Even recognition programs are catching the social media bug. Motivating and recognizing employees remains the goal of these programs, but the delivery has changed. Acknowledging an employee’s hard work feeds the intrinsic need most people have for appreciation and will reinforce a job well done. Conventional programs recognize employees through traditional means such as company […]
Employee Communication and Email
I recently read the Randstad Workmonitor research report for March 2012 and was struck by some of their findings, primarily around communication. Since so much of our communication today is done via email, one could assume that this works for employees and businesses. The Workmonitor, however, found that 70% of employees would rather have face-to-face contact rather […]
HR Initiative – Happy Birthday to You!
Let’s face it; although we may not admit it, everyone likes to be celebrated on their birthday. It’s a bummer when no one knows it’s your birthday and it’s even more uncomfortable to shout to the world, “Hey, today’s my birthday!” When we were little, celebrating birthdays was easy. You might bring in cupcakes for […]
Office Bullying – A Real HR Problem
While much of the press around bullying focuses on children, let’s face it, it’s happening with adults too! I recently read an article aboutoffice bullying and it made me think about all the instances as a Human Resources professional that boil down to someone being an old fashioned bully. Whenever I conduct Harassment Training, invariably there […]
Was Human Resources Any Different 5 Years Ago?
Hmm… that’s an interesting question… Five years isn’t necessarily a long time, but in today’s fast paced, constantly changing economic times, it could be a lifetime for many businesses. Has HR also changed with the times or has it remained the same? I think the answer is “yes” and “no.” There have been some changes, […]
Employee Communications – Don’t Take the Easy Road
Human Resource professionals preach the value of verbal employee communications. But yet we all seem to be doing less and less of it. A recent article “Don’t Send That Email. Pick up the Phone!” in the Harvard Business Review reminds us of the importance of verbal communication. The author notes the rise in“digital conflict resolution.” While delivering a […]
Reward and Recognition 101 – Part I
The primary goal of an Employee Reward & Recognition (R&R) program is to show appreciation and acknowledgement for an employee’s accomplishments and to encourage them to continue their good performance and commitment to the company. A good R&R program will align with the company’s mission, values and goals and promote behaviors that will reinforce desired […]
The Intersection Between HR, Employee Productivity and the Flu
Some may argue that a company’s Human Resources department plays a vital role in the prevention of the flu. How can that be? Does keeping employees healthy fall under HR’s job description? It may not, but HR is responsible for employee productivity and if you’ve got a workforce missing work days due to illness, that’s […]
The numbers are out it looks like 3% is the “magic number” for 2012 merit budgets. The national HR consulting firms surveyed US companies in the late spring to determine what companies are budgeting for 2012 and found that, on average, companies are expecting to spend 3% on merit increases next year. Additionally, Mercer is […]
