Tag: business

Why consultants give consultants a bad name

I consider myself reasonably open to new ideas and exploring new opportunities, but the other day when a financial consultant began questioning some things we have and have not done in our business I felt my temperature begin to rise. I must admit it was my idea to take this consultant and his colleague to […]

Technology on vacation

R&R Necessary for Healthy, Productive Work Life

Summer is here and in full swing. It’s time for baseball, picnics and vacations. So, what do you do for “R&R”? Rest and relaxation are important ingredients to maintaining a healthy and productive work life. Sounds funny doesn’t it? Not “ha ha” funny, but a little strange to say that rest and relaxation are critical […]

Human Resources–STILL Not a Strategic Partner?

A recent Harvard Business Review Blog article by J. Craig Mundy suggests that HR still hasn’t achieved its place “at the strategic table”; yet, in a recent speech at the SHRM Convention in Atlanta, Jim “Good to Great” Collins said, “HR, you ARE the table.” Meanwhile, at the same conference, consultant Hunter Lott says he […]

Homerun on customer service

Homerun on customer service

It can be hard to describe good customer service, but you sure know it when you see it. Last week, I was at — of all things — a baseball tournament in the greater Atlanta-metro area. The tournament wasn’t a small volunteer undertaking. The organization that sponsored the tournament is national in scope and has […]

The Secret to Success

What it takes to be successful

When people question what it takes to be successful in business, my response is often, “You should ask someone who is.” The best way to learn about anything is to ask someone who has been successful at it. If you want to learn how to throw a great curve ball, ask someone who throws a […]

California Noncompete Agreements: What Is Allowed?

California noncompete agreements are basically void. California’s legislature routinely passes its own version of federal laws, often with crucial differences that can trip up multistate employers. Noncompete agreements are one such topic. While most states do not give employees protection (or only do so by limiting the scope of these agreements), they’re generally not allowed […]

Preventable Employee Expense Reimbursement Missteps

Yesterday, attorney Julia Melnicoe explained some of the most common—and dangerous—wage and hour myths and misconceptions that California employers fall prey to. Today, the rest of the list—plus an introduction to a webinar next week you won’t want to miss. Melnicoe is an attorney at the San Francisco office of Sedgwick LLP. For #s 1-6, […]

Get Off on the Right Foot by Drafting an Effective Handbook

Often, the first document a new employee reads is the company handbook. A handbook serves many purposes, among them introducing the employer’s culture, communicating important policies, and setting employee expectations. If approached thoughtfully, a handbook is also a key tool for minimizing exposure to litigation.

Background Checks for Employment and Personally Identifiable Information

California has a unique set of rules for background checks for employment that go beyond the other 49 states and the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). If you’re an employer in California, it’s important to follow the rules to the letter, since applicants can sue for up to $10,000 for any violation—regardless of actual […]