Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Astronology - Addressing the Needs of Seasonal Employees

Astron Website Top 

Astronology

Volume XII

Issue 18

November 29, 2011

Dear Andrew,

Astron Solutions provides high-quality, low-cost, innovative human resources consulting services to organizations like yours. Call us for advice, innovative program design, and user-friendly Web/PC based software.

 

Astron in the Press

Two publications recently featured articles authored by National Director Jennifer Loftus.  CPA Practice Management Forum published Jennifer's article on the Fair Labor Standards Act.  HR West, the publication of the Northern California Human Resources Association (San Francisco, CA), published Jennifer's piece on politics in the workplace. 

 

Fact or Fiction? 

The staffing industry isn't growing.

 

FICTION!

 

Staffing Industry Analysts predicts that staffing industry revenue will grow 7% in 2012. This will make the total revenue for staffing industries a whopping $121.9 billion in 2012.  That's good news, and hopefully a sign that the US economy with strengthen in 2012. 

 

Addressing the Needs of Seasonal Employees

'Tis the season...for more workers! In many places, especially retail locations, the fall season signifies a flurry of seasonal, temporary workers to help make the holiday rush activity function smoothly. How can workers become quickly acclimated to the organization's culture, in order to yield the desired levels of productivity and efficiency? Furthermore, the season itself carries stress. How can an organization and all its employees survive the pressure? In this issue of Astronology, we take a look at these challenges.....more 

 

 

Have a Question?

If you have a topic you would like addressed in Astronology, or some feedback on a past article, don't hesitate to tell us!  Simply reply to this e-mail.  See your question answered, or comments addressed, in an upcoming issue of Astronology.

Looking for a top-notch presenter for your human resource organization's meeting?  Both Jennifer Loftus and Michael Maciekowich present highly-rated sessions on a variety of compensation and employee retention issues.  For more information, send an e-mail to info@astronsolutions.com.

 

The Fine Print

We hold your e-mail address in trust.  Astron Solutions promises never to share or rent your personal information.  We also promise never to send you frivolous e-mails and will allow you to leave our list, at your option, at any time.

To remove yourself from this list, please follow your personalized subscriber link at the bottom of your Astronology alert e-mail.

Copyright 2011, Astron Solutions, LLC

ISSN Number 1549-0467

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Bringing you Human Resource news from around the globe...compliments of Astron Solutions.

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Friday, November 25, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving

Hopefully you all are enjoying your Black Friday shopping. I know I'm a day late, but while you all are still digesting turkey (and probably eating turkey leftovers), we want to take the time to say we hope you had a happy Thanksgiving. We are certainly thankful for you, our readers, and we look forward to some great blogging in the weeks ahead. Hope you had a great time with your loved ones.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Telecommuting and Productivity

In my new job, I've had the opportunity to work from home (or elsewhere) quite a bit. Everyone always tells me that they could never work from home and be productive but I always retort that I'm actually really productive working from home--sometimes even more productive. The Smithsonian via their Surprising Science blog took a look at telecommuting the scientific way, and has some results that may support my own findings:
After a few weeks of the experiment, it was clear that the telecommuters were performing better than their counterparts in the office. They took more calls (it was quieter and there were fewer distractions at home) and worked more hours (they lost less time to late arrivals and sick breaks) and more days (fewer sick days). This translated into greater profits for the company because more calls equaled more sales. The telecommuters were also less likely to quit their jobs, which meant less turnover for the company.
Of course, as the article states, working from a place other than the office is not for everyone and most would like it to be a temporary condition. I like working from home for the flexibility, the lack of commute, and the ability to work in my PJs. But I miss the resources of an office including co-workers, technology, and the ability to have meetings in person. So for as much as I like staying at home while I work with my dog at my feet, I also need a break from that every once in a while.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Astronology - Civility in the Workplace---Is it Decreasing?

Astron Website Top 

Astronology

Volume XII

Issue 17

November 15, 2011

Dear Andrew,

Astron Solutions provides high-quality, low-cost, innovative human resources consulting services to organizations like yours. Call us for advice, innovative program design, and user-friendly Web/PC based software.

 

Fact or Fiction

Over half of Americans think civility training should be offered in public schools.

FACT!

 

The Civility in America poll reports 78% of Americans believe civility training should be offered in our nation's schools.

 

Do you have a story from a time when incivility in the workplace strengthened your resolve to find a new job or to stop patronizing a business?  Please share your story with us!The story with the most incivility will win an Astron Solutions goodie bag!

   

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

From the entire Astron Solutions family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!  We hope you and those dear to you have a day filled with food, fun, and great memories in the making. 

 

Civility in the Workplace---Is it Decreasing?

A major highlight of the second annual Civility in America poll, released by Weber Shandwick and Powell Tate in partnership with KRC Research, is the reported increase of incivility in the workplace. A whopping 43% surveyed experienced incivility at their place of work. Even more disturbing is the 38% who believe the workplace is becoming increasingly uncivil. What does this mean for human resources? Astronology investigates...... more 

 

 

Have a Question?

If you have a topic you would like addressed in Astronology, or some feedback on a past article, don't hesitate to tell us!  Simply reply to this e-mail.  See your question answered, or comments addressed, in an upcoming issue of Astronology.

Looking for a top-notch presenter for your human resource organization's meeting?  Both Jennifer Loftus and Michael Maciekowich present highly-rated sessions on a variety of compensation and employee retention issues.  For more information, send an e-mail to info@astronsolutions.com.

 

The Fine Print

We hold your e-mail address in trust.  Astron Solutions promises never to share or rent your personal information.  We also promise never to send you frivolous e-mails and will allow you to leave our list, at your option, at any time.

To remove yourself from this list, please follow your personalized subscriber link at the bottom of your Astronology alert e-mail.

Copyright 2011, Astron Solutions, LLC

ISSN Number 1549-0467

Quick Links


 

World of HR Blog

Bringing you Human Resource news from around the globe...compliments of Astron Solutions.

More

 

Join Our Mailing List

 

Monday, November 14, 2011

The Worst Excuses for Missing Work

I've heard some back excuses for missing work. People have readily admitted to partying too much the night before, missing their flight home from vacation, or oversleeping. I thought I had heard them all. But then Jennifer posted a great link from ThomasNet's industry market news which lists some great ones from Careerbuilder including, my 5 favorites:

  • Employee's 12-year-old daughter stole his car and he had no other way to work. Employee didn't want to report it to the police.
  • Employee said bats got in her hair.
  • Employee was in line at a coffee shop when a truck carrying flour backed up and dumped the flour into her convertible.
  • Employee's brother-in-law was kidnapped by a drug cartel while in Mexico.
  • Employee was at a bowling alley and a bucket filled with water crashed through the ceiling and hit her on the head.
There are other great ones but you need to read the article to see the rest. The truth is that people come up with creative lies of why they can't show up at work and while it's funny to many, it's costly to the companies who have to cover for those absent employees. According to the article "employee absence is not cheap. According to [employment services firm] CCH, sick days cost employers an average of over $760,000 each year, in addition to intangible losses to employee morale and productivity." So while some of these may make you laugh now, you won't laugh when you realize how much money these excuses are costing your company

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Astronology - Evidence-Based Human Capital Management - Lessons We Can Learn from Healthcare

Astron Website Top 

Astronology

Volume XII

Issue 16

November 1, 2011

Dear Andrew,

Astron Solutions provides high-quality, low-cost, innovative human resources consulting services to organizations like yours. Call us for advice, innovative program design, and user-friendly Web/PC based software.

 

Astron Road Show

It's time for the last stop on the 2011 Astron Road Show!  We finish our 2011 tour close to home, in Tenafly, NJ.  National Directors Mike Maciekowich and Jennifer Loftus will both present to the 2011 Morry Stein Fall Management Conference, hosted by the American Camp Association of New York and New Jersey.  Jennifer will speak on the application of total rewards in a part-time and volunteer driven organization, while Mike will explore the secrets of motivating and managing Gen Y and Gen Z employees.

 

Thank you for your support of our 2011 Road Show!  We look forward to seeing you again on the road in 2012.

  

 

Halloween fun at Astron

Halloween spirit was active at Astron yesterday!  National Director Jennifer Loftus and Consultant Deb Woolridge even came dressed in costumes:

halloween 

 

We hope you also had a fun and festive Halloween!

 

 

 

Evidence-Based Human Capital Management - Lessons We Can Learn from Healthcare

Roughly 60 percent of hospitals' budgets are allocated to human capital, underscoring the need for good "people stewardship."  People stewardship refers to playing to an organization's strengths in human capital planning to best control costs and invest most intelligently. HR executives need to encourage all leaders to establish the goals and standards for great performers..... more 

 

 

Have a Question?

If you have a topic you would like addressed in Astronology, or some feedback on a past article, don't hesitate to tell us!  Simply reply to this e-mail.  See your question answered, or comments addressed, in an upcoming issue of Astronology.

Looking for a top-notch presenter for your human resource organization's meeting?  Both Jennifer Loftus and Michael Maciekowich present highly-rated sessions on a variety of compensation and employee retention issues.  For more information, send an e-mail to info@astronsolutions.com.

 

The Fine Print

We hold your e-mail address in trust.  Astron Solutions promises never to share or rent your personal information.  We also promise never to send you frivolous e-mails and will allow you to leave our list, at your option, at any time.

To remove yourself from this list, please follow your personalized subscriber link at the bottom of your Astronology alert e-mail.

Copyright 2011, Astron Solutions, LLC

ISSN Number 1549-0467

Quick Links


 

World of HR Blog

Bringing you Human Resource news from around the globe...compliments of Astron Solutions.

More

 

Join Our Mailing List

 

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