Archives

It’s Baack! Shedding a Light on a Twice-a-Year Problem

There is a problem twice a year that could be worse for your employees than their 6-month performance reviews—and has them in physical danger! With workstations in cube farms often out of view of an outside window, you know that proper lighting is essential to productivity and wellness. However, what your employees go through when […]

Addiction Spawns Gross Malady

It’s spreading from India to the British Isles, and it’s ready to jump the Atlantic to infect Americans with an unsightly condition. If you love your cell phone or tablet, or are downright addicted, you may have to buy a lot of scarves and turtleneck sweaters to allay this condition, which is a lot more […]

Overtime rules: Changes on the way, but specifics scarce

Secretary of Labor Tom Perez has his orders. President Barack Obama on March 13 officially directed him to “modernize and streamline the existing overtime regulations.” The president’s directions further instruct the Department of Labor (DOL) to “address the changing nature of the workplace” and simplify the rules so that they will be “easier for both […]

Head Face First Into Effective Back Safety Training

This training exercise can be used with all employees. Its objective is to ensure that employees understand how to prevent back injuries at work and at home. Instruct employees to fill out the worksheet below: 1. List 5 activities you conduct at work that put your back safety at risk and what safe technique(s) to […]

Performance Appraisals: The 10 Most Common Rating Errors

Most HR professionals look forward to conducting annual performance reviews about as much as a trip to the dentist, but as the economy improves, performance appraisals are going to be the key for talent retention, a positive work environment, and the overall growth and productivity of your organization. That said, there are also pitfalls to […]

Building the Case for Automating Time and Attendance

Yesterday’s Advisor featured consultant Mollie Lombardi and product manager Jim Mansfield’s tips for automating time and attendance. Today, more of their practical advice, plus an introduction to the all-things-HR-in-one-place website, HR.BLR.com. What Can Be Gained with Technology and Integration? In a word, efficiency and productivity, says Mansfield. An employee asks for a day off. The […]

Are You Backing Into Back Safety Training?

The material in today’s Advisor is adapted from “Back Safety Training,” a session in BLR’s HR Library on TrainingToday. Strains and sprains are the leading cause of workplace injuries and illnesses, and the back and shoulders are the parts of the body most affected. Many of these injuries are part of a class of injuries […]

Performance Appraisals: Do’s and Don’ts from the Real World

Makris, senior counsel at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, and Rhoma Young of the HR consulting firm Rhoma Young & Associates offered tips for ensuring that performance appraisals are used legally and effectively. Their suggestions came in a recent BLR®/HR Hero® audio conference. From a legal perspective, performance appraisals are important because they can help defend […]

Best in Breed Is Out, Integration Is In

The “best in breed” approach to HR automation is out, and integration is in, says consultant Mollie Lombardi. Companies look for best practices, but take that with a grain of salt, she warns. Best practice for another company may not be best practice for your company. You have to find the right processes for your […]