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HR Wench
And then we came to the end

HR Wench

10 Jun 2009 | 7:30 am

As many of you already know, I have decided to go back to school this fall. I am going to study to be a paralegal. The program should take about a year or so, and when I'm done, hopefully I will find myself with a new job in a new field. I havent had much to say about HR in the past few months. Looking for a job in HR for a year and a half can really put one off the subject. Sorry about that. At the same time, Im not sorry - after eight years I feel more than ready to move on. Im excited about school and finally having some direction after long, directionless and…
Put your picture on your resume

HR Wench

17 Apr 2009 | 3:07 pm

But only if you look like this guy:
Benefits are kind of scary

HR Wench

12 Apr 2009 | 2:34 pm

Many of you know that I passed my second CEBS exam a few weeks ago. I am so relieved I passed, as the second course made the first one look like a cake walk. Here is what we covered in a mere 12 weeks, no joke: Individual and group life insurance Disability management Vacations and other time-off benefits Dependent care and work-life benefits Flexible benefits I Flexible benefits II Plan administration, technology and communication Taxation of group plan benefits Workers' compensation Social insurance concepts Health benefits for retireees Long-term care insurance One of the…
Channeling Lady Gaga at work

HR Wench

7 Apr 2009 | 6:19 pm

Like many street corners in America, one in my neighborhood is occupied by someone paid to hold a sign. I generally don't like sign-holders or the companies that employ them. They are purposely trying to distract drivers, which is not a good idea in my book. However, one sign holder has gotten my attention. She wears headphones and dances throughout her entire shift. I drive to the gym, she's there dancing. I drive home from the gym, she's there dancing. I drive to the grocery store - yep, still there, still dancing. I don't think the dancing is…
This job is kind of like not having a job

HR Wench

9 Mar 2009 | 12:20 pm

Having a job in this economy is not always what it's cracked up to be, yo. Take a gander at the latest Ask HR Wench: In January my brother's job was out-sourced. He managed to stay employed at the same company by taking on a different role (part-time, at an hourly rate roughly half of what he had been making). He was classified as an independent contractor the first two months he was employed with this company, from Feb - Apr, 2008. After that, he was hired as an exempt employee. He has received his W2 for the time he was an employee, but not his 1099 for the time he was a…

Career Hub
Oh, Say Can You See...

billiesucher

3 Jul 2009 | 8:33 am

Last evening over on Twitter, I posted: "Someone actually said this to me today: I didn't know that the 4th of July is aka Independence Day." It reminded me, once again, about not assuming anything. That said, let's just assume...
"Man In The Mirror"

billiesucher

30 Jun 2009 | 7:29 pm

I'm Gonna Make A Change; For Once In My Life; It's Gonna Feel Real Good, Gonna Make A Difference, Gonna Make It Right... Michael Jackson ~ "Man In The Mirror" Since hearing the sad news last week, I have been...
The Changing Face of Careers and Work

Susan Guarneri

30 Jun 2009 | 3:53 pm

Change happens constantly in the world of work, it seems ever more rapidly. Remember when the Internet and email began to surface in your job function or job search about 10-15 years ago. After that came social networking via Facebook,...
Using Social Media as a Career Management Tool

Laurie Smith

30 Jun 2009 | 2:06 pm

I just finished attending a very informative webinar on social media offered by SelfGrowth and presented by its founder, David Riklan. A simple definition of social media is that it is "massive information sharing and and communication on the Internet."...
What Michael Jackson, The Brand Icon, Can Teach You About Personal Branding

Paul Copcutt

29 Jun 2009 | 1:54 pm

There was an article posted by on the Harvard Business Review How Michael Jackson Became a Brand Icon and interestingly it's author John Quelch kicked off with the following comment; "Countless books advise how to build your personal brand. Michael...

YourHRGuy.com
SHRM Tuesday: Oh My Tired Feet

Lance Haun

1 Jul 2009 | 4:00 am

Apparently eating delicious (but unhealthy) food, drinking hurricanes and walking 1,000 miles in one day isn’t a good way to avoid waking up with a foot cramp. That’s how SHRM Tuesday started out for me. It was a great day after that. I spoke in the morning with Silkroad about their talent management suite and what they are seeing from their client companies. I was familiar with their Red Carpet on-boarding software but didn’t know much about it either. The most exciting part (to me at least) is that they are launching a blog soon. My advice? Keep it real and keep it focused…
SHRM Monday: The Party Hasn’t Stopped Yet

Lance Haun

30 Jun 2009 | 9:58 am

Monday was a good and busy day for SHRM and Your HR Guy. Here’s a rundown of what happened and how things are playing out. I started out the morning talking to the Disney Institute about their training programs and they invited me to come check it out at some point. As long as it isn’t during the steamy summer months, I’d be happy. They have been reaching out quite a bit to other industries. After breakfast, I talked to Perspectives Ltd. about mental health parity and how many professionals are freaking about it. I am honestly surprised as to the balanced approach they are…
SHRM Conference Sunday – Don’t Call Me The Press

Lance Haun

28 Jun 2009 | 5:27 pm

The first day of SHRM seems to always be a wash. You are exhausted from traveling and you just get thrown into the middle of something that is already going. Being as the conference was in New Orleans, it was litterally impossible to get here before 2:00pm without a red eye flight. This means I missed Jack Welch which was a little disappointing. If we get a video of it online, I’ll be sure to link to it. Mary Ellen Slayter at SmartBrief did a good cap on it here. and Michael Long (The Red Recruiter) has a good post too. I got the opportunity to meet up with the folks from…
SHRM Updates All Next Week

Lance Haun

26 Jun 2009 | 8:12 am

This Sunday morning, I am getting up at the crack of dawn to travel southeast to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) annual conference in New Orleans. What that means for you is that you will get up to the minute coverage of all of the happenings in New Orleans. If you haven’t seen my schedule yet, it is absolutely loaded. Sessions, meetings, dinners, tweetups, parties… folks, it is a rough life. I am looking forward to meeting some great bloggers, people doing cool things in our space and getting some swag. I am not into humidity or heat though. This is why I live in…
Updated SHRM 2009 Schedule

Lance Haun

19 Jun 2009 | 12:17 am

I updated my schedule for the 2009 Annual Conference. I forgot to add the fact that I am going to definitely be meeting up with all of my blogging pals before our session. Also, I’ve heard rumor of a tweet up Monday? I don’t know many details about that yet. I’ve been told the likelihood of getting fresh crawfish at this time of year is going to be pretty close to nil. So that sucks a little bit. Otherwise, I am looking forward to great cajun food and some cold drinks. Also, I should mention that in addition to food and drink, SWAG works as well. I am pretty easy going,…

HR World
Friday Links: Workplace Unity, Performance Reviews

S. Caron

19 Jun 2009 | 8:04 am

Performance reviews should be about performance … and if someone has good performance, why critique them for something that obviously isn’t inhibiting their performance? Seriously. Read about a situation like this on KnowHR. Should employers pay for healthcare? Is that really their responsibility? HR Marketer talks employee wellness and the lack of correlation with healthcare. Interesting. Evil [...]
UK’s Kwik Fit Insurance Award for Healthy Workplace Environment

S. Caron

19 Jun 2009 | 7:47 am

Kwik Fit Insurance, a UK insurance intermediary, was recently awarded the Gold Award by the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives. The award recognizes employers that employ occupational health and safety programs and programs that promote mental and physical health. “We’re delighted to have picked up the Gold Healthy Working Lives Award. It’s a testament to the [...]
New Diversity Program Allows Self-Directed Pace

S. Caron

19 Jun 2009 | 7:41 am

Diversity training is still an important and necessary thing for companies to have, according to Robin Parker, Executive Director of the Beyond Diversity Resource Center. According to Parker, the tough economic times can not only create more on-the-job stress but also heighten cultural conflicts. “Diversity training is especially critical in tough economic times,” said Parker. “The [...]
Reeling in Social Networking

S. Caron

18 Jun 2009 | 8:11 am

Social networking is quickly becoming an important element for communication, networking and more. But is your organization prepared for the pitfalls that can come with social networking? That’s the topic of this week’s TrendWatcher. It offers advice on how to reel in the social networking so that it doesn’t compromise your company or inhibit future growth. According [...]
Jeffboat Reaches Safety Milestone

S. Caron

18 Jun 2009 | 8:06 am

Jeffboat, the manufacturing division of American Commercial Lines Inc. has clocked 1 million hours without a lost time injury as of June 1. This is the second time that the company has achieved that milestone. The inland shipbuilder and repair facility prides itself on its safety performance in the shipbuilding industry. “Safety is our priority at Jeffboat [...]

Human Resource News
Schoolteacher, felon arrested in bust of Kenner meth lab

2 Jul 2009 | 5:04 pm

Gregory Brown, left, James Miller, and Monique Bordelon were arrested in reference to clandestine drug laboratory found in Kenner home.
StarTek Joins Russell Global Index

1 Jul 2009 | 6:11 pm

StarTek , a leading provider of high-value business process outsourcing services, announced today that it was added to the Russell 2000 Index when Russell Investments reconstituted its comprehensive set of U.S. and global equity indexes on June 26, 2009.
Monster U.S. online jobs index dips...

1 Jul 2009 | 12:07 am

A monthly gauge of online labor demand in the United States fell a touch in June and its decline slowed on a year-over-year basis, suggesting stabilization in the jobs market, a private research group said on Wednesday.
Peopleclick and eQuest Renew Multi-Year Partnership

30 Jun 2009 | 6:03 am

Through the multi-year partnership, Peopleclick and eQuest will offer clients the following: Additional domestic and European job board destinations Online tracking systems confirming job delivery status A new personalized metrics dashboard that evaluates the best performing career sites prior to choosing the desired job boards for delivery ...
Websense Positioned as a Leader in Magic Quadrant for Content-Aware Data Loss Prevention

29 Jun 2009 | 9:44 pm

Websense, Inc. today announced that Gartner, Inc. has positioned Websense as a leader in its recently released "Magic Quadrant for Content-Aware Data Loss Prevention." The firm evaluated Websense Data Security solutions, which are part of the Websense Essential Information Protection portfolio of content-based security products.

Bizjournals: Human Resource News
Man alleged stole $450,000 from firm

3 Jul 2009 | 5:06 am

A finance executive formerly with one of the region’s most prominent development companies was indicted by federal prosecutors and charged with embezzling almost half a million dollars from the business over two years.
Dinsmore, Woodward in Louisville discuss possible merger

3 Jul 2009 | 4:11 am

Cincinnati law firm Dinsmore & Shohl and Louisville’s Woodward Hobson & Fulton LLP appear headed for a merger, according to a Disnmore official.
McClatchy VP of operations leaving

2 Jul 2009 | 2:59 pm

The McClatchy Co. vice president of operations Lynn Dickerson will leave the nation’s third-largest newspaper chain July 17, ending her nine year career with the publisher. (MNI)
CEO Donegan's pay falls more than $10 million

2 Jul 2009 | 2:43 pm

Precision Castparts Corp. CEO Mark Donegan earned $10 million less in compensation in the fiscal year ended March 29, according a proxy report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission this week. (PCP)
Jobs report sinks markets

2 Jul 2009 | 1:39 pm

U.S. businesses cut 467,000 jobs in June – far above expectations – driving markets down ahead of the July Fourth weekend.

Punk Rock Human Resources
F@%k It Friday: Authenticity

Laurie

3 Jul 2009 | 3:45 am

Since it’s Friday, I want to talk about the word authenticity. There was a discussion on RBC that I missed, so I would like to hear what you think. I want to know — What does it mean to be an authentic human being? Can you have multiple facets of your personality and still be a genuine & trustworthy person? How does authenticity relate to consistency? Do you have to be totally transparent in order to be considered authentic? Many of us spend the first half of our lives in an attempt to cultivate a point-of-view and specific preferences only to realize that we need to be in therapy…
Leaving New Orleans

Laurie

2 Jul 2009 | 3:45 am

Just a couple of things. You can check out pictures of New Orleans and the SHRM Conference here. Were you inspired to blog by my conference session? Are you a Human Resources blogger? If you would like to be listed as one of the sites I love, let me know via email. I wonder what you think about this: the HR Bloggers panel at SHRM09 had a spirited debate about whether or not bloggers are journalists. I think writers can use blogs, videos, or traditional media sources to disseminate a story or a message; however, authentic journalism is a craft. Journalists attempt to achieve different goals…
SHRM Explainer: What is a HR Tweet Up?

Laurie

1 Jul 2009 | 3:45 am

I had a great night on Tuesday. I attended a tweet up. I can’t tell you how many friends of mine have asked me, “What the hell is a Human Resources tweet up?” A tweet up is a modified word that combines Twitter and meet-up. Anyone can use Twitter as a tool to announce an event, such as a party at a bar, and ask people to attend. It’s a very casual way to bring a group of like-minded people together. In our case, a friend of mine [FrannyO] planned a party and put out the word using Twitter. She sent out a tweet, which is a message on Twitter, and told the universe that…
SHRM Day 3: Updates on Vendors & Stuff

Laurie

30 Jun 2009 | 2:37 pm

I roamed the SHRM expo floor, today, and grabbed some swag for you — the most awesomest readers. I have a ton of stuff including shirts and books and trinkets. Monster was nice enough to give me a USB hub and I’m totally keeping it. Sorry, suckers, but it’s one of the best conference swag items I’ve received. Highlights: I finally met Tim Stanton from LinkedIn and he is super awesome. We are tweet-buddies and it was really good to meet him in person. I stopped by the Halogen booth because they are big supporters of the HR blogging community. I stumbled across the Dart…
SHRM Lessons: Day Three

Laurie

30 Jun 2009 | 3:45 am

More things I observed at SHRM. HR professionals don’t talk politics. There is a debate on public health care debate in America; there are ongoing problems in Iran; and we are waging two wars that result in combat veterans returning into the labor pool. Here in HR? We’re talking about mandatory workplace harassment policies. HR people are broke. I’ve never seen so many financially-strapped people in my life—and no, I’m not talking about homeless people in New Orleans. Attendees can be seen clamoring for free food, cheap hotel rooms, and buffet dinners because they…

News from People Management
Danny McCoy named head of Irish Business and Employers Confederation

3 Jul 2009 | 8:37 am

Danny McCoy has been appointed director-general of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec), replacing the outgoing Turlough O'Sullivan from July 1.
Swine flu leads to surge in staff absence

3 Jul 2009 | 4:39 am

Staff absenteeism caused by flu-like symptoms is running at 66 per cent higher than average as the swine flu virus spreads, figures show.
Property market 'hinders recruitment'

3 Jul 2009 | 3:31 am

The decline of the property market over the past year has hindered firms in recruiting top talent, according to one HR director who currently lives in a hotel.
HR in Queen's birthday honours

2 Jul 2009 | 8:39 am

CIPD members and others in the HR community were honoured in the Queen's birthday list.
Equality bill a 'missed opportunity'

2 Jul 2009 | 8:33 am

The recent equality bill was a missed opportunity to get tough on closing the pay gap, experts said at an event organised by equality charity the Wainwright Trust.

HUMAN RESOURCES NEWS - Google News
McDonald's bags top HR award - Straits Times

3 Jul 2009 | 8:17 am

McDonald's bags top HR awardStraits TimesFAST food giant McDonald's made a meal of the Singapore HR Awards on Friday night by taking home the top prize - the and more »
Cover letters don't cover as much in a job search - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

3 Jul 2009 | 6:30 am

Cover letters don't cover as much in a job searchSt. Louis Post-DispatchUpon landing in a human resources division's in-box, a résumé is automatically routed to a digital reader programmed to identify key words that apply to and more »
Broadway Confirmed As HR Leader In The Charity Sector - PRLog.Org (press release)

3 Jul 2009 | 5:07 am

Broadway Confirmed As HR Leader In The Charity SectorPRLog.Org (press release)PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 03, 2009 – Broadway, the London-based homeless charity, was confirmed as the human resources leader in the charity sector when and more »
Ex-city employees accuse Tracy HR director of creating hostile ... - San Jose Mercury News

2 Jul 2009 | 7:28 pm

Ex-city employees accuse Tracy HR director of creating hostile San Jose Mercury NewsTRACY -- A lawsuit filed by two former city of Tracy employees accuses current Human Resources Director Maria Olvera of violating workplace and more »
The Conference Board Issues Guide to Effective Evidence-Based ... - PR Newswire (press release)

2 Jul 2009 | 12:03 pm

The Conference Board Issues Guide to Effective Evidence-Based PR Newswire (press release)NEW YORK, July 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Evidence-Based Human Resources can play a major role in helping companies successfully manage their global talent in and more »

HRMorning.com
Win an Ipod Touch: 60-second survey

Staff

2 Jul 2009 | 12:37 pm

Take our quick 60-second survey to enter a drawing for an iPod Touch! Tired of spending those summer days on the beach with nothing to do but read a book? Probably not…but who doesn’t want a free iPod Touch? Click here to take the survey. Results from your peers will be sent within two weeks. More about drawing rules here Click here to take the Survey
Boosting flex account enrollment: Try this

Bill Meltzer

2 Jul 2009 | 6:39 am

Looking for a way to make flex accounts a little more employee friendly? Here’s a strategy that many employers overlook: Many TPAs offer direct deposit as an FSA reimbursement option, rather than sending checks to participating employees. The choice is up to the participant. One of our readers from New Berlin, NY reports that simply adding this option for employees increased workers’ satisfaction with the turn-around of reimbursements, and offset a common reason some employees gave for not participating in the benefit. Several employees who hadn’t enrolled in past…
Good news on FMLA clarification

Jim Giuliano

2 Jul 2009 | 4:00 am

It’s finally clear: When requesting Family and Medical Leave Act time off, your employees are obligated to follow your usual policies and procedures. That’s the upshot of a recent Opinion Letter from the Department of Labor (DOL), which clarifies the confusion surrounding the agency’s “two-day rule.” FMLA regs require employees to provide 30 days’ notice for any leave that’s foreseeable (like childbirth). But when the need’s unforeseeable — like a sudden illness — the rules have been a little muddier. That’s because a 1999…
Congress eyes new bills that toughen 401(k) rules

Jim Giuliano

2 Jul 2009 | 4:00 am

Voters are screaming at Congress about the roller-coaster dip in 401(k)s. And Congress is listening — and reacting. The House Education and Labor Committee is looking at two new bills aimed at tightening administration of 401(k)s and making them more transparent and less risky — or at least giving that appearance. The 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act would require that fees associated with 401(k) plans be: disclosed on quarterly statements shown in simple dollar amounts (not percentages), and broken down into investment management fees, transaction fees,…
Study: Disturbing trend on employee health

Jim Giuliano

1 Jul 2009 | 2:20 pm

As firms continue to fight for their survival in the current recession, an increasing number of their employees have moved up a weight class - or two. According to a recent CareerBuilder.com survey, 43% of U.S. workers have gained weight in their current jobs. A combination of stress over the current economy and poor eating habits seems to be spurring the increased weight gain in the U.S. workforce. Just how much weight are employees packing on? According to the study: * 25% have put on more than 10 lbs., and * 12% have put on more than 20 lbs. The study also dissected people’s eating…

Human Resource Executive Online -- ALL
Bridging Racial Divides

Can -- and should -- HR do anything about the perception in some quarters that a diversity hiring means hiring somebody who's not as qualified? An open, transparent system that communicates fairness to employees -- not just for hiring, but also for promotions and performance evaluations -- is one proactive measure.
HR Certifications Definitely Worth It
Mixed Reviews Given to Merger

The economic situation was seen as underlying the surprise merger announcement by Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt earlier this week. While the potential exists for success -- and these two behemoth HR consultancies do offer some synergies -- the M&A landscape is littered with failures.
Crossing the Line

Crossing the Line | Human Resource Executive Online Are overconfident executives more inclined to commit fraud? Research into company leaders that engaged in fraud found that wrongdoing was more likely in industries that are complex and undergoing rapid growth.
Personal and Professional Brands Intersect

Personal and Professional Brands Intersect | Human Resource Executive Online The challenge for businesses is to find a way to foster appropriate online behavior, while respecting the independence and privacy of their people. It won't be easy, especially in a world where the boundaries between work and life continue to converge.

HRM Today Featured Posts
You shouldn’t care about a multigenerational workforce

Chris Ferdinandi

25 Jun 2009 | 10:29 am

Over the last few years, there’s been an explosion of information about how to manage a multigenerational workforce. There have been countless articles, seminars and books on how to keep Generation Y (aka the Millennials) engaged, and how to help Baby Boomers and Gen-X employees work with them more effectively. I think that’s all a big waste of time. I don’t do things because I’m Gen-Y The big theory around multigenerational workforces is that shared experiences during a generation’s formative years creates a set of shared values that guide their behavior. Gen-Y is allegedly very…
Social Recruiting or Whatever

Maren Hogan

25 Jun 2009 | 10:19 am

It seems like everyone’s talking about social recruiting these days. There was recently a very impressively put together conference dedicated entirely to the subject. Now the domain name is for sale and everyone seems to be saying that social recruiting is the way to go. Meh. What I find most interesting is how confused I seem to be on the subject. I started out in recruiting knowing less than nothing and have slowly figured out some of the complexities in the industry thanks to connections I’ve made online, many of which have graduated to physical (actual) relationships. Some of my best…
Lifelong Learning

HR Bartender

25 Jun 2009 | 7:19 am

Later this week, I’m heading to New Orleans for the SHRM Annual Conference. For me, the conference will be filled with wonderful networking opportunities and informative educational sessions in the setting of one of the biggest foodie cities in the world. What more could I ask for? Every time I attend a conference, I think about my early days in HR. Those days when I was new or junior in the organization. It was sometimes difficult to convince senior management to spend the money to let me attend a conference. As a result, I quickly learned to take responsibility for my own…
Welcome to the Carnival of HR!

Inflexion Point

24 Jun 2009 | 8:32 pm

Are you Interested in the two-faced manager, the sword-swallowing succession planner, the work-sharing Siamese twins or the bearded HR lady? Well ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, step right up and welcome to the Carnival of HR (*dramatic bow*)! Your new Ringmaster HR Minion (aka Shauna Moerke) has been kind enough to let the clowns here at Inflexion host this week’s Big Top of the HR blogosphere. Be sure to wander through all the posts as we’ve assembled a terrific show. Let’s get right to it! Lexy Rubin of the Precept Group channels a modern apothecary in her post,…
4 Dumb Things People Do During Interviews

Kerry

24 Jun 2009 | 8:14 pm

You know what a STAR question is, right? It’s those interview questions where you’re supposed to give a: S/T — Situation/Task A — Action You Took R — Result You Achieved See, it spells out STAR. That’s so you (and the interviewer) remember what you’re supposed to do. Yeah, it’s a goofy little acronym. But this interview technique (or a close variation of it) is used by most big companies, and quite a few small ones as well. It’s part of behavior-based interviewing, which essentially works on the idea that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior…so…

Complinet HR
Discrimination in redundancy consultations: the employee view

2 Jul 2009 | 8:06 am

With the mass of ongoing redundancies, unemployment figures in this country have tipped the two million mark for the first time in almost 12 years.
'Dual discrimination' clause for Equality Bill

2 Jul 2009 | 8:00 am

The government has proposed a new law to protect people who experience discrimination because of a combination of two characteristics, such as black and minority ethnic women or religious men.
The MacLeod Review on employee engagement

1 Jul 2009 | 8:22 am

The long-awaited government review on employee engagement is due to be published this month.
TUC boss urges trustees to fight employers' slash and burn approach to pensions

1 Jul 2009 | 8:05 am

Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary, yesterday urged pension scheme trustees and trade unionists to guard against employers using the recession as an excuse to take a slash and burn approach to occupational pensions.
New CIPD report into talent management within 10 good practice organisations proves 'necessity is the mother of invention'

1 Jul 2009 | 8:00 am

That adversity drives creativity and innovative solutions in organisations is one of the main lessons from a hot topic report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Seasonal Human Resources Blog
OPP - Other People's Posts

Kari Quaas

2 Jul 2009 | 11:28 am

Jessica Lee - SHRM09 Wrap Up... The SHRM's Recovery + Rebuild - Yes We Can? Michael VanDervort - Getting Strategic with the HR Bartender Laurie Ruettimann - SHRM Explainer: What is a HR Tweet Up? Kris Dunn and China Gorman - KD + China Gorman from Fistful of Talent on Vimeo.
For Three Strange Days...at SHRM

Kari Quaas

2 Jul 2009 | 9:17 am

Okay, so really it was 4 days that I spent in New Orleans for the 2009 Annual SHRM Conference. I'll say right up front that I feel honored and privileged to have been able to go. Thanks again to SHRM for having me as a member of the "press." Also, briefly, I want to thank all of the wonderful HR bloggers and other attendees for making it another good conference experience. You guys are GREAT!
First Day in New Orleans for SHRM

Kari Quaas

28 Jun 2009 | 9:15 pm

Greetings from the Big Easy. This will be short and sweet since I got up WAY too early for my taste and only was home for 36 hours between the Cool Works Yellowstone / Teton adventure and taking off for NOLA. One could say my life has been a bit of a whirlwind. Also, in the midst of the 36 hours at home, I learned that all three of my photography entries made it into the juried photography
Happy Hour Tweetup at SHRM

Kari Quaas

19 Jun 2009 | 12:46 pm

@Frannyo is leading the charge for an HR Blogger tweetup on Tuesday, June 30 at the SHRM conference in New Orleans. Here's her exact tweet. Organizing a #tweetup happy hour Tuesday at #SHRM09!! Lots of HR blogstars will be there. Location/time TBA. Sponsor opportunity! DM me. As we get closer and more details are secured, I'll be sure to post them here. You got to love twitter. Happy Friday,
Evolution of (Social) Recruiting

Kari Quaas

18 Jun 2009 | 10:22 am

Just this week a unique conference was held at Google Headquarters in Mountain View, California. The Social Recruiting Summit brought together voices from the recruiting industry who pay particular attention to the social aspect of it. The speakers included many of the thought leaders of the industry. Reid Hoffman - LinkedIn Susan Burns - Talent Synchronicity Sacha Chua - Living An Awesome

HRmarketer.com Blog
Rating HR Conferences. A quick promo from HRmarketer.com

2 Jul 2009 | 1:08 pm

A little over a year ago, we launched a Community section in HRmarketer.com that in addition to many other cool tools allowed HR vendors to review conferences and events they attended. The Yelp of HR events if you will. HRmarketer.com members can also review HR analysts, journalists and others.While it has not been as popular as we'd like it to be (that's our fault which we will change), we are seeing a lot of good reviews posted. Some of the events reviewed on HRmarketer include (in no particular order - reviews are grouped by year so you can see past years reviews as well):SHRM Annual…
Think Fresh: quality over quantity at the SHRM 2009 Conference & Expo

30 Jun 2009 | 7:08 am

According to Sunday night's tally, there are less than 7,000 attendees at the 2009 SHRM Conference & Expo in New Orleans.Less than 7K. That's less than half the number of folks who attended the past two shows.But I gotta tell you, it's been more of a blessing than a N'awlins voodoo curse.Ninety-eight percent of the HR suppliers we've spoken to (many of which are clients or prospects) are very happy with the quality of the attendees; they are more senior and have come with an agenda, even shopping lists, and they are engaging in fresh thinking conversations (I loved the Flavia booth with…
Employee Financial Education. A Hot HR Benefits Sector.

29 Jun 2009 | 5:02 pm

A recent article in Fortune titled Has the 401(k) failed discusses how a small but vocal group of advocates think the 401(k) is a relic of a bygone age, what's wrong with the current system and how it can be salvaged. Excellent article.The article points out several flaws to the current 401K model -- too many people choose not to enroll at all, fees are often obscured, and most of all, among those who do invest, choices can be shockingly bad. A 2008 study by Financial Engines, for instance, showed that 38% of respondents had "worrisome" levels of company stock in their portfolios.But what I…
Things are definitely hot at the SHRM 2009 Conference & Expo

29 Jun 2009 | 6:45 am

The "Big Easy" SHRM 2009 Conference & Expo in New Orleans started with a definite Mardi Gras atmosphere. Despite the oppressively hot weather (and thunderstorms after the show), everything was rockin' cool in the expo hall.In fact, most of the suppliers we spoke with saw an unprecented amount of booth traffic for the opening expo night. And not just traffic, but quality "I'm shopping for products and services" traffic.That is good news for the HR marketplace and the economy!Quick shout-outs to EmployeeScreenIQ announcing their 2010 background screening trends, nowHIRE celebrating a happy…
The Latest HR Market Share Podcast: Interview with Robert Hohman, CEO & Co-Founder Glassdoor.com

25 Jun 2009 | 7:13 am

The latest HR Market Share podcast is *finally* ready for your listening pleasure below (more interviews in the queue as well!). Subscribe to the series in iTunes and look for regular posts to our blog and on the HRmarketer.com site. You can also subscribe to all our past interviews and episodes via Hipcast.Our latest episode includes some HR marketplace news and a great interview with Robert Hohman, CEO & Co-Founder Glassdoor.com (they ain't no F*dCompany.com, that's for sure). Glassdoor.com is a career and workplace community where anyone can find and anonymously share salary details…

8 hours & a lunch
creative professionals & freelancers (you built it & they didn't come)

Debra Owen

2 Jul 2009 | 4:27 am

You love what you do. You're good at it. You're a photographer, a designer, a web designer, a writer. And if you ever bothered to enter the corporate world, you left it to do what you love. After all, everyone says 'do what you love and the money will follow', right?But let me guess. You opened your doors and the money (and clients) did not come streaming in. Right?That's because it's not as easy as 'do what you love and the money will follow'. It's much more complicated.Congratulations! You're now…
latest & greatest

Debra Owen

1 Jul 2009 | 7:26 am

Hey guys!Just a quick update on what's going on and available with djo Creative.1) The next Creative Pathways course starts August 4th and is open for registration. Due to the individualized attention participants receive, space is severely limited on this course, so you'll want to get in early! Here are some things people are saying who are in the course now:"I know I said it before, but thank you so much for the opportunity to participate in this course!...I can't tell you how much it is working in my life so far. For the first time in a…
maestro chris ludwa & jerome collins performing last night

Debra Owen

28 Jun 2009 | 4:42 pm

Yes. While onstage, when I wasn't singing last night....I was taking pics. ;-)Jerome Collins of Straight No Chaser was one of our featured performers (and a friend of Chris, our maestro) and brought us a good dose of soul. We had a blast! And it was great to see these two friends enjoy performing together....of course, they also were apparently channeling Crockett & Tubbs too. All the best!deb
stopping a victim mentality (taking responsibility for your life)

Debra Owen

26 Jun 2009 | 3:16 am

Yesterday, we talked about people with a victim mentality. As promised, today, we’ll talk about how to stop. If we identify areas where we’re exhibiting this type of mentality, it can be overcome. It takes practice. But it’s possible. How to Stop First, notice your language. Notice your thoughts. Notice when you are using the language of a victim mentality. And then work to change them. What’s The Difference The difference for someone without a victim mentality isn’t that ‘bad’ things don’t happen to them. It’s…
blamers & complainers & the offended, oh my! (do you have a victim mentality?)

Debra Owen

25 Jun 2009 | 3:37 am

You didn’t get the promotion. Why? Was it because your boss was out to get you? Your best friend just refused your dinner invitation. Was it because she’s rude and insensitive? Or were you passed over for promotion because you consistently show up late, constantly found reasons to have to leave the office, and therefore missed meetings, deadlines, and the goals that had been set for you? (And did you forget those points? Focusing only on your terrible boss?) And about that best friend who you now call rude and insensitive. Did you…

Ask a Manager
did I offend the company that just offered me a job?

Ask a Manager

3 Jul 2009 | 8:59 am

A reader writes:I'm a fresh grad and I just received a job offer from a company I really want to work for (let's say Company A), but I have a pending interview at another company I am also considering (Company B). Company A gave me 24 hours to make a decision, and just before the deadline ended, I asked them for an extension (I asked for less than a week's time), telling them that I wanted to evaluate my options better after I get all the results of my pending applications, and to discuss things with my family.The person who interviewed me then told me that they were surprised about this,…
things I don't want to know about you

Ask a Manager

2 Jul 2009 | 1:37 pm

I'm cool with you blogging about chronic masturbation if that's what you want to do, but then probably you shouldn't include a link to your blog in your job application materials. I wasn't really prepared for that.
is staffing agency lying to me?

Ask a Manager

1 Jul 2009 | 6:46 pm

A reader writes:I've been out of work for 6 months and have been looking and there have been a few interviews. Two of the interviews were generated through staffing agencies. The first interview did not go well and I received no confirmation from the agency to confirm a rejection. I followed up with them a month later and they mentioned the company had decided to hire from within, which I felt was just a flat-out lie. The second interview through a staffing firm was recent and the interview was very positive. I followed up with thank-you letters to both people I had met with and got a call 3…
using jealousy to push a company to make an offer

Ask a Manager

30 Jun 2009 | 8:26 pm

A reader writes:Three weeks ago, I interviewed for a job with a major media company. This was/is a dream job . I was interviewed by HR, and after the interview I was taken to a second interview on the same day with my potential supervisor. I believed both interviews went well and was even given an homework assignment to test my skills and qualifications.When I got home later that day, I sent the HR person a thank you note but not my potential supervisor. Was this a mistake?Four days later, I turned in my assignment to my potential supervisor but I did not receive a confirmation email from him…
why do you sound surprised when I call you for our scheduled phone interview?

Ask a Manager

29 Jun 2009 | 5:19 pm

There's a weird behavior going around, and I have to say, I think I've only seen it in people under 30.We have a specific time scheduled for a phone interview. I call you at that exact time, precisely on the dot because I'm neurotic that way.You answer after quite a few rings and sound like you're genuinely curious to hear who might be on the other end.I identify myself and you say something like "Oh ... hi" with a distinct tone in your voice that really sounds like you weren't fully prepared to hear me on the other end of the phone.More experienced candidates don't do this. Good interview or…

Blogging My Way to a Pink Slip
The Innocence of HR...from HR.Com

MsPinkSlip

2 Jul 2009 | 9:44 pm
Contagious Mismanagement

MsPinkSlip

30 Jun 2009 | 9:57 pm

For quite some time, I have complained about my HR Manager, Mr. Shit4Brains. While I realize poor managers tend to attract and develop more bad managers, I am a bit surprised this happened in HR.While I am not surprised about who can only be described as the worst HR Manager in the history of any HR department, I am surprised about his subordinates (my direct supervisor and her peers).These people have been at my company long enough to remember how it was before Mr. Shit4Brains took the wheel of our proverbial Titanic. These are the same people who appear to share the department-wide…
Anniversary Banquet

MsPinkSlip

7 Jun 2009 | 12:07 am

Recently, I had the displeasure of attending an "Anniversary Banquet" to celebrate my astounding ten years of "service" to my company. I haven't dreaded anything more since the pain of childbirth.To say it was a horrific experience would be an understatement.I don't know what was worse, having to smile while Mr. Shit4Brains stood next to me for the obligatory picture or watching my fellow employees kiss ass to upper management.On a side note, do you remember that song by Beck, "Loser?" It has become Mr. Shit4Brains mantra. Well, it's his mantra for me. "I'm a loser baby, so why don't you kill…
Ban the BCC

MsPinkSlip

6 Jun 2009 | 11:08 pm

I have a few issues with emails using the dreaded Blind (or Blank) Carbon (or Courtesy) Copy. First of all, it's not blind to everyone. Only the recipient is in the dark. If you are bcc'ed, you know it. What am I supposed to think when I get bcc'ed? Was I placed in the bcc to protect my identity? To hide the fact that I got the email? Call me cynical but I believe most bccs are used to hide the fact that I got the email. Doesn't that seem a little silly at work? I understand bcc for large groups of people who may not know each other. Protecting their privacy is obvious for those times. Funny…
The Future

MsPinkSlip

22 Mar 2009 | 11:53 pm

With the current economy, the focus is on keeping a job. For those who lost theirs, they are looking. For those who have one, keeping it is the priority. Although both are important, there is an interesting change in many workplaces I believe will change the future significantly.For those who keep their jobs, the way they were treated during these times will shape their futures. While many employers have been good to their employees and will continue to be, many are not.These are the employers who believe the power has shifted. The long-looming labor shortage all of us in HR waited for has…

Cheezhead Recruiting News and Opinion
careerbuilder ceo on job outlook

Joel Cheesman

2 Jul 2009 | 9:41 pm
a new (and free) split-fee network launches

Vanessa Dennis

2 Jul 2009 | 10:51 am

FeeTrader.com is a new recruiter-to-recruiter network designed for the agency/independent recruiter. The site’s founders say they subsidize the service through advertising, so they don’t charge any fees to recruiters. The goal is to make this ‘the largest, most effective split fee network on the planet.’ To begin, recruiters must conduct a search through the portal and then click the split-fee request tab, which will enable recruiters to send a personalized email to the potential partner with brief details about candidates and capabilities. Recruiters can post as many…
frustrating job search

Joel Cheesman

2 Jul 2009 | 8:23 am
bing to integrate twitter into search results

Joel Cheesman

2 Jul 2009 | 7:56 am

For the day leading into a holiday weekend, there is a lot of linky goodness out there: Microsoft Adds Some Twitter Updates to Bing Search - In a nod to the increasing importance of real-time search, Microsoft has started adding Twitter updates to its Bing search engine. Google News Drops Controversial Comments Feature - Predictions stating “the comments section is likely to be larded with spin, hype and obfuscation” were unfounded. A lack of commentary likely killed this beast. How TMZ Gets Scoops - TMZ, which is as voyeristic as it is speedy, has become one of the world’s most…
employment guide ups the ante

Vanessa Dennis

2 Jul 2009 | 7:03 am

Not to be outdone by Monster’s Keep America Working Tour, the Employment Guide, a recruitment solution for hourly workers, has pledged to help 15,000 people find jobs by 2010 via their Putting America Back to Work job fair series. Previously, the Employment Guide, a division of Dominion Enterprises, said it would put 10,000 people back to work by the end of the year. Instead, a spokesperson said that 11,152 workers found new jobs in six months. Because their goals were surpassed so quickly, EG decided to revisit the guidelines and then came up with the new figure of 15,000. “It’s…

Compensation Force
How to Fix Executive Pay: A Harvard Business Review Debate

Ann Bares

2 Jul 2009 | 3:18 am

In response to the all the attention on executive pay these days, and with corporate leaders attempting to outrun federal regulators in addressing concerns and issues about how executives are rewarded, Harvard Business Review has createda debate forum on how to fix executive pay. Is it fair – or useful – to limit executive compensation? Do limits hurt companies’ competitiveness? Is CEO pay a moral issue? What’s the best way to structure executive pay? HBR has invited a group of experts to lead an online discussion of these and other questions. Recent posts include: How to Help…
Pay Range Secrecy Persists ... and the Approaching Window for Addressing It

Ann Bares

1 Jul 2009 | 9:13 am

I was struck by a particular statistic in a recent WorldatWork research report ("Alignment of Business Strategies, Organizational Structure and Reward Programs" coauthored by Dow Scott, Ph.D. of Loyola University and the Hay Group - members click here to access): Only 41% of responding organizations indicate that their employees know the pay range for their own position. This shouldn't surprise me, as it is consistent with findings in earlier research, yet I admit it still does. As I try to get my head around the persistent nature of pay range secrecy, two questions come to…
Most Furloughs to Go Away - But Will Their Impact Linger?

Ann Bares

23 Jun 2009 | 8:09 am

In a post last week, I explored the question of whether the furloughs of '09 would trigger a fundamental and irrevocable shift in the employment relationship. It appears, based on the latest research from Watson Wyatt (conducted in June and reflecting 179 U.S. based employers) that most of the companies who implemented mandatory furloughs or shortened work weeks plan to reverse or eliminate them in the next 12 months. From the survey: Of those companies who implemented a reduced work week ... 29% plan to reverse the practice in the next 6 months 39% plan to reverse the practice in the…
Salary Freezes and Reductions... Is the End in Sight?

Ann Bares

22 Jun 2009 | 2:05 pm

In the latest update to their ongoing research on the impact of the economic crisis (this round conducted in June and reflecting 179 U.S. based employers), Watson Wyatt finds that many - but not all - companies are planning the reversal of recent cost cutting actions. While there will be reinstatements in some areas, survey responses also suggest that some changes (staff size being chief among them) that are expected to be longer-term in nature. Some findings from the salary side of things: Salary Freezes Of those companies that have implemented salary freezes ... 17% plan to eliminate…
Will the Furloughs of '09 Trigger a Fundamental Shift in the Employment Relationship?

Ann Bares

18 Jun 2009 | 1:47 pm

In her post The Slippery Slope of This Recession's Talent Management Practices, Harvard Business blogger Tammy Erickson talks about how recessions prompt changes in the way we do things - but that this rarely happens in a deliberate manner or with a full appreciation of the consequences. As Erickson points out, the recession of 1981 brought the concept of a "layoff" into widespread use. The 1991 recession drove many individuals into contract employment - a status many hung on to even after "permanent" jobs became plentiful again. Now, our current recession has…

Evil HR Lady
Read before you sign

Evil HR Lady

24 Jun 2009 | 11:28 pm

This is a long question, so I'm going to break it into parts and answer each part separately. Oh, and Class Factotum, this is for you, since you asked for more posts. I've been busy learning German. I conducted an entire transaction in German yesterday--granted it was just dry cleaning, and I mainly said, "Ja, ja!" but importantly, I knew what she said. At least, I think I did. Maybe when I go to pick up the pants, they'll be dyed purple or something. Anyway, back to our regular topic.My husband gave his 2 week notice on Tuesday because we have decided to move back to the UK. He found out…
Our Strength Lies in Our...

Evil HR Lady

15 Jun 2009 | 3:41 am

Unity. I know you thought I was going to say "our strength lies in our diversity." That (and similar messages) are prevalent. We have diversity committees, VPs of Diversity, affirmative action plans and call minority candidates "diverse candidates." (Which drives me absolutely insane, but that's another topic.)When we moved to Switzerland we enrolled our daughter in one of the most "diverse" schools on the planet. If you were to wander down the halls you would see children with skin colors in all possible shades and colors. A map outside my daughter's classroom identifies the home country for…
Want to know my thoughts on Brad Pitt?

Evil HR Lady

15 Jun 2009 | 3:36 am

Of course you do. Check out why this might help your career. Plus, make sure you read comment 2. It will inform you that I lack character and depth. But, you already knew that.
Quit or Fired?

Evil HR Lady

11 Jun 2009 | 2:26 am

I live in CA. I worked for a small business owner for two plus years. Just recently I gave him two weeks notice in writing. He asked me to stay and stay and stay longer and I said “okay”. That meant that I would be working for him for at least three or four more weeks, maybe more. The next work day, he told me that I did not need to come back and after the close of business I did not come back to work. I have not received my last paycheck, for that single day and do not expect that I will be paid for more than the hours worked in that one day. I have been told by others that I have been…
Missing my posts?

Evil HR Lady

5 Jun 2009 | 2:58 am

I don't think I've ever posted an actual link to where I write at US News, so here it is! The other bloggers over there are fantastic as well.Just a little light reading.

Fistful of Talent
As American as Apple Pie - Double Time and a Half...

Kris Dunn

3 Jul 2009 | 9:17 am

It's the Fourth of July (almost) - which means my yard is dead (I live in the Southeast), we are under a drought warning and I am off work (as are many) for the day. Time for a listing of things as American as apple pie as a hat tip to Uncle Sam... Note - This is not a "top" list, just top of mind things with Talent type items mixed in - so don't flame me too hard for the sentimental things I have left off.. Some truly Apple Pie American items: 1. Double Time and a Half - Have to work today? Have some of the hourly folks at your company…
SHRM09 Wrap Up... The SHRM's Recovery + Rebuild - Yes We Can?

Jessica Lee

2 Jul 2009 | 8:53 am

So imagine this - day two of the SHRM09 conference and I'm having lunch with my FOT pals. You know, we're sitting around and shooting the breeze, making fun of the HR people who would walk by us... and then Kris mentions how he remembered seeing the images of very place we were sitting post Hurricane Katrina lined with rows and rows of cots. Thousands of displaced New Orleans residents. The chaos and disruption. Nice lunch time topic, right? But to be real for a minute... it kind of made me pause, giving me a bit of a reality check about where we were sitting because in all honesty, I…
SHRM09 - Newsflash! Gerry Crispin Knows A Lot More About Recruiting Than You and I...

Kris Dunn

1 Jul 2009 | 12:30 pm

Hang around the uber recruiter sites like ERE and Recruitingblogs.com, and you'll quickly learn that Gerry Crispin is well regarded in the staffing and recruiting industry. For those of you that don't know Gerry, he teams with Mark Mehler to form the personality behind CareerXroads and the CareerXroads colloquium. Mark and Gerry have worked for and with corporations of all sizes in career planning and placement, contract recruiting, executive search, recruitment advertising and human resource management. After years working on the front lines of…
Live Feed - HR Bloggers - Panel at SHRM09

Kris Dunn

1 Jul 2009 | 8:45 am

Should you experience any technical difficulties with this feed, please swing over to the SHRM site and catch their feed.
A Blogging Panel at SHRM Mean's It's Time for the Jerry Springer Show...

Kris Dunn

1 Jul 2009 | 7:30 am

Oh yeah... It's almost time for the blogger's panel at SHRM today (11:30 Central).. Which can only mean one thing: "Let's get ready to Rumbleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee"! The session name for our event, officially cleaned up by the SHRM marketing team, is "HR Bloggers: Who are these people and why should I care?" It should read: "The HR Bloggers: Damn, There Are a Lot of Type A's on that Stage...Is There Enough Oxygen?" Consider the cast: Laurie Ruettimann - Former corporate HR, now Punk Rock HR. Go read the…

Flip Chart Fairy Tales
Whitehall gears up for a Tory victory

Rick

3 Jul 2009 | 2:42 am

The Mirror’s Jason Beattie has been having some off-the-record conversations with civil servants. His piece in the Local Government Chronicle describes how Whitehall is preparing for a Tory victory next year. Despite the talk of public spending cuts, the general tone of the mandarins’ comments is positive. There seems to be a weariness with the Brown government and a feeling that change is needed. “There will be no tears shed if we get a more coherent centre of government. Brown has a dysfunctional way of working and for much of the Labour government there has been clear…
Ring-fencing health and education – craven populist rubbish!

Rick

2 Jul 2009 | 12:52 pm

An honest debate about public spending came a step closer yesterday when Gordon Brown sort of admitted that he might have to make some cuts. He’s still saying that front-line services won’t be affected, though, which is almost certainly rubbish. Meanwhile, the Conservatives are pretending that they can ring-fence health and education from any cuts. This suddenly seems to have become the new orthodoxy as both main parties move towards a position where everything else can be slashed and burned while these two sacred cows are protected. As I said a couple of weeks ago, this…
Gordon Brown is whistling in the dark

Rick

27 Jun 2009 | 4:34 am

At last a government minister has admitted that spending cuts are inevitable after the next election, even as Gordon Brown still tries to pretend otherwise. Despite the talk in the media of green shoots, last week’s OECD report gave the grimmest assessment yet of Britain’s economy and its public finances. There was a lot of fuss in the press about the prediction of a 14% deficit next year but the really worrying figure is the long-term projection. By 2017, the OECD predicts that the UK’s debt will stand at 125% of GDP, higher than that of the USA , Italy and even Iceland.
Does anyone in government actually know how to cut spending?

Rick

21 Jun 2009 | 2:43 pm

Andrew Rawnsley has a piece in today’s Observer covering similar themes to my post last week; that whoever wins the next election will have to make savage spending cuts, that it makes no sense to ring-fence the NHS from these cuts and that politicians are terrified of telling the voters these self-evident truths. He also points out that few MPs in any party have experience of such drastic cuts. Most of today’s leaders have risen to power during the good times. Only Ken Clarke, says Rawnsley, knows what it is really like to take a hatchet to public services. The former chancellor…
Only doctors should be allowed to profit from the NHS, says the BMA

Rick

20 Jun 2009 | 9:55 am

I heard on the radio this morning that the BMA wants to eliminate the private sector from the NHS. Blimey, I thought, does that mean that all doctors are going to become direct employees of the NHS and stop doing private work using NHS facilities? Don’t be silly, Rick. They don’t mean that private sector. They’re talking about the other private sector; that of managers, private companies, targets and other horrid things. In certain respects the BMA has a point. When the PFI chickens come home to roost, the taxpayers of tomorrow may well find that they have been left to…

HR Minion
You play the victim and I'll be the bad guy

HR Minion

29 Jun 2009 | 2:35 pm

Sometimes, HR sucks. What's worse is that there is no way to mitigate the suck either. Is there anyway you can just not fire the guy with the bad performance, but two young kids to care for? Of course. Is termination the necessary and the best thing for the company to do? Yes, it is. Well, that was an easy decision. Does it suck any less? Hell no. Do we look any less like jerks? Not in the slightest.This is why I am convinced that no matter how much value we provide, no matter how much we kick ass, a lot of people are still going to view HR in general, and sometimes you in particular, as the…
SHRM Thingy

HR Minion

26 Jun 2009 | 7:43 am

So I'm super excited to tell you all this but coming up next Friday, July 3rd at 6 pm EDT we will have a very special HR Happy Hour: SHRM Thingy. Well, Steve calls it the SHRM '09 Special, but, whatever.Anyway, we will be speaking to HR Blogging Superstars: Kris Dunn (HR Capitalist), Laurie Ruettimann (Punk Rock HR), Lance Haun (Your HR Guy), and Mark Stelzner (Inflexion Advisors). All will be attending the SHRM '09 Annual Conference (thingy is faster to type out I might add) and they have all been kind enough to join us and provide their perspective on what went down. I can't tell you how…
Let the clowns out Carnival of HR!

HR Minion

24 Jun 2009 | 5:10 am

The newest Carnival of HR is up now at the Inflexion Point Blog, hosted by Mark Stelzner. Mark has brought together a great group of bloggers and a lot of great content so be sure to stop on by to check out all the carnival fun!The next carnival is scheduled for July 8th hosted over at the Effortless HR blog. And if you would like to get on the email reminder list for the Carnival, please drop me a note at hrminion@gmail.com.
That's not recruiting, that's telemarketing

HR Minion

23 Jun 2009 | 6:27 pm

Yesterday, I got a rather odd phone call.Random Guy: Hi, I'm calling from XYZ company and I was wondering if you were still looking for a job.Me: Uh, yes.Random Guy: Great, do you have a pen and some paper?Me: Uh, yes?Random Guy: Great, I'll give you the name and number of the manager.Me: Uh, wait a minute, what is the job?Random Guy: Well, I don't have a job description.Me: Okay, so what is this for? What is the job title?Random Guy: Well, they are hiring for a bunch of positions, from clerical to IT.Me: Uh, I'm not going to just call some manager without knowing what this is about.Random…
Guest Blogger! Moving beyond minion-hood in HR

HR Minion

22 Jun 2009 | 5:00 am

Today, we have a very special Advice for Minions post for all my darling minions out there. Ben Eubanks of Upstart HR is going on a guest blogging blitz because, well, he's hopped up on Diet Mountain Dew and M&M's so what else is he going to do with all that crazy energy? I'm kidding, I'm kidding...maybe. Anyway, Ben is all kinds of awesome and so is his guest post, which starts... Now!Disclaimer: Being the HR Minion is cool. Being a random HR minion isn’t cool.Minion -A loyal servant of another, usually more powerful being. While there is only one HR Minion, there are “little” HR…

Lisa Rosendahl's HR Thoughts
Inspiring Words

Lisa Rosendahl

2 Jul 2009 | 10:00 am

The following words came across in my Twitter stream the other day. I can't retweet without cutting out words and that would be an injustice. So, without further ado, here are inspriring words from TalentSynch aka Susan Burns. Enjoy! Just like sunshine & water enable plants to bloom, social media allows voices to emerge & social networking enables relationships to blossom Subscribe in a reader Photocredit iStockphoto
On Parental Patience

Lisa Rosendahl

30 Jun 2009 | 6:00 am

"Have patience with me," said the kid to the mom and that was all it took to send the mom down a path of inquiry. Truth be known, it really doesn't take much. Days are full and lives are full. At the end of a full day, even the best can find themselves a bit drained. Throw in multiple requests to get the teeth brushed, the homework done and the snacking complete and patience can be in short supply. From the little day to day happenings to the big things in mind, life is full of opportunity and choices. The challenge lies in managing the equation and choosing "right" while forgetting…
#SHRM 09

Lisa Rosendahl

27 Jun 2009 | 9:15 am

Staying behind as the cool kids head to the Big Easy? Me too but never fear, we are not far from the action. You can follow conference highlights at the 2009 SHRM Annual Conference Blog. And, taking a page from the Creative Chaos Consultant's book (read: steal shamelessly), up to the minute impressions from SHRM attendees is running below via Twitter hashtag #SHRM09 and Twubs. That consultant has such great ideas! #shrm09 Subscribe in a reader
Book Review: The Essential HR Handbook

Lisa Rosendahl

24 Jun 2009 | 6:00 am

So, you're thinking that maybe you'd like to be in Human Resources. You want to know more about the "must knows" of the profession. Yes? Well then, I have a book for you. The Essential HR Handbook by Sharon Armstrong and Barbara Mitchell is a cut-to-the-chase tell-me what-I-need-to-know primer that offers 12 chapters of human resource information, each touching on an element of human resources. Peppered with right-on quotes at the beginning of each chapter, this handbook "provides practical information, tools and techniques to help managers and HR professionals excel." From strategic planning…
3 Thoughts From a New HR Professional

Lisa Rosendahl

22 Jun 2009 | 6:00 am

This Guest Post is authored by Ben Eubanks, an HR professional who loves to write and enjoys giving and receiving career advice. Leaping into a field like HR is quite interesting. I’ve only been doing this for a short while, but I can tell that it’s like nothing else out there. We take problems and make them our own. We sometimes have the thankless job of policing and cleaning up after poor employee behaviors. But then there’s the other side of the equation. We fix problems. Help people to love their jobs. Reward people for performing exemplary work. Guide employees along…

White Spaces
Jack Welch at SHRM

Gautam Ghosh

2 Jul 2009 | 11:19 am

One of the great things about the net is the ability to follow what is happening halfway across the world. New Orleans recently hosted the SHRM annual conference (for which apparently 7000 people turned up - half of the crowd of last years, apparently) You can see what people are saying about it on Twitter here. And here's a video (spotted by Anish on his blog) about Jack Welch at the SHRM conference. The video was uploaded by Michael, another HR blogger Related articles by Zemanta Social Media, Human Resources, & SHRM (punkrockhr.com) A Search Slice from FriendFeed - Society of Human…
Facebook Page now has a simple URL

Gautam Ghosh

29 Jun 2009 | 8:28 am

Today Facebook enabled the pages that had less than 1000 fans to get a simple username. However the pages needed to have more than 100 fans to be considered. Thankfully a tweet and a Facebook appeal ensured that my number crossed from the 80 fans to 102 now - and now the URL to remember is http://www.facebook.com/HR.Blogger to get an update on what I am blogging or reading about. Hope to see you there!by Gautam Ghosh |Follow on Twitter | Connect on Linkedin | Facebook Page | Join the HR Network |
HR Consulting news: Towers Watson: Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt to merge

Gautam Ghosh

28 Jun 2009 | 8:54 pm

Ok, this is an interesting development, and I guess makes sense in this season of economic recession.Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt will merge to form Towers Watson. Watson Wyatt has an Indian presence, while Towers Perrin does not. However it does stuff related to salary surveys with Cerebrus Consultants in India. So I don't think Watson Wyatt India will be impacted by this merger, but am guessing that globally there would be redundancies specially in overlapping service lines. As the WSJ reports: The combined company, to be called Towers Watson & Co., will have annual sales of…
Thoughts on Social Recruiting

Gautam Ghosh

28 Jun 2009 | 12:40 am

Recently there was a Social Recruiting Summit held in the US at Google organized by ERE. If you haven't heard of it so far, social recruiting being the use of social media and networking tools to engage prospective candidates (as Michael Specht defines it) with your organization and form a talent pipeline you might select from later. Of course, social recruiting as a concept is not new. Headhunters and Corporate recruiters have for over the last century cultivated networks using phones and rolodex - but the boost that the internet has given to communication, first with email then with social…
Why blame the boss asks Sidin Vadukut

Gautam Ghosh

28 Jun 2009 | 12:15 am

Sidin Vadukut posts about why people tend to blame the boss in his column Cubiclenama; quoting a HR consultant with a secret identity ;-) A dear friend and human resources consultant, GG, explained the phenomenon in interesting terms: “Well the simple answer is an old psychological theory: called theory of attribution. People attribute good results to themselves and bad results to external factors. Top management will therefore get blamed for everything that goes wrong—because we also like attributing blame on people rather than abstract concepts like privatization, global…

The Simplest Thing That Works
Business Blogging

Erika Andersen

3 Jul 2009 | 4:27 am

How Are You Planning For Success? - Bullish on Books Blog - CNBC.com.Here's a great thing; not only did CNBC ask me to write a guest blog post for their Bullish on Books blog, but writing it gave me a chance to say (well-deserved) good things about our client GE, and their ecomagination efforts. For those of you who aren't aware of this initiative, you might want to read my blog post, or check out the link in the previous paragraph. Ecomagination is a great example of "doing well by doing right": the company's mission for ecomagination is "helping solve the world's biggest environmental…
Still?

Erika Andersen

30 Jun 2009 | 4:58 pm

Holding Women Back. I was working with a group today from WICT, an organization whose mission is to develop women leaders who transform the media (specifically cable television) industry. We were talking about how some people don't support organizations like WICT because they think the gender gap is a thing of the past.Sadly, not so. A WICT staffer, Laurie Root, sent me this article from DDI, citing research that shows it's still not a level playing field in the area of leadership development - that women aren't being given the support to develop as leaders in the ways that…
Thank you, Jon!

Erika Andersen

24 Jun 2009 | 6:30 pm

» Blog Archive » What Is Your Hoped-For Future? | Creo Quality, LLC.I've said it before, but I'll say it again - it may be the greatest pleasure for an author when someone really gets what you're saying. Jon Speer, my newest online friend, has done me the honor of blogging about Being Strategic in a way that's so clear, so helpful, and so positive, that he's completely made my day.And he blogged about it more than once....so he's made a bunch of my days.
I Heart New Techonolgy

Erika Andersen

21 Jun 2009 | 3:22 pm

Today I was lamenting my slow, sporadic and stupidly expensive internet connection at my country/weekend house. There's no cable service near me (it sounds remote, but it's not really - it's within 15 minutes by car of both New Paltz and Poughkeepsie), so I've had to cobble together my media/technology solution: Verizon for phone, DirecTV for television, and HughesNet for wifi. Hughesnet is satellite broadband, and - at least in my situation - it is, as previously stated slow, sporadic and expensive.So, as I was bitching and moaning, my love Patrick said, "Why…
"Strategy Made Sensible"

Erika Andersen

15 Jun 2009 | 1:57 pm

Three Star Leadership Blog: Book Review: Being Strategic.I'm honored that Wally Bock, the author of the Three Star Leadership blog and a wonderful person and thinker-about-management as well, has written a lovely review recommending Being Strategic. Perhaps my favorite sentence of all is this: "With this book you'll live your strategy instead of burying it in binders."And that's exactly why I wrote the book; to offer people a mental model and a set of skills for crafting - and continuing to craft - the business, the career, or the life they most want.For an author,…

HR Maven
So tell me about yourself...

20 Jun 2009 | 5:00 am

We had a couple of marathon interviewing days this week. I love interviewing. For a number of good reasons but mostly it is because I find people so interesting. How people ended up here, or there or wherever ... doing what they are doing, living, experience, interests - the whole gamut. Now, admittedly, there have been the interviews that well -it's an hour of my life that I will never get back - but fortunately for me those are few and far between.Many times our interviews become wonderful and funny - an exchange of ideas, skills and abilities, needs and desires from the candidate and my…
Don't use Twitter

6 Jun 2009 | 5:40 am

I had yet another person email me asking me to 'justify' Twitter. Here is what I wrote. Dear 'friend':Don't use Twitter. Just don't. It's irrelevant, dull, a time waster, resource hog and overall just plain useless. Here are several things you can't do on Twitter.You can't connect with terrific people from all over the world, from all walks of life. My Twitterstream is an anomaly. HR people, wonderful people in dog rescue, amazing photographers and some cool friends in Australia, Canada, Germany and the UK. Pure happenstance. This won't happen to you. Don't bother. You can't connect with…
First jobs - seeking meaning in the ordinary

28 May 2009 | 6:00 am

Steve Boese wrote a fabulous blog on his first job and all the hilarity that went along with learning a new job and new culture. I read this post several times and with each read, still laugh outloud. That blog sparked conversation among my circle of friends and colleagues and we reflected on our 'first jobs' and some of the lessons learned.My first job was with a low end fast food restaurant. I was 15 1/2 and that was the best I could at the time. I lasted only a few weeks. Partially because I kept spilling liquids on guests. Mostly because I hated the work and and the manager(s). They would…
Seeking wisdom

24 May 2009 | 7:40 am

Today instead of writing about my work, I seek your words and wisdom. I have a good friend who is the manager of a local shop, a shop that provides services and products. She has been there well over 10 years, with the last two in a management position. The issues.1. She has a new boss, let's name her Gail, who spends her time telling everyone that she is the boss. The type of leadership Gail provides is a fix-it-yourself kind of management, sort of a 'don't-bother - me - with - your -problems' approach. Gail is brand new to leadership herself and it shows. No time to dialogue or provide help…
In defense of HR

10 May 2009 | 10:13 am

I read with interest and curiosity a series of articles on hating Human Resources. Most recently on about.com, Susan Heathfield wrote a post titled Still Hate HR? I find it interesting, puzzling, odd and peculiar that people - bloggers, practitioners, employees and even some leadership love to hate this profession.I personally love the work. I love to help facilitate hiring, meeting and introducing new hires, learning and staying on top of crazy new laws, navigating the labyrinth of immigration, social security and department of labor and helping people with tough issues. I don't always love…

Thoughts from Training Time
The simplest way to improve morale

1 Jul 2009 | 9:16 am

Say thank you.Sounds simple enough, right?In most businesses across the country, numbers are down and stress levels are skyrocketing. It’s an unfortunate combination that doesn’t do much for employee morale.Right now, you may not have the money to take your team out for lunch or the company can’t contribute to a recognition program. It’s times like these when you’ll find that sometimes it’s the simplest signs of appreciation that can do an even better job than the fancy stuff.Showing honest appreciation for the people on your team can do wonders for morale. Whether you stop by…
Study: Online, blended learning better than face-to-face

30 Jun 2009 | 10:49 am

Incorporating technology in classroom instruction can enhance learning, according to a U.S. Department of Education analysis of controlled studies comparing online and face-to-face instruction.The Department of Education analyzed 46 studies comparing online learning to face-to-face education and concluded that “blended learning,” or program that utilize both online and face-to-face learning, is more effective than using one method alone.From the Department of Education press release:The meta analysis showed that “blended” instruction – combining elements of online and face-to-face…
Are “lunch and learns” bad for business?

29 Jun 2009 | 12:08 pm

“Lunch and learn” programs are used by countless businesses to fit training and development into everyone’s busy day by turning employees’ lunchtime into informal training sessions.While some feel that squeezing more learning into our jam-packed days with “lunch and learns” is a boon for business, others strongly believe that they can be quite a bother.Nick Milton of Bath, UK, recently explained why he thinks “lunch and learns” are a bad idea in a post last week. While learning during lunchtime makes sense at first glance, it may be sending employees the wrong message. He…
Gifts for the boss you loathe so much

26 Jun 2009 | 12:14 am

They're mean, they're malicious and they're definitely nothing like Oprah. But somehow you've been forced into buying a gift for that boss or coworker you hate working with. What do you do?Try the Ugly Flower Store where you can "Send virtual Ugly Flowers for free to anyone who deserves ugly flowers."There are six beautifully ugly arrangements to choose from:1 Dozen Dead Yellow RosesDead PlantDead Rose BouquetSingle Dead RoseDead Flower ArrangementDead Yellow FlowersChoose the arrangement that fits your situation, fill out a quick form and the ugliest flower arrangement you've ever seen will…
Carnival of HR: Lions, tigers and bearded HR ladies?

25 Jun 2009 | 10:43 am

The latest installment of the Carnival of HR is up over at the Inflexion Point Blog, hosted by Mark Stelzner.Mark has put together quite a show, with freakishly interesting posts from some of the leading HR bloggers on the carnival circuit. Check out the wild side of HR at the HR Carnival today.

Next Generation Talent Development
Millennials in the Workplace: Your Solution

Jason Seiden

27 Jun 2009 | 9:13 pm

Chris Ferdinandi recently wrote about why you shouldn’t care about a multigenerational workforce. And technically, he’s right. Yet, there is clearly a problem, and it certainly seems generational in nature. Just within the last week, I have heard about: A Gen Y job seeker who became angry at his brother’s girlfriend because she wouldn’t give him the email address of a hiring manager at the company of his dreams. Never mind that she had offered to forward the resume with a personal note. Another young job seeker who asked a connection to forward both his and his…
Join the conversation on resilience, have fun at SHRM

Jason Seiden

27 Jun 2009 | 11:35 am

What do you think the key is to career resilience? How have you made yourself resilient? Take a moment to read this short post and share your thoughts! Resilience is my mantra for 2009 (and the theme of the book I’m currently editing for its November release) and it’s clear that—like many other things—the term has somewhat different meanings to different people. Where do you stand? For those of you in HR, when you’re done responding, have a great time at SHRM! Pack light, have fun, and most importantly, encourage others to share their own stories of resilience, too!
Ethics, social media, and… profersonalism.

Jason Seiden

27 Jun 2009 | 6:53 am

“This isn’t personal, it’s business.” Can we agree that the line above is, to a large degree, utter wog smank? If yes, then skip directly to the next paragraph. If no, then here’s your newsflash for the day: a person who experiences longstanding and pervasive feelings, thoughts, and behaviors associated with disregard, disconcern, and non-compliance for the rights and feelings of others (especially if coupled with uncontrolled impulsivity and a willingness to use deceitfulness for personal gain)—in short, a person with the ability and willingness to shrug off…
How have you made yourself resilient?

Jason Seiden

26 Jun 2009 | 8:29 am

I’ve hit a fork in the road while editing my next book, about career resiliency. Rather than try to figure this out myself, I’m asking my readers—I’m asking you—What do you see as the key to resilience? Different ways I think about this topic include… Do I consider myself resilient? By what measure(s)? Do I have an intended life path? How confident am I that I can make it unfold as intended? What do I worry about—what seems to get in my way? Day-to-day, how do I deal with the fear of an unknown future? When do I take solace in structured beliefs (religion,…
Action drives results: after the post, the social proof showed up in my inbox

Jason Seiden

23 Jun 2009 | 6:14 am

I thought I’d do a quick follow up on my post about taking action with a real-life success story about how the process actually works. This comes from an email that I got last Friday morning. I picked it up while waiting for a connecting flight at LAX, and immediately called the person who sent it. I think she was a bit surprised to hear from me, but she shouldn’t have been. Her email was great. Hi Jason, … You’ve been on my radar screen for a while, though. I was bound and determined to land a job through social networking, so I got on Twitter and started a blog about…

Polly Pearson's Blog
Culture Contrast: Harnessing the Power of People

polly pearson

24 Jun 2009 | 10:59 am

A colleague emailed me this NYT article titled, "Apple's Obsession With Secrecy Grows Stronger."It reeked of old world thinking to me. I truly hope it isn't true ... because up until reading this I've had a secret professional crush on Steve Jobs. Let's face it, he's charming and the products his vision and his team create either make you smile, or woo you with their beauty.But wow. Contrast the "lock it down, speak nothing, tweet nothing" culture, as depicted in this article, with what EMC has going on. While we take confidentiality seriously,…
EMC: Best Place to Work, New Video

polly pearson

22 Jun 2009 | 5:22 pm

It is crunch time for every company working on big Best Places to Work submissions, such as the one for FORTUNE.Kudos to Taline Badrikian in EMC's Executive and Internal Communication Group who volunteered to put a little video together to share EMC's recent slew of recognition in this regard!I especially LOVE the Austin Powers-esque sound track! Dig it baby.----------- Talk Back -----------Talk back all right. For EMC, the FORTUNE survey is currently taking place in America. Next week the Boston Globe Best Place to Work survey happens in Massachusetts. And the week after that,…
Pride and People: Great News

polly pearson

18 Jun 2009 | 4:43 pm

A Story about WondersYears ago, when I was running Investor Relations for EMC, a little voice in my head said, "This is fun and all, and gee, a lot of people are making a lot of money thanks to these efforts ... but one day, it would be nice if I could really and truly feel as though I was also working toward making the world a better place."and now I see our folks in IR, Marketing (including me!), Human Resources, and every where else here, making differences in ways well beyond commerce. Yes, our technology inventions and services keep the world of on-line everything humming every…
The Other Kind of "Culture" Alive and Well at EMC

polly pearson

11 Jun 2009 | 2:38 pm

Artists. This gorgeous, living photography show is a Flickr stream populated by EMC photographers, globally. It greets me every time I log into our internal social network, EMC|ONE. Another art-oriented group really seems to be taking off at EMC as well. This one is known as the "Creators, Artists and Art Lovers" group. In this group, they encourage and celebrate one another's work via monthly "art challenges." Lately, they started a monthly personal challenge by posting an illustration for inspiration (that evolution of the idea came from an employee in India).
EMC folks add to the discussion: "Why Do I Work at EMC?"

polly pearson

10 Jun 2009 | 11:29 am

Joe Tucci started this bit of sharing. He wrote an open letter to Data Domain employees telling them a bit about what it is like here and how they would be treated if they decided to join the EMC family. Now lots of folks are weighing in on why they work at EMC. These areReal Live FolksWorking here in THIS age of EMC. Here's what some of the folks are saying THIS WEEK: Scott Waterhouse "Why would you want to be an EMC employee?" Dave Spencer "Why work at EMC?" Chuck Hollis "Why Do I Work For EMC?" Steve Todd "What a Difference a Decade Makes"…

The HR Practitioner
Employee Recognition on a Budget

stantliff

10 Jun 2009 | 7:40 pm

I’m sure we can all agree that now is not the time to ask senior management for more money for lavish employee recognition programs. Although we may be able to present a compelling argument for the additional money, most senior managers are in a cost-saving mindset given the current state of the economy. Well, there are ways to reward employees without breaking the bank or the budget. In his book, 1001 Ways To Reward Employees, author Bob Nelson provides the HR professional with a myriad of low-cost incentives to reward and recognize employees for a job well…
The Success Effect

stantliff

7 Mar 2009 | 7:21 am

HR professionals strive for success. We get advanced degrees, get SHRM certified, and enroll in all kinds of workshops and continuing education classes. I’m not sure that all this additional training is the key to success, but it’s better than not doing anything. In addition to all this additional enlightenment, we also purchase the latest-and-greatest biographies by some of America’s top business leaders, hoping to gleam that little bit of insight that will get us that promotion or that raise we dream of. Yet, if you have ever read one of these biographies, you’ll often find that the…
Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive

stantliff

21 Feb 2009 | 2:22 pm

HR professionals have advanced their careers by reading the HR Practitioner blog. This may seem like an unusual introduction for a book review. However, it helps to illustrate one of the many concepts discussed in the book, Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive. In this fascinating and data-based book, Goldstein, Martin, and Cialdini, show that being persuasive is an art and a science. Thus, if you have ever wondered how to be more persuasive, you’ll want to buy the Yes! book. As you might have guessed, the book is divided into 50 different sections. Each section illustrates…
The Medici Effect

stantliff

7 Jan 2009 | 7:09 am

The Medici Effect isn’t a typical book for the HR Professional. At first glance, it seems to be a book geared more towards the entrepreneur and those who work in research and development. However, about halfway through the book, we find an entire section dedicate to one of the core valves of the HR Professional—having a diverse workforce. The Medici Effect is a book that shows how extraordinary ideas can be develop when there is an intersection of existing ideas, disciplines and cultures. The author, Frans Johansson, illustrates the “Medici Effect” with a story about Mick Pearce. Mick…
Fire Them Up!

stantliff

29 Nov 2008 | 5:53 pm

Fire Them Up!promises to reveal 7 simple secrets to: 1)Inspire colleagues, customers, and clients. 2)Sell yourself, your vision, and your values. 3)Communicate with charisma and confidence. After reading the book, I can truly say that it delivers what it promises. Fire Them Up! is one of those books that makes it hard for the reviewer to write a review and do it justice—every part of the book is extraordinary. However, since I am always looking for ways to improve my presentations, I am going to focus more on “Chapter 4: Paint a Picture—Tell Powerful, Memorable, and Actionable…

Inflexion Point
SHRM 2009 - Observations & Conclusions

mark.stelzner

3 Jul 2009 | 7:04 am

Although the SHRM 2009 conference ended on Wednesday, I wanted to take a few days to think about the experience before drawing my conclusions. It was wonderful spending time with a wide variety of terrific individuals, so thanks to those of you who shared a meal, a drink, a conversation and a laugh. Let’s get right to it: The Event Itself It was very well executed. The complexity of hosting nearly 7,000 individuals through a multitude of activities and personal preferences is quite a taxing affair. I personally did not witness a single mishap or misstep - and I’m sure there we…
Day 2 - SHRM 09 - Mutton Chops, Morford & Manners

mark.stelzner

30 Jun 2009 | 9:51 am

After an authentic N’awlins dinner with Lance Haun and a little bit of shut-eye, I washed away my Day 1 doldrums and started anew. Day 2 began for me with a coffee meeting followed by the general session. While in line at Starbucks, I overheard a group of HR professionals from Wal-Mart lamenting the ROI of having a vendor booth at the show (note that this was a very consistent theme today). They also had a good chuckle when new vendors state that they can handle Wal-Mart’s population/needs/configuration with “no problem”. Oh Wal-Mart, you coy and fickle lover. SHRM…
Day 1 - SHRM 09 - Enlightenment & Irritation

mark.stelzner

28 Jun 2009 | 5:58 pm

I didn’t really have a full day here at the 2009 SHRM conference but did want to share my initial impressions and reactions. Given that my flight arrived in to New Orleans toward the late afternoon, I unfortunately missed the Jack Welch presentation (although I heard it was “impressive”… I’m certain other bloggers will cover it, sorry). The enlightenment portion of my trip took place at 30,000 feet when I had the pleasure of chatting with a very pleasant woman sitting next to me. Like most on the flight, she was traveling from Washington, DC to New Orleans for…
HR Gone Wild - SHRM 2009

mark.stelzner

25 Jun 2009 | 2:42 pm

Most of you probably think that HR people are old curmudgeons who police organizations like professional hall monitors. Can I let you in on a little secret? HR people love to party! That’s right. They *love* to party. And the only place where they can let their guard down and throw back a few is when they’re surrounded by fellow HR pros who can appreciate their pain. Well ladies and gentlemen, get ready for HR Gone Wild at SHRM 2009! This year we travel down to the Big Easy for some crawdads, hurricanes (the drinks, not the weather), jazz and zydeco. I am very fortunate to be…
Welcome to the Carnival of HR!

mark.stelzner

24 Jun 2009 | 3:57 am

Are you Interested in the two-faced manager, the sword-swallowing succession planner, the work-sharing Siamese twins or the bearded HR lady? Well ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, step right up and welcome to the Carnival of HR (*dramatic bow*)! Your new Ringmaster HR Minion (aka Shauna Moerke) has been kind enough to let the clowns here at Inflexion host this week’s Big Top of the HR blogosphere. Be sure to wander through all the posts as we’ve assembled a terrific show. Let’s get right to it! Lexy Rubin of the Precept Group channels a modern apothecary in her post,…

LeapComp - Sales Performance Management Blog
Pizza and Chopsticks

admin

2 Jul 2009 | 10:33 am

Yesterday, a friend was laughing at me because I was eating my pizza with a fork and a knife. For the record, I usually only use them when my pizza is too hot to hold with my bare hands. We started to talk about pizza eating habits, and she started talking about a person she knows who eats pizza with chopsticks. The points I want to make today is that there are usually many tools to perform the same job, and that the choice of ’solution’ is often a matter of opinion and personal preference, as long as the solution (chopsticks) can meet the requirements (eating the pizza). It…
Align, Optimize and Understand

admin

29 Jun 2009 | 11:24 am

The second speaker at the Callidus Survive and Thrive event was Mark Smith, the CEO of Ventana Research. The key message of Mark’s presentation was that to be successful in performance management, it is necessary tofocus on aligning, optimizing and understanding people, processes and information. The Ventana Performance Cycle Align – To align the business, you must be able to coordinate and drive individual actions based on information and performance targets. This should provide the ability to leverage historical internal and external benchmarks as a reference for driving change in an…
The Haunted Winchester Mystery House

admin

25 Jun 2009 | 12:53 pm

I spent last Thursday in sunny California (it probably ended up being a bit colder there than in Ottawa), to attend the Callidus Survive and Thrive: Secrets to Selling More Executive Briefing Series. I had the chance to finally meet Jason Angelos from Accenture and Mark Smith, CEO of Ventana Research in person, as well as Steve Apfelberg, Jock Breitwieser and several other people from Callidus Software I only knew virtually. Jason’s presentation about trends in Performance Management, factors driving motivation, and best practices was very similar to the webinar I covered here. I’ll let…
Napoleon Bonaparte on Motivation and Recognition

admin

17 Jun 2009 | 7:57 pm

I was reading a novel on the plane today and came across this quote from Napoleon: “Give me enough medals, and I’ll win any war.” Most of us don’t work on the battle field (even if it can sometimes feel like it), but at one point or another, I’m sure we have felt like we could accomplish anything, if our efforts are recognized and valued. Medals are cheap. Congratulating someone for a job well done is cheap. A ‘thank you’ note goes a long way. Recognize people for their efforts, and they will want to win wars for you.
Consulting Rates Are Dropping; Time for a Bargain?

admin

15 Jun 2009 | 9:06 am

Charles Burleigh, a fellow Sales Performance Compensation consultant, data integration expert and blogger, wrote an interesting post about consulting rates. In his post, Burleigh asks an interesting question: should a senior consultant drop his rate in order to remain engaged on a project? He notes that recent Callidus TrueComp positions being advertised only fetch around $40-$50; less than half the “acceptable” rate. He attributes this drop to less experienced consultants willing to take on these roles at lower rates, and to clients that may have unrealistic expectations. I think there…

HC3 - THE NEXT GENERATION OF THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
I Have Been BAD...

26 Jun 2009 | 6:16 am

No one's perfect. Lately I have been a lot less then perfect. Some might goes as far as calling me a few four and five letter words.The pressure of running a large complex project the past 10 months has gotten to me. I am tired,anxious, raw, and to say it bluntly MEAN. Down deep I am a nice guy, but to get to the finish line I put on my game face and kicked some ass. There are a few dead bodies in the road, and I hear the whispers when I walk by. I make no excuses for my behavior. Sometimes to win you need to play hard and even a little dirty. Lets be honest your competitors in business are…
The World is Wireless and I can't Unplug

21 Jun 2009 | 6:37 pm

It occurred to me on the way to a round of golf today how profound the amount of change around us is. We are in an "inflection point" of change in the world of business.Think about the 1960's - 3 martini lunches, secretaries, bad television ( my mother the car, Mr. Ed, Lost in Space and F- troop to name a few)...I could go on for a week. How did anyone get anything done. No computers, blackberry's, instant messaging, bbm'ing...Tivo...I left my office Tuesday to travel to Charlotte on business. My CEO calls me and sais can I come to his office in 10 minutes. I say to him unless he can "beam me…
Things That Matter, Things That Don't

18 Jun 2009 | 7:44 pm

This is a 2 list blog post. One column- things that matter. One column- things that don't.So lets start with things that matter: Family, friends, community, doing something that helps someone else, doing really cool and innovative work, laughing, spending a few minutes being in the moment, coming home from a shitty day at work and having your dog wag its tail and give you a big wet lick on the face, babies, soccer on the weekend, tennis at night, movies, a day at the park, a night at the ball park, sunrise or sunset at the beach, barbeque, Ferris Bueller's day off.Things that Don't:…
Tell the Truth

16 Jun 2009 | 7:20 pm

I have spent the past 2 weeks doing 360 feedback sessions with part of our leadership team and I am amazed at how little real feedback people give each other.It's not that there is no feedback, its just not strong enough. It's a tap dance, no one wants to offend a boss, pier, or subordinate. Why? The whole point of the assessment is to be brutally honest and yet so few people seem to be able to muster the courage to do so. And when they do it comes off as "harsh" or bullying...I don't get it...why are co-workers afraid to share their true feelings?Ask yourself are you forthcoming at work and…
Do Something Majestic!

10 Jun 2009 | 8:24 pm

It’s fathers day next week and I want to suggest doing something majestic, Take one day out from work and spend time with your father, and if your lucky to be a father spend time with your kids. Memories are immeasurable and if lucky last a lifetime. Make the day magical.Time is the one thing you can't accumulate. Treasured moments with family can never be reproduced. My father past away almost 9 years ago so father’s day for me is about my daughter for without her I would not qualify for participation. With my brothers passing this past winter I will additionally claim surrogate…

EffortlessHR Blog
EffortlessHR.com Introduces New Pricing Model

Aaron Queen

2 Jul 2009 | 1:34 pm

We have been hard at work with our new pricing plans and are proud to announce that effective today, you can find our new pricing at http://www.effortlesshr.com/ Our lowest cost plan is just $29.95/month and includes a full featured online HR Software solution. Let us know what you think and if we are crazy or not for offering the most affordable Online HRIS in the world. Related Articles Archos Vision PMPs get UK pricing, August release Windows 7 pricing: Some users fume as the rose-colored discounts … Windows 7E pricing for limited time Source: Effortless HR Software's HR Blog |…
Join EffortlessHR.com on Twitter and Facebook!

Aaron Queen

2 Jul 2009 | 10:11 am

This post should have been made a long time ago. This is just friendly reminder that we are (and have been) on Twitter and Facebook. Twitter: http://twitter.com/effortlesshr Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34653399510 (for all HR bloggers and Professionals) That’s all for now. Have a good 4th guys and gals! Related Articles Twitter Increases API Limit Bing Adds Twitter Smart Answers Bing introduces real time Twitter search results Source: Effortless HR Software's HR Blog | Join EffortlessHR.com on Twitter and Facebook! Tags: facebook, social, twitter Similar…
Is Outsourcing Right for My Small Business?

Aaron Queen

30 Jun 2009 | 12:41 pm

There are so many options available during this difficult economic time to reduce costs. Trying to make the right decision regarding which way to go can be daunting. So many companies are making decisions that while thought to be short term, have long term effects. So every decision has to count! With the internet, however, there are lots of ways a company can outsource functions without giving up control. In the past, if you were outsourced, you were transferring oversight to a third party. There are now effective ways to stay in control while reducing company costs. It may be more effective…
Employee Handbooks – Yes or No

Aaron Queen

30 Jun 2009 | 11:08 am

Over the years, as I consulted with small businesses, I was often asked if an employee handbook was necessary. The questions usually amounted to: - the cost of having an employee handbook written, - the number of employees (I only have one employee), - the idea that having written policies would cause more problems than not having written policies, and - I tell the employee everything they need to know and if they have a question they can come and ask me. Handbooks are not required as a regulation or law. However, some laws and regulations require posting in the place of business – for…
Are You Ready for a TRIP?

Lola Kakes

30 Jun 2009 | 10:22 am

Everyone says the economy will be turning around by the end of the 4th quarter 2009, with the employment outlook ticking upwards the first part of 2010. As a business owner, we can only imagine what the journey over the next couple of months will be. Because of the economic upheaval of the past few months, the face of business as we know it has changed. We need to understand and acknowledge the changes. We can do this by putting together our own TRIP ticket. The American Automobile Association (AAA) has a wonderful program to help their customers prepare for a trip by providing them with a…

UndercoverLawyer
Gradual Workplace Harassment Is Not Legal Harassment

UndercoverLawyer

2 Jul 2009 | 3:41 pm

You complain to your manager or to H.R., and what do they tell you? There’s no evidence that you are putting up with an illegal hostile work environment. But you are having trouble sleeping, you feel sick when you think about work, and even though you try not to you spend most of your time [...]
The Abusive Boss Who Got Sued For “Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress”

UndercoverLawyer

16 Jun 2009 | 1:46 pm

Have you felt emotional distress at work because of the abusive way your boss treats you? Many of the people who contact me for help in dealing with a bully boss feel this way, and they want to sue their boss in court for all the workplace abuse he or she has inflicted. When someone like [...]
Is Your Former Abusive Boss Going to Give You a Bad Reference? Here’s How to Fix It

UndercoverLawyer

3 Jun 2009 | 5:10 pm

If you’ve escaped working for a bully boss, but are afraid of what the bully will say to your prospective employers during reference checks, then this article is for you. I’ve been getting this question a lot lately, most recently from reader named Allen, whose email to me is posted below with my response following: Hi [...]
Can Your Boss’s Unattainable Goals for You Actually be Discrimination Against You?

UndercoverLawyer

25 May 2009 | 2:35 pm

A performance improvement plan (or “PIP”) is not discriminatory by itself. But scores of employees who have bought “Work Laws Exposed” and utilized their free phone consultation with me have described feeling like their boss was trying to “get back at them” by setting astronomically high goals at the employees next appraisal or in a [...]
Faking Disability? And, Lawsuit Caused by Abusive Boss

UndercoverLawyer

20 Apr 2009 | 6:01 am

You decide if this police chief was faking his disability: Former police chief for city was no longer disabled, and thus, he was not entitled to continue receiving not-on-duty disability pension; while former chief could not work as ordinary police officer because of injury to left knee, his disability did not prevent him from functioning as [...]

Maximize Possibility Blog
This Week's Featured Possibility Maximizer: Tom Foster's Management Skills Blog

Rainman

2 Jul 2009 | 10:20 am

Every week I like to feature a resource that will help you to Maximize Possibility in your organization and your life at work. This week I would like to share with you a blog that I have enjoyed following since I dove into the HR and Talent Management blogging world. The Resource: Tom Foster's Management Skills Blog What it Covers: Tom's blog draws heavily from his consulting practice and life experiences to share insightful and demonstrative stories for managers to learn from to improve their skills. Tom covers a wide range of management topics in his blog including, but not...
The Rainmaker 'Fab Five' Blog Picks of the Week

Rainman

29 Jun 2009 | 2:09 pm

With all the great posts hitting the Blogosphere this past week on the topics of leadership development, talent management, and human resource management, I would like to point you to five blog posts that I consider to be the best of the best for the week of June 22nd to June 28th. Tyler Cowen, Fast Company: One Lesson From the Crisis: It's Time to Create Your Own Economy - Fast Company columnists Tyler Cowen wants you to learn a lesson from the current economic crisis. Cowen suggests you rethink the traditional economic definition of personal production and start to create...
This Weeks Possibility Maximizer: My Daily Insights Motivational Quotes

Rainman

25 Jun 2009 | 9:56 pm

Every week I like to feature a resource that will help you to Maximize Possibility in your organization and your life at work. This week I would like to highlight a motivational email newsletter that helps me get each day off to a great start. The Resource: My Daily Insights Motivational Quotes What it is: My Daily Insights is a daily newsletter that delivers an inspiring and motivational quote to your email inbox each morning of the business week. As a special treat, every Friday a moving story submitted by a subscriber is featured, which adds a nice element of...
The Rainmaker 'Fab Five' Blog Picks of the Week

Rainman

21 Jun 2009 | 8:20 pm

There were a lot of great posts hitting the Blogosphere this past week on the topics of leadership development, talent management, and human resource management, I would like to point you to five blog posts and a bonus blog post series that I consider to be the best of the best for the week of June 15th to June 21st. Alison Green, Ask a Manager: How the Recession has Changed Hiring for Employers - Alison gives us a first hand account of how the recession has changed the hiring landscape for employers. With this in mind, Green shares her advice...
This Week's Featured Possibility Maximizer: Dan Schwabel's Personal Branding Blog

Rainman

18 Jun 2009 | 9:33 pm

Every week I like to feature a resource that will help you to Maximize Possibility in your organization and your life at work. This week I would like to highlight one of my favorite blogs on one of my favorite subjects: Personal Branding. The Resource: Dan Schwabel's Personal Branding Blog What it Covers: Naturally Dan's blog is focused on personal branding. However in the process of exploring all the various facets of personal branding, Dan also posts compelling content on a range of interesting topics such as social media, marketing, professional networking, interpersonal communication,…

I Hate HR
EAPs – Not Just Counseling

Rachel

30 Jun 2009 | 4:04 pm

When I first learned about employee assistance programs (EAPs) I was not impressed. I thought it was a token gesture from the company that didn’t result in much. I’ve since changed my mind about the programs. My aversion to EAP programs came from a lack of education. I also realized that the lack of education surrounding the programs hurts employee usage as well. There is a strong perception that EAPs are there for counseling (light therapy). Yes, they do that but they also do much more. They also make referrals. In most fields this probably does not mean much to employees. If the…
The Cost of Success

Rachel

29 Jun 2009 | 3:26 am

The whole world knows that Michael Jackson died last week. When famous individuals die the media focuses on their “legacy.” Twenty years from now when we look back at Michael Jackson we’ll think three things: He made wonderful music that broke racial and style barriers. He may have molested children. He changed his whole appearance, including his race. The first is quite the accomplishment. It’s the reason he’s been praised this week despite the other two. Yet, when I spoke to people about Michael’s life the word I kept hearing was tragic. With so many…
Branding Gone Wrong

Rachel

22 Jun 2009 | 5:51 pm

There is a business pet peeve of mine that my organization has started working against and I couldn’t be happier. The pet peeve is that there seems to be some myth in the business world that the paint colors in the office have to reflect the business’s logo. It’s branding gone wrong. The last organization I worked for had three colors in it’s logo: gray, red, white. The walls were all painted one of two shades of gray. All day long I looked at gray. You know what else is gray? Prisons. Branding is important, but so is the mood of your employees. It doesn’t take…
The Pursuit of Something Better

Rachel

17 Jun 2009 | 5:33 pm

I’ve been given an advanced copy of Dave Esler and Myra Kruger’s new book The Pursuit of Something Better. The book details the transformation of U.S. Cellular and it’s CEO Jack Rooney. I’m excited about reading and reviewing the book. We all need to be reminded that positive transformations can take place. We are not resigned to mediocrity. Book review coming soon…
Welcome to the Real World, Part 2

Rachel

15 Jun 2009 | 3:18 pm

In the last installment we talked about relationships with coworkers. Now let’s discuss relationships with bosses, supervisors, whatever you want to call them. You won’t always like your boss. You probably won’t even like half of the bosses you encounter. In a perfect world your boss would be a kind supportive individual who guides you and allows you to grow. He/she would display all the qualities of a leader. You would look up to him/her and strive to follow in his/her footsteps. You may even be friends; although, some would argue being friends is a bad idea. The reality is…

Profitability Through Human Capital
Can Engaged Employees Sell More Soup?

29 Jun 2009 | 8:09 am

The answer is definitely yes! SOUP's ON at Campbell's. In a recent Forbes article, Douglas Conant, the CEO of Campbell Soup Co. discussed the importance of employee engagement and how their strategy to pay attention to this metric paid off for their company. Conant took over when Campbell's was close to a takeover and its soup sales were nothing to brag about. He had a very uncomplicated strategy to turn things around: "To win in the market place, we believe you must first win in the workplace."Conant then began studying engagement levels at Campbell's and took…
Date Your Employees and Customers

22 Jun 2009 | 2:19 pm

Just when we thought we had the customer experience figured out and were rolling out customer loyalty strategies in our companies, current thought leadership now focuses on making an emotional connection with your customers. What do customers want today anyway?They want an experience with you that delights them Their needs are metTheir expectations are exceededThey are treated as unique and specialThe experience they have with your company is about them – not youThey want things to be easy and they want help fast. When you design an experience through the eyes of your customers, you will be…
Employee Engagement: In or Out?

15 Jun 2009 | 7:16 am

Should we be worried about employee engagement during this recession? After all, we are all trying to survive, should we be concerned if our employees are engaged?I read a very interesting article in BusinessWeek on the subject. The authors made some very good points. Paul Hebert states that the managers are at the root of our employee engagement problems and that "they need to be improved.". Where Gregg Lederman discusses the link between engaged employees and a better customer experience. By paying attention to engagement and by increasing engagement, you will reap the rewards in customer…
I Will Take an Order of Great Customer Service Please

9 Jun 2009 | 10:18 am

I have been surprised over the last few months by several customer experiences that I have had. I wrote about one at the Tag Office that was a great experience, and quite frankly a huge surprise. It was refreshing. I would think that most companies during a recession would be in the business of hanging on to the customers they have. I believe this starts with hanging on to the high performing employees that you have. Mike Haberman, at HR Observations wrote about, Employee Attitude or Management Attitude? or both? which I found to be very accurate with regards to Kroger vs. Publix as I have…
Hey HR...Please No More TABLE Talk

1 Jun 2009 | 8:51 am

I have been to several events over the last month geared towards HR professionals. At each event the inevitable is brought up....that illustrious strategic table and why HR has received a seat or why HR does not have a seat.I think we need to stop discussing the table and just get on with executing value added work for our organizations. If you are delivering service that is of value then you do not have to worry about the table, you have earned your right to be there.We have been discussing this table now for about 10-12 years. I can remember having this same discussion in 1995 as I was…

hr bartender
Live from SHRM 09 – Wrap Up

hr bartender

2 Jul 2009 | 6:21 am

The other day, someone asked me how many SHRM Annual Conferences I’ve attended. Lucky for me a list was provided in the Conference Daily so I counted them up – 14. Wow! I couldn’t believe it either. I must say that, even with the down economy and low attendance, SHRM didn’t skimp at all on this event. They made a huge investment into the program and it showed. For those of you who weren’t able to be there, you missed a good one. Here’s my wrap up … Session Soundbite Without a doubt, the HR Bloggers Panel with Kris Dunn, Lance Haun, Jessica Lee and Laurie…
Live from SHRM 09 – Day 3

hr bartender

30 Jun 2009 | 6:03 pm

As it can often happen during a conference, my days are starting to run together…that’s the sign of a truly great event. You forget the outside world and become totally immersed in the learning experience. Tuesday was just jammed with great connections… Session Soundbite John Kotter was the day’s keynote session. He’s a super smart guy from Harvard – shared his thoughts this morning on leadership and change. I was impressed with his thought processes…but the overhead projector [Wikipedia link included for anyone under 40] he used has got to go. Sorry – just something…
Live from SHRM 09 – Day 2

hr bartender

30 Jun 2009 | 3:50 am

After a warm welcome to New Orleans on Sunday, it was time to get some work done. Monday was filled with lots of education and conversations about the latest and greatest in HR. Tons of things to see and do…but here are my takeaways from the day. Session Soundbite I’m speaking today on strategic planning so I spent a little of my time yesterday reviewing related topics to tie into my presentation. I checked out another strategic planning session where the speaker said it’s not important to know where you currently are in order to figure out where you want to be. Hmmm…interesting…
Live from SHRM 09 – Day 1

hr bartender

29 Jun 2009 | 6:59 am

Well, the Society for Human Resources Management’s Annual conference in New Orleans has officially started. There’s something very exciting about being a part of the largest gathering of human resources professionals in the world. Yesterday was all of the obligatory opening day events…here’s the rundown (just in case you missed it). Session Soundbite The opening general session with Jack Welch was “OK.” I thought he talked about ten minutes too long. I will say that he had some great soundbites – which I tried to tweet as many as I could during the session yesterday. But…
Black Napkins and Beignets

hr bartender

28 Jun 2009 | 4:21 am

As you probably know, I’m in New Orleans for the next few days speaking at the SHRM Annual Conference. One of the best things about New Orleans is the food and I would be negligent in my conference coverage if I didn’t give you a few foodie highlights. Friday night, I had dinner (along with my MAC buddies Rick Howell, Toni Knechtges, Nancy Newell and Dave Twitchell) at GW Fins. It’s right in heart of the French Quarter and a seafood lover’s dream. I knew I would love the restaurant immediately when they provided me with a black napkin because I was wearing dark pants (classy!) …

Powerdyme
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3 Jul 2009 | 4:07 am

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4 Steps to Engergize Your Creativity and Overcome Burnout

30 Jun 2009 | 12:29 pm

Creative Thinking: Your EdgeView more presentations from Joanna Maxwell. I came across this today and found it a great reminder of how to energize your creativity and thinking. What do you think? Or, perhaps I should say: What, do you think?
Great Customer Service for Bankrobbers

22 May 2009 | 10:00 pm

Put yourself in the position of a bank teller. Someone quite suspicious enters your bank and you just have a gut feeling that this isn't going to be good. Something in your intuition is firing off red flashing lights? But what if you are wrong? If you push the panic button and the police come then you may be in big trouble. But if you are right? So what do you do? Somewhat of a powerless and vulnerable situation. Someone with a "victim's mindset" that is thinking that there really isn't anythRead More...
How to Blow Up the Company Building and Still Become the CEO

8 May 2009 | 10:00 pm

" A key rite of passage for the hard-nosed “Neutron Jack” came in 1963, just a few years into his career with GE. Leading a team that was experimenting with a volatile chRead More...
What a Blind Kid Showed Me About Resiliency

1 May 2009 | 10:00 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUXh-X1iveUI don't think that you will be able to look at things the same after watching this. He is an outstanding example of resiliency. He remained committed, he believed that he could impact his situation and he learned from his feedback (so to speak). What are your thoughts?

Incentive Intelligence
Channel Loyalty - Is It Possible Today?

Paul Hebert

2 Jul 2009 | 4:09 am

The short answer is yes. But this would rank right up there as one of my top 10 boring-est blog posts if that was the only answer I gave.Most of the posts on this blog focus on the employee side of the equation. That’s natural given the state of the economy, layoffs, employee fears and the need to engage your employees to weather the storm. However, if you rely on independent channels to distribute and sell your products now is a very, very good time to really look at the way you’re engaging them and how you’re helping them weather that same storm. Sharing their pain now will…
Should Your CEO Be One of Your Temporary Employees?

Paul Hebert

25 Jun 2009 | 12:44 pm

During tough economic times it may make sense to use temp employees to fill some holes in the staffing at many companies. But does it make sense to use temp CFOs? Temp VP HR? Temp CEO? Workforce Management recently ran a post on this and Kris Dunn (HR Capitalist fame) and myself took the concept out for a test ride over on Fistful of Talent. Read our take and then give us your comments.Kris's post - Temp Execs - What Could Go Wrong?Our Post -Temp Execs Mean Temp EmpoyeesTemp CEO - hmmmm... I wonder what the compensation package looks like?
The American Dream and Incentives - What Our Politicians Can't Get Right

Paul Hebert

23 Jun 2009 | 5:38 am

On the front page of today's Greenville, SC newspaper, down below the cover story of home-town boy Lucas Glover winning the PGA US Open, is an article entitled "Homebuyers may get $15,000 tax break." I tried to find it on line to provide the link but #fail on that. The article is about how our brilliant lawmakers are trying to expand the tax credit from $8,000 to $15,000 for those that buy a home in this depressed market. The real money quotes in the article are from Donald Schunk, research economist with Coastal Carolina University. Here's the quote:""If the goal is to have more…
Increase Punishment to Drive Individual, Team and Company Performance

Paul Hebert

19 Jun 2009 | 6:16 am

To run a quality company with a strong culture we need more punishment in our work places.I can hear the comments - "What? You're all about incentives and rewards - why are you pushing punishment?"While incentives and rewards are one of the things that we talk about here - what we really are about is influencing behavior. And influencing behavior isn't always about dangling carrots. Sometimes it's about the stick. Traditionally, businesses have used reward programs to guide behavior toward specific goals. But what do we do about behavior we don't want in the first place? How do…

About.com Human Resources
How to Develop an Ice Breaker

2 Jul 2009 | 11:45 am

I remember the days when I purchased every ice breaker book on the market. I spent hours looking for an ice breaker that would fit the needs of my upcoming...
Serving Up a Bit of SHRM From New Orleans

30 Jun 2009 | 7:33 pm

Interested in what's happening at the the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) conference this week? I confess, I haven’t attended an HR conference in a few years although I...
Transition to a Career in HR Management?

29 Jun 2009 | 5:40 am

I’ve promised an article about how to transition into the field of Human Resource Management for a long time. In fact, questions about how to get into HR are among...
Stevie Awards in HR

28 Jun 2009 | 2:38 am

The Human Resources winners at The 7th Annual American Business Awards are: Human Resources Team of the Year: Air National Guard Recruiting and Retention Program (Arlington, VA) Human Resources Executive...
Employee Turnover Looms

27 Jun 2009 | 5:44 am

According to research* by Harris Interactive on behalf of the Adecco Group, the most serious threat to organizations in this recession may be the recession's end. A company’s...

Michael Specht - HR, Recruitment, Enterprise 2.0, Social Media, and technology
A blog story 5 years on

Michael Specht

22 Jun 2009 | 8:13 pm

5 years ago today I started blogging with a small and unassuming post called “Welcome” (original I know), with the first topic to be covered being recruitment. Over the years I have written a lot about recruitment, but also technology, management, and HR. In summary over the last 1,825 days: I have typed out 1,313 posts, a little under one a day You have made 1,873 comments I have worked for 4 different companies, well 5 as I now work for myself Watched the rise and fall of many companies Watched the rise and fall of many blogs Met some amazing people, I was going to try and list…
Social Recruiting Summit

Michael Specht

16 Jun 2009 | 9:17 am

A quick summary from the Social Recruiting Summit that I attended yesterday at Google in San Francisco. The day kicked off with Reid Hoffman CEO of LinkedIn giving us an amazing presentation on LinkedIn. One of Reid’s main messages was that every individual is now their own small business, which means everyone needs their own brand. Therefore you need to build the asset value of yourself. Further if every individual is a small business, every individual is an entrepreneur and everyone will have/need an online profile. Some interesting food for thought. Reid also provided some…
Social Recruiting Summit

Michael Specht

14 Jun 2009 | 6:13 pm

I arrived this afternoon in Palo Alto to attend the Social Recruiting Summit, catch up with several people here in San Francisco and have a few meetings. While it is a damn long way to come for effectively 1 day event I am hoping it is worth the effort. We kick off tonight with a Tweet Up, which happens to be in the hotel where I am staying. Some of the sessions from tomorrow include: A Conversation with LinkedIn Founder Reid Hoffman Google Campus Tour Mobile Marketing Ubiquity & Authenticity in Social Media No Sacred Cows: Making Sense of Social Recruiting Online Employer Reputation…
Excellent operational service delivery

Michael Specht

13 Jun 2009 | 3:02 pm

This is the third instalment in my look at the hype around social recruiting, if you have missed them see the intro, parts 1 & 2. HR/Recruiters should focus on ensuring their operational service delivery is excellent instead of creating unrealistic expectations that social recruiting will save them. Like any business there is no point trying to work out how to integrate Twitter, Facebook or any other fancy technology into your processes if your processes are fundamentally broken! This excellent operational delivery includes treating candidates (and clients) as people, not as a…
Organisational challenges for social recruiting

Michael Specht

10 Jun 2009 | 6:19 pm

There are four major challenges facing organisations from integrating social recruiting into their business operations, again I am stealing from the Mckinsey Cloud Computing report. Before we get into them I want to remind you of my current working definition of social recruiting: Using social media tools as part of recruiting Building a community of potential candidates Engaging with candidates as people not numbers So what are the challenges? Financial Technical Operational Organisational Let’s look at each in turn. Financial Many current approaches to social recruiting left unchecked…

TalentedApps
One, but not the same

Mark Bennett

3 Jul 2009 | 1:03 pm

This weekend marks the anniversary of the birth of a nation whose motto is about unity of purpose while acknowledging the differences in those who contribute to that purpose. That’s a very interesting duality that effective networks share; each person in the network has unique capabilities and individual goals, and different ways in which they contribute, but the network is unified in purpose. As social networking tools gain acceptance in the enterprise, folks are recognizing that first, networks have always existed inside companies and second, that these network tools are more about making…
Smiling more

Meg Bear

2 Jul 2009 | 12:10 pm

I am coming up on the one year anniversary of a personal goal to smile more. This specific goal came from some coaching I received that suggested I should. Well, to be more clear, I got this feedback years ago from my husband, but of course, I ignored it, as often happens, with personal feedback from family members. To be fair, his suggestion was don’t frown so much, which somehow sounded critical where the coach said, you have a great smile, you should smile more which somehow sounded enlightening. Note to self — coaching works better with positive spin. In general,…
Team you

Meg Bear

26 Jun 2009 | 2:04 pm

Have you identified your team? Not the team you work with, the team who is going to help you achieve your goals? I actually have several “Team Meg’s” who I consider extremely critical to my success. I hand pick those on the team based on what kind of help and support I need. Do I need someone to help motivate me? Teach me something? Keep me focused? Hold me accountable? My team makes that happen. For example, I might realize that I don’t have the best grasp on (or respect for) grammar, and yet I love to blog. No problem, my team has my back. You…
Shock and awww

Meg Bear

24 Jun 2009 | 4:09 pm

Warning! This post contains outright bragging and shameless pride. Read at your own risk. As many of you know we’ve been working on the project that must not be named over here at ORCL for quite a long time. So long, that it has been easy to lose sight of just how big it is. Of course, we’ve had a lot of support, and that helps. For example, our good friend Naomi Bloom called our products the second coming, clearly a sign of her deep religious belief (and faith) in our plans. I totally understand too, why wouldn’t people get excited about a project that is…
Check out the June Carnival!

Amy Wilson

24 Jun 2009 | 3:09 pm

Mark of Inflexion Point has put together a very entertaining circus act. In addition to your carnival favorites like Laurie Ruettimann walking a high wire, Wally Bock’s ham hands and Jason Seiden’s rubber-skinned man, our mute clown is featured with a plea to Speak up More, along with 18 more insightful, thought-provoking posts. Enjoy the show and please, stay away from the blue cotton candy!

Human Race Horses
Thought Leaders talk at #SHRM09

Michael

3 Jul 2009 | 6:15 am

The SHRM Conference in New Orleans offered unparalled opportunities for networking this year. This was by far the most web connected and audience interactive National Conference I have ever attended. People were tweeting, blogging, getting loaded, uploading and videoing.It was unique due to that connectivity for a couple of reasons. Many of the best minds in the HR profession were sharing information on stage, in person, and on the web. There was a lot to be learned.Since people could communicate via the Web from virtually anywhere, a lot of information was exchanged beyond the event. THis…
Getting Strategic with the HR Bartender

Michael

2 Jul 2009 | 2:29 am

Image of Sharlyn Lauby"Plan to Fail or Fail to Plan"One of the best sessions I saw in New Orleans was "Fail to plan, or plan to fail" presented by my blogging buddy, Sharlyn Lauby over at HR Bartender.Sharlyn used a great mix of information, humor and practical advice to drive home a major point: If you want to be effective in HR, be strategic.Her self-described approach to being strategic is based on being practical.Here are some things she shared that were valuable:Strategic planning is like the conversation between Alice and the Cheshire Cat in "Alice in Wonderland". If you don't know…
Twitter Feed from #SHRM09

Michael

1 Jul 2009 | 3:32 pm

#SRHM09 - The Tweet Feed 2:34 PM: MikeVanDervort Michaelcc Layman speaking on Labor Relations Initiatives #SHRM092:37 PM: MikeVanDervort union on the decline over the last half century - Michael Layman #shrm092:41 PM: MikeVanDervort EFCA, OSHA, WARN, USERRA all have proposals in Congress Michael Layman #shrm092:46 PM: MikeVanDervort www.scribblelive.com2:50 PM: MikeVanDervort What right does Congress have to make laws just because they deem it necessary? - Marion Berry (via Michael Layman) #shrm092:52 PM: MikeVanDervort RT @jack_welch: 2 hours til I speak to my heroes at SHRM conference in…
Good Times and Bad in New Orleans

Michael

30 Jun 2009 | 5:58 am

The Big Easy has two faces. New Orleans is an amazing place. The party never stops on Bourbon Street. People dance to the sounds of music pouring out of the bars. Liquor flows and laughter is everywhere. It is a bit of an adult Disneyland - like Las Vegas or Amsterdam. But underneath it all, you can feel a lurking sense of frustration, and maybe even anger.People make money lots of different ways here. I watched a guy yesterday who makes a living doing street theatre. He does the frozen human statue thing - one of many variations on the same theme that I have seen here including Captain…
Breaking out of breakout sessions at SHRM

Michael

29 Jun 2009 | 11:23 am

Lunch time at #SHRM09Sitting in the press room at SHRM using their free computer connections to do a quick update.I am really enjoying the conference so far. Spending a fair amount of time on the vendor showplace floor. There is actually a lot of cool stuff going on, especially in two areas: on-the-spot recognition and big prizes.So here is what I liked so far today in no particular order:Winners of the small and medium sized company Best Place to Work awards for 2009 were announced today and both winners were repeaters. The small business winner was Badger Mining Company and the Medium…

Steve Boese's HR Technology
Be innovative (but only with the tools we give you)

Steve

3 Jul 2009 | 6:08 am

I am sort of but not really an IT person, so I understand why most corporate IT departments like to enforce consistent standards for the workforce's computers. Security, compliance with vendor licensing, reduced maintenance cost etc. are the typical reasons why an organization will issue a company computer with an 'official' configuration and a set of applications pre-installed. The exact mix of applications could vary depending on the user's role, but essentially, the employee is expected to perform their job duties using the 'delivered' configuration. And in many organizations…
HR, Barbecue, and a Blog Conference

Steve

2 Jul 2009 | 12:41 pm

I am pretty much spending all my 'spare' time on two areas: HR (really HR Technology) and Barbecue. So for me it is great anytime I can combine those two interests. So a couple or quick notes on that front. First, Heather McCulligh from Halogen Software has a great post about how HR can spice up the annual employee barbecue (and thanks very much for the shout-out Heather). Second, Trish McFarlane from the HR Ringleader blog, Ben Eubanks from Upstart HR, Mike Owcarz, and myself and some others have had a few conversations about creating an HR Blogger 'Un'conference. A sort of…
Diner Menus and Collaboration Platforms

Steve

2 Jul 2009 | 4:10 am

Being a native of New Jersey I have fond memories of the classic Jersey diner. The kind of place that had a 20 page book for a menu, that served everything from breakfast to burgers to seafood (generally a goodFlickr - wallyg idea to avoid diner shellfish) all the way to full roast turkey dinners. Throw in a generous helping of Greek, Italian, and even Mexican selections, and the customer likely had about 500 different items to choose from. Someone not familiar with the New Jersey diner can get a bit overwhelmed and surprised with the sheer heft of the menu and almost dizzying array of…
SHRM Counter Programming - Women's Pool

Steve

30 Jun 2009 | 2:38 pm

Every year during the Super Bowl I take a quick look at the counter-programming that ESPN decides to run to 'compete' with the big game (which is typically on ABC or Fox). ESPN knows that pretty much every typical ESPN viewer is watching the Super Bowl, so they don't 'waste' any potentially interesting or popular shows in that time slot. They typically run something from the potpourri of Lumberjack contests, cheerleading competitions, or my favorite women's pool. So while the big SHRM shindig is going on, any HR-related blogger not in attendance and providing daily updates of the goings…
HR Happy Hour - Episode 4 - SHRM Special Edition

Steve

26 Jun 2009 | 7:32 am

Join the HR Minion, Shauna Moerke and I on Friday, July 3 at 6PM EDT for a special HR Happy Hour - SHRM '09 Edition. HR All-Stars Kris Dunn, Laurie Ruettimann, Lance Haun, Mark Stelzner (and maybe more) are our guests for a re-cap of SHRM 2009. We'll talk about the HR Blogger session, the conference in general, and who threw the best parties. It should be a great show. You can listen live here, and we plan on taking a few calls during the show as well. Thanks very, very much Shauna for coordinating the guests for this show and thanks in advance for the superstar panel for agreeing to come…

Recruitment Directory
Where did you hear about this job? Tracking Candidate Sources

2 Jul 2009 | 8:34 am

Do you track where your candidates have come from? If you are using some sort of application tracking system (ATS) in your recruitment process; more than likely you have the ability to automatically track where the candidate has come from.
Changes to Employment Law, What this means for Employers

2 Jul 2009 | 3:21 am

As of the 1st of July 2009 a number of changes have come into effect relating to employment under the new Fair Work Regulations. The following blog post has been provided by LawLive.
Shut Up and Get Back to Work

30 Jun 2009 | 12:40 am

When Frank the Foreman shouts, you must do exactly what he says within the set amount of time (in time with the music). Shut Up and Get Back to Work is an interactive application designed for the iphone. It has four commands - you must pinch, slide, press or swipe the appropriate controls in the correct order Frank tells you.
Top Job Search Logos

27 Jun 2009 | 11:14 pm

JobMob released a list of the Top 105 Beautiful Job Search Company Logos. On the list were a number of Australian HR/Recruiting logos that made the top 105. I am still waiting to hear how the list was chosen. Congratulations to the following Australian companies...
Social Software in the Enterprise

25 Jun 2009 | 7:58 am

A simple and well done presentation on Social Software in the Enterprise by Lidia Vikulova

Renegade HR
Guest Post: The Case for Analytics in HR

Chris Ferdinandi

1 Jul 2009 | 7:48 am

Today, I’m excited to feature a guest post by Eva Rykr of iOrgPsych. To make an improvement, you must start with measuring what you have. To truly know the impact of a change, you must evaluate pre and post. But to make the best decisions, you must discover the seemingly unknowable. It’s not impossible, it just requires that you gather lots and lots of data. This is where analytics comes in. The concept of business intelligence and evaluation is not new. Data-driven decision making has cut down on operational expenses throughout organizations. For example, data is needed to answer the…
Be a rockstar

Chris Ferdinandi

29 Jun 2009 | 5:00 am

Image courtesy of Monty Are I This article is part of the Renegade Manifesto Series. Too often, HR is mediocre. We don’t want to upset the wrong people, so we color in the lines. We follow the rules. We play nice. Renegade HR is a revolution. It’s time to step on a few toes and kick some ass! Be a rockstar. Do amazing things. Facebook This | Tweet This | Email This Be a rockstar was written by Chris Ferdinandi for RenegadeHR.net, and was originally published on June 29, 2009. Except when noted, this work is © Chris Ferdinandi, and may be republished in accordance with the…
You shouldn’t care about a multigenerational workforce

Chris Ferdinandi

24 Jun 2009 | 5:00 am

Over the last few years, there’s been an explosion of information about how to manage a multigenerational workforce. There have been countless articles, seminars and books on how to keep Generation Y (aka the Millennials) engaged, and how to help Baby Boomers and Gen-X employees work with them more effectively. I think that’s all a big waste of time. I don’t do things because I’m Gen-Y The big theory around multigenerational workforces is that shared experiences during a generation’s formative years creates a set of shared values that guide their behavior. Gen-Y…
Use your employees as guinea pigs

Chris Ferdinandi

22 Jun 2009 | 5:00 am

Image by Rebecca This article is part of the Renegade Manifesto Series. In order to create HR programs that inspire people to do great things that drive your business, you need great data. Of course, not all data is created equal. If you want to develop better programs, use your employees as guinea pigs. The problem with benchmarks HR pros have a benchmark problem. The first thing most of us do when designing a new program is benchmark what other organizations have done. I’m not suggesting you reinvent the wheel every time you create a program. But I am saying that benchmarks have many…
URGENT: Help save a life!

Chris Ferdinandi

19 Jun 2009 | 12:35 pm

Human resources is all about people, and today I’m asking you to help save a life. Houku Katagiri (Hou-chan) is a 2-year boy who lives in Mitaka, Tokyo. His father works for my employer, EMC Corporation. In October 2008, he had sudden heart failure and was diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy - an incurable disease that takes the lives of 50 percent of those afflicted within one year. Hou-chan’s condition is serious, and a heart transplant is the only way to save his life. Heart transplants for children are not permitted in Japan, where by law organ donors must be at least 15…

Federal Employment Law Articles
Reminder: Federal Minimum Wage Increase.

1 Jul 2009 | 10:00 pm

As a reminder, pursuant to the 2007 amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act, the federal minimum wage is set to increase from $6.55 per hour to $7.25 per hour effective Friday, July 24, 2009.
Ruling in New Haven Firefighters Case Resolves Potential Conflicts Between Disparate Treatment and Disparate Impact Claims and Presents New Challenges for Employers.

1 Jul 2009 | 10:00 pm

On June 29, 2009, the Supreme Court issued its long-awaited decision in Ricci, et al. v. Destefano, et al., also known as the New Haven firefighters “reverse” discrimination case. The case is significant because it establishes that an employer may not manipulate the results of legitimate, job-related promotional examinations to obtain a more diverse workforce absent a showing that there is a strong basis in evidence to believe the employer will be subject to disparate impact liability if it fails to take the race conscious discriminatory action. The case breaks new ground by resolving…
Executive Labor Summary.

30 Jun 2009 | 10:00 pm

EFCA update; Two-member rulings continue; Arbitration of statutory discrimination claims? Not so fast! Read the entire contract! Union win rate rises in 2008; Raynor finally outta HERE; “Am I here or at Dad’s this weekend?”; Wedding plans?
Overtime Issue for Home Care Workers is Alive as Senators Press to Have US DOL Regulations Altered or Reinterpreted.

30 Jun 2009 | 10:00 pm

What Happened Two Years Ago... In Long Island Care at Home, Ltd. v. Coke, 549 U.S. 1105 (June 11, 2007), the Supreme Court deferred to the U.S. Department of Labor's interpretation of its own regulations and unanimously held that home care workers employed by third party employers or agencies were exempt from overtime under the "companionship exemption" to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Coupled with the overtime exemption available to non-profit agencies in New York (where Medicaid funded home care can be 24/7) who had timely filed a Statement of Non-Profitmaking Institutions with the NYS…
Out of the Frying Pan and into the Fire: Supreme Court Issues Favorable Ruling forWhite Firefighters in Reverse Discrimination Case.

30 Jun 2009 | 10:00 pm

Query: May an employer make a race-based employment decision when it discovers that one of its employment tests or policies has the unintended effect of creating an adverse impact on another racial classification?

Federal Employment Law Articles
Reminder: Federal Minimum Wage Increase.

1 Jul 2009 | 10:00 pm

As a reminder, pursuant to the 2007 amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act, the federal minimum wage is set to increase from $6.55 per hour to $7.25 per hour effective Friday, July 24, 2009.
Ruling in New Haven Firefighters Case Resolves Potential Conflicts Between Disparate Treatment and Disparate Impact Claims and Presents New Challenges for Employers.

1 Jul 2009 | 10:00 pm

On June 29, 2009, the Supreme Court issued its long-awaited decision in Ricci, et al. v. Destefano, et al., also known as the New Haven firefighters “reverse” discrimination case. The case is significant because it establishes that an employer may not manipulate the results of legitimate, job-related promotional examinations to obtain a more diverse workforce absent a showing that there is a strong basis in evidence to believe the employer will be subject to disparate impact liability if it fails to take the race conscious discriminatory action. The case breaks new ground by resolving…
Executive Labor Summary.

30 Jun 2009 | 10:00 pm

EFCA update; Two-member rulings continue; Arbitration of statutory discrimination claims? Not so fast! Read the entire contract! Union win rate rises in 2008; Raynor finally outta HERE; “Am I here or at Dad’s this weekend?”; Wedding plans?
Overtime Issue for Home Care Workers is Alive as Senators Press to Have US DOL Regulations Altered or Reinterpreted.

30 Jun 2009 | 10:00 pm

What Happened Two Years Ago... In Long Island Care at Home, Ltd. v. Coke, 549 U.S. 1105 (June 11, 2007), the Supreme Court deferred to the U.S. Department of Labor's interpretation of its own regulations and unanimously held that home care workers employed by third party employers or agencies were exempt from overtime under the "companionship exemption" to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Coupled with the overtime exemption available to non-profit agencies in New York (where Medicaid funded home care can be 24/7) who had timely filed a Statement of Non-Profitmaking Institutions with the NYS…
Out of the Frying Pan and into the Fire: Supreme Court Issues Favorable Ruling forWhite Firefighters in Reverse Discrimination Case.

30 Jun 2009 | 10:00 pm

Query: May an employer make a race-based employment decision when it discovers that one of its employment tests or policies has the unintended effect of creating an adverse impact on another racial classification?

The Job's On! Blog
Hudson report says ACT hiring to increase

admin

24 Jun 2009 | 6:41 am

The latest Hudson Employment Expectations report suggests that employer confidence is returning to the market, as hiring intentions increased for the first time in over a year. The report said that 13.9% of the 6,362 employers surveyed planned to reduce their permanent staff during the next quarter, whilst 20.4% intended to add staff – a net increase of 6.5% of organisations who intend to add staff and a strong rise from the previous report.65.6% expected to make no changes to their employee numbers. Whilst every state and territory saw hiring intentions increase, ACT employers posted the…
How to nail an interview

admin

18 Jun 2009 | 5:54 pm

Ever walked out of an interview thinking you’d nailed it, only to be told later that you didn’t get the job? Wondered what went wrong? What is it that certain people say or do while interviewing that makes them stand out? Why do some people struggle to find work, while others land a job in no time? Here are 20 tips to help you nail the interview…
Quitting in style

admin

16 Jun 2009 | 5:44 pm

Earlier this year, Jarrad Woods, a computer game developer for Canberra-based studio 2K Australia, notified his employers of his decision to quit by creating a web-based Flash game. Take a look at the Super Mario Brothers-style game here: http://www.farbs.org/Message.html - see if you can navigate the maze and uncover Jarrad’s messages. He signed off with the message: “Thank you 2K Australia! You gave me a paycheck, an incredible project and a world-class team to learn from. But my princess is in another castle.” A very creative way of signing off indeed - much better than…
Using Twitter for Recruitment

admin

14 Jun 2009 | 5:28 pm

Thomas Shaw from Recruitment Directory recently ran a webinar for Recruitment Daily entitled ‘Using Twitter for Recruitment’. Here’s the video of that webinar:
Treasury tenders for recruitment providers

admin

13 Jun 2009 | 6:51 pm

The Treasury has released a request for tender for the provision of recruitment services under a panel arrangement. The purpose of the Panel will be to assist the Treasury in recruitment selection exercises, and to provide temporary assistance services, including labour hire and candidate sourcing. Submissions are due by 3pm on 30 June 2009. The contact officer for the tender is Lionel Riley on (02) 6263 3187. Further information about the tender can be found on AusTender at http://www.tenders.gov.au.

JD Supra Labor & Employment Law
Form I-9 Remains Valid Beyond Current Expiration of 06/30/2009

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

3 Jul 2009 | 8:08 am

Contributor: Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP [View: Profile | Documents]
Carefully Drafted Vacation Plans Will Be Enforced

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

3 Jul 2009 | 8:06 am

Contributor: Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP [View: Profile | Documents]
California Court of Appeal Rejects Anti-SLAPP Motion in a Retaliation and Wrongful Termination Case

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

3 Jul 2009 | 2:42 am

Contributor: Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP [View: Profile | Documents]
Corporate and Securities Update: Major Corporate Governance Proposals Are on the Way

Fenwick & West LLP

3 Jul 2009 | 2:13 am

Contributor: Fenwick & West LLP [View: Profile | Documents]
Colorado Court Provides Guidance On Enforceability of Covenants Not to Compete Against "Management Personnel"

Littler Mendelson

2 Jul 2009 | 8:07 am

Contributor: Littler Mendelson [View: Profile | Documents]

RoundPegg
Return on Brain Waves (ROBW)

brentdaily

25 Jun 2009 | 10:45 am

We’re all in the same business. We may produce different things, but that doesn’t change anything. With off-shoring and 100-years to optimize the process, production is a commodity. Everyone can tap into efficient, quality production (lead-laden toys notwithstanding). In fact, we’ve been in this business for a half-century and we aren’t getting any better at it. We are all in the people business, of course. Your job is to turn brain waves into cash (hat tip). If you thought you’d misplaced your competitive advantage, you’ll find it there. photo by…
Promoting Experience, Not Abilities

brentdaily

23 Jun 2009 | 9:53 am

It never ceases to amaze that seemingly progressive companies still have, ahem, ‘guidelines’ for how long an individual must be in a particular role prior to being considered for a promotion. Unless you’re running a prison, time should have no bearing on your decision to move someone beyond their existing role. (Though in fairness, it may feel like just that to the people in the organization.) photo by daniel james I touched on how ridiculous this practice is by equating to the sports world several months ago, but I wanted to take a deeper look at why this practice is…
Leaders Adjust to Their Followers

brentdaily

18 Jun 2009 | 10:13 am

photo by annadriel A recent Towers Perrin post reveals a conversation the author had with former NFL coach Tony Dungy. Football is known for its gruff, abrupt, in-your-face style of ‘leadership,’ but Tony Dungy was far from that. He succinctly states his philosophy to leading and getting the best from his players three points (from the post): His parents were both teachers and they believed that it was their responsibility to make every student an “A” student. But not every student learns the same way, so you have to tailor your style to each individual to bring out the…
Job Descriptions - Show, Don’t Tell

brentdaily

16 Jun 2009 | 4:13 pm

A job description recently landed in my inbox. It was a unique opportunity! (Naturally.) Followed by a lengthy description of the product being built and the initial customers. All of which is fine, but let’s pretend it’s a cocktail party. The guy that just sidled up to you loves himself. He can’t stop talking about his new jacket. It’s so unique, so expensive, so sought after. He barely stops to acknowledge that you are there. He may ask you a question or two but they’re likely leading questions that get him onto a topic he wants to talk about…
What Employees Want From Jobs

brentdaily

11 Jun 2009 | 9:41 am

photo by jspace3 Thanks to Lijit I can see what folks are searching for when they arrive. “What Employees Want From Their Jobs” has been hitting the top of the charts frequently lately so here goes: It depends. Horrible answer, but people are all working for different reasons. The best employers try to get to the bottom of what indviduals want rather than looking at their workforce as a single entity. I’d recommend you start by asking them. Ask them repeatedly and don’t accept their first few answers. Most people haven’t actually thought much about…

Bayt.com HR blog
Interview with Talal Atassi, Head of Recruitment at Al- Fardan Group Holding Qatar

Talal Atassi

24 Jun 2009 | 3:32 am

How would you describe the living & Working in Qatar Experience? Qatar is one of the fastest growing economies in the Middle East. The country maybe small but its richness is unquestionable. With its continuous growth despite the weakening of world’s financial condition, great cultural diversity is taking place. Topographically, the country has generally desert climate. Summer may turn to very sultry and humid place but the country is warm enough to make expatriates from different continents feel at home. Moreover, the country is peaceful and safe. It is an ideal place to raise…
Interview with Sherwett Shafie, HR Manager at WHS Plastics Egypt

Sherwett Shafie

15 Jun 2009 | 11:33 pm

What is your average day like? I spend 40% of my time working towards meeting my quarterly objectives, may it be pertaining to recruitment in the time being or to performance management or training. The remaining 60% are usually spent catering to employees’ requirements (20%), meetings and calls (30%) and follow ups (10%). What is your biggest professional challenge? My biggest challenge is to get line managers familiarized with the performance management new methods, and showcase how crucial for them it is to manage their staff performance via such updated methods instead of the old,…
Job Hunting Tips from Ashraf Chaudhry, Pakistan’s Number 1 Sales Trainer and Author of “The Craft of Selling Yourself”

Ashraf Chaudhry

15 Jun 2009 | 4:25 am

Job Hunting? “Treat a job hunt like a personal development project and be the project manager.” –PENELOPE TRUNK The Majority of fresh graduates, treading the beaten trail, trust writing their CV and sending it out to potential employers is all that’s required to land a job. I’ve screened thousands of CVs and Cover Letters in my one and a half decade career and I have to say that minimal efforts are usually invested by job seekers to customize their CVs and Cover Letters. An employer could easily get frustrated with vague imprecise words such as ‘Metric, Martial, and Carrier…
Careers UnCovered: Martin Waldenstrom, General Manager, CashU

Martin Waldenstrom

14 Jun 2009 | 3:29 am

Best career advice I ever got Think further than your next pay cheque! Favorite Job task I ever had to do Advice Central Bank of Estonia on EURO implementation Most dreaded job task I ever had to do A three month summer job in a restaurant kitchen doing dishes Best career decision ever made To leave the secure environment of a European corporation and join a Dubai based entrepreneurial start up company. Weirdest career decision ever made Getting impressed by my new business card title My Biggest Professional Challenge Implementing structure in a startup company while yet not losing the…
Careers Uncovered: Ashraf Chaudhry, Pakistan’s Number 1 Sales Trainer and Author of “The Craft of Selling Yourself”

Ashraf Chaudhry

31 May 2009 | 12:30 am

1. Best career advice I ever got: I was in 7th grade, when I read the translation of Dale Carnegie’s classic “How to Win Friends and Influence People”. I learnt that throughout our whole life, we are in the ‘selling’ profession. The function of ‘selling’ starts with first cry for milk by the baby and it just goes on. When you opt to roll out your professional career, you are in the ‘selling’ business all the way. You sell your ideas to your colleagues; you sell proposals to your boss; you sell budgets to finance; you sell stumbling blocks to yourself as stepping stones. I…

Gruntled Employees
Sugarcoated terminations

Jay Shepherd

29 Jun 2009 | 12:03 pm

This might sound obvious, but when you’re firing an employee, you need to tell the truth. Actually, that’s only half right. Well, closer to two thirds. Anyone who’s ever watched Law and Order or been in a courtroom knows by heart the oath that witnesses take before testifying: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? I do. Makes sense. It really breaks down this way: You’ll tell the truth You won’t leave anything out, and You won’t add any lies. For a witness in a court proceeding where the goal is to get justice, this three-part standard for…
The wrong question

Jay Shepherd

26 Jun 2009 | 11:29 pm

Too often, when managers and HR professionals get employee requests for special treatment, accommodations, or departures from policy, they ask themselves the wrong question: What if another employee finds out, and then asks for the same special treatment, or accuses us of not treating everyone equally? This question is common, understandable, and well meaning. HR pros and good managers know that different treatment (or as the lawyers say, disparate treatment, which means "Look at me: I went to law school and learned how to talk different. I mean, disparate. D'oh!") can potentially lead to…
Does your company need a smartphone policy?

Jay Shepherd

24 Jun 2009 | 9:56 pm

Are your employees twittering during meetings? Texting during conference calls? Checking Facebook on their iPhones during training? As more employees carry and use iPhones and BlackBerrys, some employers are fretting about an increase in impolite smartphone usage. A few days ago, The New York Times had a fine article by Alex Williams called "Mind Your BlackBerry or Mind Your Manners." In it, Alex cites questionable smartphone behavior in different workplace settings. Some companies have taken to policies banning BlackBerrys during work meetings. But more companies are facing up to the reality…
Nickel-and-diming your employees

Jay Shepherd

23 Jun 2009 | 10:16 pm

Lucy works as a salesperson for a machine-parts company in the Pacific Northwest. She has to travel a lot to make sales calls; often out of state. Because she's on the road so much, she has to eat out all the time. She's not crazy about this, because she finds it difficult to eat healthily at fast-food and quick-service restaurants. Her company appears to understand that she and her fellow salespeople have no choice but to eat out frequently. So it allows them to expense their meals on the road. But like too many companies, this one doesn't trust Lucy or her coworkers. It's apparently…
Thanks

Jay Shepherd

17 Jun 2009 | 7:20 pm

Gruntled Employees started 33 months ago with a post criticizing Radio Shack for firing employees by email ("Radio Shack Deletes 400 Workers, Common Sense"). A couple of days ago, our 122nd post castigated a law firm who fired people by voicemail ("Please leave your layoff message after the beep"). How far we've come. During those 33 months, many people have visited the blog. Today, we enjoyed our 100,000th visit. To be sure, there are blogs out there who get 100,000 visits a day. Nevertheless, I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for reading and for contributing to the…

UpstartHR
UpstartHR is moving!

Ben Eubanks

24 Jun 2009 | 4:57 pm

Yes, I’m growing up and moving to my own domain at UpstartHR.com! I appreciate each and every one of you for your encouragement, assistance, and patronage. My life just wouldn’t be the same without the community that I’ve come to know. I will no longer be updating this WordPress.com blog, so please click on the button below to subscribe to the new feed. Thanks! Subscribe in a reader
On Blog Taglines and Boldness

Ben Eubanks

21 Jun 2009 | 11:00 pm

Be bold. Change the world. Flickr-hamedmasoumi If you’ve been redirected here from a participant in the UpstartHR Guest Post Blitz, then I appreciate you stopping by! I hope you enjoy what you see. UpstartHR is relatively young in terms of a blog. It seems like only yesterday that I created the first post. Today, I decided on my tagline. It was tough to settle on one, but the term “Be BOLD” is appropriate in so many ways. I bet most people have never even thought about how important the blog tagline really is, but it’s one of the first things people see when they arrive, and it…
Guest Post Blitz

Ben Eubanks

20 Jun 2009 | 2:31 pm

Want to know where my energy comes from? I'm really a bunch of clones. Flickr-umsizzle I know what you’re thinking. I don’t write nearly enough. Well, I’m going to settle that soon enough. The first UpstartHR Guest Post Blitz is going to be occurring on Monday, June 22. Five HR bloggers have graciously allowed me to grace their front page, and I appreciate them very much for giving me the opportunity. You can find me on Monday (hopefully!) at the following blogs… HR Ringleader HR Thoughts Steve’s HR Technology HR Minion Creative Chaos Consultant Go. Read.
Top 10 Reasons I’m NOT Attending SHRM 2009

Ben Eubanks

16 Jun 2009 | 10:16 am

This morning, Tara Berger (@TaraAtBeyond) posted her Top 10 Reasons to Attend SHRM09 on Twitter. In was in that spirit that this post was born… I’ve been crying myself to sleep every night for the past few weeks, because SHRM09 is coming, and it’s coming on fast. I’m not the only one not able to attend the party, but I am the only one who will be posting a list of excuses for not attending. The judge said I can’t cross state lines. My boss won’t let me. I haven’t paid that much money for a car, much less a trip. They didn’t invite me to speak. Like…
HR Equations and Formulas

Ben Eubanks

7 Jun 2009 | 11:50 pm

Formula for figuring out how many HR pros it takes to screw in a lightbulb. Flickr-halfbyte A nicely done formula or equation is pleasant to look at. The ability to take rows and rows of endless numbers and force them into a format that is easy on the eyes is to be respected. Heck, even a chart can be interesting if you pick the right one (like this). Know Your Limits I have spent a good bit of time in the past week or two developing derivatives of calculus formulae that express HR concepts (geek alert). My favorite so far involves limits. The limit formula has boundless possibilities…

TradePub: Human Resources
Global Pensions

2 Jul 2009 | 4:50 pm

Readers of Global Pensions invest globally and need to know what their peers around the world are doing. The only publication which does this is Global Pensions. By combining a focus on regional pensions news with in depth analyses of innovative and modern investment products, Global Pensions allows the decision makers from these schemes to be influenced and informed about current trends affecting their counterparts all over the world.Request Free!
Human Resource Executive

2 Jul 2009 | 1:20 pm

Written primarily for vice presidents and directors of human resources, the magazine provides these key decision-makers with news, profiles of HR visionaries and success stories of human resource innovators. Stories cover all areas of human resource management, including personnel, benefits, training and development, HR information systems, relocation, retirement planning, workplace security, and healthcare.Request Free!
The Pillars of Employee Performance Management

1 Jul 2009 | 3:50 pm

Does your organization consider Employee Performance Management a laborious, tactical annual practice, or is it a strategic, business-critical cycle? Maybe it's time to reassess. Now more than ever, HR professionals like you are tasked with optimizing Employee Performance Management processes across the board to ensure the most efficient use of corporate resources. Employee Performance Management has the power to accelerate time-to-revenue, reduce risks, and help your organization proactively address threats and opportunities.What you will learn:How to derive real value from Employee…
Top 5 Trends in Learning Technology

1 Jul 2009 | 3:50 pm

Users have wielded their unique power to significantly impact today's top five learning technology trends. This new white paper explores those trends, looking at factors such as Web 2.0, mobile learning, and changes in the mix of blended learning. In addition, they discuss next steps to help your organization strategically select new technology in order to unlock its full potential.Request Free!
HR Magazine

1 Jul 2009 | 12:20 am

The publication contains editorial on benefits, training and development, employment and staffing, compensation, retirement planning, safety and security, awards and incentives, HR technology, relocation, management, diversity, international HR, as well as strategic planning.Request Free!

Interesting Bits
Improved Corporate Forecasting Tools

Brad Herbert

26 Jun 2009 | 7:55 am

Interesting article from the NY Times on a new corporate friendly tool to help better improve the quality of forecasts, whether that's revenue, profitability, or quality. It leverages the principle that a larger group of people will, on average, have collectively better information than a smaller group of people. This may seem counter-intuitive but it's based on something called the wisdom of the crowds which assumes that when you combine varying perspectives you get a much more comprehensive picture.Check out Crowdcast, headed up by Mat Fogarty, a former Electronic Arts coworker. We used his…
Phonecasting: New Recruiting Tool?

Brad Herbert

23 Jun 2009 | 12:18 pm

Intriguing article by Michael Marlatt on phonecasting, an early stage form of custom, permission-based recruiting leveraging mobile devices. What? Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus and he wants to text you when your dream job is posted.My sense is that this is an interesting concept and will evolve into something useful quite soon. Why? Because people are busy and just like Tivo revolutionized the way you experience television (you control the flow of programming so your convenience is more important than the generic schedule), I think phonecasting has the potential to be an interesting…
TED Talks: Philip Zimbardo prescribes a healthy take on time

Brad Herbert

22 Jun 2009 | 9:50 am

Psychologist Philip Zimbardo says happiness and success are rooted in a trait most of us disregard: the way we orient toward the past, present and future. He suggests we calibrate our outlook on time as a first step to improving our lives.He says there are six time perspectives (TP):Past TP - Focus on PositivesPast TP - Focus on NegativesPresent TP - Hedonism (joys of life)Present TP - Fatalism (doesn't matter, your life is controlled)Future TP - Life Goal-OrientedFuture TP - Transcendental ~ Life after death of the mortal bodyHe says the optimal approach is to have enough personal awareness…
Reality Mining For Companies Or How Social Networks Network Best

Brad Herbert

19 Jun 2009 | 1:38 pm

MIT professor and Sense Networks co-founder Alex Pentland, author of Honest Signals, provides data on how and why people take information in and make decisions. Here's a description of his book from Amazon:"How can you know when someone is bluffing? Paying attention? Genuinely interested? The answer, writes Sandy Pentland in Honest Signals, is that subtle patterns in how we interact with other people reveal our attitudes toward them. These unconscious social signals are not just a back channel or a complement to our conscious language; they form a separate communication network. Biologically…
Online Employer Reputation & Social Recruiting

Brad Herbert

17 Jun 2009 | 11:33 am

Pretty interesting overview of online employer reputation in a social networking world led by Shanon Gude at ERE's Social Recruiting Summit recently held at the Googleplex in California. I thought it was a solid overview and there are obviously lots of things to consider.Her blog has content regarding online employer reputation monitoring as well as a very helpful discussion of online candidate community managers.

The Staffing Advisor
The Staffing Advisor Now in Alltop

Bob Corlett

25 Jun 2009 | 8:13 pm

What’s happening in the world of HR? It can be hard to keep up. Now Alltop makes it easier by collecting the latest stories, best sites and blogs on all things HR related. And now you can find us there too … right along side the people who actually belong there.
Stop Thinking About the National Economy

Bob Corlett

23 Jun 2009 | 10:00 am

Thinking about the national economy is, by and large, a waste of time (unless you are Ben Bernanke, or Tim Geithner, in which case, please stop reading this blog and get back to work!) The Brookings Institute suggests we do not have some monolithic national economy, but instead really have an interconnected group of 366 metropolitan economies. It makes sense, as this is exactly how staffing actually works. At it’s core, staffing is a local business. The labor pool, the jobs, the pay, what’s considered a good job, what’s considered a good commute – all this…
Talking About Work vs. Doing Work in the Interview

Bob Corlett

21 Jun 2009 | 1:57 pm

Talking about work is not the same as doing work. An interview often showcases one set of skills (talking about work) but cannot take the place of observing someone’s work. If you want to really know how someone works, give them some work to do during the interview sequence. Are you shocked? Don’t be. We recommend this at every level of hire from Director to Administrative Assistant. We explain why we are doing it and I cannot remember the last time anyone took offense. (Remember, the candidates want to see what the work looks like just as much as you want to see…
Reconcilable Differences

Bob Corlett

18 Jun 2009 | 11:41 pm

Hiring managers. Picture this scenario. After months of looking, you finally found the perfect candidate for your open job. You’ve interviewed them, really like them, and think they are head and shoulders above everyone else you interviewed. Their technical skills are exactly what you need, they understand what it takes to get the job done in your environment, and they asked smart questions. You could easily work with them. You are ready to make an offer, but first the candidate needs to interview with your boss, Frank. So they go meet Frank. He’s pretty busy,…
Are you Making “Opportunity Hires” or Just Letting the Job Market Go to Waste?

Bob Corlett

16 Jun 2009 | 10:57 am

One of the top 5 recommendations in the 2009 Guidance from the Corporate Executive Board is to “Use Today’s Crisis to Court and Cultivate Tomorrow’s Winners.” And, if you are not making “opportunity hires” you are missing a golden opportunity to upgrade your workforce. An “opportunity hire” is when you set out to fill a position, but in conducting that search, you find someone so good, you cannot pass up the chance to hire them as well. At Staffing Advisors we have never charged anything for an “opportunity hire” – rather, we encourage it. (If you engage…

The HR Store
Boss won't let me take on more work

1 Jul 2009 | 3:17 am

This came from a reader in the information technology space:“I was recently hired for a role which requires me to manage activities at the product architecture level. It’s been a couple of months now and I’m yet to get into anything substantial. The very reason the company hired me was because I matched their job requirement completely and if hired I could hit the ground running. However, my boss doesn’t seem to be in a hurry! The others in the team (with much lesser work experience than me) are currently doing higher level work! I haven’t spoken to my boss yet thinking he’ll…
My blog's on Alltop!

29 Jun 2009 | 1:06 am

Is there a place to get all the latest HR news/updates/blog posts? Yes! The answer is Alltop and you can check out the latest HR news here. It’s pretty cool. They help you answer the question, “What’s happening?” in “all the topics” that interest you. They do this by collecting the headlines of the latest stories from the best sites and blogs that cover a particular topic. More like an “online magazine rack” of the web.Now, you can find my blog in the HR category! Thanks to AllTop, for including me in it.
Perplexed! Questions from an entry level candidate

26 Jun 2009 | 1:48 am

I got this query from a reader, in context with a previous post written here.“Starting as a fresher/entry level candidate my only objective is to land myself a job no matter which or what and that is only because I really have no idea about what to expect from a workplace or the work itself. I have sent out my resumes to few companies. I have a few questions:1. My resume is pretty empty. I have mentioned my academic details and a few other activities that I was a part of in school and college. Is there anything else I can add to make it look better?2. How important is it to mention my…
Contemplative!

23 Jun 2009 | 3:16 am

Don't know why, but everytime I see this ad from Tata Motors(the same company that purchased Land Rover and Jaguar from Ford last year) it gets me into a contemplative mood.Before you ask. No. I'm not buying a new car yet. The current one still has a long way to go. Maybe, it's telling me that I need to take that long pending break and head out of town for a nice vacation with my wife! Ahhh, vacation! It could also be their catch phrase (Reclaim Your Life) that's making me feel that way. Darn. Work's piling up. I need to stop watching this ad, at least for now.Do you like this ad too? Any…
Yes, it's ok to disagree with your manager.

22 Jun 2009 | 5:23 am

Got this from a reader:“My manager is becoming very difficult to handle. Off late, he has even started using abusive language at work. It’s having a negative effect on the entire team. To an extent where he isn’t even ready to listen to us; he only wants to hear a YES from us. My work requires me to come up with new/fresh ideas regularly and his attitude is making it difficult for me to work productively. There are times when I want to disagree with his plans, but he just isn’t willing to even consider my plan. It doesn’t look like a work related issue, since the team is performing…

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