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Setting Guidelines for Celebrating Halloween in the Workplace
/in Employee Relations/by strategic HR inc.HR Question: With Halloween right around the corner, we’d like to allow our employees to wear costumes to celebrate Halloween in the workplace but we are worried it could get out of hand. What kind of guidelines should we set? HR Answer: While celebrating Halloween in the workplace may sound festive and fun, it’s important […]
What Are The Top 5 Commonly Missed Records In Employee Files?
/in HR Compliance/by Melinda CaninoFor human resources professionals, there are many things you simply have to get right in order to protect your organization, and recordkeeping is one of them. Employee files, also known as personnel files, are a key component of the recordkeeping process for any organization. They provide a written history of each employee’s tenure with an […]
Can I Fire Someone During Their Introductory Period?
/in Employee Relations/by Sammie OsborneHR Question: Can I fire someone during their introductory period? Are there ways to reduce our risk? HR Answer: The short answer can be yes. As long as an employer has a properly written (and implemented) introductory period, there should be little concern over terminating someone during their new hire period. In fact, sometimes it […]
Why Do I Need An Employee Handbook?
/in Communications/by Melinda Canino HR Question: Why do I need an Employee Handbook? Are they required? HR Answer: While it is not a requirement to have an employee handbook, having one can be an effective tool for you to communicate expectations throughout your organization. The employee handbook can be a quick reference for commonly asked questions such as […]
How do I manage compensation increases with inflation?
/in Benefits & Compensation/by Melinda CaninoHR Question: How do I best manage compensation increases with inflation still rising? HR Answer: This is a question many companies continue to wrestle with as the US economy experiences rising inflation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the consumer price index (CPI) reached its highest annual increase (8.6%) in over 40 years […]
What Should We Include On Our Careers Page?
/in Recruitment/by Sammie OsborneHR Question: What should we include on our company Careers page to ensure we’re keeping up with the times? HR Answer: You’re wise to have the quality of your company’s Careers page on your radar. This is a critical recruitment marketing tool to capture the attention of potential candidates. Your page’s content, look, and feel […]
How will AI impact the Human Resources function?
/in HR Strategy/by Melinda CaninoThe rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked debate about its effect on a wide variety of industries and job roles—and the Human Resources function is one of them! Many have wondered if AI’s impact on HR will lead to a significant reduction or complete elimination of HR professionals. Surely, it’s not possible to take […]
What Are The Benefits of Providing a Mentoring Program?
/in Training & Development/by Sammie OsborneHR Question: Our team members have been asking for additional development opportunities and a mentoring program has been suggested. What are the benefits of a mentoring program, and how do we implement one? HR Answer: The benefits of having a mentor can be immeasurable. Almost 80% of CEO’s say they had mentors throughout their careers […]
Building A DEI&B Roadmap
/in HR Strategy/by strategic HR inc.When considering how to implement a diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B) roadmap, many organizations may feel intimidated. It can feel like a mountain to climb when it comes to the sheer number of possibilities, programs, and efforts that you can undertake. So, what’s a measured and structured way of implementing (or evaluating already established) […]
What Are Stay Interviews and What Questions Should I Ask?
/in Communications/by Melinda CaninoHR Question: Can you explain stay interviews – what are they? How should we use them and what should we ask? HR Answer: Not to be confused with exit interviews (meant for seeking to understand why departing employees are leaving), stay interviews are a great tool to understand why your employees choose to stay with […]
Designing a Modern Dress Code for Today’s Workplace
/in Communications/by Sammie OsborneHR Question: We’re taking a look at revising our dress code policy. We want to balance today’s increasingly casual approach while still asking our team members to look professional. How can we create a modern dress code policy? HR Answer: In today’s modern workplace, the concept of dress code has evolved to reflect a more […]
Are You Ready For These Top HR Trends in 2024?
/in HR Strategy/by Melinda CaninoAs we transition into a new year, the world of Human Resources is poised to undergo several transformative trends that reflect the evolving landscape of work. Some transformations are already at work, such as the continued integration of technology in HR processes, with the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and automation tools. These […]
What is HR’s Role in the Mergers & Acquisitions Process?
/in HR Strategy/by Melinda CaninoMergers & Acquisitions (M&A) are a complicated process affecting every facet of an organization – most importantly, its people. Because employees are the key to ensuring the success of any organization, it is critical to develop a thoughtful and strategic human resources-focused approach in the M&A process. This requires HR leaders to be involved from […]
As Open Enrollment Season Approaches, What Are Best Practices to Improve Benefits and Remain Compliant?
/in Benefits & Compensation/by Sammie OsborneHR Question: It’s almost that time again – open enrollment season is quickly approaching! I want to be prepared this year and avoid any last-minute decisions or chaos. Can you recommend any best practices for reviewing, improving, and staying compliant with our employees’ health and well-being? HR Answer: It can be an intimidating feeling to […]
Do Our Remote, Out-of-State Employees Qualify for FMLA?
/in HR Compliance/by Sammie OsborneHR Question: Our company has employees located in Ohio who all qualify for the protections covered under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), but we also have employees working remotely in other states. Do our remote, out-of-state employees qualify for our FMLA policy? HR Answer: Great question. Even if the employees don’t fall within the […]
Three Ways HR Can Serve as Cybersecurity Defenders
/in Health, Safety & Security/by Sammie OsborneHR Question: Why should cybersecurity be a priority for HR professionals? Isn’t that IT’s job? HR Answer: Hackers look for more than just passwords and bank information. They can hold personal information hostage like social security numbers, share private health information, or share the results of someone’s less-than-satisfactory performance review with the public. Human error […]
Four Ways to Improve New Hire Onboarding and Training
/in Training & Development/by Melinda CaninoHR Question: Currently, our onboarding includes completing new hire paperwork, going over our company history and policies, ensuring they have the necessary technology tools, and having them meet with select employees to learn what they need to learn to hit the ground running. What else should we incorporate to improve our new hire onboarding and […]
What’s the Most Effective Way to Use Panel Interviews?
/in Recruitment/by Sammie OsborneHR Question: As a retention and growth opportunity, we have decided to shift to panel interviews to engage our team members in the hiring process. What’s the most effective way to use panel interviews? HR Answer: Panel interviews, when planned properly, can greatly exceed the effectiveness of single interviewer methods. Why Single Interviewer Methods Can […]
What to do if the IRS notifies you of Affordable Care Act (ACA) penalty fees
/in Recordkeeping/by Melinda CaninoHR Question: How do I know if my company needs to submit Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting to the IRS? What are the potential ACA penalty fees if we do it wrong? HR Answer: Any employer with self-insured medical benefits or with 50 total Full-Time and Full-Time Equivalent employees is required to report to the […]
Why Employee Retention is More Important Now Than Ever
/in Employee Relations/by strategic HR inc.We’ve all been hearing the same thing: we’re in the Post-Pandemic War for Talent. Some have called it the Turnover Tsunami or the Great Resignation. No matter what it’s called, the reality remains the same: businesses are in a talent crisis. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 9.2 million job openings in May 2021 – […]
How Can HR Professionals Reduce Workplace Violence?
/in Health, Safety & Security/by Sammie OsborneHR Question: How can we reduce workplace violence? HR Answer: The numbers are staggering and undeniable. According to SHRM’s 2019 study, 48% of HR professionals reported some type of workplace violence incident in their organization. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported in the same year there were 888,220 events or exposures involving injury […]
Do I Have to Pay Taxes On My Unemployment Benefits?
/in Benefits & Compensation, Recordkeeping/by Sammie OsborneHR Question: It’s tax season, and I’m a little confused about how to handle the unemployment benefits I received in 2020 – do I have to pay Federal and State taxes on this income? HR Answer: Millions of people impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic were able to receive some relief through unemployment benefits. As the […]
How to Handle Unemployment Fraud?
/in Employee Relations/by Melinda CaninoHR Question: Our company is getting unemployment notices for people that have never worked here, or in some cases, people who are still employed. How should I handle this unemployment fraud? HR Answer: The increasing level of unemployment fraud has been a source of frustration for states, employers, and individual employees. Various US congressional packages […]
How Can We Support a Grieving Employee?
/in Employee Relations/by Sammie OsborneHR Question: One of our team members has sadly lost a loved one recently. We want to show our love and support, but don’t want to overstep or upset this individual in this tough time. How can we support a grieving employee? HR Answer: Everyone experiences grief at some point in their life, and yet […]
Systemic Changes HR Can Make Against Systemic Racism
/in HR Strategy/by strategic HR inc.As HR professionals and business leaders, we are often seen as the guardians of our organization’s culture and tasked with leading change in the work environment. That said, molding a culture into one that embraces and encourages Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) is not necessarily an easy task. There is no switch to flip, and […]
Leading Change Amidst a Crisis (Part 1 of 2)
/in Health, Safety & Security/by Melinda CaninoLeader performance during a crisis sets the tone for the entire organization, and the current pandemic has tested leaders like no other. How leaders respond or fail to respond is key to future success. Leaders who remain calm, encourage input, take an open-minded approach, and evaluate what the company can do better post-crisis are more […]
Systemic Racism: How Can I Fight It?
/in HR Strategy/by RobinHR Question: The longstanding systemic racism and racial injustice against Black Americans is causing turmoil in my community – with my friends, with my family, and with my coworkers. What can my organization do to activate solutions to promote progress against systemic racism? How can I be a part of the solution through my workplace […]
How to Handle Political Talk During the Work Day
/in Employee Relations/by Melinda CaninoHR Question: Since it’s an election year (not to mention one during an unprecedented pandemic), the conversations between my employees are becoming increasingly political. How do I handle this political talk either in the office or with remote workers during office hours? HR Answer: It’s natural that conversations amongst team members can quickly turn political […]
Characteristics of Strong Leadership During COVID-19
/in Training & Development/by Sammie OsborneHR Question: As a result of COVID-19, many business leaders will be put to the test as their businesses have had to stop, reassess, pivot, and restart parts of or all of their operations in a flash. What are some characteristics of strong leadership during COVID-19? HR Answer: During a crisis, leadership characteristics and values […]
How to Help Employees Manage Stress During COVID-19
/in Employee Relations/by strategic HR inc.As the coronavirus continues to dominate much of our news and impact every facet of our day to day lives, it can be difficult for employees to manage their stress and anxiety amid COVID-19. Managers and HR professionals can play an important role in helping employees cope with the added stress and uncertainties of the […]
What Should I Consider Before Doing a Reduction in Force?
/in Communications, Employee Relations, HR Compliance/by strategic HR inc.HR Question: I may need to restructure my workforce as a result of the downturn in business activity. What should I consider from a fairness and legal standpoint? HR Answer: Determining the need for a Reduction in Force (RIF) is a challenging decision to make, but it is sometimes necessary to keep the business running […]
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