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Nip Negativity in the Bud
by Bob McKenzie
Many who hear "nattering nabobs of negativism" for the first time think of the plethora of people who persist in protesting every decision or action in the workplace. As you read this, you will undoubtedly think of the people in your organization who fit into this category. Every workplace has at least one nabob of negativism.
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HR Rules of the Road
by Bob McKenzie
Don't jeopardize your business with negligent hiring, which can occur if you hire someone who has a criminal history of theft or violence and put them into a position of trust involving customers. If that employee steals from a customer or commits a violent act on a client, your company may be liable for negligent hiring.
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Learn boundaries for employee surveillance
Jacksonville Business Journal - by Mark Szakonyi, Staff Writer
The challenge is how companies can monitor their employees’ e-mail, text messages and phone calls without running afoul of the law. More than a quarter of employers have fired workers for misusing e-mail and about a third have fired workers for misusing the Internet, according to a 2007 American Management Association report.
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Check job prospects’ I-9s if you’re hiring
Jacksonville Business Journal - by Dolly Penland, Correspondent
Each store employs at least 12 people. Because the franchisees are hiring so many new employees so quickly, Orange Tree has made human resources training and compliance a key component of its comprehensive franchisee training program, right up there with daily operations and marketing. The idea is to make sure that new franchise owners don’t have to worry about making HR mistakes and can instead focus on making hot dogs.
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Look for signs it’s time to hire or risk burning out your employees
Jacksonville Business Journal - by Dolly Penland, Correspondent
After months of recession, the economy is beginning to show signs of life. But businesses aren’t quite yet ready to start hiring again. However, there will come a time when the existing employee base can no longer handle the increasing workload. Knowing when it’s time to hire in this still-anemic economy can be tough. One sign employers should be looking for is the need for an increase in overtime to get the work done.
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Performance Art - Make sure your managers aren’t taking
creative license with their performance reviews.
By Kathryn Tyler - HR Management
David Currier felt like the chief patrolman for the “HR Police.” Every year, the manager of organizational development ran around trying to get supervisors to turn in their performance appraisals. Just getting the documents completed, signed and filed was the highest priority, leaving little time or energy to ensure the consistency or quality of the performance evaluations.
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Breaking up is hard to do for businesses, too
Jacksonville Business Journal - by Dolly Penland Correspondent
Given the current economy, many business owners are considering cutbacks of all sorts — including laying off workers.
“We are seeing a lot of reduction-in-force activity,” said John Dickinson, managing member of the Jacksonville office of Constangy, Brooks & Smith LLC. “It’s across the board. I don’t think we have seen any sector that has been spared, even in the public sector.”
The first thing to consider before looking at payroll is whether the budget can be slashed in other areas...
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Have handbook policies checked by a pro
Jacksonville Business Journal - by Dolly Penland Correspondent
Some human resources experts are noticing an interesting new trend: small-business owners wanting employee handbooks.
Dynamic Corporate Solutions Inc. reports a 267 percent increase over last year in new clients asking for human resources infrastructure services, with an emphasis on employee handbooks.
“Some of it is new leadership where they have more corporate experience and are aware of compliancy issues; some of it is just business owners wanting things to be formalized in their workplace,” said Suzi Lemen, CEO of Dynamic Corporate Solutions...
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Don’t Let Poor Performers Bring Down Your “A” Players
Bob McKenzie
One of the best ways to ensure you will have many issues with employees is to allow poor performers to continueworking at the same level of low performance day after day. In the business world today, an “A” player is notmeasured the same way grades are given out in high school or college. A flunking grade in business is 95%...
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Are Your Employees Committed, Compliant Or Complacent?
Bob McKenzie
Gaining commitment from employees should be the primary goal of every company. Once a spirit of allegiance is achieved, employees become motivated to fulfilling the organization’s mission while working towards achieving its vision. What better competitive advantage is there than employees who are devoted to the company and work toward attaining or even surpassing the company goals and objectives?
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Minimize Employee Issues by Creating a Positive Work Environment
Bob McKenzie
All companies have to deal with issues regarding their employees. It is no secret that employees who feel a part of their organization and feel as though they are making contributions to the growth and success of the company will give the extra effort. This, in turn, results in a win-win situation. In this environment, employees feel more important, enjoy their work and feel better about the contributions they are making to the organization. Turnover in these companies is lower. Employees are more energized. Best of all, the employers also win because profits improve...
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Buying time
Vacation purchase joins benefit packages
Jacksonville Business Journal - by Dolly Penland Correspondents
Jacksonville transportation providers The Suddath Cos. took a different tack after the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., helped fuel a national economic downturn in 2001...
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Cost crunch
Many small businesses drop health benefits
Jacksonville Business Journal - by Dolly Penland Correspondent
As the cost of health coverage continues to rise, outpacing both the rate of inflation and wage growth, more small businesses are dropping health benefits, according to the 2005 Annual Employer Health Benefits Survey, released in September by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and Educational...
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Employers need to keep up with changes in labor laws
Jacksonville Business Journal - by Paul Ivice Correspondent
PONTE VEDRA BEACH -- New developments in federal and state legislation and court decisions add constantly to the morass of rules dictating how companies must treat their employees...
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Employment crackdown
Companies adjusting to new hiring procedures from Homeland Security
Jacksonville Business Journal - by Dolly Penland Staff Writer
Although no one knows for sure, the number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. is estimated to be between 7 million and 20 million, and most of them have jobs. Now, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the largest investigative branch of the Department of Homeland Security, is cracking down on unauthorized workers...
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Entrepreneurs consider staffing alternatives
Jacksonville Business Journal - by Dolly Penland Correspondent
Even though the current economy seems a little unsteady, and watching the stock market can cause motion sickness, small-business owners still must soldier on and carry out their business plans...
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Experts suggest writing a job description to make business run smoothly
Jacksonville Business Journal - by Dolly Penland Correspondent
No one wants to do extra work, but here's one task that can help make a company run more smoothly. Take the time to write up clear, concise employee job descriptions...
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Know your needs early when hiring an HR consultant
Jacksonville Business Journal - by Joe Morris Correspondent
Many of a company's nuts-and-bolts operations hinge on its human resources department, so it's vital to have policies and procedures in place that both benefit employees and protect employers...
