SHRM Blog

The Boomer Mindset: Work is Part of Retirement

by Susan AvelloOn December 22, 2011 0 comments

For many demographers and social scientists, the long-awaited year has come and gone, almost. It was estimated that between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2011, more than 7,000 people would turn 65 years old every single day. Those numbers are astounding.

In AARP's 2010 survey of boomers turning 65 in 2011 finds this first wave of the boomer generation were generally satisfied with their lives and optimistic about the next third of life.  Financial security and improving their health were a few top concerns which affected their outlook about the future, and their retirement plans.

In a...

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Reference Checking: The Most Important Step in the Hiring Process

by Franny OxfordOn December 21, 2011 0 comments

If you own a small business, where every hire counts, or if you are hiring someone for a key role, don’t get complacent after you’ve interviewed your ideal candidate. Too often, leaders set their minds on a candidate and delegate the rest of the hiring process as a pro forma exercise. Doing so is a mistake no company, these days, can afford.


Face it. The greatest indicator of what someone WILL do, is what they HAVE done. How do you get there? From real, authentic, engaged references. HR folks, this is why C-suite people often appear...

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Is Tim Tebow a Great Leader?

by Steve BatesOn December 20, 2011 0 comments

Much has been said about Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, whose come-from-behind victories during the 2011 NFL season have been chronicled far beyond the sports pages. The second-year player out of the University of Florida makes exceedingly public displays of his Christian faith. That bothers some people. But aside from that divisive issue, one important question about the Tebow saga carries significance for the business world:

Is Tim Tebow a great leader?

We all know that we can’t manage what we can’t measure. There are several ways to look at Tebow’s numbers: Quarterback rating is one way;...

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What's next for job growth in the U.S.?

by Mark J. SchmitOn December 19, 2011 0 comments

At SHRM we have been researching some of the factors that are affecting job growth in the U.S. This is important information for HR professionals who are on the frontline and in the trenches dealing with the filling of jobs. Although there are many reasons that U.S. job growth is very slow, SHRM Research has identified some problematic issues that need solutions from HR professionals.

American businesses are facing a paradox – in the midst of high unemployment and slow job growth, many organizations are faced with inability to fill key jobs in their organizations. In fact the...

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CEOs Need More Than Naysayers

by Beth MirzaOn December 15, 2011 0 comments
At the recent annual conference of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources, one message came through loud and clear. Repeated by multiple speakers, the concept was uttered best by Jon Love, former president of Pitney Bowes Government Solutions.
 
“I don’t need the HR police,” Love said. 
 
What CEOs and other top business leaders want—and need—from the HR professionals in their organizations are solutions to problems. Telling the C-suite why they can’t do something isn’t helping the company, according to business leaders at the conference. 
 
“If you show...
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Why Middle Managers Are Ready to Demote Themselves (and what you can do about it)

by Ann TardyOn December 14, 2011 0 comments

Reality Check

  • 52% of middle leaders claim they have more responsibilities since the recession but no new title
  • 89% of middle leaders do not feel well-prepared to lead change and make tough decisions
  • 83% do not feel satisfied with their overall performance as a business leader
  • 70% would take a demotion to a non-leadership role for the same or less money
  • 64% say they are not likely to be with their current employers in 2 years – are we surprised?

(All resources available upon request)

What went wrong?...

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How to Build a Social Recruiting Framework

by Matt CharneyOn December 13, 2011 0 comments

When creating a social media recruitment strategy, there are 3 critical considerations every employer or talent organization must address directly and comprehensively.  The good news is, you already know the answers to these crucial questions, and while unique to every company, recruiter and job opportunity, those answers provide a strategic, measurable framework for social recruiting success.

The Big 3 Questions of Talent Acquisition

Hiring managers, HR business partners, recruiters and executive leadership (not to mention current employees) are all crucial stakeholders in the talent acquisition...

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The HR Point of View

by Jason LauritsenOn December 9, 2011 0 comments

What’s your Philosophy on HR? 

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to interview a lot of managers and leaders.  One of my favorite questions to ask when I interview professionals who claim to have successfully managed people in the past is this: “What is your management philosophy?”  In my experience, good leaders have an easy answer for this question.  It may not be something they have written down on a piece of paper in their desk at the office, but they can always articulate an intentional way they go about managing others.  Often, there are a couple...

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Holiday Gifts for Plaintiffs' Lawyers

by Jonathan SegalOn December 8, 2011 0 comments

The holidays are a wonderful time to share good feelings and sometimes that includes gifts.  But you don’t want your seasonal gift to result in a January gift for plaintiffs’ lawyers.

Now is a good time to look at your policies on giving and receiving gifts and remind employees of their application to the holiday season.  Here are some suggestions:

  1. Never solicit a gift.  The subtle “I am sorry but I don’t recall receiving your holiday cheer this year” is as subtle as Lady Gaga is conventional.
  2. Check your policy to see if you can
    3. ...
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