The conversation usually starts out like this . . .
“You’ll never believe what just happened!! I have an employee who . . .”
Steve.Browne
Bio:
Steve Browne, SHRM-SCP is the Vice President Director of Human Resources for LaRosa's, Inc. - a regional Pizzeria restaurant chain in Southwest Ohio and Southwest Indiana with 13 locations and over 1,100 Team Members. Steve has been an HR professional for 30+ years and has worked in the Manufacturing, Consumer Products, and Professional Services industries in various Human Resources roles. He is on the SHRM Board of Directors and a former MAC member. Steve facilitates a monthly HR Roundtable in Cincinnati and runs an internet message board for HR professionals that reaches 12,000+ people globally on a weekly basis.
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Steve Browne
History
- Member for
- 7 years 1 month
Articles by Steve Browne
This past week we celebrated a Team Member’s 30th anniversary !! This is a rarity in any organization these days. She truly is beloved. When we sent out the notice that we were going to recognize her, many people, including several Executives and Senior Leaders, cleared their schedules to make sure they were present.
April 14, 2014
Have you ever been unemployed? I have. It’s happened a few times in my life. I’m not talking about transitioning from one job to a new one. I’m talking about not working in your profession. It’s hard.
The reality of the financial implications hit first and you’re kind of taken over by fear. You think that EVERYONE would want to hire you immediately, and that you’re sure to land your next job quickly. That rarely happens. These items aren’t “new” and there are countless blogs and pieces of advice for jobseekers.
March 17, 2014
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This seems to be a “bucket list” kind of year. I was fortunate enough to be elected as part of the Membership Advisory Council (MAC) for SHRM. I get to speak at SHRM National in Orlando this June !! And then, there was this past week . . .
March 10, 2014
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Something has been bothering me for some time now. When did we realize that we have generations in the workplace? Haven’t we ALWAYS had people from various generations in the workplace?
It truly is disappointing that we have taken to labeling people due to when they happen to have been born. For instance, technically by my birth year, I am at the tail end of the Baby Boomers. I more strongly identify with Generation X personally. But, I would have to say that, I have a touch of Millennial and whatever the newest generation is being called in me as well.
February 20, 2014
By now you’re aware that we’ve entered a New Year. The flurry of posts that flood blogs encouraging resolutions, new attitudes, new approaches, etc. have died down. I love to see the positive launch into a new year because I think people are eager to start clean and move forward.
January 14, 2014
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My post title is missing its normal, and grammatically incorrect, double exclamation points ( !! ) for a reason this week. I had the most amazing experience and just had to share it with you !! (oops, there they are)
November 12, 2013
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This week is truly a week I eagerly anticipate every year! That is because I know when September rolls around, so does the annual Ohio State HR Conference ! I get excited because it’s a chance to break away from the day-to-day and be with my peers. I know this sounds HR Nerdish but I’m unapologetic about it.
September 18, 2013
The majority of our days are spent with people in some form or fashion. In the workplace, you encounter people in many situations and often with different outcomes. Even though we spend the bulk of our time at work, we don’t really have “deep” relationships.
July 24, 2013
SHRM13 has wrapped up and it was honestly the best National SHRM Conference I’ve attended. The vibe was cool and people seemed to be at ease and engaged at the same time. Just prior to the Conference kicking off, my good friend, Mark Stelzner, put a challenge out on Facebook to see if anyone could come away from the event with 5 new ideas.
June 25, 2013
Recently, LaRosa's, opened a new location called Eastgate. I’m fortunate to be the Executive Director of HR for this iconic Cincinnati company, and we had a pivotal role in this store opening. HR interviewed every new potential Team Member because we were looking to add 70+ folks to this much larger pizzeria!
May 21, 2013
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When I look out today across the HR landscape, I see something that is a great opportunity! Those in the HR social media community have the chance to truly bridge the gap with the profession as a whole.
April 15, 2013
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When someone wrongs you, how do you react? Are you angry, vindictive, ready to pounce? For most of us, the answer is “it depends.” We’ll take a breath and then decide the best course of action.
However, when it comes to employees, we often forget to breathe first. We jump to the nearest set of policies and then comb through them to see what level of discipline needs to be metered out. It amazes me as an HR person that when employees slip up, the reaction is usually swift, harsh and doesn’t take anything into consideration – really.
April 10, 2013
One summer while I was in high school, I worked as a counselor at an Easter Seals camp for disabled adults. Going to this camp genuinely changed my perspective on life! I entered the camp a bit freaked out honestly. Everyone around me was vastly different that me, and what I was “used to.” People in wheelchairs. People who couldn’t speak clearly. People who couldn’t feed themselves, or pretty much care for themselves on their own.
March 22, 2013
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Hey HR folks! Is the first word that comes out of your mouth when you head into work – “Ugh!” Seriously, does the dawning of a new day in your corner of the HR universe generate excitement and anticipation, or drudgery and a loathsome feeling?
The answer most people reading this would say – “It depends on the day!”
You know, that’s fair. The question you have to ask youself is: What mood or tone do you regularly set as an HR pro? As a department? Do people like interacting with you, or do they do the classic, “Shhhh, it’s HR!”
February 19, 2013
I love puzzles! I mean it. I love the challenge of opening a box and seeing thousands of tiny, misshapen pieces that only show a portion of a bigger picture. To be honest, I like puzzles that are also a little unique. I’m not a big fan of the large, scenic panoramas. If it’s something that challenges you and comes out with a very cool end product – then I’m in.
At Christmas, the kids and I all got puzzles. Here’s a look at them . . .
Cool puzzle of the US made up of license plates!
January 23, 2013
“People. They’re all around us every day. It’s as if we HAVE to deal with them!”
Sound familiar? Sound like you? Sound like most people in the workplace . . . and HR? It’s not surprising. The workplace is filled with people. It’s an amazing fact. They desperately want to interact, communicate, perform and excel. But, most of our efforts each day are to limit, thwart, conceal and conform. Why is that?
December 28, 2012
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This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the SHRM Leadership Conference. It is a true favorite for me because it is made up of fellow HR volunteers from all over the United States !! I also had the chance to meet some great people from SHRM India!
November 20, 2012
Have you ever made a comment thinking it was innocuous, but it really had damaging effects?
Let me help you out with this. Your comment usually starts with: “It’s just....” You don’t mean this to be harmful, but you don’t see how your position is calling the situation simple or “below you.”
October 24, 2012