(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)
Loading ...I can’t let him go, but I don’t have a choice… or do I?!
With these slow times, many business owners find themselves in quite a predicament…
“I need to cut cost” and “we do not have enough work to justify our current workforce so naturally, I should let some people go…”
Here is where it gets tricky: many of these companies’ employee highly skilled workers with specialized training. Some of these employees have also been trained at the company’s expense for certifications, etc. Not to mention the fact that some of these skilled workers are actually good employees. They are honest, show up on time, adhere to policies, etc.
If a company lays-off these employees, what happens when that big contract comes in and you need to hire again? Are you setting yourself up to have the same problem we all have in an economic upswing- attracting good people?
So how can we hold on to our good people during these tough times? Any thoughts?
I will throw some out to start:
- Develop a relationship with a staffing company to allow your employee to work part time for other companies (project basis) but without the option of having those companies hire them. Would require buy-in from the employee, of course.
- Find other tasks for those key employees to help with mission critical items like process improvement, contract review, etc.
- Fire a less important employee to free up funds to keep those hard to find employees.
Posted June 24th, 2008 by Harry Glazer - Posted in Human Resources, Recruiting, Uncategorized | | 0 Comments
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5) Loading ...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.
Posted April 18th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Human Resources, Performance Reviews, Productivity, Recruiting | | 1 Comments
(1 votes, average: 4 out of 5) Loading ...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?
Posted March 28th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Human Resources, Productivity, Recruiting | | 0 Comments
(3 votes, average: 5 out of 5) Loading ...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.
Posted March 14th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Benefits, Health, Human Resources, Performance Reviews, Productivity, Recruiting, Workers' Comp | | 3 Comments
(2 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5) Loading ...Get Blogging or Get Out of Business
Has your company tried out social networking or blogging? Better jump on board before your company is left behind.In a article I just read from Business Week, it goes into fine detail on the ins and outs of where businesses are looking to make an advertising splash. Yes, that's right, social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace are and have been the hot topics around companies. Also, another craze has caught on called blogging. "Go ahead and bellyache about blogs. But you cannot afford to close your eyes to them, because they're simply the most explosive outbreak in the information world since the Internet itself." I find it fascinating that blogging has become such a phenomenon. Who would have thought that hearing other amateur people's opinions on a particular topic would be something of interest to the masses of people that surf the internet? Its the new generation that you always heard when you were a kid from your grandmother. "Back when I was younger…", you know what I mean.
Some numbers from the article that really caught my attention were, " There are some 9 million blogs out there, Yes, there were 9 million, but how many of them were active? Probably only a fraction. In early 2008, says Technorati Chairman David Sifry, the search company indexes 112 million blogs, with 120,000 new ones popping up each day. But only 11% of these blogs, he says, have posted within the past two months. That means the active universe is closer to 13 million blogs. Kevin Burton, CEO of FeedBlog, argues that the number should be lower, from 2 million to 4 million blogs. with 40,000 new ones popping up each day."
Posted February 22nd, 2008 by admin - Posted in Advertising, Human Resources, Other, Recruiting, Uncategorized | | 0 Comments
(2 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5) Loading ...Is Your Place to Work, Great?
Having open communication is a key to avoiding organizational or interpersonal problems at work. What can you do shen there is silence among some employees? Are your employees just not speaking up or is it just in thier personality not to?
Here are a few ways to create a work environment with a commitment to open communication and how to break the silence. (Creating a Great Place to Work from Business Week)
Spend the day out of the office: Meet with employees in their own departments. Actually take the time to see your workers in their element rather than yours.
Have an employee orientation: New employees should have an extensive training and "getting to know you" period. Have a strict plan in place to make them feel welcomed.
Company wide meetings: This way everyone is in the same place hearing the same thing. Everyone is then on the same page.
Keep open lines of varying communication: Have multiple ways for your employees to communicate to their managers and bosses. Some personality types like face to face conversations while others express themselves better in writing.
Posted February 15th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Customer Service, Human Resources, Other, Performance Reviews, Productivity, Recruiting, Uncategorized | | 0 Comments
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5) Loading ...Get Familiar with the New Sanctions Law
I'm sure there are still a few more appeals, but the Arizona Employer's Sanctions Law is a go. Get fimiliar with the rules and regulations.
House Bill 2779 (Fair and Legal Employment Act)
Prohibit employers from knowingly or intentionally hiring undocumented workers. - Starting Jan. 1, would require all employers to run their employees through the Basic Pilot Program to determine their legal status. Use of the program would act as a sort of immunity for employers facing prosecution under the law.
1st offense: Businesses caught "knowingly" employing an undocumented worker would lose their license for up to 10 days. Those caught "intentionally" hiring an undocumented worker would lose their license for at least 10 days.
2nd offense (while on probation): Permanent revocation of the business license.
The big question remains on how will the law be enforced? - Investigations would be conducted based on complaints against employers.
If the complaint was shown to be valid, the investigator would be required to notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and local law enforcement.
From the state's 2007-08 General Fund, the bill would provide $100,000 to the Arizona Attorney General's Office, and $2.4 million to be distributed to county prosecutors.
Posted February 8th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Human Resources, Immigration, Recruiting | | 0 Comments
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5) Loading ...Sanctions Law Clearing Out Illegals in Arizona
If apartments are starting to sit vacant, this must mean that the new Arizona Immigration Sanctions Law is starting to take its toll on the illegal immigrants here in Arizona. What will this mean for your company?
“The sanctions law is pushing immigrants to leave the state. The law is aimed at clamping down on illegal immigration in Arizona, which has the highest share of illegal immigrants of any state, by threatening to yank the business licenses of employers caught knowingly employing such workers.
The law also requires businesses to electronically verify the work eligibility of all new hires as of the first of this year.
To avoid sanctions, employers have been letting go workers who can't prove they have permission to work in the U.S.
As a result, many immigrants are leaving, either to other states where they think it will be easier to get jobs, or back to Mexico, where the majority of illegal immigrants in Arizona are from.”
So far, the law has done what it was intended to do. How has this law affected your company? Businesses that catered to the illegal population have seen drastic sales hits, apartments have seen a large wave of vacancies, what will be next?
Posted January 31st, 2008 by admin - Posted in Human Resources, Immigration, Other, Recruiting | | 0 Comments
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...When you asked them, what did they say?
In meeting with some business owners lately, I started noticing a pattern that could very well be the root of many HR problems…
"I want to increase our benefits offering to our employees…" OR "We need better dental insurance" are phrases we (in the HR industry) have heard many times. Often, these are presented as "THE SOLUTION" - So what is the ACTUAL problem? Turnover, Morale, Productivity, Recruiting, etc.?
So when sitting with these business owners, I find myself asking the same question time and time again:
"So when you [business owner] asked your employees what is the top 5 reasons you (hate, love, would leave, would stay) working here, what did your employees say?
MOST COMMON ANSWER - "Well… I didn't ask"
No matter what the problem - DON'T COME UP WITH THE SOLUTION IN A VACCUMM!!! You might just spend a LOT of money trying to fix a problem on the wrong end…
Just food for thought -
Harry Glazer
Posted January 30th, 2008 by Harry Glazer - Posted in Benefits, Health, Human Resources, Productivity, Recruiting | | 0 Comments
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...How to Cook Up a Successful Team
There are certain guidelines to follow when forming a successful team in business. Two of the hardest parts are finding the right people to interview, and hiring the right people.
In order to attain a winning team, there has to be a balance of characters, attitudes, and personalities. There are four main types of employees, as described in this article from BusinessWeek, magicians, warriors, sovereigns, and lovers.
Does your company have the right mix to be winners?
The Four Types of Employees
• Magicians. They are the rational yet imaginative souls in your organization. They think a new idea or insight is the only thing that can move the world. In truth, they're obsessed by ideas. Their answer to feeding the troops is to pull a rabbit out of a hat. These types of people think a mere argument over an idea equals action.
• Lovers. For them, everything comes down to human relations. They're pragmatic but emotional. They focus on building the winning coalition. They are obsessed not by ideas but by feelings. They consider agreement an action.
• Sovereigns. They are the emotional and imaginative types. They focus on the big picture and judge everything on whether it leads to where they want to go. They redefine what people consider is possible. They are obsessed by beliefs. And they consider direction a form of action.
• Warriors. They are rational and pragmatic. They're focused on the next battle and can only see clearly what's directly in front of them. They hold people accountable to systems and the fairness of those systems. They're obsessed by facts. For them, action is finding the critical factor to get something immediately accomplished.
Posted December 20th, 2007 by admin - Posted in Human Resources, Productivity, Recruiting | | 0 Comments
