SHRM Blog

Don't Be an Entertainer!

How are you doing as a human right now? If I were to pose that question to a group of people, I’m sure I would get a myriad of responses. Some would be genuine, and some would be polite. Some would be in-depth and raw, while others would be concise and guarded. Regardless of what the answers might be, it’s a question I think we should be asking on a more regular basis.

You see, I’m concerned. I’m concerned about my peers in HR who are plastering smiles on their faces every...

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Senior Executive Lookahead: Counting Down the Top Five Issues for 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic presented historic challenges for employers—from remote work to vaccine and mask mandates to increased pressures on workers coping with upheaval in their homes and communities. Organizations across the economy were forced to adapt and reinvent themselves amid uncertainty.

With the arrival of new COVID-19 variants, continued supply chain disruptions and the ongoing Great Resignation, change will remain a constant in 2022.

At SHRM, we’re paying particular attention to five issues that should be on every human resource and business leader’s radar in the months ahead. This is the first...

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‘Silent’ Benefits: Not So Silent Anymore!

As a SHRM HR Knowledge Advisor, I’ve received many calls asking about how to find, attract and retain talent during this hot job market. Employers have been very creative in attracting talent—offering sign-on bonuses, remote and hybrid work arrangements, increased paid leave, and education reimbursement, to name just a few benefits. Some have considered gift cards for meals, movies, or shopping—anything to differentiate companies and attract candidates. However, one possible benefit rarely mentioned is one that could be a great differentiator: short-term disability. Often overlooked, this benefit has helped many employees get...

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10 Failproof Employee Engagement Ideas

No matter your specific business, if your employees aren’t engaged, your customers won’t be either and that is going to negatively impact productivity and your bottom line. Employees who are happy and excited about the work they’re doing have an infectious energy that makes people unable to resist doing business with you. Emotions are more contagious than Covid! You can employ these employee engagement ideas to improve workplace satisfaction and increase all sorts of business metrics.

1. Get involved with employees’ projects and goals

Don’t ignore your employees after assigning projects. Instead, take a...

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Virtual Water Coolers For a Thriving Team Culture in Hybrid and Remote Teams

Organizations will need to pivot their team culture if they wish to survive and thrive in the world of virtual collaboration after the pandemic. The most important changes will stem from the wide-scale and permanent shift to hybrid and fully-remote modes of working.

Why Did Corporate Culture Suffer During the Pandemic?

Culture refers to the social and emotional glue that bonds employees together into a community of belonging, motivates employees, and protects against burnout. It includes the norms and practices that determine how people collaborate. It also involves the values that guide...

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Unplug Already: Why Stopping Work at the End of The Workday May Make You More Productive

As we head into the New Year and a new list of resolutions, many of us will make a pact with ourselves to have a better work/life balance. That may come in the form of turning off the screen and walking away from the computer at the end of the workday. And while some may feel guilty about not always being “on,” a new Korn Ferry survey of professionals shows it could make you more productive overall.

Although more than half of survey respondents say their company should have...

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Top Nine HR Goals of Small and Midsize Companies

What is your top HR goal, and how do you plan to achieve the goal in 2022?

To help you identify and achieve your HR goals in 2022, we asked HR professionals and leaders for their best insights. From recalibrating and moving forward to increasing retention, there are several goals to consider for 2022.

Here are nine HR goals and how to achieve them:

  • Recalibrate and move forward
  • Develop employee expertise
  • Prioritize employees' mental health and well-being
  • Maintain culture
  • ...
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A New Year; A New You: Make your Mental Health a Priority as HR Practitioners

This is the time of year when we start planning to once again declare our commitment to achieving our goals.  Whether it’s to retire, implement new HR programs, or get healthy, we always approach the new year with vim and vigor only to become a statistic of those that start the year with hopeful resolutions that are rarely completed.

As human resources (HR) practitioners, we are expected to be all things to all people, which can be overwhelming at times. And we often set goals meant to serve others, i.e.,...

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How Important Are Allies in The Workplace?

When we look to build diverse and inclusive workplaces, we sometimes forget to harness one of the biggest forces of change and inclusion: allyships. Let’s start with a definition. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines allyship as “supportive association with another person or group … specifically: such association with the members of a marginalized or mistreated group to which one does not belong.”

As a SHRM HR Knowledge Advisor, I am often asked questions related to building inclusive workplaces and implementing initiatives to increase diversity. Sure, goals and well-worded statements are great,...

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Employer Not Required to Provide Reason for Termination

As a SHRM HR Knowledge Advisor, I am frequently asked by members if they must provide employees with a reason for termination. Employers often hope that they are protected under the at-will employment doctrine.

Providing a reason for termination is solely at an employer’s discretion based on their policies, past practices, and, for some employers, state law. Aside from the at-will doctrine, some states have service letter requirements by which employees must receive a document upon separation that includes information such as the reason for separation, date of separation, unemployment insurance benefits...

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