https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/rss en-us The U.S. Department of Labor just issued a new version of the FMLA poster that covered employers are required to hang in their workplaces. You can download the poster here. The big question: If you already have an FMLA poster in your workplace, must you display this new version... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/3296 Thu, 26 May 2016 11:13:38 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/3296-dol-releases-updated-fmla-poster-must-you-use-the-new-version Truly great work produces an outcome that makes a difference. It's work that moves results from good to great-for example, improving a process, saving a customer or increasing revenues. Truly great work is produced by people who routinely do the same five things, which... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/1125 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:55:54 -0500 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/1125-5-key-actions-good-employees-take-to-create-great-work Sooner or later, one of your employees is going to "power up" an e-cigarette in your workplace. These trendy, battery-powered devices give the user a sense of smoking by inhaling a nicotine mist. No smoke is dispersed, only vapor. So, is this truly considered "smoking" and can you set a company policy? According to Cleveland-based employment law attorney John Hyman, "There are no laws requiring that you..." http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/1012 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 13:02:31 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/1012-e-cigarettes-a-burning-new-hr-issue Good economic news means HR pros are spending more of their time recruiting, hiring and orienting new staff. The process looks and feels a lot different than it used to, with digital applications replacing paper rï؟½sumï؟½s, online job sites edging out want ads, and both applicants and employers trying out some unique and even quirky methods to make a match in the interview room. These four trends seem to be reshaping... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/1011 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 13:01:58 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/1011-your-hiring-looks-different-as-economy-improves Every HR professional has seen their share of unique pitches from applicants. Here's a collection of memorable ones that worked and didn't, according to a CareerBuilder.com survey of 2,000 HR professionals and hiring managers. Some techniques resulted in a hire, while others failed... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/1010 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 13:00:40 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/1010-creative-candidates-10-memorable-stunts-that-worked-and-10-that-didn-t In a stagnant economy, smart hiring decisions are more important than ever. That's one reason employers increasingly use web-based social media-such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter-to screen potential employees, in addition to the usual applications, interviews, references, and background, credit and drug tests. But they don't always recognize... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/899 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 08:44:11 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/899-watch-out-for-pitfalls-risks-of-using-social-media-in-hiring Build buy-in by 'noticing out loud.' It sounds simple but it takes empathy and awareness. Test the technique with a waiter or salesperson ("You've pointed out features I didn't even notice-that was so helpful!"), and then watch how his or her attitude... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/887 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 06:44:25 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/887-5-tips-to-help-co-workers-hear-your-ideas Here's the perception: HR professionals are often too busy and lack the business savvy to effectively self-promote their successes to bosses. But HR people who advance to executive levels know their value, and they make time to communicate it. The key, according to HR consultants: Diplomatically self-promote-no matter how busy you get-without... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/886 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 06:43:53 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/886-how-to-toot-your-hr-horn-without-appearing-to-brag What goes into a final paycheck, and when that check must be given to a terminating employee, is strictly a state issue, said Hope Williams, CPP, the American Payroll Association's director of training, and James Paille, CPP, director of operations at Thomson Reuters. Williams and Paille helped attendees at the APA's annual Congress understand termination pay. Companies usually handle final pay for involuntary terminations just fine. They're not so good with... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/885 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 06:43:16 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/885-managing-termination-pay-beware-trouble-ahead HR takes the lead in enforcing employer policies regulating how employees use social media. According to research by the Society for Human Resource Management... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/884 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 06:42:32 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/884-hr-corporate-america-s-social-media-cops It's getting a lot easier for your most valued employees to find jobs at other companies. And if your retention efforts aren't better than your competitors' recruiting, you stand a good chance of losing your star employees. Fact: If your employees believe you aren't bending over backward to keep them, they won't hesitate to bolt. Employees do pay attention: A survey by staffing firm Spherion reveals that just 13% of workers believe their companies are trying... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/883 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 06:41:24 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/883-craft-strategy-to-retain-your-best-employees When employees feel like they belong in an organization, they'll give you their all. When they feel like outsiders, you'll only get a half-hearted effort at best. Belonging is a basic human drive, along with food, water and shelter. Yet, many leaders overlook its importance in the workplace and, in fact, may be creating a "culture of exile" that drives employees away... ["No one is purposely making people feel they don't belong, but they're also not proactively making them feel they do...] http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/882 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 06:40:34 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/882-do-your-employees-feel-like-they-belong-5-red-flags Q: We currently run background checks on all potential employees, and one particular offense/conviction for which we deny hiring is anything sexual in nature. We ran a background on a current employee (prior to hire, and everything returned clear). We have since received notification from another employee that the individual hired may have been convicted of a sexual offense after being hired. Can we legally run another background to verify? - Cortney, Texas A: Yes, you can, but... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/879 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 06:37:06 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/879-can-we-run-a-second-background-check-in-light-of-new-information Q. When should we be doing our background checks: Before an offer is made? After the offer is made and before employment? Or after employment has begun? We generally do the check after we make an offer and before employment starts. - Elizabeth, Illinois A. Your organization is correct to... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/878 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 06:36:34 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/878-when-is-the-right-time-to-do-background-checks Managers have heard all the excuses: My alarm didn't go off. My babysitter didn't show up. I have a bad cold. While those excuses sometimes ring true, chronic absenteeism and tardiness can become a major problem in the workplace if left unchecked. One key thing to remember: These days, managers can't... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/776 Fri, 19 Jul 2013 01:01:49 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/776-reining-in-absences-tardiness-7-do-s-and-don-ts You were probably attracted to HR because you want to help people. It's in your nature to do so. But be careful not to become too attached to helping employees. It could actually hurt your career. Too much... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/766 Thu, 18 Jul 2013 02:04:15 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/766-don-t-let-compassion-for-staff-consume-you Because it's not something they do every day, hiring and negotiating with an executive recruiter makes many HR pros nervous. The stakes are high indeed: Slip-ups can result in excess costs, a painfully prolonged hiring process and bad hires. You'll increase the odds of making a good hire by avoiding these common headhunter mistakes... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/674 Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:08:28 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/674-avoid-4-pitfalls-when-choosing-a-headhunter When older employees hear the word "slow," they may immediately assume thatï؟½s a code word for "old." But sometimes, slow just means slow. As a new case shows, if you have workers who can't meet the job's re-quired ï؟½ and preferably written ï؟½ performance standards, you don't have to keep them on staff, regardless of their ages. If you do plan to discipline or terminate an older worker... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/673 Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:07:44 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/673-older-worker-slows-down-does-firing-bias Let's face it: Some employees are a bit unusual. They may do a good job, but their personal quirks may make other employees feel uncomfortable. Sometimes, their behavior may even be an indication of serious mental health problems. Before you rush to demand the employee get counseling or see a doctor, remember that the ADA prohibits such requests unless there is a clear business necessity for the exam. The better approach:... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/664 Sun, 02 Jun 2013 16:08:23 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/664-is-your-employee-acting-strangely-when-can-you-require-a-mental-exam-before-s-he-returns If youï؟½re faced with an employee who isnï؟½t a good fit with his or her current job, is termination the answer or is demotion a better alternative? The answer is, of course, it depends. Demotions should always be considered on a case-by-case basis. The key factor is whether or not the employee is worth keeping around. However... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/663 Sun, 02 Jun 2013 16:02:14 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/663-demotion-or-termination-how-to-make-the-call President Obamaï؟½s re-election ensured that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health care reform law will remain in effect. That means the nature of health insurance benefits will change dramatically by 2014, and HR executives have some huge decisions to make about their options. Today, your employees might... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/568 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:29:20 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/568-obamacare-should-your-organization-play-or-pay Announcing layoffs and cuts in pay, health care coverage, 401(k) plans and other benefits can exact a personal toll on you, too. The price is higher for... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/567 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:45:33 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/567-dishing-out-bad-news-6-tips-for-your-emotional-survival It happens all the time: An employee approaches someone from HR to ask for help. Most of the time, thatï؟½s no problem. But occasionally, HR pros find their work conversations veering dangerously toward... http://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/566 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:17:38 -0400 https://www.businesswatchnetwork.com/articles/566-think-twice-before-giving-employees-personal-advice