Tag: news

Could taking on unpaid summer interns lead to trouble under the FLSA?

Unpaid internships are viewed universally as great opportunities for students to acquire valuable job skills and experience. In fact, experiential learning opportunities provide students with a leg-up on those competing for jobs right out of college. However, warns Evelyn Gentry, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, there are downsides for employers that use unpaid interns, the most […]

Free Curriculum Covers Soft Skills for Young Workers

“Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success” covers these topics: communication, networking, enthusiasm and attitude, teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking, and professionalism. “Dressing appropriately, showing up on time, and networking with co-workers are all crucial to finding and keeping a job,” said Kathy Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. […]

Variety of Techniques Gives New Spin to Refresher Safety Training

Varying your techniques during refresher training will keep learners engaged. Here are a few suggestions on how to accomplish this: Do a demonstration (e.g., demonstrate the effectiveness of a steel-toed shoe by dropping a weight on it). Incorporate real-life accident or near-miss stories. Have learners pair off and do an activity, such as a joint […]

Ask the Trainer: Social Media Tools

A: Social media tools offer enhanced opportunities for learning outside of training courses, and companies are increasingly using these tools to support informal learning, says Jane Bozarth, author of Social Media for Trainers (www.bozarthzone.com). Social media can help learners stay connected—and keep the training topic in mind—long after a course is completed. Social media also […]

Study: Higher Training Spending Limits, More Counseling Yield Better Results

The study, which is the first long-term evaluation of the relative effects of alternative training models used under the Workforce Investment Act, found that combining support from training counselors with more flexible individual limits for expenditures on state-approved training would be cost-effective and increase the long-term earnings of jobseekers.  Specifically, U.S. jobseekers could realize potential […]

Firm Continues to Earn Accolades for Its Commitment to Learning

Late last year, PwC (www.pwc.com/us) received three coveted Brandon Hall Excellence Awards. The firm earned the following bronze awards: Best Custom Content and Best Use of Video for Learning for its “Finding Black and White in Shades of Grey” course, which promotes a respectful work environment, and Best Onboarding Program for its “101: PwC Internship […]

Ask the Trainer: Physical Space

A: Content physical space where training takes place can influence how effective training is; yet many trainers do not take that into consideration when designing and delivering training, says Jill Greenbaum, Ed.D., coach, speaker, and author (www.icoachidesign.com). Ideally, trainers should know during the design phase where the training will occur and how many learners will […]

How Effective Are Executive Coaching Programs?

In addition, 12% reported that their executive coaching programs are “ineffective,” according to the survey of 230 organizations by AMA Enterprise, a division of American Management Association (www.amnet.org) that offers advisory services and tailored learning programs. “The mixed grades for coaching aren’t unexpected when compared to the effectiveness of other executive and leadership development opportunities,” […]

Top Organizations Invest More Time, Financial Resources in Training

Organizations increased their spending on employee development by 9.5 percent in 2011—to a per-learner average of $800, according to The Corporate Learning Factbook® 2012: Benchmarks, Trends and Analysis of the U.S. Training Market from Bersin & Associates. The firm also reported that large businesses nearly doubled their investment in social learning—to an average of $40,000. […]

Rules changing on New Hampshire noncompete, nonpiracy agreements

By Jeanine Poole New Hampshire employers using noncompete and nonpiracy agreements face new limits beginning July 14. That’s when House Bill 1270 goes into effect. The new law requires that every employer provide a copy of any noncompete and/or nonpiracy agreement required for a position to a current or potential employee before or concurrent with […]