HR ::

How to Build a Strong Alliance of Supporters at Work

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

One of the secrets of succeeding in the workplace is building strong alliances. No matter how seemingly good and experienced you are, or even if you hold a top position in an organization, time will come that you’ll need someone else’s help. This is where building alliances comes in handy. Successful employees work hard to build themselves a network of…

When Office Friends Turn into Liabilities

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

In general, making friends at work make Monday mornings more bearable and over time work a little less stressful. Having friends at work can make an otherwise stressful environment enjoyable, but things can also go sour under different circumstances. In light of International Friendship Day on July 30, we look at the different situations where office friends can become a…

The Common Questions Applicants Ask Their Would-Be Bosses on Interviews

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

Are you a manager or executive interviewing someone for a job? Don’t expect that you’ll be the only one asking questions. Expect good candidates to raise their own questions during the job interview. They want to impress you and make themselves more memorable compared to other candidates. Here are the top four questions you can expect to get from a…

Six Tips for Proofreading Your Resume

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

Your resume is still a vital component to getting you the interview to the job of your dreams. It’s one of the first impressions that a hiring manager will have when you apply to a new job or position, and one of the biggest determinants about whether or not you will get called for an interview. While you can upgrade…

Executive Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

You’re an executive, and you’ve been contacted by a recruiter about an opportunity for a well-known firm in your industry. Congratulations! Although you’re excited about this position, you’re understandably nervous about the upcoming interview. Of course, the interview isn’t the be-all end-all to getting the job – there are also references to follow up with, and portfolios and numbers…

From Salaried to Hourly: How to Tell Employees about the Upcoming Transition

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Editor

As an employer, manager, or human resources staffer, you’ve probably already heard the news that there’s a new Federal Department of Labor salary rule taking effect on December 1. The minimum salary to qualify for exemption will increase from $455 a week or $23,660 annually, to $913 a week, which will put the overtime threshold at $47,476 annually. How will…

How to Deal With Unethical Behavior in the Workplace

Posted on October 11, 2016 by Editor

Workplaces are complicated. There isn’t a lot of black and white most of the time, so it’s normal for employees to deal with issues of ethics at some point. Whether they’re asked to do something they don’t think is quite right, against the general morals of the workplace or society at large, or hide something, the guilty feeling in the…

How to Administer Exit Interviews to Laid Off Employees

Posted on September 13, 2016 by Editor

When you’re the boss, one of the hardest things you’ll have to do is tell an employee that they no longer have a job, sometimes through no fault of their own. When an employee loses a job through termination, layoffs, firing, downsizing or reduction in force, the manager or supervisor should complete an exit interview. That might be the second-hardest…

A Primer for Compassionately Dealing with the Emotions of Laid Off Employees

Posted on August 9, 2016 by Editor

It’s the hardest part about being the boss – you will inevitably have to lay off one or more employees at one point in your career. If you haven’t had to do it before, you might wonder: Why is it so hard to lay off an employee? After all, it’s not your fault – you had no say in the…

Lessons Learned after Firing Someone

Posted on June 14, 2016 by Editor

Being the manager or the boss definitely has its perks. Honing your leadership skills, having a say in the direction of the company, and the satisfaction of leading a stellar team are just some of its advantages. Unfortunately, being the boss has its downside, too. One of the hardest things that you may have to do at some point as…

Employee Recognition: How to Celebrate the Dad’s and Father Figures at Work

Posted on June 14, 2016 by Editor

As a manager or supervisor at your workplace, you’re responsible for more than managing the workload, assigning duties, and giving feedback to your team. You’re also responsible, at least in part, for their well-being. Why? A happy staff member is a productive staff member, and one who will call in sick less often, take fewer personal days, and be more…

4 Wrong Ways to Announce a Layoff

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Editor

It’s the hardest part about being a boss – delivering the bad news nobody wants to hear. With a global economic downturn comes cutbacks, and they are happening all over the country. Companies are slimming their budgets and making some difficult cuts. If this includes your company, you might find yourself having to deliver some rather difficult news. Nobody likes…

How Layoffs Affect 3 Types of Employees

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Editor

Employees in different levels of an organization are all affected when a layoff occurs, but not in the same way. Just as every employee plays a different role in a healthy, productive company, they also play a different role, and act differently, in times of distress. Leaders and Executives Through thick and thin, leaders are there to guide the company…

5 Layoff Alternatives that will Save You Money without Reducing Your Workforce

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Editor

Companies are laying off people again and some financial experts say we might experience another financial downturn because of China’s slowing economy. Before you start listing employees to layoff, consider how much a restructuring can cost your business, especially in the long run. Aside from severance pay, and the risk of litigation, your business will also suffer from the low…

Suspicious Tactics Companies Use to Get Rid of Older Employees

Posted on December 22, 2015 by Editor

Just last month, two friends told me how their colleagues lost their jobs under dubious pretenses. The five people who were laid off were skilled and tenured professionals in their early 50s. They haven’t had any attendance or performance issues, as far as my friends could tell. That’s why everyone in their office was shocked. Is this the newest tactic…

Do You Care about the Quality of Outplacement Services Given to Departing Employees?

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Editor

Many companies say they value employee satisfaction. But does that commitment extend to departing employees during a layoff? I don’t mean to say that the HR leaders and managers of organizations conducting layoffs don’t care about laid-off employees — I think they do. But in times of distress, priorities shift to keeping the company afloat so concerns like employee satisfaction…

A Leader’s Guide to Profiling the 5 Common Trouble Makers in the Office

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Editor

Article originally posted at http://www.leadersinstitute.com/a-leaders-guide-to-profiling-the-5-common-trouble-makers-in-the-office. There will always be difficult employees in any organization; even Fortune 500 companies have rotten tomatoes in them. Sun Tzu said in Art of War, “It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do…

3 Step Guide to Building Employee Morale after a Layoff

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Editor

Layoffs serve to prevent a struggling company from capsizing. But if not done properly, a layoff may damage the company more than it saves it. Layoffs affect the company in terms of lost workforce and massive restructuring but that’s just the surface. Deep down, it traumatizes surviving employees even if they don’t want to admit it. Whatever circumstances surrounding the…

5 Tips for Creating a Severance Policy That is Fair to Everyone Involved

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Editor

According to a recent study from RiseSmart, about 40% of companies don’t have a severance package for employees. That’s ironic, considering how many companies keep touting their dedication to their employee’s well-being and motivation. Many states don’t require companies to provide a severance package to displaced employees, but from a long-term stand point, it makes sense to do so. Protecting your public…

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