Monday, December 19, 2011

Monitoring Survival Mode

The news about jobs continues to be mixed which has led to increased uncertainty once again this holiday season. The uncertainty of jobs has some positive effects at times as workers go out of their way to distinguish themselves and be more productive to avoid the axe, but this type of pressure is not something you want employees to constantly have hovering over their heads. One of the worst effect of this uncertainty is "survival mode". Forbes via Yahoo! (H/T Wendy) tells us 5 signs that will allow you to tell your employees are in "survival mode".

The article is definitely a good read but the five signs are that relationship building among peers is fading, meetings are frequently rescheduled or cancelled, people don't trust one another, turnover is high and employee morale is low, and, finally, self-promotion is out of control. This creates a workplace environment that is not only unproductive but one that people don't want to work in. Then, instead of "survival mode", employees go into "apathy mode", or, even worse, "please-lay-me-off mode". Instead of trying to stand out from the crowd, those people act like the lead character in "Office Space" and just try to get themselves removed from the situation.

The lesson is that if there is uncertainty or discontent in the workplace, that you need to nip it in the bud. Find ways to make the office environment less contentious and more inviting to people working together and making the most of their situation. You can't always assure employees that everything is okay without lying, but you can always try to help make them move away from survival mode.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Sometimes you just need to laugh

The "World of HR" is usually a pretty serious place with some pretty serious consequences if things don't go right. Lawsuits, firings and lack of productivity are not things to laugh at. So I really enjoy when I find something I can laugh at including this "Cover Letter" that I found floating around Facebook.

Hopefully that link works but it certainly gave me a laugh today. The faxing in of the cover letter was one thing but the creativity on the page is pretty hilarious. I have horrible handwriting, but I know that if I was to submit anything in writing, it would have to be a lot neater than that...especially for a Graphic Design job. Figured we could all use a laugh during the busy holiday season!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Astronology - Metrics: Not Just a Year-End Exercise

Astron Website Top 

Astronology

Volume XII

Issue 19

December 9, 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.

 

Happy Holidays!

Everyone at Astron Solutions wishes you and those dear to you a safe, fun, healthy, and relaxing end to 2011!  Thank you for allowing us to visit with you in your inbox every other Tuesday.  We look forward to seeing you again with our next issue of Astronology on January 10, 2012.

 

Happy holidays!

 

Metrics: Not Just a Year-End Exercise

By Richard L. Virgilio, SPHR

 

Organizations who whole-heartedly incorporate evaluating various metrics into their self-assessment plans often look at the end of the year as the time to do a careful look at their performance based on how they did in terms of the measures they set up a year ago.  However, this routine can be one that misses many opportunities to discover performance information other than what was targeted when the measurement plan was initiated.  A little bit of creativity and basic arithmetic can find insights in places where no one ever looked before.....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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Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Who To Get Rid Of

In the first season of The Office, Michael Scott has to decide who to lay off. He goes through a terrible ordeal trying to figure out who to let go as he debates the merits of each of the members of the office. But what if he had a guide of who to fire? Well Bloomberg Businessweek has a list of three types of people that you should fire right now

Those three type of people are "The Victims", "Non-believers", and the "Know-it-alls". I think that the idea behind the article is correct (what type of people to avoid if you want a more innovative company), but I don't think you can quote that article when you fire someone. I'm not sure that being a know-it-all actually is a fireable offense.

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

Quick Links


 

World of HR Blog

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.

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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

 

Friday, October 28, 2011

Facebook For More Than Friends

Most people think of Facebook as the last place they would want a potential employer to go to check out their qualifications. They have embarrassing pictures of them partying, people posting about their kids, updates about all their Words With Friends games, and status messages about being excited for the weekend. It's been far from a job gold mine--more like a minefield. But as the Wall Street Journal writes, that's all changing and has some advice about how to take advantage of it, including this:
Don't ask someone to make an introduction for you on Facebook if you wouldn't ask them to do it in person, recruiting experts say. Before you approach a potential candidate, or someone who is friends with a potential candidate, be sure that you are close enough to the intermediary to ask for the introduction. Don't assume that Facebook behavior is different from regular social interactions, experts say.
Good advice from the WSJ, with some more throughout the article. Although Facebook seems like just a tool for connecting with friends, family, and casual acquaintances who may have friended you after you met that one time, it can now be used for much more, including posting and applying for jobs.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Greetings from Europe

I wanted to send greetings from Europe. I spent 2 days in Amsterdam and am now in Copenhagen. It's amazing to see different lifestyles and cultures and people in action. But it's also amazing that you see many of the same things here. Those camping out down in Wall Street would like to know that they are doing the same in Amsterdam (right outside the hotel I stayed at). The gay marriage debate is going to come to Denmark as it did in the United States. And as I'm in Denmark, the Danish princess Mary is in New York.

It's always important to remember, in the word of a fellow Brandeis alum, Thomas Friedman, that the world is flat. What goes on in one part of the world effects, and then is usually copied in the rest of the world. So understanding your company and your company's relationship in the international world means that you need to be up-to-date with what's happening both at home and abroad.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Driving Your Co-Workers Nuts

We all have co-workers that drive us nuts, but what are the things that really get us going? Well AOL Jobs decided to ask around and compiled a list of 13 things that people are doing at work that drive their co-workers crazy. A few comments on them below:

1. Hovering - I hate this and I know people that do this constantly. Saying hello or joining in a conversation is one thing but when your co-worker turns back to their computer or picks up the phone, it should be a subtle sign to leave

2. Micro-managing - This is not just for managers--all of us are guilty of this at one time or another. Self-awareness goes a long way to fixing this problem but if you feel like you're getting micromanaged, make sure to say something constructive to the person so that it doesn't continue because that resentment will build

3. Showing up late for meetings - In college, our classes started 10 minutes after the scheduled time to allow people to get from class to class. I feel like that attitude continued in the workforce. It became such an epidemic at my old job that no one would actually show up until 5 minutes after the meeting was scheduled because they knew the meeting wouldn't start on time which moved our meetings back even further. Nip this in the bud before your meetings are starting 20 minutes late.

4. People who use scented products - This is a serious one for someone like me with allergies where whole days have been ruined because people need to pump on a little more perfume in the office or on the train. Be considerate of those around you and if you're going to do something that is going to smell or bother other people (eating smelly foods is another issue), take it away from your co-workers to the bathroom (for perfume) or the kitchen (for food).

5. Favoritism - We all hate this because sometimes the results are so obvious. There are always the "Golden Child" in a department and it's fine if someone gets preferential treatment if that treatment is merit-based, but everyone should be on a level playing-field and no one should be given a better status because of personal relationships. At an old job, there was a woman manager who would only promote other women. That was great for those women, but her favoritism made it so that other people saw she was only promoting those people because of their gender.

What are your pet peeves around the office? What do your co-workers do that drive you crazy? Let us know in the comments below!

Friday, October 21, 2011

The Blame Game

Full disclosure: I am a big Yankees fan who very much enjoyed seeing the Red Sox totally choke at the end of the season. Since then, they've undergone may personnel changes and the fingerpointing has started. Last week an article came out in the Boston Globe saying the manager was distracted with a divorce and pills and people were more interesting in eating chicken, drinking beer and playing video games than what was going on on the field. If their late-season collapse wasn't enough, this certainly has put many people over the edge.

The issue, though, is that this would have never been a problem had the Red Sox kept on winning. When things are going right, people are very adept at sweeping issues under the rug. When things go wrong, the fingers come out and people get scape-goated--especially those who aren't in the organization any longer. This is not just on a baseball team; this occurs in many companies today.

When things were going well in the mid 2000s, no one wanted to say anything about excess and greed and corruption and shadiness. But when the market started tanking in 2008 and people lost their jobs, fingers started to be pointed. Now companies tout the fact that they cleared out the bad apples and they are trustworthy again.

The key is to make sure during good times that these problems aren't out there so you're not left pointing fingers when things go wrong. Every company has a hiccup now and again, but how you handle it before, during and after a hiccup can go a long way to determining what type of company you are. And right now, the Red Sox don't look like a great organization.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The Best of the Best Perks

My first job out of college had a stocked fridge of sodas and snacks. I thought this was the greatest perk in the world. I would chomp down on some chips and sip my soda and think that I had it pretty good. And then my friend started working at Google and told me about the massages he gets...and the free food...and all the other great perks and I realized that my free soda and chips, while awesome in their own right, were nowhere near what some other people were getting.

Mashable wrote on Monday about the best of the best perks from some of the top Social Media companies such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and more. Check it out as it's amazing some of the perks that these companies offer. But I certainly agree with what the article says: "From yoga to catered lunches, 401(k)s to dry cleaning, sports teams to vacation days, these tech companies seem to understand that quality of life affects productivity — and that having to run fewer errands after work means you’re more likely to stay at the office."

And that's important to remember as you design perks for your company--or choose the company that you want to work at in the future: sometimes it's not about the monetary value of the perk, but rather quality of life, peace of mind, and time savings that go farther in making sure that employees stay happy, healthy, productive, and engaged.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Astronology - Social Media in the Workforce...Enhancement or Interruption?

Astronology

Volume XII

Issue 15

October 18, 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

The calendar year may be coming to a close, but the 2011 Astron Road Show continues on!  On October 28th, National Director Mike Maciekowich will present on trends in executive compensation to the Vision Serve Alliance Conference (New York, NY).  The conference is hosted by Astron Solutions' client Lighthouse International.

 

Fact or Fiction?

The iLoo, a Microsoft powered, wi-fi internet capable portable toilet, was a hoax.

 

FICTION  

 

The iLoo was a real project for Microsoft's MSN UK division. However, the project was cancelled shortly after the project was leaked to the public and garnered negative reaction. 

 

 

 

Social Media in the Workforce...Enhancement or Interruption?

Blogging, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter. These are various forms of social media that have infiltrated lives across the globe and have also entered many organizations' workspaces. This technology is changing the way workers interact with each other. As great as a gift social media has been for some organizations, there is also criticism over its usage. In light of the pros and cons of social media, organizations worldwide have to decide whether social media will hinder or support their organizational cultures..... 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