SHRM Blog

As a SHRM HR Knowledge Advisor, I have recently been receiving more questions about what type of training managers should receive.

The short answer is anything and everything that benefits the work, workers, and workplace. Figuring out the “anything and everything” is the challenge. The initial thought is to look at training that may be required by law, industry, or position, such as safety training and harassment prevention training, but managers will need other training, as well.

Sometimes, managers don’t have the proper experience to manage effectively, or they don’t...

COVID-19 brought the world to a standstill in a flash, forcing people to stay and work from home. But the frontline workers were the lifeline of the economy and society. They kept risking their own lives and saving light on groceries, restaurants, hospitals, and other energy-saving essential services. According to Brookings, these unsung heroes are mostly “low-wage earners estimated at around 7 million people” according to Eonocofact, “ most of the workers are also minorities women, PoC, etc.,” as shown in the figure.1

Fig.1 Composition of Frontline Workers

The...

Over the past year, I have often been asked by various members of the HR community: With so many immediate changes in society, what can I do to best help my employer?

From insect invasions (murder hornets, cicadas and joro spiders, oh my!), to an entire pandemic, to the more-standard challenges of matters like voting legislation, mental and physical wellness, refugee crises, racial injustice, pay equity and gun violence, there has been plenty for HR to deal with over the past two years.

Employees are asking for different things. Employers’...

Giant segments of U.S. workers remain unsatisfied with their careers. Millennials and Generation Z’ers, which comprise a large majority of the workforce, often report feeling unfulfilled by their pay, career, and overall sense of purpose on-the-job. Many say they feel devalued and struggle with how to make their mark in business.

I’m often asked for advice from young professionals on the best way to excel and advance on-the-job. Hard work is important. But in today’s business environment, it’s not enough. That’s understandably frustrating since it runs counter to the belief that we’ve grown up with that “hard work pays off.”

I offer this wisdom as it’s...