">work-life balance</a> and the chance to grow professionally) are three basics in employee retention.</p> <p>Especially for millennial employees, these are the holy grail for recruitment and retention. But, employers can reduce employee turnover in many other ways. (If you think these read like the Golden Rule, you're right, they do.) <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/retention/a/turnover_tips.htm">Reducing employee turnover</a> is dependant on the total work environment you offer for employees.</p> <p><b>Poll: Why Do You Stick With Your Employer?</b></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/poll.htm?linkback=http://humanrresources.about.com/b/a/250008.htm&#038;poll_id=2966819506&#038;poll=1&#038;submit1=Submit+Vote">Good coaching from and interaction with my boss.</a> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/poll.htm?linkback=http://humanrresources.about.com/b/a/250008.htm&#038;poll_id=2966819506&#038;poll=2&#038;submit1=Submit+Vote">Opportunity to learn new skills.</a> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/poll.htm?linkback=http://humanrresources.about.com/b/a/250008.htm&#038;poll_id=2966819506&#038;poll=3&#038;submit1=Submit+Vote">Good compensation and benefits package.</a> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/poll.htm?linkback=http://humanrresources.about.com/b/a/250008.htm&#038;poll_id=2966819506&#038;poll=4&#038;submit1=Submit+Vote">Challenging, rewarding, interesting work.</a> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/poll.htm?linkback=http://humanrresources.about.com/b/a/250008.htm&#038;poll_id=2966819506&#038;poll=5&#038;submit1=Submit+Vote">Like my coworkers.</a> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/poll.htm?linkback=http://humanrresources.about.com/b/a/250008.htm&#038;poll_id=2966819506&#038;poll=6&#038;submit1=Submit+Vote">Talent and vision of company management team.</a> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/poll.htm?linkback=http://humanrresources.about.com/b/a/250008.htm&#038;poll_id=2966819506&#038;poll=7&#038;submit1=Submit+Vote">Mission of the company.</a> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/poll.htm?linkback=http://humanrresources.about.com/b/a/250008.htm&#038;poll_id=2966819506&#038;poll=8&#038;submit1=Submit+Vote">Respectful treatment.</a> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/poll.htm?linkback=http://humanrresources.about.com/b/a/250008.htm&#038;poll_id=2966819506&#038;poll=9&#038;submit1=Submit+Vote">Recognition for a job well done.</a> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/poll.htm?linkback=http://humanrresources.about.com/b/a/250008.htm&#038;poll_id=2966819506&#038;poll=10&#038;submit1=Submit+Vote">Just can't seem to get motivated enough to leave...</a><br /><br /> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/poll.htm?linkback=http://humanresources.about.com/od/careerdevelopment/&#038;poll_id=2966819506&#038;submit1=Submit+Vote">View Results</a> </ul> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/pollingcenter/">View all polls.</a></p> <p>If you need convincing that the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=<br /> http://humanresources.about.com/od/retention/a/manager_role.htm">boss really matters</a> for employee retention, take a look at the current poll results. Share your story about <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/sty/workrelationships/my_good_boss/">your good boss</a>.</p> <p>_{Image © Phil Date}</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag= ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/22/reduce-employee-turnover.htm">Reduce High Quality Employee Turnover</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 at 23:28:58.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/22/reduce-employee-turnover.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/22/reduce-employee-turnover.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/22/reduce-employee-turnover.htm&zItl=Reduce High Quality Employee Turnover">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/22/reduce-employee-turnover.htm Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:28:58 +0000 2009-10-22T23:28:58Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/21/open-enrollment.htm <p>Open enrollment season is upon us, and as employers, we have an obligation to educate our employees about their benefits. Not just a "nice to," to help employees make good choices for their families, this education also lets employees know what their employer is spending for their benefits above and beyond their base compensation. This helps employees understand and appreciate their complete compensation package.</p> <p>I have written about how educating employees is critical for their understanding and so they make good choices about coverage for themselves and their family. But, benefits are definitely misunderstood. In <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/04/19/employees-dont-get-benefits.htm">one recent study</a>, employees estimated that benefits added 30% to their employer's costs to employ them. In fact, the figure was 43%.</p> <p>I recommend an annual evening benefits review event, so spouses can attend, that emphasizes the cost of the benefits and how employees can best take advantage of the benefits they have for themselves and their families. You want to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/05/06/promote-employee-appreciation-of-benefits.htm">promote employee appreciation of their benefits</a>.</p> <p>What better time to offer such an event as during open enrollment when employees are making changes? Employers are already making insurance representatives available to talk to employees - or they should be - as employers are not benefits experts and should trust professionals that they have vetted. Why not extend an educational opportunity?</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/X/F/sternberg.jpg" align="right"></p> <p>To provide the basics about open enrollment and to emphasize some must do areas for employers, I <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/roleofsalaryandbenefits/qt/open_enrollment.htm">email interviewed</a> Erich Sternberg, president of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.alwayscarebenefits.com/">AlwaysCare Benefits</a> of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Take a look at our interview for a concise overview of open enrollment. Additionally, Erich supplies a list of steps he recommends every employee take during open enrollment.</p> <p>_{Image Copyright Erich Sternberg}</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag= ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/21/open-enrollment.htm">Key Points About Open Enrollment for Benefits</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 at 02:26:16.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/21/open-enrollment.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/21/open-enrollment.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/21/open-enrollment.htm&zItl=Key Points About Open Enrollment for Benefits">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/21/open-enrollment.htm Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:26:16 +0000 2009-10-21T02:26:16Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/19/hiring-employee.htm <p>Hiring the right employee has never been more difficult. Even with the millions of people currently job searching, weeding through hundreds of resumes, developing the appropriate local candidate pool, and interviewing your best prospects, is time consuming, and often resembles a crap shoot.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/P/E/businessmanthinking.jpg" align="left"></p> <p>Most organizations have not given enough thought as to how to systematize this process for repeated success as you hire employees.</p> <p>And, face it, even your best candidates may not have that important combination of the right experience, the right skills, and the seeming ability to work within your organizational culture. As a guest writer <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/selectemployees/a/staff_selection.htm">stated the mission</a> well: you're hiring for today's need and tomorrow's vision. </p> <p>I am in mid-America and I need an employee to work in quality in the software development industry. That's a tough position to fill. On the other hand, I have several marketing openings that will be easier to fill.</p> <p>So, on some level, sometimes, you have to settle for the best person you can find for your roles that are tough to fill. Make certain your selected person is eager, willing to learn and grow, and that you have some inkling that they can be developed to perform the job you need done.</p> <p>There are certain points in the hiring process that you do not want to skip in any candidate selection process. I have highlighted ten of these steps in my new resource: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/recruiting/tp/recruiting_employee.htm">10 Tips for Hiring the Right Employee</a>.</p> <p><b>More About Hiring an Employee</b></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/cs/selectionstaffing/a/hiringchecklist.htm">Checklist for Hiring an Employee</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/recruiting/a/recruitingtips.htm">Top 10 Recruiting Tips</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/recruiting/a/recruiting_plan.htm">Plan Your Recruiting: Ensure Successful Candidate Selection</a>.</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag= ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/19/hiring-employee.htm">Hiring an Employee for Today's Need and Tomorrow's Vision</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 16:54:10.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/19/hiring-employee.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/19/hiring-employee.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/19/hiring-employee.htm&zItl=Hiring an Employee for Today's Need and Tomorrow's Vision">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/19/hiring-employee.htm Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:54:10 +0000 2009-10-19T16:54:10Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/18/earn-employee-commitment.htm <p>Commitment from employees is a powerful gift. Commitment from employees is also a fragile gift. Ensure that your work environment challenges employees to grow and stretch in their ability to contribute.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/9/E/businessteam.jpg" align="left"></p> <p>But, realize that your work environment must also nurture employees in employee-friendly ways. For characteristics such as contribution, growth, and challenge to flourish, an employee-oriented workplace must also emphasize softer - but harder to create - characteristics such as empowerment, effective communication, and employee morale boosting activities.</p> <p>There are so many ways to injure <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/teamworksuccess/qt/team_commitment.htm">employee commitment</a> that understanding some of the factors that go into creating a work environment that is <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/involvementteams/a/twelve_tip_team.htm">team work promoting</a> is critical. Team work is successful in organizations that pay attention to these factors.</p> <p><b>More About Team Work</b></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/involvementteams/a/team_culture.htm">How to Build a Teamwork Culture</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/involvementteams/a/team_one_stop.htm">How to Build Powerfully Successful Work Teams</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/teamworkfaq/Team_Work_Team_Development_Team_Building_FAQ.htm">Teamwork FAQ</a>.</li> </ul> <p>_{Image Copyright Alexander Hafemann / Getty Images}</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag= ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/18/earn-employee-commitment.htm">Earn Employee Commitment</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Sunday, October 18th, 2009 at 19:00:06.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/18/earn-employee-commitment.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/18/earn-employee-commitment.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/18/earn-employee-commitment.htm&zItl=Earn Employee Commitment">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/18/earn-employee-commitment.htm Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:00:06 +0000 2009-10-18T19:00:06Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/17/dress-codes.htm <p>Participating in interviews recently with media, I have been asked what I think about the necessity of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/glossaryd/g/work_dress_code.htm">dress codes</a>.</p> <table align="right"> <tr> <td> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE= "javaScript" SRC="http://guidepolls.about.com/humanresources/5805988876/poll.js?linkback=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/17/dress-codes.htm"></script> </td> </tr> </table> <p>I have mixed emotions. On the one hand, I want to trust employees and believe that they will make good choices in the attire they choose for work. But, time and again they prove me wrong. Or, a senior executive will take umbrage at what people are wearing to work and demand that Human Resources institute a dress code.</p> <p>My email can be hilarious, too. The most frequent question I am asked about dress codes is what to do about the employees who think it's fashionable to let their underwear show at work. Can they, ask my readers, prohibit that in the dress code? Or, is it better to deal with underwear on a case by case basis?</p> <p>Frankly, I'd rather not deal with underwear at all. Life is short. But, depending on your role, you may need to hold a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/interpersonalcommunicatio1/qt/feedback_com6.htm">difficult conversation</a> with an employee, from time to time. But, in my mind, that beats subjecting the rest of your employees to a strict dress code that you must also then enforce for fairness. As with any policy, if it's not enforced, it's a joke.</p> <p>I have a lot of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/tp/dress_code_collect.htm">dress codes and photo galleries</a> on this HR site. They are offered as much for employees as employers. Employees do want to see what is appropriate for <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/dress_code.htm">business casual</a> or <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/dress_casual.htm">casual</a>. And, I've been having a lot of fun with <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/dresscodesforwork/ig/Smart-Casual-Dress-Code/">smart casual</a> because it spiffs employees up a notch.</p> <p><b>What do you think about dress codes?</b> Do you have a dress code? Does your dress code serve your organization well?</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag= ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/17/dress-codes.htm">Do You Need a Dress Code?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Saturday, October 17th, 2009 at 14:17:33.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/17/dress-codes.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/17/dress-codes.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/17/dress-codes.htm&zItl=Do You Need a Dress Code?">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/17/dress-codes.htm Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:17:33 +0000 2009-10-17T14:17:33Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/16/pick-hr.htm <p>Everyone has a story about how they came to work in Human Resources management. And your stories are <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/sty/careerinhr/human_resources_Careers/">thoughtful and interesting</a>. Consequently, with our new reader submission tool, one of the first opportunities I created was to ask you why and how you <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/sty/careerinhr/human_resources_Careers/form.htm">chose a career in HR</a>.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/E/A/Orange.jpg" align="right"></p> <p>Earlier, readers shared some stories about <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/ua/careerinhr/hr_career_transition.htm?from=lb">transitioning to HR</a> from other fields. But now, I'm looking for your basic story. Out of all the available careers, why and how did you <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/sty/careerinhr/human_resources_Careers/form.htm">choose Human Resources management</a>?</p> <p><b>Susan's HR Path</b></p> <p>Here's my story. I had worked for 16 years in public education, most recently as an Adult Education Director and as the head of a community college extension center when I decided I wanted to work in the private sector to see what that was like. So, I started applying for positions in training and marketing, my two strengths, at the time. I quickly realized that my entire professional network was other educators and ed administrators (don't let that happen to you).</p> <p>I expanded my network (time consuming) but my break came through my doctoral committee chair. He had spoken at a local meeting and a training manager from GM had approached him. She asked him to refer one person he thought could coordinate management development for Lansing GM. He gave her my name and called me at 7 a.m. the next morning to tell me he had found my new job for me.</p> <p>I worked in several HR capacities at GM including training, organization development, safety, and salary administration. From there, I started my own business and chalked up 21 years consulting in Human Resources systems. This included a four year stint as an HR Director and consulting on HR topics with my own company and other clients.</p> <p>There's my circuitous story. Won't you share your path to a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/sty/careerinhr/human_resources_Careers/form.htm">career in HR management</a>?</p> <p>If you've read this far (thank you), here's a funny happenstance on that journey. GM, as part of my interview process, asked me to deliver a training class to a group of managers from 3-5 p.m. on a Friday. I dutifully prepared a session on how to listen.</p> <p>About one day prior to the test, I said to myself, "are you insane? Listening at 3 on Friday?" I changed my topic to: How to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://contests.about.com/">Enter and Win Contests and Sweepstakes</a>, a hobby of mine at the time. At 5:30, they were still busily entering contests and sweepstakes. And, I think that's how I got the job. (grin)</p> <p>_{Image Copyright Peter Chen}</p> <p><b>More About Careers in Human Resources</b></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/hrbasicsfaq/tp/careers_in_hr.htm">So, You Think You Want a Career in Human Resources?</a></li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/hrbasicsfaq/a/HR_jobs.htm">How to Break Into a Career in HR</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/hrbasicsfaq/a/jobs_earnings.htm">Human Resources Job Prospects and Earnings</a>.</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag= ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/16/pick-hr.htm">How and Why Did You Pick HR?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Friday, October 16th, 2009 at 20:59:01.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/16/pick-hr.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/16/pick-hr.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/16/pick-hr.htm&zItl=How and Why Did You Pick HR?">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/16/pick-hr.htm Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:59:01 +0000 2009-10-16T20:59:01Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/14/social-media.htm <p>The new Carnival of Human Resources focuses on professional and social media, a topic on which I know many of you want more information.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/G/D/carnival2.jpg" align="left"></p> <p>Some intro posts and a lot of posts specific to various aspects of social media. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=bit.ly/eN2PW">Take a look at the Carnival</a> at Jon Ingham's Social Advantage blog.</p> <p>Social media and blogging policies are becoming popular so here is how to develop a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/socialmediaandwork/a/social_media.htm">social media policy</a>. This is my take on the appropriate tone and approach in this <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/policysamplesb/a/blogging_policy.htm">sample social media and blogging policy</a>.</p> <p>While you are exploring professional and social online media, here's what's available on the HR site.</p> <p>_{Image Copyright Mark Tantrum}</p> <p><b>More About Professional and Social Media</b></p> <ul><li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/socialmediaandwork/Social_Media_and_Work.htm">Social Media and Work</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/recruiting/a/recruit_linked.htm">Use LinkedIn for Recruiting Employees</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/policysamplesb/a/blogging_policy.htm">Social Media and Blogging Policy Sample</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/ua/socialmediaandwork/research_online.htm">Top Reasons to Research Candidates Online - Or Not</a>.</li></ul> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag= ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/14/social-media.htm">Want to Know More About Social Media?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 at 16:12:46.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/14/social-media.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/14/social-media.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/14/social-media.htm&zItl=Want to Know More About Social Media?">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/14/social-media.htm Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:12:46 +0000 2009-10-14T16:12:46Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/13/do-you-have-a-good-boss.htm <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/ua/dealingwithabadboss/boss_opinions.htm?from=lb">Bad boss stories</a> and comments are perennial since almost all of us have had a bad boss at some time during our career. But, I also receive comments posted by readers about their good bosses whom they admire, respect, and wish to emulate. I know the topic may not be quite as exciting as bad bosses, but good bosses deserve recognition, too. Share your <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/sty/workrelationships/my_good_boss/form.htm">good boss story</a>. Other readers have <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/sty/workrelationships/my_good_boss/">shared their good boss stories</a>, too.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/K/E/casualwomanoffice.jpg" align="right"></p> <p><b>Boss's Day</b></p> <p>So, in honor of National Boss's Day on Friday, October 16, I pulled this comment from Sasha that she made on my <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/05/08/still-hate-hr.htm"><i>Still Hate HR</i></a> post from May. Sasha says:</p> <p>"I have been at companies where there were 'bad' HR representatives and companies where there were 'good' HR representatives. I believe one poster said it all - 'Your HR department can only be as good as the executive management.' Yes, employees need to understand that ultimately your HR rep works for the company as do you.</p> <p>"However, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't feel comfortable going to your HR department with an issue and expect it to be handled fairly. I have worked for companies with hatchet HR reps. Everyone dreaded seeing them and they really weren't advocates for anyone but the company. You couldn't expect to be treated fairly or your situation handled humanely. It was all about the company's legal protection.</p> <p>"Now, I am with a company who puts the Human in Human Resources. Since changing directions in my career, my HR Director took me under her wing and has mentored me. She explained the processes of our company, which I've always believed are fair. First, she says when a manager comes to her asking to let someone go, she has a checklist they must complete to ensure it is not just someone pissed off at an employee.</p> <p>"Every effort is made to ensure there is no other alternative to letting an employee go. Additionally, if an employee has a complaint about a manager, then information is compiled discreetly before any steps are further taken. The ultimate goal is to have a happy, productive staff all around. Of course, not all situations have a happy ending but what I appreciate is that every recourse is utilized before a decision is made.</p> <p>"Although we are not a large company, with less than 400 employees, our HR department pretty much knows each person and whether they have a family, are married, etc. Employees understand that when they approach our HR department with personal or company issues, it remains confidential.</p> <p>"When issues arise of which they question, do they contact our legal counsel? Of course. They want to ensure they are not only protecting the company, but the employee as well. That is one reason why counsel is retained.</p> <p>"It is very unfortunate that many HR representatives are unable to do their jobs effectively. I think it is because a lot of them cannot distinguish between personal and business. They get defensive when confronted with issues and take it as a personal affront.</p> <p>"I am pleased to be associated with such a caring company. And, one day, when I grow up, I want to be just like my HR Director!"</p> <p>Want to see more? Other readers <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/sty/workrelationships/my_good_boss/">share their good boss stories</a>.</p> <p>_{Image Copyright Jack Hollingsworth}</p> <p><b>More About Good Bosses</b></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/boss_relations.htm">How to Get Along With Your Boss</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2008/05/01/sincerity-means-everything.htm">Sincerity Means Everything</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/retention/a/manager_role.htm">The Bottom Line for Employee Retention</a>.</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag= ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/13/do-you-have-a-good-boss.htm">What Makes a Good Boss - Good?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 at 18:31:43.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/13/do-you-have-a-good-boss.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/13/do-you-have-a-good-boss.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/13/do-you-have-a-good-boss.htm&zItl=What Makes a Good Boss - Good?">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/13/do-you-have-a-good-boss.htm Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:31:43 +0000 2009-10-13T18:31:43Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/12/watch-out-for-halloween-hi-jinx.htm <p>Halloween celebrations in the office are motivational and fun for employees. I've written often about how <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/09/ready-for-halloween-in-the-office.htm">Halloween and other celebrations are motivational</a> and create an environment that is conducive to high employee morale.</p> <p>But, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/teambuildingholidays/a/halloween_work.htm">Halloween celebrations in the office</a> also bring their own set of challenges for the employer.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/f/C/Dennis.jpg" align="left"></p> <p>Although Halloween is meant to be a festive day, for some employers it could be more frightening than fun when employees celebrate <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/teambuildingholidays/a/halloween_legal.htm">Halloween in the office</a>, says Dennis Donnelly, J. D. (pictured).</p> <p>Let's take a look at the other side of the coin as you approach celebrating Halloween in your office. When employees fail to take sensitivity, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/diversity/a/diversity.htm">diversity, and honoring differences</a> to heart, law breaking, morale busting situations can occur in the office.</p> <p>Our events planning committee is still finalizing Halloween plans for this year, But, we do have an annual event in which the children of employees dress up and come to the office to trick or treat. This is still popular even as our employees are aging (21 to 32 - grin) and families are becoming the priority over pumpkin carving at work.</p> <p>Perhaps in a couple of years when all of the children are older, pumpkin carving will be a priority again? In the meantime, many employees do <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2003/10/31/team-building-halloween.htm">dress up for work in costumes</a> each year, too.</p> <p><b>Holidays and Events You Celebrate</b></p> <p>Please tell us which holidays and events you celebrate and what you do to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/sty/motivationrewardretention/holidays_workplace/">celebrate these holidays and events</a> in your workplace.</p> <p>_{Image © Dennis C. Donnelly}</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag= ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/12/watch-out-for-halloween-hi-jinx.htm">Watch Out for Halloween Hi-jinx </a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Monday, October 12th, 2009 at 02:45:25.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/12/watch-out-for-halloween-hi-jinx.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/12/watch-out-for-halloween-hi-jinx.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/12/watch-out-for-halloween-hi-jinx.htm&zItl=Watch Out for Halloween Hi-jinx ">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/12/watch-out-for-halloween-hi-jinx.htm Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:45:25 +0000 2009-10-12T02:45:25Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/11/fruit-bat.htm <p>My colleague told me he must have been as he served himself a second helping of fruit at the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/cs/strategicplanning1/a/strategicplan.htm">strategic planning</a> offsite meeting.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/N/F/businesslunch1.jpg" align="right"></p> <p>Others, who had visions of doughnuts and chocolate eclairs dancing in their heads, were not as excited. But, what the heck, with health insurance costs continuing to go up again this year, healthy eating at work-related events is positive role modeling for all.</p> <p>Think about the opportunities you have: vegetarian hot dogs and garden burgers in addition to the real deals at the company barbeque; a taco salad lunch following a company meeting; and fruit and yoghurt for breakfast meetings. Remember the days when doughnuts and coffee were your only choices at a meeting? Those days are gone. The goal now, is to provide options.</p> <p>Oh, and by the way, if you are feeing sorry for my colleagues, don't. They had German Chocolate Cake for lunch and cookies at the afternoon break.</p> <p>_{Image Copyright Jacom Stevens}</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag= ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/11/fruit-bat.htm">A Fruit Bat in a Former Life...</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Sunday, October 11th, 2009 at 02:09:30.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/11/fruit-bat.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/11/fruit-bat.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/11/fruit-bat.htm&zItl=A Fruit Bat in a Former Life...">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/11/fruit-bat.htm Sun, 11 Oct 2009 02:09:30 +0000 2009-10-11T02:09:30Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/09/ready-for-halloween-in-the-office.htm <p> Traditions are important in companies just as they are in families. And, Halloween is one of the best holiday traditions to establish and to celebrate at work.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/6/A/Halloweenwinner.jpg" align="right"</p> <p>Halloween has climbed right up the holiday charts and is now the second most popular holiday, second only to Christmas, so it's popular with employees, too.</p> <p> The early history of Halloween has <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://landscaping.about.com/cs/landscapecolor/a/halloweenOrigin.htm">pagan roots</a> but that history is either unknown or faded in memory to the thousands of people who <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/teambuildingholidays/a/halloween_work.htm">celebrate Halloween at work</a>.</p> <p>Celebrating Halloween at work appeals to the child in each of us and helps create a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/rewardrecognition/a/needs_work.htm">motivational</a>, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/involvementteams/a/team_one_stop.htm">team work-oriented</a> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/organizationalculture/a/culture.htm">work culture</a>. These tips will give you many ideas about how to plan and carry out a Halloween celebration at work.</p> <p><b>Share Your Holiday Traditions</b></p> From Halloween to Thanksgiving to the first day of spring, you can celebrate traditional holidays or holidays your company creates. My company celebrates its birthday every year; it's our main annual event. Does your company celebrate annual holidays or events in your workplace? Please tell us which holidays you celebrate and what you do to celebrate these <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/sty/motivationrewardretention/holidays_workplace/">holidays in your workplace</a>. <p>_{Image © Betsy Weber}</p> <p><b>More About Team Building Holidays</b></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/motivationrewardretention/a/holidays_work.htm">Celebrate Holidays for Motivation and Team Building</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/a/039549.htm">Team Building Halloween</a>.</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/">More Posts</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a></p> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/09/ready-for-halloween-in-the-office.htm">Ready for Halloween in the Office?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Friday, October 9th, 2009 at 17:01:50.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/09/ready-for-halloween-in-the-office.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/09/ready-for-halloween-in-the-office.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/09/ready-for-halloween-in-the-office.htm&zItl=Ready for Halloween in the Office?">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/09/ready-for-halloween-in-the-office.htm Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:01:50 +0000 2009-10-09T17:01:50Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/08/is-hr-strategic-or-not.htm <p>One of my blog posts from last May, <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/05/08/still-hate-hr.htm"><i>Still Hate HR?</i></a>, is still regularly drawing comments from readers. Today, JJ posted this comment after reading through your comments on the post. JJ asked several pertinent questions that only people working in companies and in HR roles will be able to answer. <b>What do you think?</b></p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/e/C/IsthisHarassment.jpg" align="right"></p> <p>JJ says: "It is great to read all your well written and thought out input. I am currently a grad student in HR. It is just as fuzzy in here. Some prof's are tired, you can tell that their HR career took the life right out of them, and they can only teach the stuff. Some love their job, and teach at night.</p> <p>"The problem is, they all want us to learn the strategic end of HR, so we will be invited to sit at the table, and I am not getting the impression that HR people sit at the table much. Are the graduate programs preparing us for a pie in the sky kind of career, and then when we get out there, it is paper pushing and head complaint dept.</p> <p>"There are so many people in the career that do not have an HR degree - is this the problem? I am learning about a lot of bad managers that we have to look out for, and about a lot of employee problems that we ourselves could be sued over if we are not careful. We are learning all the laws, so to treat everyone fairly, but the common answer for most situations is: 'it depends' pick your poison, each solution is going up against someone's rights - who do you want to tick off more, management or employees or the law.</p> <p>"It is all very confusing, and I wonder what the real job is acturally like. Is it stressfull, or do you have nice people mostly, or are the top managers trying to tell you one thing and asking for something else.. or does 'it depend'.</p> <p>"Any comments are helpful."</p> <p>Interested in more about <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/08/26/secrets-of-strategic-hr.htm">strategic HR</a>? It's an ongoing topic on the site.</p> <p>_{Image Copyright Dieter Spears}</p> <p><b>More About HR Strategic Roles</b></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/humanresourcesstrategic/a/hr_profit.htm">The Human Resources Department As a Profitability Factor</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://humanresources.about.com/od/humanresourcesstrategic/a/reinvent_hr.htm:>Reinventing HR from the Classroom to the Boardroom</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/hrbasicsfaq/a/hr_role.htm">The New Roles of the Human Resources Professional</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/cs/strategichr/a/exec_success.htm">How to Get a Seat at the Executive Table</a>.</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag= ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/08/is-hr-strategic-or-not.htm">Is HR Strategic - Or Not?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Thursday, October 8th, 2009 at 23:51:24.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/08/is-hr-strategic-or-not.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/08/is-hr-strategic-or-not.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/08/is-hr-strategic-or-not.htm&zItl=Is HR Strategic - Or Not?">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/08/is-hr-strategic-or-not.htm Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:51:24 +0000 2009-10-08T23:51:24Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/07/value-our-differences.htm <p>Today, I'm thinking about the differences in people. Some jump into new situations and technology. Others, like me, read the directions, think about it, and make a plan.</p> <table align="right"> <tr> <td> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE= "javaScript" SRC="http://guidepolls.about.com/humanresources/1438651351/poll.js?linkback=http://humanresources.about.com/b/a/258048.htm"></script> </td> </tr> </table> <p>I am rarely the first done with anything because I am still planning when the "jump right in" folks cross the finish line. This is why it is so important to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/cs/careerdevelopment/a/Career_Crisis.htm">choose the right career for yourself</a> that plays on and <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/a/258019.htm">emphasizes your strengths</a>, not your weaknesses. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/managementandleadership/a/great_managers.htm">Great managers know this rule</a> when leading people, too.</p> <p>In addition to each of us having a different approach to work, we also operate on different clocks. Some are morning people and some are night people. I'm a night person - always have been and always will be. I can even remember reading under the covers with a flashlight after my mother said lights out during elementary school and high school years.</p> <table align="right"> <tr> <td> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE= "javaScript" SRC="http://guidepolls.about.com/humanresources/1438772324/poll.js?linkback=http://humanresources.about.com/b/a/258048.htm"></script> </td> </tr> </table> <p>All through college and for years after, I worked nights in restaurants: waitressing, bartending, cooking, and managing dining rooms. We finished every evening with a 3 a.m. breakfast at a local all-night restaurant. And, many of those mornings, I had to show up an hour away to teach school at 7:30 a.m. I was never late, but I think of those years of early mornings as the "cruel" years. I have to also admit that I have had to show up much earlier for consulting engagements, but somehow early mornings by choice feel a bit better.</p> <p>I've created a couple of polls to compare our diverse habits. Are you a thinker/planner or a doer? Are you a night person or a morning person? There are no correct answers, just expected personal differences.</p> <p>Read more about <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/hrbasicsfaq/tp/careers_in_hr.htm">careers in Human Resources</a> including job prospects, salaries, and how to get into the field.</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag= ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/07/value-our-differences.htm">Value Our Differences</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 at 11:47:41.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/07/value-our-differences.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/07/value-our-differences.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/07/value-our-differences.htm&zItl=Value Our Differences">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/07/value-our-differences.htm Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:47:41 +0000 2009-10-07T11:47:41Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/06/withdraw-job-offers.htm <p><b>Question:</b> I was given a job offer by a bank. The bank withdrew their offer of employment because my former employer, another bank, refused to speak to the new employer over the phone. My former employer said it was against their policy to speak to anyone and faxed a letter stating the dates of my employment. Is it legal for the new employer, who had made the offer, to request to speak to a former employer? What information can be requested?</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/O/F/writtenletter.jpg" align="right"></p> <p> <b>Answer:</b> It is difficult to speak to individual situations without knowing the policies of the companies you are asking about. That said, many companies have a policy of only directing potential employers to HR with managers and others forbidden to speak to the potential employer. In these cases, dates of employment, job title and salary are likely the only pieces of information given. If you left in good accord and signed a document that gave your former company permission to talk about your performance, perhaps they will.</p> <p> And, again, if it is the new employer's policy that they must speak to, as an example, your former boss, and they treat all candidates the same, then their policy is their policy.</p> <p> Have you tried inquiring further of either your potential employer or your former employer? This is the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/cs/policysamples/a/refcheckform.htm">format I recommend for checking references</a> when the company will speak to an inquiring potential employer. I only recommend doing this kind of a check if the employer is ready to offer the candidate a position.</p> <p> Checking the references of a large number of candidates is time consuming and impractical and I prefer not to spend the time unless I am really just confirming that I have a great candidate. You may wish to speak to an employment law attorney, and I am not an attorney.</p> <p> <b>What do others think about her problem? Is withdrawing a job offer common? What is going on here? Speculation is okay. I am also not an expert in this area. Under what circumstances do you withdraw job offers? Is a negative finding in a background check one of them?</b></p> <p>Please respond to my <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/a/257790.htm">reference checking poll</a>: what does your company do about reference checks? How do you give good employees a break?</p> <p>_{Image Copyright Pali Rao}</p> <p><b>More About Reference Checking and Job Offers</b></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/whenemploymentends/a/reference_check.htm">How to Respond to a Reference Check Request</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/careerdevelopment/qt/jobs_tips_j1.htm">Prep Your References for a Reference Check</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/recruitingandstaffing/qt/refercheck_rs7.htm">Who Owns Reference Checking?</a></li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/cs/policysamples/a/joboffer.htm">Sample Job Offer Letters</a>.</li> </ul> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/06/withdraw-job-offers.htm">Do You Withdraw Job Offers?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at 17:55:24.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/06/withdraw-job-offers.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/06/withdraw-job-offers.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/06/withdraw-job-offers.htm&zItl=Do You Withdraw Job Offers?">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/06/withdraw-job-offers.htm Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:55:24 +0000 2009-10-06T17:55:24Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/04/snoop-on-prospective-employees.htm <p>My email has brought me a disturbing trend recently. Some employers are asking prospective employees for their passwords to social media sites in which they might participate such as Twitter, MySpace, and Facebook.</p> <table align="right"> <tr> <td> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE= "javaScript" SRC="http://guidepolls.about.com/humanresources/4734577108/poll.js?linkback=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/05/snoop-on-prospective-employees.htm"></script> </td> </tr> </table> <p>I'm not talking about the public, professional profile the potential employee may have carefully developed on sites such as LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a professional networking site where potential employees want you to look and read about their accomplishments and connections.</p> <p>I'm talking about the social media sites where some prospective employees lock their tweets and set up privacy filters on their Facebook pages because they want only friends and family to share. Sure, venture there for their public postings, but asking for passwords to private spaces is over the edge.</p> <p>I don't think an employer should ever venture there unless invited by the employee or prospective employee. Their private lives are really not your concern - unless they choose to share them. And, even then, access them sparingly. Do you really want workplace performance affected by the contents of his or her Facebook wall?</p> <p><b>Careerbuilder Employer Use of Social Media Study</b></p> <p>But, many of you disagree with me. A study by Careerbuilder.com concludes that 45% of employers are researching candidates at social media sites compared to 22% during the same time period last year. The study, conducted by Harris International, of 2667 hiring managers, and completed in June, 2009, indicated that another 11% plan to begin screening on social media sites this year.</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.careerbuilder.com/share/aboutus/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=pr519&#038;sd=8/19/2009&#038;ed=12/31/2009&#038;siteid=cbpr&#038;sc_cmp1=cb_pr519_&#038;cbRecursionCnt=2&#038;cbsid=53b5c5f8dab749178d7885b74aa3c7c7-308016728-JS-5">According to Careerbuilder</a>, of the managers surveyed, "29 percent use Facebook, 26 percent use LinkedIn and 21 percent use MySpace. One-in-ten (11 percent) search blogs while 7 percent follow candidates on Twitter."</p> <p>35% of managers said that information found on social networking sites eliminated a candidate from contention. Key reasons included inappropriate photographs (53%), drinking or drug use (44%), bad mouthing former employers, coworkers, and customers (35%), exhibiting poor communication skills (29%), discriminatory remarks (26%), lied about their qualifications for the position (24%), and discussed confidential employer information (20%).</p> <p>On the other hand, employers also found evidence that the candidate would be a good hire: candidate demonstrated a personality that would be a good company fit (50%), consistent professional qualifications (39%), candidate showed creativity (38%) and good communication skills (35%), prospective employee was well-rounded (33%), good references were posted about the candidate (19%) and the candidate received awards and recognition (15%).</p> <p>Employers need to know that prospective employees are fighting back against this trend. They are using privacy filters on sites like Facebook to disenable public inspection. They are locking out the ability of unwanted people to follow their Twitter comments, and they are going so far as to suspend their social media accounts during a job search. (I understand they don't lose all the data but I have never personally tried it.)</p> <p>If you search for your candidates on Google or another search engine, make sure you have the right person. Additionally, I recommend that you use such a search to confirm your interest in a candidate and for background checking. Don't go snooping to eliminate a candidate who may have won the job search competition on every other level.</p> <p>What do you do to find out more about your candidates on social networking sites, professional networking sites, and in Internet search. Please cast your vote in my new poll.</p> <p>Add your thoughts about researching - snooping - on potential employees on social media in my <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/ua/socialmediaandwork/research_online.htm">new readers respond page</a>. I'd love to hear what you think.</p> <p><b>More About Professional and Social Media</b></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/ua/careernetworking/social_responses.htm">Top Reasons to Participate in Social Media</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/careernetworking/a/social_media.htm">Social Media Should Rock Your World</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/recruiting/a/recruit_linked.htm">Recruiting Employees Through LinkedIn</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/socialmediaandwork/a/social_media.htm">Develop a Social Media Policy</a>.</li> </ul> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/04/snoop-on-prospective-employees.htm">Do You Snoop Online On Prospective Employees?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Sunday, October 4th, 2009 at 04:59:47.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/04/snoop-on-prospective-employees.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/04/snoop-on-prospective-employees.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/04/snoop-on-prospective-employees.htm&zItl=Do You Snoop Online On Prospective Employees?">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/04/snoop-on-prospective-employees.htm Sun, 04 Oct 2009 04:59:47 +0000 2009-10-04T04:59:47Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/02/team-culture-and-context.htm <p>Twelve <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/involvementteams/a/twelve_tip_team.htm">tips for team building</a> has long been a powerfully popular topic on the site.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/J/D/bcblog13.jpg" align="left"></p> <p>So, I am in the process of expanding all twelve topics and providing more detail about how to do each of them effectively. I've completed four now including <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/teamworksuccess/qt/clear_expectations.htm">clear performance expectations</a> and <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/organizationalculture/a/culture.htm">organizational culture</a>.</p> <p>Today's new article about <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/teamworksuccess/qt/team_context.htm">team culture and context</a> takes you another step forward in team building and team development. I trust you'll find the series worthwhile. In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend.</p> <p>And, please share your <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/sty/motivationrewardretention/holidays_workplace/">favorite holiday celebrations</a> that you do in your office. We are introducing this opportunity to include and publish longer pieces on the Human Resources site.</p> <p>_{Image Copyright Jacob Wackerhausen}</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag= ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/02/team-culture-and-context.htm">Team Culture and Context</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Friday, October 2nd, 2009 at 00:41:32.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/02/team-culture-and-context.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/02/team-culture-and-context.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/02/team-culture-and-context.htm&zItl=Team Culture and Context">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/02/team-culture-and-context.htm Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:41:32 +0000 2009-10-02T00:41:32Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/01/celebrate-fall-holidays.htm <p>Fall brings tree color; falling leaves; bounty from the garden; crisp, cool days and evenings; apple cider; the scent of wood smoke; hunting; Beaujolais Nouveau wine; Halloween; Hannukah; Columbus Day; Yom Kippur; Thanksgiving; Ramadan and many more seasonal occasions to celebrate.</p> <p><a href=http://humanresources.about.com/od/motivationrewardretention/a/holidays_work_2.htm><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/3/A/Pumpkin.jpg" border="0" align="right"></a></p> <p><b>Halloween in the Office</b></p> <p>Halloween is coming soon and I know several companies that make Halloween a highlight of the year. At <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.recellular.com">ReCellular</a>, staff members dress in costumes, parade through the plant, and cast votes for their favorite dressed-up coworker.</p> <p>At <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.techsmith.com">TechSmith</a>, staff members compete in a pumpkin carving contest. Additionally, the children of staff members trick or treat at the company going office to office and cubicle to cubicle. Employees stay to "ooh and ahh" at the costumes and pass out candy. Since it's not celebrated on the actual Halloween, the kids get to dress up twice.</p> <p>Events like these are critical for team building, for company folklore and stories, and for establishing traditions people think about all year long. Take a look for more fall celebration ideas: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/motivationrewardretention/a/holidays_work_2.htm">Seasonal Holiday Traditions and Celebrations for Fall</a>. Wonder why <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/motivationrewardretention/a/holidays_work.htm">traditions and celebrations are important in your workplace</a>? Traditions are important in companies and organizations just as they are in families ...</p> <p><b>Share Your Holiday Traditions</b></p> <p>From Halloween to Thanksgiving to the first day of spring, you can celebrate traditional holidays or holidays your company creates. My company celebrates its birthday every year; it's our main annual event. Does your company celebrate annual holidays or events in your workplace? Please tell us which holidays you celebrate and what you do to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/sty/motivationrewardretention/holidays_workplace/">celebrate these holidays</a> in your workplace.</p> <p>_{Image © Nazarethman Productions}</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag= ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/01/celebrate-fall-holidays.htm">Celebrate Fall Holidays in the Office</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Thursday, October 1st, 2009 at 23:00:25.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/01/celebrate-fall-holidays.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/01/celebrate-fall-holidays.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/01/celebrate-fall-holidays.htm&zItl=Celebrate Fall Holidays in the Office">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/10/01/celebrate-fall-holidays.htm Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:00:25 +0000 2009-10-01T23:00:25Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/30/speed-meeting-icebreaker.htm <p>An icebreaker is a brief exercise, energizer, or activity, that helps meeting, team building, or training session participants become comfortable talking with each other.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/1/A/Valuesblog.jpg" align="left"></p> <p>Additionally, icebreakers can help move participants into the topic of the training session. The interaction is called an icebreaker because it "breaks the ice" between people who may not know each other. Even when employees do know each other, an icebreaker breaks the silence and prepares the environment or atmosphere in the meeting room for positive interaction.</p> <p>In my experience, some people love icebreakers, training activities, and other experiential exercises during training seminars and team building events. I'm not one of them. I want to get down to business immediately and never have a problem talking with other people at a session. In fact, I prefer lectures during which I receive information quickly. But, that's just me.</p> <p>Others love ice breakers, activities, and experiential learning. So, in your facilitation practice, it is important to have a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/trainingtransfer/a/trningtrasnfer.htm">good mix of lecture, handouts, discussion, icebreakers, and media</a> to satisfy all of the possible learning styles and participant preferences.</p> <p>My newest <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/icebreakers/a/icebreaker_speed.htm">speed meeting icebreaker</a> definitely breaks the ice, gets people talking with each other, and warms up your room.</p> <p> I've <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/icebreakers/tp/Everything-Ice-Breakers.htm">consolidated the site's ice breakers</a> so you have them on a handy page.</p> <p><b>Favorite Quotes - <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/quotations_dir.htm">More Quotes</a></b></p> <ul> <li>"1. Out of clutter, find simplicity.</li> <li>"2. From discord, find harmony.</li> <li>"3. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."</li></ul> <p><b>--Albert Einstein</b></p> <p>_{Copyright Lise Gagne}</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag= ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/30/speed-meeting-icebreaker.htm">Speed Meeting Icebreaker</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 at 20:44:41.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/30/speed-meeting-icebreaker.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/30/speed-meeting-icebreaker.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/30/speed-meeting-icebreaker.htm&zItl=Speed Meeting Icebreaker">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/30/speed-meeting-icebreaker.htm Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:44:41 +0000 2009-09-30T20:44:41Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/28/clear-expectations.htm <p>How important are <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/teamworksuccess/qt/clear_expectations.htm">clear performance expectations</a> within an organization or team?</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/-/A/SpacePlanningFeedbackblog.jpg" align="left"></p> <p>I could make a solid case that without clear performance expectations, nothing else matters. Clear performance expectations align all of the employees behind the stated goals of the organization and determine the utilization of resources in pursuit of company goals. Clear performance expectations unify employees in their attention to what matters for the ultimate success of the enterprise.</p> <p>Every employee wants to feel as if they are working on the right things - tasks that matter in the larger scheme of their organization. This is so important to employees that <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2006/04/23/weekly-poll-what-makes-a-manager-a-bad-boss.htm">failure to provide clear direction</a> is the number one failing of a bad boss. Along with <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/glossaryb/g/bullying.htm">bullying behaviors</a>, the themes of poor direction, little <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/cs/communication/ht/Feedbackimpact.htm">feedback</a>, clueless behavior, and failure to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/rewardrecognition/a/recognition_tip.htm">reward and recognize employees</a> are frequently the focus of readers' stories about their <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/ua/dealingwithabadboss/boss_opinions.htm">bad bosses</a>.</p> <p>Clear performance expectations are implemented via your <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/cs/perfmeasurement/a/pdp.htm">performance development planning</a> process. Effectively communicated and negotiated, clear performance expectations ensure your success.</p> <p>_{Image Copyright Xploresoft, LLC}</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag= ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/28/clear-expectations.htm">Energize Employees With Clear Performance Expectations</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Monday, September 28th, 2009 at 00:50:39.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/28/clear-expectations.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/28/clear-expectations.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/28/clear-expectations.htm&zItl=Energize Employees With Clear Performance Expectations">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/28/clear-expectations.htm Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:50:39 +0000 2009-09-28T00:50:39Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/27/nightmare-interviews.htm <p>On the subject of what could people possibly be thinking, once upon a time, I interviewed candidates for a professional sales and marketing position. Here were two of my candidates.</p> <p>A business development professional had driven in from the other side of the state for the interview. As is my wont when I interview a candidate whose position spends a lot of time with customers and potential customers, we took her to lunch.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/N/F/businesslunch1.jpg" align="right"></p> <p>She had applied for a sales position, looked good on paper, and I genuinely liked her and found her qualified for the role. Her potential reportung manager had some concerns about her sales abilities but was comfortable with her experience in business development. The sales role would have taken her on the road with clients quite a bit, so I thought a lunch meeting was in order.</p> <p>Midway through our lunch, the local tornado sirens went off, and amidst thunder, lightning, hail, and a curtain of rain, we were forced to move away from the restaurant window back behind a retaining wall. The next fifteen minutes made the candidate a nightmare. She started by taking out her compact and picking her teeth in front of the other customers and me.</p> <p>Then, she informed me that she wanted to get several coffees for the road and that she'd add them to our bill. Upon her return, I noticed she had also ordered a dessert to go. These actions in combination with the fact that she talked to me when her mouth was full all during lunch, had convinced me that I didn't want her to be the public face of my client company.</p> <p>She called the next morning to say she was no longer interested in the job. In retrospect, my suspicion is that she had already decided that when we went to lunch. But, even then, wouldn't you think she'd want our final taste of her professional presence to be positive? Instead she went on my nightmare candidate list. I hope she knows not to ever have anyone call me about her professionally.</p> <p>During the same set of interviews, another man responded to my opening question with a rambling, over-twenty minute monologue. And, no, I could not insert a comment. I tried unsuccessfully. So I politely endured the speech, knowing that I would not hire him for a business development position that had 100% contact with potential customers.</p> <p>When he paused for a breath - thank goodness - I stood to escort him out. Half-way to the door, he paused and said, "I am a recovering alcoholic. I haven't had a drink in two years. Does that bother you?" I responded, "No, that piece of information, which I hadn't known until that minute, would not influence my hiring decision at all." He had, of course, already excluded himself from consideration.</p> <p>Have you had a nightmare interview? Please respond in "comments" below.</p> <p>_{Image Copyright Jacom Stevens}</p> <p><b>More About Interiewing</b></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/interviewing/tp/interview_questions.htm">Sample Job Interview Questions</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/interviewing/a/one_stop.htm">Job Interview Tips</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/interviewing/a/interview_quest.htm">Illegal Job Interview Questions</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/interviewing/a/behavior_interv.htm">Use Behavioral Interviewing to Select the Best</a>.</li> </ul> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/27/nightmare-interviews.htm">Nightmare Interviews</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Sunday, September 27th, 2009 at 15:58:03.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/27/nightmare-interviews.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/27/nightmare-interviews.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/27/nightmare-interviews.htm&zItl=Nightmare Interviews">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/27/nightmare-interviews.htm Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:58:03 +0000 2009-09-27T15:58:03Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/25/does-panty-hose-matter.htm <p>While we’re talking about what employees ought to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/tp/dress_code_collect.htm">wear to work</a> in a variety of settings, I’d like to bring up hose or panty hose. Let’s start with a seventeen year old’s perspective.</p> <table align="right"> <tr> <td> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE= "javaScript" SRC="http://guidepolls.about.com/humanresources/3911110667/poll.js?linkback=http://humanresources.about.com/b/a/hose-tradition.htm"></script> </td> </tr> </table> <p>As a senior in high school, my friend’s daughter has declared that never in her life will she wear hose or panty hose – never. Bare legs with dresses or pants rule the day. As a result, I began to notice at professional business meetings whether women wore hose – or not, any more.</p> <p>I figured it was a generational thing and that the non-hose wearers would all be young. But, I attended a state Chamber of Commerce professional dinner last week where many women wore dresses; it was a fancy affair. No one I saw under age thirty-five or so had hose on – bare legs ruled the evening, even with the women who had attended the business meetings and presentations all day.</p> <p>A couple of lessons for me here: hosiery companies better plan to diversify or they will go the same route as buggy whip companies. A second question arose. Can company <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/glossaryd/g/work_dress_code.htm">dress codes</a> specify hose? Should they? I almost think of it as <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/discrimination/Discrimination.htm">discrimination</a> in 2009.</p> <p>In a business casual or casual work environment, almost no one wears dresses or skirts, but in a formal dress code workplace, is the no hose look going to fly? With the next generations of women, the answer is “yes.”</p> <p>But, will the no hose look work for men and women currently working and hiring new employees? I’d like to find out. Please take a moment to respond to my quick poll. <b>If you have thoughts on the subject, please share them in "comments."</b></p> <p>You might also be interested to see what job searchers think about panty hose. Alison Doyle <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://jobsearch.about.com/b/2008/07/23/should-you-wear-panty-hose-to-an-interview.htm">ran a poll to find out</a> that produced some interesting comments and opinions.</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/pollingcenter/Business_Management_and_Human_Resources_Polling_Center.htm">Vote in more polls.</a> Share opinions.</p> <p><b>More About Interviewing Image</b></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/selectemployees/a/nonverbal_com.htm">Believe What You See: How to Use Nonverbal Communication in Hiring</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/careerdevelopment/a/got_job.htm">How to Win the Job Search Competition: Why Mary Got the Job</a>.</li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/cs/communication/a/profimage.htm">Your Image Is You</a>.</li> </ul> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag= ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/25/does-panty-hose-matter.htm">Does Panty Hose Matter to Employers?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Friday, September 25th, 2009 at 16:55:59.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/25/does-panty-hose-matter.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/25/does-panty-hose-matter.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/25/does-panty-hose-matter.htm&zItl=Does Panty Hose Matter to Employers?">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/25/does-panty-hose-matter.htm Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:55:59 +0000 2009-09-25T16:55:59Z http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/24/tell-truth.htm <p><b>Reader Question:</b></p> <p>"I was recently terminated from a banker position in New York. The real reason was person/family difficulties that caused problems with time management within the branch.</p> <p><img src="http://z.about.com/d/humanresources/1/0/d/E/interviewsmile.jpg" align="left"></p> <p>"For the past 5 months, I have used 'Position Eliminated' as the reason. I really do not think the interviewer believes me. Why did they let you go and not the other branch bankers? I answered seniority!"</p> <p>I would appreciate your thoughts.</p> <p><b>My Response</b></p> <p>The most important thing to do is to contact your prior employer and ask how they will characterize your leave taking when they are called for a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/od/glossaryb/a/background.htm">reference check</a>. You need to know so you can prepare the potential new employer for what they will hear.</p> <p>Then, I suggest that you honestly tell the potential employer why you and your prior employer agreed to part ways. Be prepared to say why the problems no longer exist because the potential employer will want to know.</p> <p>Then, spend the interview time emphasizing how much you can contribute to the new organization.</p> <p>Any untruthfulness regularly comes back to haunt people and, even if you've checked with your former employer, the potential employer may get the real story from a friend, an acquaintance, or a chatty HR person.</p> <p>More importantly, telling the truth is the right thing to do and you'll sleep better at night.</p> <p>And, yes, given the number of applicants who lie, exaggerate, or leave out information, on their <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://jobsearch.about.com/od/resumewriting/a/resumelies.htm">application materials</a>, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://jobsearch.about.com/b/2009/04/19/would-you-lie-on-your-resume-2.htm">resumes</a>, and cover letters, and during the interview, the potential employers may not trust what you're telling them. If you've been doing interviews for awhile, you develop good radar for when an applicant may be trying to deceive you - the B.S. factor, so to say.</p> <p><b>Do you have additional thoughts for this reader?</b></p> <p><b><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/u/ua/hrbasicsfaq/hr_problems.htm">You know you're in HR when...</a></b></p> <p>_{Image Copyright Steve Cole}</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/mlibrary.htm">All Topics</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/popular.htm">Most Popular</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/stay.htm">Newsletter</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag=ab-humanrsrc">HR Forum</a><br /> <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://technorati.com/blogs/humanresources.about.com">Be a Technorati Fan</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.twitter.com/Susanheathfield">Follow Me On Twitter</a></p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/24/tell-truth.htm">Truth Will Never Haunt You</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/">About.com Human Resources</a> on Thursday, September 24th, 2009 at 15:51:28.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/24/tell-truth.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/24/tell-truth.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://humanresources.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/24/tell-truth.htm&zItl=Truth Will Never Haunt You">Email this</a></p> http://humanresources.about.com/b/2009/09/24/tell-truth.htm Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:51:28 +0000 2009-09-24T15:51:28Z