Easy Small Business HR

Hot Topics From Around The Web: Training is Key to Worker Retention, Company Competitiveness

Dianne — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:01:27 +0000

Managers who want to stay ahead of the 8 ball when it comes to strategies for improving employee retention will find the article from USA Today, “Training is Key to Worker Retention, Company Competitiveness“ a “must read”. Anita Bruzzese shares a snapshot on employee training as a way to retain workers through the lens [...]

Supervisors Toolkit: How To Supervise: What Your Boss Never Told You Before You Took The Job- A Step-by-Step Guide For New and Seasoned Managers. http://www.HowToBeASupervisor.com Your Toolkit Includes: 1. Three versions of the ebook, (Kindle/Nook/PDF) 2. Twelve months of free access to G5 Leadership webniar series 3. Exclusive Supervisor Tips video http://www.HowToBeASupervisor.com

Mismatched Skills Make for Bad Hires

Howard — Mon, 21 May 2012 01:09:40 +0000

Today’s guest post is from Josh Tolan is the CEO of Spark Hire. Hiring the right people for every open position is critical for any human resource executive, corporate recruiter, and manager. As most employers realize, a bad hire can be detrimental to the success of a company. Experts estimate the financial cost of a [...]

Hot Topics From Around the Web: Advantages Outweigh the Risks When It Comes To Employer Criminal Background Checks

Dianne — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:01:25 +0000

More employers are embracing the use of criminal background checks as a way to protect the company from potential hires that may put the business at risk. The following article was authored by Matthew Korn and Stephen Mitchell, partners with the law firm of Fisher & Phillips. The article focuses on a report written by [...]

Employee Theft Statistics For 2012

Howard — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:00:48 +0000

Three out of four of your employees will steal from you this year, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. One of those people will steal repeatedly or has already done so. Let this situation continue and your business has a one in three chance of declaring bankruptcy and going under. statistics for 2012 show [...]

5 Team Leading Skills You Can Learn From Navy SEALs

Howard — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:44:18 +0000

This week’s guest post is from Mike Sanders: Even those who have never served in an elite military unit can respect and admire the hard work and constitution required to become a Navy SEAL. However, not only is becoming a SEAL about effort, fortitude, and discipline, it’s also about management and leadership. Some may assume [...]

Hiring Teenagers – What Employers Need to Know About Child Employment Laws

Howard — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:23:53 +0000

It’s that time of year when employers are considering hiring teens. Here’s an article from the Easy Small Business archives that you can use as a reference. How many hours can a minor work in a week? Can I hire a 13 year old? Small business owners who tap into the teen work force [...]

Attendance Policy Checklist for Small Businesses

Dianne — Tue, 08 May 2012 02:56:30 +0000

Do your employees know what to do when they need time off work or even if such time off is allowed? Instead of relying on word of mouth, craft a detailed attendance policy that keeps every supervisor and worker on the same page. Avoid confusion, conflicts and court battles by drafting a document with each [...]

Hot Topics From Around the Web: Making the Grade- Employers Face Increased Scrutiny of Pre-Employment Testing Programs

Dianne — Fri, 04 May 2012 01:09:11 +0000

If you’re thinking about implementing a pre-employment testing process for your company, you’ll want to read the article “Making the Grade: Employers Face Increased Scrutiny of Pre-Employment Testing Programs from the blog of law firm Vedder Price. This particular article focuses on a company whose pre-employment testing process adversely affected minority job candidates. Read more [...]

Employee Benefits = Employee Loyalty?

Dianne — Thu, 03 May 2012 02:00:11 +0000

Are you sending your best employees to your competitors? In the average small business, six out of every ten employees are ready to take a job somewhere else. If you want to attract and retain the best talent to accelerate your company’s growth, you need a benefits package that stands out in your industry. According [...]

ESBHR Podcast Interview: Paul Falcone- 2600 Phrases for Setting Effective Performance Goals

Dianne — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:17:28 +0000

(33 mins, 24 secs) I’ve not shared a podcast in a few months, but this one interview will make up for that! Paul Falcone is a seasoned human resources executive who has written several very good books on having difficult conversations, hiring, and setting performance goals. Check out his book selections below. Paul and I [...]

6 Business Benefits of Employee Automated Time and Attendance Systems

Dianne — Tue, 01 May 2012 02:00:24 +0000

Your employees could be stealing $800 or more each year with your blessing. Employee time theft is a rising concern across the small business community as workers come in late, take long lunches, clock out early and waste time on Facebook. If just a single employee making $10 an hour is late 15 minutes each [...]

Hot Topics From Around the Web: 7 Things Never to Say to People with Disabilities

Dianne — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 01:45:09 +0000

As part of my new, “Hot Topics From Around the Web” series, I’ll be sharing interesting articles from blogs related to employee management. Sometimes, even the most well meaning employee or manager can put the proverbial “foot in mouth” so I found this article on 7 Things Never to Say To People with Disabilities” from [...]

The Essential New Hire Paperwork Checklist

Howard — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 01:51:53 +0000

When you don’t have the benefit of a full-time human resources department, hiring even one extra employee can topple your already overflowing plate. At the same time, without the proper federal, state and company-specific paperwork, you may be setting up your business for fines, lawsuits and mass confusion. The next time you add someone to [...]

7 Quick Tips For Dealing with Workplace Violence

Dianne — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 02:00:07 +0000

In the post “Workplace Violence: Forget the Myths and Get the Facts” I highlighted that every employer, no matter the size of the company, needs to prepare and think proactively as it relates to violence in the workplace. Today’s follow up post is a quick laundry list of 7 steps to consider when dealing with [...]

Workplace Violence: Forget the Myths and Get the Facts

Dianne — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 02:00:36 +0000

Over two million Americans are harmed each year through workplace violence. Nearly 500 of these cases end in at least one death. As a business owner or manager, you have the legal and moral obligation to protect your staff. By understanding how to prevent violence and detect the signs of potential incidents, you can ensure [...]

The Dreaded Termination Letter- Write it “Right” The First Time

Howard — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 04:00:27 +0000

Firing an employee is never easy, but it is especially difficult when you rarely need to perform the task. Working in a small business, you cannot afford the same legal slip-ups as large corporations. Instead of guessing what information to include in an official employee termination letter, use these tips to let your former worker [...]

Diversity in the Workplace: Diversity and Inclusion Best Practices

Dianne — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:00:46 +0000

Diversity is about more than quotas. It strengthens the heart of an organization–producing fresh perspectives, opening new markets and solidifying connections with the surrounding community. In one study, corporations that promoted diverse individuals into leadership roles improved their return on equity by nearly 50 percent. Diversity in the workplace typically centers on traits like [...]

Tips On Managing Employee Performance

Howard — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:00:56 +0000

Are you stuck with a problem child working on your team? Instead of avoiding the issue or filling out the pink slip, use these tips to get better results from your employees. 1. Set clear expectations and consequences early. Even though you understand the company’s mission, your employees may not. Make sure that your expectations [...]

Tough Times Ahead But Don’t Cut the Employee Benefits

Howard — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 04:00:50 +0000

Companies are still suffering as a result of economic decline, struggling to bounce back from falling profit margins and many are looking inwardly at ways to streamline their businesses, cutting costs to protect their business through a difficult time. Cuts and savings need to be made somewhere, but in a worrying trend, a number of [...]

What’s Wrong With Performance Reviews & How to Improve Performance Management

Howard — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 03:00:11 +0000

There’s an obvious reality I’ve been preaching for a while: performance reviews just don’t work. If you’re the employer and you’re critiquing your employee one-on-one based on five set levels of performance, you’re shooting yourself — as well as your employee — in the foot. See, the real challenge is the pace of work and [...]

Dollars and Sense of Employee Engagement

Dianne — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 06:01:21 +0000

Created by Halogen Software Supervisors Toolkit: How To Supervise: What Your Boss Never Told You Before You Took The Job- A Step-by-Step Guide For New and Seasoned Managers. http://www.HowToBeASupervisor.com Your Toolkit Includes: 1. Three versions of the ebook, (Kindle/Nook/PDF) 2. Twelve months of free access to G5 Leadership webniar series 3. Exclusive Supervisor Tips video [...]

Employee Management Faux Pas- Don’t Do This!

Howard — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:20:54 +0000

Are you the super manager everyone wants to work for, or the one that employees secretly loathe? Check out these common mistakes that backfire when managing employees. 1. Don’t pretend you have all the answers. You may think you are making yourself look good, but you are likely not hearing the things said behind your [...]

Strategies For Successful Supervisors

Howard — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 01:55:19 +0000

You want the best for your company, but how do you achieve results without tearing out your hair? Reduce your stress level and supercharge your workforce with these strategies on how to be a better supervisor. Show Appreciation Thank your employees for going beyond the usual expectations, such as helping a coworker understand the new [...]

Management Skills Training- 4 Good Reasons To Finesse Your Employee Management Skills

Howard — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 02:42:32 +0000

You’ve just been promoted to manager, so along with the new office and nameplate comes all of the knowledge you will ever need. You immediately understand how to increase your team’s performance without driving them to look for new jobs, how to handle conflicts with executives, and how to deal with the pressure of long [...]

10 Unique and Unusual Hiring Campaigns

Howard — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 01:00:25 +0000

Looking for new ways to find and hire candidates? Today’s guest poster, Issac, shares some very interesting recruitment strategies from around the world: Businesses are always looking for unique ways to attract the best candidates to their businesses. To get the cream of the crop these 10 businesses have shown their creativity. 1. A Napkin [...]

The Top 5 Interview Questions For Employers To Ask

Dianne — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 03:08:10 +0000

Making a decision on whom to hire during the job interview process isn’t an easy task. Finding and hiring the best candidates starts with asking the right interview questions. The five questions highlighted below will help employers to better assess whether a job applicant is a strong potential hire:

10 Steps to Beating Benefits Bewilderment and Simplifying Employee Benefits Communication

Howard — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 08:36:17 +0000

Reviewing healthcare benefits packages can be as much fun for your employees as having elective root canal surgery. Let’s face it, the only time employees really show an interest in a benefits plan is when they are facing a major health crisis or about to pay for —surprise—medical services they thought were covered. Small business [...]

Are You a Micro Manager? How to Take That “Micro” Out of Your Style

Howard — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:00:36 +0000

Nit-picky. Anxious. Overbearing. These are just a few of the associations many workers make with a supervisor who is a micro manager. And while to some those qualities indicate a manager who pays attention to detail and wants the team to do well, in reality, they don’t create an effective management style. In fact, a [...]

Tips For Hiring an Intern Legally

Howard — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:47:50 +0000

Done correctly, taking on or hiring an intern is a win-win proposition. The students gain valuable work experience and the chance to prove that they’re worth considering for full time work (either at your company or elsewhere). Your company benefits from adding creative talent at low or no cost. Here’s the thing, though: There are [...]

ESBHR Podcast Interview: Field Tested: Recruiting, Managing, and Retaining Veterans With Emily King

Dianne — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:00:26 +0000

(37 mins, 41 secs) Today’s podcast features Emily King, Vice President of Military Transitions with the Buller Group and author of the book “Field Tested: Recruiting, Managing, and Retaining Veterans“. Emily sheds light on not only the best practices for hiring and retaining veterans in the workforce, but also highlights the challenges that are germane [...]

The 8 Warning Signs of an Unhappy Employee

Howard — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:55:06 +0000

Transcript of HR Podcast #28: The 8 Warning Signs of an Unhappy Employee Listen to the audio (7 mins, 39 secs) This article focuses on 8 clues that you want to pay attention to to be aware whether your employees are unhappy. These are 8 workplace behaviors that signify that employees may be disengaged or just [...]

3 Strategies to Help Small Business Owners Address Tardiness

Howard — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:38:18 +0000

The office culture in any given small business is one of a kind. Part of the romanticism, in fact, of starting a small business, or working for one, is that the constricting rules that apply in the corporate world don’t necessarily apply in the small business. Dress code is often thrown out the window, e-mail [...]

Tardiness in the Workplace: Do’s and Don’ts for Supervisors

Howard — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:46:00 +0000

$3 billion. That’s how much in productivity experts estimate American companies lose to tardiness in the workplace every year. In fact, a whopping 20% of workers admitted they were late at least once a week, according to a CareerBuilder.com survey. Chronic lateness bites into the bottom line, making tardiness solutions a priority for supervisors who [...]

HR 101: Interview Lingo: Words You Need to Know – Revisited

Dianne — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:26:23 +0000

Ever wonder what the difference is between “terminating” an employee and “firing” an employee, or if there is any difference at all? Easy Small Business HR’s “HR Dictionary” takes the mystery out some of the human resources jargon by highlighting some of the definitions of words most often used by those in the position to hire and manage staff. Some basic terms used by HR professionals when interviewing candidates: Behavioral Interview – an interview technique that requires that the person being interviewed provide specific examples that support their responses.

ESBHR Podcast #29: Five Employee Management Strategies To Start Using ASAP

Dianne — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:28:30 +0000

(6 mins, 59 secs) In this HR podcast episode, I discuss five strategies that you can incorporate into your management “toolkit” right now that will strengthen your employee management skills. These tips will shore up your confidence when managing staff. The recommended resource referenced in this podcast: How to Supervise Toolkit. Get more tips on [...]

Managing Workplace Stress – A Supervisor’s Go-To Guide

Howard — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:39:30 +0000

American workers put in the longest hours of any industrialized country, according to the International Labor Organization. That’s probably no surprise to you as a manager, especially when you consider that downsizing and budget cuts often mean more work is shouldered by fewer team members. But that’s also made a priority. So how can supervisors [...]

ESBHR Special Podcast: The “How To Supervise” Management Ebook

Dianne — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:36:11 +0000

(3 mins, 8 seconds) Based on your continued interest in learning the best supervisor practices, I’ve spent the last few weeks writing a new e-book called: How to Supervise- What Your Boss Never Told You Before You Took the Job, a step–by–step leadership ebook guide on how to best manage employees; from hiring best practices, [...]

Increasing Productivity in the Workplace – A How-to Guide

Howard — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:44:34 +0000

From mediating between two arguing co-workers to setting a master schedule, an effective manager juggles responsibilities like a circus pro. But at the heart of what a supervisor is “supposed to do” is the idea of building a team that’s as productive and, therefore, as profitable as possible. Here are 9 how to increase productivity [...]

MYOB Radio Interview: Blending Human Resources and Entrepreneurship

Dianne — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 07:00:48 +0000

Here’s an interview where the tables are turned and I’m the one actually being questioned! I was fortunate to be featured on Money Matters at Mind Your Own Business, (MYOB) Radio, WBNW 1120 AM in Massachusetts. We discussed the work that I’m currently doing in human resources in diversity and my HR work with small [...]

ESBHR Podcast #28: The 8 Warning Signs of an Unhappy Employee

Dianne — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:48:53 +0000

(7 mins, 39secs) Unhappy employees. Being aware of changes in behavior or performance is important as a manager if you want to stay abreast of workplace issues and have a highly functioning team. In Episode 28, I’ll discuss the 8 telltale signs of employee dissatisfaction. Read the transcript. Watch the video. Get more tips on [...]

How to Deal with Difficult Employees – Quick Guide

Howard — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:16:50 +0000

Looking for tips on how to deal with difficult employees? Whether you’re charged with supervising a constantly late worker or a customer service rep with an unfriendly attitude, you know that problem employees take their toll on the business. Morale suffers. Productivity suffers. And, as a manager, you probably suffer, too. Check out this quick [...]

How to Create an Unbiased Holiday Season in Your Office

Howard — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:30:07 +0000

As the holiday season approaches, all businesses must determine how they will recognize and celebrate this time of year. Unfortunately, the process of celebrating or observing the various holidays at work can become sticky from an HR perspective, as the season is based around religious dates. It is important to create an office atmosphere that [...]

Can Social Media Contribute to a Hostile Work Environment Charge?

Howard — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:47:36 +0000

A Tweet is just a Tweet, right? Not if that Tweet is part of a series of harassing messages or interactions that one employee directs at another. As a supervisor, you’re likely well aware of the factors that define a hostile work environment allegation. It might be an employee’s persistent racially-motivated jokes or a supervisor [...]

Sculpting Positive Self-Expectations in Your Employees

Howard — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 01:43:38 +0000

In ancient Greek mythology there was a sculptor named Pygmalion who fell in love with a statue he carved, which then came to life in response to his love for it. What does this myth have to do with managing your employees? Everything. Your employees come from diverse backgrounds, with different histories, psychologies, personalities, baggage, [...]

Easy and Cheap Ways to Build Employee Morale

Howard — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 01:12:28 +0000

When you’re trying to create a productive and cooperative workplace, improving employee morale is key. When employees are happy, they’ll want to stay with the company, be more productive, and offer ideas worthy of PhDs, which can help improve the business even more. Perks are a great way to do this, but unfortunately not every [...]

Volunteering to Build Multi-Generational Teams

Howard — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:56:52 +0000

Articles and books about managing multi-age workforces are legion. Most cite one or two very popular works about the characteristics of each named age-cohort. Many even offer advice on how to lead teams with a diverse mixture of generations represented, but of all this counsel, instances of over-generalization abound and specific strategies for blending could [...]

The Parental Bereavement Act: What Employers Need to Know

Howard — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 07:03:43 +0000

What is the Parental Bereavement Act? As a supervisor, you’re already familiar with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which provides eligible workers in specific situations with up to 12 weeks of protected unpaid leave and continuation of health insurance coverage. For example, FMLA protects employees caring for a newborn or bonding with an [...]

Things That Your Staff Do That Drive New Hires Away

Howard — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:06:09 +0000

Employee turnover is a data point that every manager wants to be conscious of no matter the size of your company. After all, who wants to spend the time energy, and money that it takes to hire the right candidates only to see them walk out the door a short time later. There are a [...]

Are You Promoting Your Employees for All the Wrong Reasons? The 411 on Employee Promotions

Howard — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 07:00:35 +0000

Supporting and encouraging career development of your staff undoubtedly goes a long way towards increasing employee satisfaction and engagement. And in most cases, it can certainly make you look good! But is your decision to move forward with flawed? Here are some reasons why you don’t want to promote you employees: As a knee jerk [...]

Do You Engage in Workplace Retaliation Without Knowing It?

Howard — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:06:09 +0000

Have you retaliated against an employee? Most would likely answer “Of course not!” After all, you know it’s illegal and, what’s more, you’re probably a pretty nice person, too. But the fact is that, in the eyes of federal law, supervisors may be engaged in workplace retaliation without even realizing it. Defining workplace retaliation. This happens when an employer takes action against an employee because the worker engaged in “protected conduct.” Protected conduct covers a range of activities, from complaining internally about sexual harassment to participating in a hearing or investigation regarding the employer.

Four Pillars: What It Takes to Succeed as a Leader

Howard — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:55:19 +0000

There are many traits that support an individual’s success when assuming a leadership or executive role. Clearly, there are numerous books, studies, and entire programs built around building leadership capacity. Here are four basic pillars that serve as a foundation for strong, capable leaders: 1. Skills. These are the raw capabilities of communication, presenting, negotiating, [...]

Bullying or Bantering – How to ID Workplace Bullying

Howard — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:29:33 +0000

Bullying or bantering. Can you tell the difference between the two? As a supervisor, you know it can be tricky sometimes to determine what is genuine workplace bullying and what is typical colleague bantering. This guide will give you a workplace bullying definition you can use to create a happier, more productive workplace. What does [...]

Management Missteps: 5 Imperatives for Hiring Your Next Employee

Howard — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 01:46:47 +0000

Hiring new employees is no easy task. Although the recession has created a large pool of overly qualified candidates in nearly every business sector, you may worry about taking on experienced workers at lower pay than they’re used to since a better offer from another company (which is bound to come along eventually) could leave [...]

When Cupid Strikes Co-Workers – The Fallout from Office Affairs

Howard — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:06:43 +0000

Love is in the air. At least in many offices it is. With employees spending so much time at work it’s no wonder it’s become an incubator for office affairs. About 41% of Americans between ages 25 and 40 admitted to at least one office romance, according to a survey from Lawyers.com and Harris Interactive. [...]

How to Manage the Multigenerational Workforce

Howard — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:05:43 +0000

The multigenerational workforce: If you supervise one then you know each generation brings its own set of strengths and values to the workplace. But this diversity often presents challenges for a manager charged with overseeing the newest members of the workforce, Generation Y, and the oldest, Baby Boomers and Traditionalists. So and productively? Let’s start [...]

An Employee Undergoes Gender Change – What Should Managers Do?

Howard — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:46:48 +0000

How do you manage the situations created when an employee undergoes a gender change? No matter what your personal views on the matter may be, as a supervisor, it’s your job to help the team member transition within the workplace and minimize the impact the employee sex change has on staff and productivity. What is [...]

Intercultural Management – How to Manage Diversity in the Workplace

Howard — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:06:50 +0000

The workplace is going global, even for small businesses. As a result, it’s not uncommon for managers to find themselves charged with supervising an increasingly intercultural workforce, whether it’s overseeing employees from a particular culture or working with a consultant from the foreign home office. So what does effective and productive intercultural management look like? [...]

Interviewing Tips For Startups

Howard — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 01:00:09 +0000

Today’s guest post is from Anita Campbell, CEO of BizSugar. Firing an employee can be the best thing you do for your company. Of course, it’s better to just hire good people in the first place. But sometimes people just don’t catch on, and you spend an inordinate amount of time correcting their work. When [...]

Murky Overtime Pay Policies – Ensure They Don’t Expose You to Liability

Howard — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:17:42 +0000

In an environment of shrinking budgets, it’s not uncommon for businesses to dictate that unauthorized overtime is not allowed and workers must complete their tasks during regular working hours. On the surface, it seems like a fairly straightforward policy, but it can send mixed messages about overtime pay and hours. Overtime pay violations are a [...]

Guest Post: Knowing When and Where to Cut Costs with New Employees

Howard — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:00:08 +0000

If your small business is getting back into the swing of hiring new employees, you might be looking for means to cut back on the cost of hiring these new employees. You need extra people to help with your business, but your business may not be able to operate with the full cost of hiring [...]

Dealing with Poor Performance at Work – How NOT to Manage Poor Performers

Howard — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 02:18:08 +0000

Let’s face it: dealing with poor performance at work is probably your least favorite part of the day. But in an efficient and effective way? This guide will share what not to do when managing employees who aren’t fulfilling their responsibilities. Ignore the situation. When an employee doesn’t do his or her task, it creates [...]

When the Workplace Bully is the Manager – 3 Tips

Howard — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:31:10 +0000

As a manager, you may already have experience supervising team members who bully others with behavior that is intimidating, humiliating, or just downright mean. But what can you do if the bully who’s dragging down the workplace is a fellow manager? The bully might belittle or embarrass her own charges. Or perhaps the berates his [...]

How Not to Manage – Views from an Employee

Howard — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:12:58 +0000

If you’re looking to the net for ways to establish yourself as a manager then a big thumbs up from this author for trying to improve your style. But be warned, there are many management mantras out there that will do their best to feed the ego and blind you with long words but not [...]

Managing Diversity in the Workplace – A Supervisor’s Guide

Howard — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 02:43:06 +0000

If you were to take a snapshot of the American workforce now, it would look very different than it did just two generations ago. Today’s workplace features a variety of employees, from women to immigrants, from Millennials to Boomers. But does present challenges. Employees come into the work environment with a vast range of expectations, [...]

Tips for Handling Problem Employees

Howard — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 01:44:55 +0000

When confronted with problematic employees, the first thing to do is assess the situation. If you take time to collect the information about the “who, what, where, why and how’s” of the problem it will make it easier to find a balanced approach to the best solution. When confronted with difficult situations, consider the following [...]

3 Ways To Be Accountable

Howard — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 01:00:34 +0000

Most business executives relish the perceived power behind the word accountability. For employees accountability represents either a welcomed set of expectations that drive performance, or it becomes a marker that conjures up concerns of not being able to meet the expectation. As business leaders, we are constantly trying to get the team to deliver. We [...]

Measuring Employee Performance- A Guide For Employers

Howard — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 02:50:21 +0000

Managing employee performance is a day-to-day task, not a once-a-year obligation. These tips can not only help you determine where a worker falls on a rating scale but also help you take the next steps for both underachievers and top performers. Before the Appraisal Period: Putting more thought and effort into the initial performance standards [...]

Common Employee Management Mistakes That Employers Make

Howard — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 02:25:42 +0000

is not an exact science. At the same time, research proves that certain manager mistakes can have a devastating impact on employee morale, operational productivity, and the company’s bottom line. Have you been trapped by one of these six common employee management mistakes? 1. Managing the Masses Do you view “the department” as a single [...]

How To Choose HR Services: Tips For Small Businesses

Howard — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:24:28 +0000

” instead of your own office? If your business does not have an HR professional on staff or an HR services provider waiting on call, you could be shortchanging your company and spreading your talents too thin. HR specialists can help with a number of tasks, the critical HR areas include hiring, employee relations, benefits, [...]

What You Need To Include In Your New Employee Orientation Program

Howard — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 06:00:58 +0000

Have you wondered why some potential superstars show up to work the first day and never return? A is the crucial link between this new employee, her supervisor, and the rest of the organization. Research shows that if that link is not established starting on day one, retention can drop by as much as 25%. [...]

How To Write An Honest Employee Performance Review

Howard — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:08:32 +0000

You want to tell the truth, but sometimes the truth is hard. What do you do when you need to , good or bad? Importance of Honesty . Some employees are easily offended, others become enraged at low scores or final warnings, and both managers and workers can feel awkward giving/receiving praise and punishment. Keep [...]

Why You Should Care About Workforce Management

Howard — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:13:19 +0000

You deal with workforce management every day, but you may not have a specific strategy or goals in writing. By defining a plan and putting proven tools in place, your business can take an active approach to continuing its growth, attracting additional talent, and increasing employee productivity for minimal costs. Companies like yours have high [...]

Does Your Business Need An Employee Confidentiality Agreement?

Howard — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 03:39:04 +0000

How would you react if you found out that your former employee revealed crucial information about your company to your closest rival in the industry? Unfortunately, this can and does occur. One way to be proactive and to set expectations around how proprietary company information should be handled is to have a employee confidentiality agreement. [...]

Guest Post: The New Background Check – Using Social Media To Evaluate Job Candidates

Howard — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 23:34:22 +0000

For hiring managers and human resource departments, background checks can be an important part of choosing the best candidate for an open position. The standard background check includes items like driving and financial records, employment history and personal references. But as digital interactions become more common, social media gives hiring managers and HR professionals another [...]

Working Parents- What Employers Can Do To Ease The Load

Howard — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 01:22:52 +0000

You want your business to retain talented, productive individuals, but you may be overlooking the needs of an important segment of your workforce: working parents. can have a dramatic impact on morale and performance. How the Challenges of Working Parents Can Impact Your Business The obligations of raising healthy, responsible members of society can overwhelm [...]

Guest Post: 4 Benefits of Keeping in Touch with Former Employees

Howard — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:00:58 +0000

When a trusted and long-time employee quits, moving on to bigger and better things, your work environment may suffer a few days of sadness. Soon enough, however, a replacement comes in, and the world moves on. As an employer, it may initially make more sense to focus on your employees who are here to stay, [...]

How Lack of a Dress Code Policy Can Negatively Impact Your Business

Dianne — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 02:33:31 +0000

Do you really need a dress code policy? Short answer: absolutely! When developing or tweaking your businesses’ policy, you’ll want to take the following into consideration: •The type of business •The clientele •How often employees meet clients What, if any, dress code is currently in your employee handbook. Although the type of clothing that should [...]

The Remote Workforce: Tips for How to Manage Employees

Dianne — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 08:00:24 +0000

Did you know that 45 million Americans work from home and another 24 million work from a client/customer work site? From to sales staff in the next state, supervisors increasingly find themselves tasked with learning how to manage employees who work somewhere other than the corporate office. And though employees who are is becoming increasingly [...]

Employee Theft Statistics and What You Can Do To Protect Your Business

Dianne — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:01:47 +0000

Transcript of HR Podcast Episode #27: Employee Theft Statistics and What You Can Do To Protect Your Business Listen to the audio (7 mins, 49 secs) An estimated 50 billion dollars are lost annually from US businesses due to . Stats show that, a whopping 75% of all employees have stolen from their employers at [...]

HR Podcast Episode #27: Employee Theft Statistics, and What You Can Do To Protect Your Business

Dianne — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:00:39 +0000

(7 mins, 49 secs) statistics bear out the fact that a whopping 75% of all employees have stolen from their employers at least once. In today’s HR Podcast episode, I share details about employee theft statistics and share with you what you can do to lessen your exposure to [...]

Handling Difficult Workplace Issues: How to Terminate an Employee

Dianne — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:07:30 +0000

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Few managers dread any task more than the hiring and firing of employees. The hiring process is long and full of unknowns, while the firing process adds layers of personal emotions to an already highly-charged situation. The Complete Hiring and Firing Handbook shows you how to take these difficult decisions and turn them into profitable and positive endeavors.State-by-State ResourcesQuick access to essential state agency' contact information on employment security and new hire reporting is at your fingertips.Recruitment ToolsFind better employees with job descriptions and applications that identify the worker you want.Employee HandbookKeep employment related problems to a minimum by crafting[Read More]

The Top 11 Reference Questions – Hire The Best Candidate

Howard — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 08:00:38 +0000

are a critical part of the employment process. In today’s job market, it’s likely that you’ll have more than one finalist for a position. There are a million questions you can ask, but here are the top eleven reference questions you should include in any . Including these questions will give structure to the interview, [...]

Gone Viral! How To Write Employee Performance Appraisals From Start To Finish

Dianne — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:01:22 +0000

Today, I’m sharing a re-published blog article that I wrote that went viral: How To Write Employee Performance Appraisals From Start To Finish. Supervisors and business owners recognize the importance of using some type of tool to evaluate employees. And although there recently has been a lot of buzz around just how effective employee reviews [...]

How To Reward Staff

Howard — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:35:52 +0000

Transcript of Podcast # 26: How To Reward Employees Listen to the audio (6 mins, 28 secs) Thanks for tuning in to Easy Small Business HR’s Employee Hiring and Managing Tips. Similar to episode #24, this podcast focuses on another very popular blog topic: how to reward staff. I’m thrilled that so many small business [...]

ESBHR Podcast # 26: How To Reward Employees

Dianne — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 08:00:45 +0000

Are you struggling to come up with ways to improve employee morale, increase employee motivation, and retain employees? One of the best, yet under-valued actions that you can take, whether you are the owner of a small business or a manager in a large corporation is reward your employees for a job well done. [...]

Why Your Company Needs Job Descriptions, Revisited

Dianne — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:00:51 +0000

HOW TO WRITE ONE IN 30 MINUTES OR LESS It may seem like an unnecessary step. You know what work needs to be done. Does putting the job down on paper really even matter? Absolutely! Five advantages to “putting it in writing”: 1. Helps you to clearly define the work that needs to be performed. No second-guessing or figuring what work needs to be done once the employee is hired. 2. Allows you to think about how the role interrelates with other positions within your company or organization, which in turn can eliminate work redundancy. 3. Creates transparency about your job expectations, which helps to significantly reduce the potential of making a “bad hire”.

The Quick 5 Step Hiring Process For Managers

Howard — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:41:43 +0000

Hiring the best starts with a . Here’s a quick 5 step guide that will help you to make better hiring decisions and ensure that your hiring process is a smooth one. Step 1: Define your company’s job requirements and create or update the job description. Without a clear idea in mind of what [...]

New Supervisor Survival Tips – How To Supervise Effectively

Howard — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 12:55:01 +0000

Transcript of ESBHR Podcast #25: New Supervisor Tips – How To Supervise Listen to the audio. Today’s podcast is based on an article that I wrote for new supervisors. New supervisor tips is a very popular search term on the Easy Small Business website so I wanted to be sure to create a podcast for [...]

ESBHR Podcast #25: New Supervisor Tips – How To Supervise

Dianne — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 08:23:46 +0000

Calling all new supervisors, (and experienced supervisors)! When you are new to supervising employees, learning how to supervise doesn’t always come naturally, but we’re here to help. Podcast Episode #25 focuses on 4 quick tips supervisor tips that will help contribute to your success if you are a new supervisor, and reinforce, or offer different [...]

Employee Handbook – The Top 9 Policies That Should Be Part Of Every Employee Handbook

Howard — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 08:00:58 +0000

Does your company have an employee handbook? If you don’t you should. An employee handbook serves three purposes. It highlights your expectations for the workplace, puts in writing any legal requirements requirements and sets employee guidelines for workplace practices and behavior in black and white. Even a bare bones employee handbook is better than no [...]

The Top 12 Bad Supervisor Practices

Dianne — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 08:00:47 +0000

This is probably my shortest post to date, but no less important for supervisors who want to continue to perfect their responsibilities as a supervisor. Here’s a quick list of the 12 top worst supervisor practices: 1. Avoids difficult workplace situations when they really should intercede in order to keep issues from escalating. 2. Does [...]

Family Medical Leave Act: What Every Business Needs To Know

Dianne — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:00:15 +0000

The Family Medical Leave Act, also known as FMLA is a law enacted in 1993 which states that qualified employees have the right to access an unpaid leave for a total of up to 12 weeks during any 12-month period, and in some circumstances, up to 26 weeks; (see “Recent Changes to the Family Medical Leave Act”). Certain employers are required to grant their employees access to unpaid leave due to the following reasons: *Caring for a child after Birth *The adoption of a child or becoming a Foster parent *The care of spouse, son, daughter, or parent with a serious health condition

8 Clues That Signal That You May Need To Change Your Management Style

Howard — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:13:30 +0000

Transcript of ESBHR Podcast #24: 8 Clues That Signal That You May Need To Change Your Management Style Listen to the audio. Supervising employees as we all know can be complicated. If you are faced with employees who are under-performing, or who are disruptive at work, it adds an additional burden to an already demanding job. [...]

ESBHR Podcast Episode #24: 8 Clues That Signal That You May Need To Change Your Management Style

Dianne — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 08:03:50 +0000

There are so many different styles of management. Did you know that your management style can influence how your employees perform? Do any of these behaviors sound familiar: * You have difficulty speaking with your staff about their challenges or goals ? * You’re just not interested in understanding the [...]

Supervisor Techniques For Dealing with Difficult Employee Situations

Howard — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 08:15:57 +0000

Although all employees tend to put their best faces forward when they are starting a new job, personalities may change as they become more comfortable in the workplace. If you find that you have been charged with the task of managing employees who have become difficult or contrary, it can be stressful. With the right [...]

Effective Communication in the Workplace – Keep The Lines Of Communication Open

Howard — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 08:00:13 +0000

No matter how large or small your office is, the best way to keep up productivity and maintain high levels of employee satisfaction is to emphasize open and effective communication in the workplace. Without the proper level of communication, there is the potential that employees won’t know what is expected of them, leading to a [...]

Staff Management – Best Management Practices To Keep In Mind

Howard — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 08:00:00 +0000

Running a small business can be challenging enough, but effective staff management is also a large component of keeping your team functional. I could easily create a list of “101 Best and Worst Staff Management Practices” but let’s focus on a short list of best practices. Best Management Practice #1: Keep any staff records [...]

Employment Offer Letter – How to Write an Effective Job Offer Letter

Howard — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 07:05:10 +0000

Although some companies will choose to extend a job offer in an informal way, such as over the phone, another approach is to “put it in writing”. I recommend always extending a verbal offer, followed up with a written offer. Putting your job offer in writing helps to clearly spell out your job offer to [...]

Supervisors : 7 Reasons Why You Can’t Afford to Ignore Poor Workplace Behavior

Howard — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:30:09 +0000

Transcript of ESBHR Podcast #23: Supervisors : 7 Reasons Why You Can’t Afford to Ignore Poor Workplace Behavior Listen to the audio. One of the things that I’ve found to be consistent when working with supervisors is that there is a reluctance to deal with behavioral issues in the workplace. This of course is not [...]

ESBHR Podcast Episode# 23: 7 Reasons Why Supervisors Can’t Afford To Ignore Poor Workplace Behavior

Dianne — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 08:00:52 +0000

There is a reluctance to deal with issues centering around behavior in the workplace for some supervisors; and understandably so. Who wants to deal with difficult issues? But, there are reasons why issues become a lot more complicated when ignored. In Episode #23, we’ll review why as a supervisor, you can’t afford ignore inappropriate workplace [...]