(1 votes, average: 3 out of 5)
Loading ...A BIGGER Salary is not always a good thing
Everyone always thinks a bigger salary equals a better life, more security, and that one will just be all around happier. Unfortunately this might not be true anymore. According to a recent article on CareerBuilder.com this is an idea that one should think about a little more closely. The article gives four clear points to back up this theory. First off, if after some negotiation you actually get a raise, in the case of downsizing you could be the first one to be laid off because your pay might not match your talent or skill level. Secondly, you will lose more money at a higher salary when you get placed in a higher tax bracket. In addition, your salary could price you out of the market. Eventually at your next job, your salary could definitely outweigh your skill set and when you move jobs no one is going to pay you as much as you were earning before. Lastly, many people say that if they earned more they would be that much happier, but truthfully the time when you will be happier will be when you don’t care anymore about how much you are earning. So the next time you don’t think you earn enough sit back and enjoy the life you currently lead, it’s not so bad after all.
Posted August 25th, 2008 by Jessica Spinks - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments
(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: 3 out of 5) Loading ...What Dress Code?
So your co-worker or subordinate is dressing a little bit "out of their element" at the office. They obviously don't see themselves from your perspective and you think it might be affecting their ability to represent the company or the internal morale. It might even be a blatant disregard for the company dress code. Especially as the heat picks up in Arizona, more folks are trying to wear less clothing while still being in compliance with dress codes. Lets face it, some things are meant to be worn in the privacy of our own homes!
Here's some thoughts:
1.Know your audience and be careful how you say whatever it is you want to say.
2. Don't ignore it if its going to affect other people in the office or the company's image to the businesses they serve. Especially if you're a manager, you need to deal with it…sorry 
If you don't precedence is set and its a slippery slope.
3. Keep in mind Sexual Harassment issues if the person's dress is inappropriate in a sexual way. What is ok for you might be offensive to someone else.
4. Most importantly, use Common Sense. I see clients not dealing with this all the time, and that is not good, but don't overreact to a minor violation with official company meetings and punishments. However, sending out communication prior to the summer season isn't a bad idea. Then the whole company is reminded of how it should be, and those outside the lines can expect someone to discuss it with them, even if they disagree or don't "understand the infraction". Its tough enough to handle without all the drama.
Stay cool, but please stay dressed!
For more on HR tips, sign up for the Free HR Newsletter at http://www.cbri.com/
Posted June 18th, 2008 by Aaron Witsoe - Posted in Human Resources, Productivity, Uncategorized | | 0 Comments
(1 votes, average: 4 out of 5) Loading ...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 
Posted April 29th, 2008 by Harry Glazer - Posted in Customer Service, Human Resources, Other, Uncategorized | | 0 Comments
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5) Loading ...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.
Posted April 4th, 2008 by admin - Posted in Customer Service, Human Resources, Performance Reviews, Productivity, Uncategorized | | 0 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 out of 5) Loading ...Getting credit for your work?
Believe it or not, there are some people who have a hard time recognizing others for their work. Unfortunately, they happen to be bosses most of the time. So what do you do if you're working your tail off, and you feel like nobody's noticing? or you're not compensated for it?
1. Ask for an annual review if you don't already have one. In this review, you can usually highlight your accomplishments AND set your goals for the next year, systematizing your production under plain view of your boss.
2. Develop a company-wide recognition program and present it to your management team, providing details on how recognition boosts employee morale and production. Be sure to point to how this help the company's bottomline, and how it will help others in the organization (not just you).
3. Speak directly to your boss if you can. Be careful on this one. Your relationship has to be strong enough to handle this sort of brutal honesty.
4. Conduct a salary review on your position, so that you're sure you are not expecting more than your position is worth. This can really help your peace of mind if it turns out to be that your paid well for your position.
If none of these work, you may want to find a new place to work! 
Seriously, in this economy, its important to see both sides of the coin before jumping ship, meaning understanding what your boss is facing as well as what you're facing. Move slowly and deliberately, as the grass is never usually greener on the other side. Sometimes we just have to be thankful for what we have and sit tight. Sometimes you can see things will never change and you need to do something drastic.
Posted February 19th, 2008 by Aaron Witsoe - Posted in Human Resources, 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 ...Some like it HOT!
Every change in season seems to bring on new "wars" in the office. The AC War. For the most part, we can laugh at it. But these constant changing of the temperatures in the office could be adding to an influx of colds and other ailments. You know you have seen it. One employee is "freezing" in their office and bumps the control up to warm it up. Two offices down the hall all the sudden wonders why they are sweating and gets up to adjust the thermostat down to "his" comfort level….and the war begins.
Some offices will lock a box around the control box to keep this from happening. That is fine, but what about the person sitting in the office that happens to have poor circulation? You're wondering if I mean the vents or the blood flow of the employee. Well, I mean both. Are companies obligated to purchase heaters and fans to keep their employees happy? What about the "warmer" employee falling asleep on the job, being lathargic from the heat? Or the "freezing" employee with the sniffles, sneezing all day. How does this affect productivity? Should we be worried?
Really, I am just wondering. Just wondering while I am typing away with my frozen fingers.
Posted February 8th, 2008 by Camille - Posted in Customer Service, Health, Human Resources, Productivity, Safety, Uncategorized, Workers' Comp | | 1 Comments
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Pulled over for going 77 mph….are you a legal citizen?
I have heard the rumor. Maybe you have heard it too. The rumor is: Police Officers are now able to ask for proof of citizenship from anyone they pull over.
Are our public safety officers expected to become immigration officials? If this is true, how will the state handle complaints that only those with darker complexions are being asked their status? Is this really happening? If not now, will it? Some are saying that this new practice is already in effect. I tried to find some additional information to back this rumor up. All I could find were various articles stating something similar to this:
PHOENIX — Police in suburban Scottsdale have begun routinely asking for proof of citizenship from every suspect they arrest and turning those who are in this country illegally over to federal immigration officials. The procedure was started Oct. 15, a result of the September killing of Phoenix police officer Nick Erfle by an illegal immigrant, Erik Jovani Martinez. Scottsdale police had arrested Martinez on a misdemeanor charge 16 months earlier but they released him then because they didn’t know he was an illegal immigrant who had been twice deported. Erfle’s killing “caused us to look at what were asking suspects,” Scottsdale police Sgt. Mark Clark said. “If we arrest someone and then find that we called ICE (Customs and Immigration Enforcement) and they put a hold on them, then we know they have been deported and are back again.”
Reading this, it makes sense that an individual who has been "arrested" be properly identified. But is it going to far to pull people over and ask them their immigration status?
Posted January 14th, 2008 by Camille - Posted in Customer Service, Human Resources, Immigration, Other, Uncategorized | | 1 Comments
