Being Green Can Help you in a Recessionary Economy

Being Green While Making Green

We are jumping on the “green bandwagon”, explaining a few very simple ideas for office employees to turn their office into a more eco friendly place. Any HR department can try and implement these ten tips!

I picked my favorite ten tips that I think are the easiest and that people can start today.

1. Recycle-offices produce a lot of waste including paper, soda cans, and cardboard shipping boxes. Set up a simple recycling program in your office so it is easy for your employees to do the right thing. Also use recycled products such as printing paper on a regular basis. In addition, recycle batteries and ink cartridges. Staples will even pay you for them!
2. Turn off lights-whenever you leave for lunch, the day, or even a meeting next door, turn off your light when you don’t need it. It will save a lot of energy.
3. Coffee and Water- If your office doesn’t already have a water cooler or make its own coffee everyday try and encourage it. In addition, bring your own coffee cup and water bottle in so you are not wasting Styrofoam or plastic.
4. Screensavers-Many people don’t know but leaving a screensaver on will waste energy, it is better to not have one or better yet turn your computer completely off when your not using it.
5. Real Plants- Even though fake plants always look nice and are less maintenance, real plants produce more oxygen for all of us and the environment.
6. The Thermostat- I know where we are in Arizona it’s almost impossible for us to turn up our thermostat to a warmer temperature, but try doing it a few degrees. It will make a big difference. In addition, definitely turn the air conditioning off at night when no one is in the office.
7. Telecommuting- some businesses find a lot of challenges with this system, but instead of converting to it completely find certain times where you can do it, for particular employees. This will cut down on usage of gas for your employees.
8. “Go virtual” with meetings-If you can save money on a plane ticket to an out of state meeting then do it. If you don’t have to drive across town for a meeting then try not to. There is a lot of new technologies out there that make there no need to commute.
9. Do you really need to print that? If you can just as easily read something on your computer and save it in a digital folder then you don’t need to print it. Doing this will save a lot of paper over the course of a year.
10.  Use staple-less staples. – The “staple-less” staple seems to be a new trend emerging today, as it can save a lot of steel.  They are available online and at most office supply stores. According to gogreenintown.com “we would save 120 tons of steel if every office worker used one less staple a day for a year (that’s about the equivalent of 25 SUV’s!”

Just imagine the impact we could have if just one person from every business in the US followed these simple steps…

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Posted June 19th, 2008 by Jessica Spinks - Posted in Human Resources | | 0 Comments

Make your marketing department proud

Do you ever find yourself talking to someone about your company outside the office on multiple occasions? In reality, every employee is a member of the marketing department and should take this role very seriously, especially in today’s current climate of “shameless plugs”.  As opposed to the traditional act of defining the four P’s of marketing (product, price, place, and promotion) direct mail ads, and email blasts, word of mouth marketing has become a new age phenomena over the past few years. Whether you are at the doctor’s office waiting room or in line at the grocery store, any time is a good time for marketing your company. WOMMA would probably agree. The Word of Mouth Marketing Association which houses members such as the Walt Disney Company and General Mills provides ethical and professional word of mouth tools to formalize and make the world of word of mouth marketing a whole lot better. WOMMA offers its multiple members with tips and tools to better their word of mouth skills, and in the end market their company in a more professional way. They define their five basic elements as “Educating people about your products and services, identifying people most likely to share their opinions, providing tools that make it easier to share information, studying how, where, and when opinions are being shared, and by listening and responding to supporters, detractors, and neutrals.” Without even being a member everyone in the workplace can learn from these simple tactics. There are many different types of word of mouth marketing according to WOMMA, including evangelist marketing, cause marketing, viral marketing, and viral marketing. It even includes blogging as a form of word of mouth marketing! Even outside of human resources where people and customer service are your specialty, anyone can follow these principles. So the next time someone’s asks you to explain what you do for a living, don’t be embarrassed to make your marketing department proud, and speak up in a more creative and professional way about your company. Visit their website at http://www.womma.org/ for more concrete ways on how to put these principles into action.

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Posted June 9th, 2008 by Jessica Spinks - Posted in Human Resources | | 0 Comments

Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?!

We do it all the time – Communicate.  But… it doesn’t mean we are good at it…

In talking to a co-worker today, I realized once again the importance of awareness in communication.  Sure you might have delivered the message in a way that made sense, in a logical pattern of thought, and in the right setting – but is your job in the communication done?

In my opinion – NO!  Delivering the message is only half the battle.  Making sure the other party actually got it is crucial.  Don’t be afraid to ask… but be careful it does not come across as you being condescending… (see title)

Oh that’s right… then there is that whole thing about listening - I heard that is important too

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Posted April 29th, 2008 by Harry Glazer - Posted in Customer Service, Human Resources, Other | | 0 Comments

Bring the Best Out in Employees by Showing You Care

An article I ran into at BusinessWeek.com talks about when employees know they are being cared about, they will in turn step up their efforts around the office. Also, it says to be careful not to neglect a valued employee because they can probably go elsewhere and make the same amount of money, if not more, doing something similar or more compelling.

With that said, you must be thinking, “what can I do to make sure my employees aren’t going to leave me? You are in luck. Another section of the article gave a list of suggestions for managing the type of valued employees that fit the about criteria? Rank-order each of your direct reports in terms of his contribution to your customers and your company.

• Ask yourself, "How many of these people could leave our company and get another job—with a pay raise—in three months?"

• Make sure you express your sincere appreciation for the contribution these great people are making to your company.

• Make peace with the fact that you need them more than they need you.

• Ask each of them, "What can your manager do to create an environment where this is a great place for you to work?"

• Don't focus on what you cannot change. Focus on what you can change. Let's say you can't give them a raise. Accentuate the things you can give them: recognition, educational opportunities, the chance to work with a wider range of people, both within the company and outside of it.

• Listen to their ideas, and do whatever you can to keep them coming to work with you.

• Treat them as a great human services leader would treat valued volunteers.

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Posted April 18th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Human Resources, Performance Reviews, Productivity, Recruiting | | 1 Comments

10 Unusual Excuses for Being Late to Work

Everyone has their reasons for being late at one point or another.  Some of the stories can seem quite far fetched if you ask me.  Here is a list of the top 10 unusual excuses for being late to work from the Business Journal.

According to the survey, hiring managers gave the following top 10 unusual excuses they've heard for being late to work:

1. While rowing across the river to work, I got lost in the fog.
2. Someone stole all my daffodils.
3. I had to go audition for "American Idol."
4. My ex-husband stole my car so I couldn't drive to work.
5. My route to work was shut down by a Presidential motorcade.
6. I wasn't thinking and accidentally went to my old job.
7. I was indicted for securities fraud this morning.
8. The line was too long at Starbucks.
9. I was trying to get my gun back from the police.
10. I didn't have money for gas because all of the pawnshops were closed.

Do you have any other stories that can top this list?

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Posted April 11th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Human Resources, Productivity | | 1 Comments

The Rules of Criticizing Others

The ability to give and receive criticism is an art that few have mastered.  If you can, you will have a leg up on managing your employees. 

A line from BusinessWeek.com points out some ground rules to go over before you criticize someone.

When you want to criticize someone:

1. Begin by finding something you like or appreciate about the person you’re about to criticize. This is not only fair, but will also make the person more likely to be receptive to what you have to say.

2. Focus on what that person has said or done, not on him or her personally. Only the former is relevant and likely to be acknowledged.

3. Conclude by affirming your faith that the other person will consider what you have to say. This is both a respectful way to wrap up the criticism and the best way to ensure that your remarks will be given their due.  

Living by these rules, before you attack someone, will make you a more respected manager/co-worker with everyone involved in the situation.  Also, it will allow more communication to pass through one another.  Next time you have a beef to pick with someone…remember the rules.

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Posted April 4th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Customer Service, Human Resources, Performance Reviews, Productivity | | 0 Comments

Do You Have the Skills to Manage?

"Interpersonal skills are extremely important for managers dealing with a wide variety of personalities. All of your employees will be different—each will have his or her own way of thinking and operating. Your challenge is to be able to help them overcome these differences and mesh as a team. "

This is a exert that I found in Businessweek.com.  Managers are the ones that lead the many and need to be the ones that show the many how things are done.  Leading by example and being interpersonal are two of the main factors of being a "good" manager. 

Do you have the right managers in place to make your business run flawlessly?

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Posted March 28th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Human Resources, Productivity, Recruiting | | 0 Comments

Launch a Wellness Program for Your Employees

Creating a wellness program for your company can mean more than just getting in shape.  It can mean a whole new lifestyle for all your employees.  When you are feeling healthy, you are more energetic and motivated to face each day.  Who wouldn't what all their employees to feel great and perform at their best? 

In an article from Business Week, "Some companies hand out small cash bonuses or gift certificates for reaching predetermined milestones. Others offer discounted insurance premiums. Still others make it a “team thing” and set up competitions between departments. " 

By making heath exciting, everyone will want to join in and be a part of the new family.  Make it a priority in your company and watch the benefits exude from your employees.

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Posted March 14th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Benefits, Health, Human Resources, Performance Reviews, Productivity, Recruiting, Workers' Comp | | 3 Comments

Who Do You Have Winning It All?

Its coming up on March Madness time.  For all you college basketball fans, the most exciting time of the year is right around the corner.  To make it even more exciting, what do you do?  Start up the company office pool!  A little gambling should help spice it up just enough to make it interesting to even the uninterested. 

In the article from the Business Journal is a survey relating to productivity and March Madness.  An interesting stat that I couldn't believe was, "Very few employers offer guidance in their policies regarding office pools, even though it may mean taking a hit in terms of productivity, Spherion officials said." 

Maybe its time to update the employee handbook and put some guidelines or rules in on office pools, or maybe its just time to enjoy March Madness!

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Posted March 7th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Human Resources, Performance Reviews, Productivity | | 1 Comments

Please, Stay Away if You’re Sick

If you are sick, should you go to work anyways?  This is a great debate among many.  Staying home to watch tv and lounge on the cough is an easy suggestion, right?  To some it may be, but to others a day staying home from work is just creating more work to go back to, or some feel they are indespensible and can’t miss a day, while others just don’t have the time to take work off.  Whatever the reason is, is it really a good idea to go in to work when you are under the weather? 

An article from Business Week that I ran into goes into great detail of the downfalls of having a sick co-worker show up on the job.  “Illnesses like the cold and flu can be spread by physical contact. When we're sick, the people with whom we come into physical contact have a significantly increased risk of coming down with the illness, according to virologists, epidemiologists, and other experts. There is a causal relationship between being sick with a cold or the flu and making others sick by touching them directly or handling an object that they soon touch themselves.”

Some other points brought up in the article for staying away from the office were, if we can actually perfrom to the best of our abilities while not feeling well, getting other co-workers sick, getting co-worker’s families sick, and the last one here that caught my attention, “going to work sick is unfair to your employer. According to a report published in The New York Times in 2006, researchers at Cornell University found that ill workers on the job could account for up to 60% of corporate health costs. The recently coined phrase "presenteeism" speaks to the financial downside of overly motivated workers who bring their upper respiratory illnesses to work with them.

All in all, is it fair to yourself to work when you are not feeling well?  I guess that is up to you.

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Posted February 29th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Benefits, Health, Human Resources, Other, Productivity | | 0 Comments