human resources

October 1, 2007

Categories

Performance

A Great First Impression

A new employee’s perception of the organization will be formed within their first few days of employment. The best message to send is one that is genuine, and indicates that employees are valued and supported. Most companies have an orientation program in place. Nearly half of all companies have Human Resource Departments that are responsible for coordinating the program and process. Many programs involve top management. The two objectives of an orientation program are to welcome and to train the new employee. Welcoming new employees to a company reduces the stress of a new job. The focus is on the […]

August 1, 2007

Categories

Performance

A Balancing Act

Creative time off benefits send an important message to employees. A message that communicates their employers understand employees have valuable lives outside of work. Flextime, telecommuting and compressed workweek are the most frequently offered creative time off programs. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) 2006 benefits survey report, 57% of employers offer flextime. Telecommuting , on an ad hoc basis is used by 45% of the 377 respondent companies – dropping to 26% part-time and 19% for full-time telecommuting. Compressed workweeks are used by 35% of the companies responding to the survey. Many employees choose not to […]

July 1, 2007

Categories

Civility

Violence Prevention

Aside from the legal consequences and financial impact, employers have a moral obligation to protect their employees. Treating people fairly, with dignity and respect is the core of violence prevention. A workplace violence policy is essential. Studies have yet to determine why employees act violently or what preventative measures will minimize risk. The most successful programs focus on improving employees’ personal growth and quality of life. It’s an holistic approach, designed to encourage employees to disclose personal problems that may include: domestic abuse, mental health issues, and antisocial or bullying behavior of coworkers. Employers may choose to create a team […]

June 1, 2007

Categories

Civility

Workplace Bullies

Employment attorneys warn that abusive bosses are encouraging legislation. Frequently the alleged perpetrators in discrimination cases are abusive bosses. Eleven states are considering making workplace bullying illegal. These legislative measures focus on bosses taunting and yelling at subordinates, opening the door for cases that do not involve protected classes. Bullying occurs at all levels including subordinates bullying their bosses. Why do people bully? The purpose of bullying is to gain control and power. A manager may be looking for a scapegoat or feel the need to keep a threatening subordinate in line. According to Harvey A. Hornstein, author of Brutal […]