Archive

August 2012

Most of you know Alec Baldwin’s famous speech in Glengarry Glen Ross where he shares the golden rule of sales: “ABC: Always Be Closing.” Even more so than sales, recruiting is a job where you need to always be on. If you’re not constantly building a pipeline of candidates and promoting your brand, chances are that the top candidates you want to hire will slip through the cracks.

August 31, 2012

In case you missed it, here’s what happened on We Know Next this week.

An increasing number of U.S. workers who take vacation are performing work-related tasks on their so-called off time, according to a Harris Interactive survey of 2,212 U.S. adults.

News Updates
August 31, 2012

A changing workforce, global competition, advances in information technology, new knowledge, the 2008 global recession and demands for sustainable performance have forced corporate leaders to examine and re-evaluate how they manage and operate.

In response, they are utilizing new technologies, changing their organizations' structures, redesigning work, relocating workforces and improving work processes. These changes have significant implications for how their human capital should be managed and how their HR functions should operate.

News Updates
August 30, 2012

When employees observe workplace misconduct such as stealing, safety violations or substance abuse—and decide to report it—most will go to their supervisors to do so, an ethics survey finds.


Sixty percent of the 2,172 workers surveyed in June 2012 by the Ethics Resource Center (ERC), a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, said they will report misconduct they observe to their supervisor first. About one in five (21 percent) will report to higher management and about one in 10 (11 percent) will call a hotline. Just 1 percent will go first to an outside agency.

News Updates
August 29, 2012
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From the next economy, to the next generation, the Society for Human Resource Management helps get the most out of business by getting the best out of people. Find out more on becoming a SHRM member here. 

Videos
August 28, 2012

Departures among chief executive officers fell to the lowest level of the year in July 2012, as 83 leadership changes were announced during that month. This marks the slowest month for CEO turnover since December 2011, according to the latest report on CEO turnover released Aug. 8, 2012, by global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

News Updates
August 28, 2012

An increasing number of U.S. workers who take vacation are performing work-related tasks on their so-called off time, according to a Harris Interactive survey of 2,212 U.S. adults.

More than half of employed Americans will perform some type of job-related task while vacationing—reading work-related e-mails and taking phone calls—according to findings released July 16, 2012. That’s an increase of 6 percentage points from a similar survey in 2011.

News Updates
August 27, 2012

In case you missed it, here’s what happened on We Know Next this week.

The current Employment Eligibility Verification Form, commonly referred to as Form I-9, expires Aug. 31, 2012. Once it expires, what should employers do? All U.S. employers must complete and retain a Form I-9 for all citizens and noncitizens they hire for employment in the United States, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

News Updates
August 24, 2012

The latest Society for Human Resource Management annual employee benefits survey report highlights interesting trends. 2012 Employee Benefits: The Employee Benefits Landscape in a Recovering Economy discusses how benefits have changed during the last 10 years and, in particular, in the aftermath of the Great Recession.

News Updates
August 24, 2012

According to mobiThinking, cellular subscriptions worldwide are at 6 billion. Yes, that’s billion. Companies are making significant revenue from mobile devices: Google $2.5 billion last year. eBay expects customers to buy/sell $8 billion this year and PayPal expects to see $7 billion in mobile payments.

August 24, 2012

When employees observe workplace misconduct such as stealing, safety violations or substance abuse—and decide to report it—most will go to their supervisors to do so, an ethics survey finds.

Sixty percent of the 2,172 workers surveyed in June 2012 by the Ethics Resource Center (ERC), a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, said they will report misconduct they observe to their supervisor first. About one in five (21 percent) will report to higher management and about one in 10 (11 percent) will call a hotline. Just 1 percent will go first to an outside agency.

News Updates
August 23, 2012

HR At Your Fingertips is an essential mobile app for any HR professional who is consistently on the go. Isn’t everyone these days? This app contains a glossary of HR terms, Federal laws and a guide on how to create an employee handbook, allowing quick and easy access to information from your pocket.

August 22, 2012

Viewers turning in to CNN, CNN Headline News, and CNN’s Airport Channel beginning Aug. 26, 2012, will see a 30-second commercial from the Society of Human Resource Management

“The pace of change is accelerating—the way we perform, compete, and grow,” intones a voice-over for the ad as images of a rotary phone, a computer keyboard, then cell phone and e-tablet whizz by.

News Updates
August 22, 2012

Analysis of Generation Y participants—born between 1979 and 1991—in defined contribution plans revealed stronger selection of target-date funds and Roth 401(k) options compared to other age groups, according to data from Fidelity Investments, a large retirement plan services provider.

In the second quarter of 2012, Fidelity analyzed its approximately 11.9 million 401(k) accounts, including 2.2 million Generation Y participants. Among the findings, members of Generation Y were more likely than older participants to:

News Updates
August 21, 2012

Making Telework Work: Leading People and Leveraging Technology for High-Impact Results

Technology and teleworkers are all around us and are increasing every day. The most progressive organizations and those that want to secure a competitive advantage have unlocked the power of teleworking, and now your company can too!

August 20, 2012

The current Employment Eligibility Verification Form, commonly referred to as Form I-9, expires Aug. 31, 2012. Once it expires, what should employers do?

All U.S. employers must complete and retain a Form I-9 for all citizens and noncitizens they hire for employment in the United States, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

News Updates
August 20, 2012

Hopefully, we all understand that social media is not a fad and is not going anywhere anytime soon. Social Media is not only changing how we communicate with family and friends but it’s changing how we do business.

I gathered the most recent reports from SHRM and others that was a conglomeration of outstanding information and really wanted to create a visual to show how HR is incorporating social media, not only in their everyday lives, but into their workplaces.

News Updates
August 20, 2012
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In yet another decision likely to face resistance from employers if appealed to the federal circuit courts, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on July 30, 2012, ruled that the common employer practice of prohibiting employees from discussing ongoing investigations violates employees’ right under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to engage in concerted activity. The ruling applies to union and nonunion employers since both are covered by the NLRA’s protection of concerted activity among any employees.

News Updates
August 17, 2012

Being a person who loves my iPhone and iPad, articles about mobile trends usually catch my eye.  This one from Portfolio discusses how important mobile and wireless services are to businesses.  Check out these stats (they’re from last year and still pretty amazing):

59% of small businesses say wireless technology is essential to their business

33% of small business owners check their mobile device before brushing their teeth

August 17, 2012

Bon Secours Virginia Health System, Citi, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and USAA are the winners of the Work Life Legacy Military Award from the Families and Work Institute (FWI).

Recipients were singled out by a 14-member panel of judges for their outstanding efforts to hire and support transitioning service members and their families. It’s the only award, said FWI.

News Updates
August 16, 2012
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It's no coincidence that employers with vibrant diversity and inclusion initiatives usually have highly engaged workforces. Inclusion is a key factor in boosting employee satisfaction and performance, according to Shirley Davis Sheppard, Ph.D., vice president of diversity and inclusion and workplace flexibility at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

News Updates
August 16, 2012

On August 15, SHRM We Know Next invited special guest Steve Boese to chat about the topic:  "Is HR Technology Really Making Our Jobs Easier?"

The informative conversation was directed at helping human resource professionals understand and make sense of the rapidly changing HR technology scene -- a daunting challenge for many HR pros who have a thousand other issues on their plate. 

August 15, 2012

 The SHRMStore has award-winning and popular HR titles. Here are the ones that performed at their peak this summer! 

 Gold Medal SHRM Read:

August 15, 2012

In Part I, “Be Yourself – Everyone Else Is Taken” - we stressed the importance of embracing your uniqueness on your path to success.

As we experience 21st century demographic and technical transformations in the workplace, one important adjustment that leaders can make is to acknowledge and reward positive deviance – both formally and informally. 

August 15, 2012

Employees have similar feelings during the honeymoon phase of new jobs as love-struck romantics do at the beginning of a relationship. At first, the rush of love makes each day a thrill. Heightened emotions give the sweet feeling that the relationship will always be this good.

Eventually, the seven-year itch sets in—often well before seven years.

Instead of a broken heart, the employee has a job that suddenly doesn't seem so great. And the company has a disengaged worker who can hurt customer satisfaction, productivity and the bottom line.

News Updates
August 15, 2012

Should the Strategic Plan Rest in Peace?
 
At one time, business executives believed that strategic planning was the answer to all of their problems. The process that started in the 1950’s evolved through various strategic analyses including SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats), Michael Porter’s competitive strategy model, core competencies, strategic intent and business transformation. Today, many are questioning the strategic plan's usefulness.

There are many reasons for this. I'll give three:

August 14, 2012

When employers act as though the 1959 song “Money (That’s What I Want)” represents employees’ top priorities in the workplace, they miss some of the most important drivers of satisfaction and engagement.

“It is well known that money is a short-term motivator,” Jayne Mattson, senior vice president, Keystone Associates, told SHRM Online. Ultimately, employees look for an organization and position where their values are met, core skills are utilized and work tasks align with interests, she said.

News Updates
August 14, 2012

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal has named its 2012 Best Places to Work honorees. An exceptional group of companies in the hometown delivering progressive work style design and experience during a time when so many employers simply cannot get it right. This group has figured out that culture is a real competitive advantage. Fun to watch.

August 13, 2012
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Legislation approved by the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 4078) on July 26, 2012, would prohibit the federal government from issuing any new “significant” workplace-related regulations until the national unemployment rate drops to 6 percent or less.

News Updates
August 13, 2012

In case you missed it, here’s what happened on We Know Next this week.

Finance, information technology (IT), procurement and other business services areas are in the midst of a growing talent crisis, and the failure of human resources and business services leaders to effectively collaborate is in large part to blame, according to research released July 19, 2012, by The Hackett Group Inc., a global business management consulting firm.

News Updates
August 10, 2012

While the number of employees on international assignments has remained relatively stable over recent years, the percentage of “global nomads” (employees who move from country to country on multiple assignments) and long-term expatriates has increased, causing challenges for employers when it comes to providing expatriate benefits.

News Updates
August 10, 2012

HR heads are still spinning as they try to digest what the National Labor Relations Board has tried to accomplish this year.

The Acting General Counsel has issued confusing reports on social media. The Board has also attempted to create quickie union elections, and require companies to abide by a union-poster rule. Why, just a few weeks ago, the Board ruled that an "at will" provision in an employee handbook may violate the National Labor Relations Act. That one is still a head-scratcher for me.

August 10, 2012
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The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) held a public meeting July 18, 2012, at which representatives from special interest groups, the federal sector, former EEOC leadership and current employees provided input on the agency’s proposed Strategic Enforcement Plan (SEP).

News Updates
August 9, 2012
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The SHRMStore had more than 900 items to choose from on-site at this year's Annual Conference and Exposition, including books from more than 90 speakers. Below are the top sellers from the show.

August 8, 2012

Since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was enacted in 2010, health insurers have been preparing to operate in the new health insurance environment that begins in 2014—one that includes individual and employer-provided coverage mandates, guaranteed issue for coverage and health insurance exchanges.

News Updates
August 8, 2012

Despite continued job growth, little change is expected in jobless rate  

August 7, 2012

Terry Starr, Director of Social Media Strategy at DICE, shares her combined knowledge of recruiting and social media marketing in this edition of "Live from the Hive", which explores the benefits of social recruiting. Terry has been in the recruitment marketing space for almost 30 years and co-founded a global social network to assist moms re-entering the workforce. Terry can be found on twitter at @HRSocialStarr.

Videos
August 7, 2012

But employees reject paying more for failing to meet wellness goals  

Despite higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs for health care benefits, U.S. workers’ satisfaction levels with employer-provided health care coverage has either risen or remained the same compared to three years earlier, according to a survey by the National Business Group on Health, a nonprofit association of large employers.

News Updates
August 7, 2012

Finance, information technology (IT), procurement and other business services areas are in the midst of a growing talent crisis, and the failure of human resources and business services leaders to effectively collaborate is in large part to blame, according to research released July 19, 2012, by The Hackett Group Inc., a global business management consulting firm.

News Updates
August 6, 2012

Building and executing effective talent management strategies is particularly challenging in rapid-growth market companies that are expanding into new markets, according to newly released research from Ernst & Young.

The majority of 810 business executives surveyed lack confidence that their organization has or can build an effective international management team.

News Updates
August 3, 2012
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In case you missed it, here’s what happened on We Know Next this week.

The 2012 Summer Olympics will offer a technologically unprecedented opportunity for workers to plug in and slack off to watch live-streaming games on smart phones, tablets or company computers. That doesn’t necessarily mean, however, that the London games, which get under way July 27, will hurt productivity much more than previous Olympics.

News Updates
August 3, 2012

By Steve Boese

There is no doubt that HR Technology plays an increasingly important role inside our organizations today. Whether simple, in-house developed tools for tracking employees in a very small organization, more complex and comprehensive ‘enterprise grade’ systems in use by most large organizations, or any of the myriad of newer HR technology solutions that are deployed via the web, in a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model - the influence and importance of workplace technology continues to grow.

August 2, 2012

On August 1, SHRM We Know Next invited special guest Jason Lauritsen to chat about "Employee Engagement -- Are you Listening to the Right Employees?"

The lively conversation addressed the definition of engagement, the link to talent and entitlement, and whether engagement was the responsibility of the employer or the employee.  Should organizations allow employees to build the surveys, and do employees who question the anonymity of the surveys provide truthful answers?

August 2, 2012

At the iconic ending of the 1991 film “Thelma & Louise,” Geena Davis’s character Thelma says “Let’s not get caught. Let’s keep going!” And with a smile, Louise (Susan Sarandon) steps on the gas pedal of their convertible and they go careening off the cliff to their doom.

If the Federal government’s spendthrift ways keep going full-throttle like Thelma & Louise’s car, then on Jan. 2, 2013, a sequestration order could take effect that would potentially send the nation off the “fiscal cliff.”

August 2, 2012
According to the SHRM Leading Indicators of National Employment (LINE) Report for August 2012, hiring will steadily continue in both the manufacturing and serivce sectors for the month of August. 
 
August 2, 2012

The percentage of employers that conduct credit background checks on potential employees has dropped since 2010, according to a 2012 survey of 544 U.S.-based HR professionals.

Among organizations that do perform credit history checks, 80 percent have hired someone despite a poor credit report, according to the 2012 findings.

News Updates
August 2, 2012

Last month, the Supreme Court ruled on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. Employers are now faced with putting plans in place to implement this sweeping new piece of legislation. Regardless of what individuals personally think about the act, it is important to recognize how important health care insurance can be for our employees. I learned this lesson very early in life.

August 1, 2012

Many employers have rules that prohibit employees from returning to work while they are not on duty.  These rules are designed to keep order but they also have the effect of limiting employee access to engage in union activity while off duty.

The NLRB has long held that a rule barring off-duty employees access to the workplace is valid only if:

August 1, 2012
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