Astronology - Building Workplace Morale

Astronology Volume XII Issue 30 May 29, 2012 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.   The Astron Road Show   There's one stop on the Astron Road Show coming up in early June!  From June 5th - 7th, National Directors Mike Maciekowich and Jennifer Loftus will be exhibiting at Premier's 2012 Breakthroughs Conference and Exhibition - a major event for those in the healthcare field.  If you'll be in Nashville, please stop by Astron's exhibit booth at the conference and say hello!  We'll be in booth #561.       Building Workplace Morale  There are plenty of reasons why workplace morale needs a closer examination. A shaky economy, a wave of talent loss, the gain of new talent - any big change an organization is going through can result in the need for a morale boost. Most organizations have some programs dedicated to motivating employees to do their best and to feel valued. In this issue of Astronology, we'll take a look at some cost effective practices you may want to implement moving forward.....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 2012, Astron Solutions, LLC ISSN Number 1549-0467 Quick Links Client List Meet the Astron Team Contact Us   World of HR Blog Bringing you Human Resource news from around the globe...compliments of Astron Solutions. More

 

Astronology - Telecommuting Concerns..Are They Blocking the Progress of the Flexible Workplace?

Astronology Volume XII Issue 29 May 15, 2012 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.   The Astron Road Show   There's one stop on the Astron Road Show coming up later this month!  On May 31st, National Director Mike Maciekowich will present at the Society for Human Resource Management of Tompkins County's 2012 conference.  Mike's topic is "Designing an Effective Total Rewards Strategy to Meet Today's Economic and Regulatory Demands."  Click here to learn more about the conference. And if you'll be in Ithaca, NY on May 31st, please stop by Astron's exhibit booth at the conference and say hello!     Telecommuting Concerns...Are They Blocking the Progress of the Flexible Workplace?   Back in 2008, research firm IDC predicted that 75% of the workforce would be mobile by 2012.   In contrast, the Telework Research Center reports that only 2% (2.8 million) workers identify home as their primary location of work, and 17.2 million people work from home at least one day a week. Additionally, Forrester Research reported in 2009 that 34 million Americans work at least occasionally from home, and predicted that by 2016 that number will jump to 63 million. There is definitely growth in the number of telecommuters, but also some evidence of hesitancy on the part of employers in pursuing this alternative work arrangement.....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 2012, Astron Solutions, LLC ISSN Number 1549-0467 Quick Links Client List Meet the Astron Team Contact Us   World of HR Blog Bringing you Human Resource news from around the globe...compliments of Astron Solutions. More

 

Networking a Different Way

Networking stinks. We are taught from early in our youth not to talk to strangers and we spend a lot of time in our adulthood walking past strangers on the street. But, if you're in a room with booze and business suits, you're supposed to be excited about everyone there and find exciting ways to hand the other person a small rectangular piece of cardboard. As you may be able to tell, I avoid networking events whenever possible.

But Forbes has some new ways to network that may make it a bit more enjoyable. I like #5 on their top-5 list: reconnect with your past. I think that everyone should make sure to tap into their alumni networks as great networking opportunities that are a bit less awkward. At the very least, you have one great topic of conversation: the school you shared together.

The other way I've found networking tolerable is to make sure to do it in groups. It's easier to network when you have someone else to pick up the conversation when there is that awkward lull. Find a friend or colleague in your field who you have a good banter with and get working with the room. At the very least, you'll have one person to talk to so you're not that awkward person in the corner of the room trying to look important on their smartphone (and, yes, I've been that person). Make networking work for you.

Top Leaders and Innovation Come from Within

Firms search far and wide for top talent, and, especially leaders. They want people who are innovative and different and add to the diversity of thought in the company. A recent study by The Hay Group via CBS News says that to foster innovation, the best way is to develop leaders from within. And the best way to develop those leaders is to foster collaboration and fairness from within, including this great point from the article:

Managers fail to set the right example by putting themselves before the team when it comes to workload, appreciation, and even compensation. In such a corporate culture, there may be two sets of standards -- one for managers and one for employees. That double standard erodes respect, undermines trust, and leads to disengagement. Employees lose heart and end up just going through the motions.

We've talked on this blog about how the wrong type of management can alienate and discourage good employees. They feel under-appreciated and need to find solace in finding new jobs. Companies are too interested in searching for talent outside of their company to notice the great employees they have already and many times they lose them to other organizations. The key is to make sure to develop from within, allow good performers to be promoted, foster collaboration and innovation and make sure the right people are managing your teams.

Astronology - The Challenges of Rehiring

Astronology Volume XII Issue 28 April 29, 2012 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  New York City has over 700 miles of subway track. FACT! New York City actually has 722 miles of subway track!  Click here to find out other interesting facts about New York.    The Challenges of Rehiring  Back in 2009 we experienced some severe hits to our economy which resulted in record-breaking unemployment rates. Although things have gotten better, a number of organizations have been pondering the thought of rehiring talent shed during the economic downturn.  In a survey conducted by The Society for Human Resource Management, 45% of HR professionals indicated they have rehired some of their former employees.  Have you wondered the same? Keep in mind that perhaps it wasn't an economic reason for the dismissal.  Perhaps the employee left voluntarily and now decided that he / she wants to come back.  Does this scenario warrant serious consideration?....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 2012, Astron Solutions, LLC ISSN Number 1549-0467 Quick Links Client List Meet the Astron Team Contact Us   World of HR Blog Bringing you Human Resource news from around the globe...compliments of Astron Solutions. More

 

Making Your Customers Work for You

There's an old commercial for ING Direct and the idea behind it is that you should have your money work for you. They show dollar bills doing all sorts of things but the theme is that you worked hard to earn that money, and you should have the money now work hard for you. The idea is the same in a business with customers. As Bill Lee writes in the Harvard Business Review blog, there are some things that customers can do better than you--and those things can help advance your business. The idea is that you should grow your customer base and, in turn, they should grow your business.

Lee writes about five things that customers do better than companies including knowing more about each other, being more credible, being more persuasive, understanding the buyers needs, and attracting prospects. The idea is that you don't always need to grow your employee base to grow your business--the goal is to grow your customers. Customers don't always have to buy something (he lists Facebook as an example), but they are integral in growing your brand. And they're a heckuva lot cheaper than hiring an employee. Look at instagram which recently got bought by Facebook for $1 billion--they had ~13 employees but their value was in their customers.

So think about that the next time you have capital to spend. Most companies pump capital into employees to grow their internal infrastructure but it may be just as important to pump that capital into attracting new customers and growing that base. They know your business best and can help promote and grow it. Let your customers work for you (and sometimes they get to be furry and cute).

Finding New Hires in a Relatively Intuitive Place

We spend a lot of time talking about the different places that people go to apply to jobs from job sites such as Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com to help wanted ads in the newspaper or Craigslist to social networking sites like LinkedIn and Facebook, but the place that most new hires come from, according to Forbes, is from internal referrals and a company's own career site.

It turns out that job applications who come in through internal sources get the same number of interviews as ones from outside. However, internal sources, such as employee referrals, inside hires, walk-ins and a company’s career site, produce almost twice the number of hires as external ones, which include job search engines, job boards, print advertising, and job fairs.

“I think a lot of the findings will surprise people, while others will confirm what we’ve known all along,” says Thomas Boyle, director of product marketing at SilkRoad. “What you have to think about is that most companies try and foster internal mobility as part of their employee retention and alignment strategy. So, it’s not uncommon for employees to see and have the opportunity to apply or submit referrals for positions before they ever get released to the public.”

It's a bit surprising at first (especially since we're always thinking of the new and exciting ways that people get jobs, but the truth is that when you think about it more, it seems more intuitive that those who get hired are hired because they either sought out the company they really wanted to work for or because someone internal can vouch for that new employee.

In some ways, this is also a bit disappointing. We've come a long way from potential hires having to beat the pavement and show up at doors to get a job at a place that they don't know anyone at--and it really drives home the old adage that it really is all about who you know. But the truth is that companies are like people and when you bring in someone new, you want to feel like they really want you and you want to feel like you can trust them. Referrals and internal hires are exactly that.

The Norwegians Monitor Bathroom Breaks

Do you ever get back to your desk after going to the bathroom to have someone ask where you were? It feels like a weird questions and an uncomfortable answer--and it feels like your privacy at work is somehow being violated. Well the Norwegians have taken that a step further according to Business Insurance:

Employees at a Norwegian insurance company have eight minutes per day to do their business before an alarm alerts managers of time spent away from their desks, including bathroom breaks. 

Using a new surveillance system, managers at a life insurance unit of Oslo, Norway-based DNB Bank A.S.A. are alerted by flashing lights when an employee has been away from their desk for “personal activities” beyond the allotted time, according to news reports.

Imagine if a company started doing this in the United States--the uproar would be tremendous. I thought getting a hall pass in school was rough but a countdown to do your business is way beyond that. Norway apparently operates a bit differently (or they just have too much loss of productivity from those "on bathroom breaks"). Amazingly, according to the article, this isn't the first time that a Norwegian company has done something like this (and this sounds much worse):

Norway’s chief workplace ombudsman Bjorn Erik Thon told The Telegraph that one firm required employees to wear a red bracelet during their menstrual cycles to indicate the need for more restroom visits.

Wow...

Astronology - Effectively Dealing with Poor Management

Astronology Volume XII Issue 26 April 3, 2012 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 The "natural alarm clock" that some people have, enabling them to wake up a specific time, is due to the anticipated stress of waking up.   FACT!   The "natural alarm clock" that some people have, which enables them to wake up at a specific time, is caused by a burst of adrenocorticotropin hormone. Researchers believe this reflects an unconscious anticipation of the stress of waking up. Here at Astronology, we wonder if this is why the night before an early morning flight, we seem to wake up every hour on the hour!     Effectively Dealing with Poor Management While many individuals assume that pay or benefits are driving factors in employee dissatisfaction and turnover, research points in another direction.  A Gallup Management Journal article highlighting excerpts from the book, First, Break All the Rules, reveals what is often the source of turnover.  Employees join companies...but leave managers. The idea that a manager could affect whether an employee stays loyal to an organization isn't a new concept. What made this article special was that it used a real life example of why one graduate of Stanford and Harvard left a well-known company after working there for only one year. The former employee said of her manager, "He's not a bad man; He's just not a manager. He's insecure and I don't think you can be insecure and be a good manager." Her comment should alert all organizational leaders.....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 2012, Astron Solutions, LLC ISSN Number 1549-0467 Quick Links Client List Meet the Astron Team Contact Us   World of HR Blog Bringing you Human Resource news from around the globe...compliments of Astron Solutions. More

 

Embrace the Meritocracy

In a recent episode of The Office (a show I once loved but has now gone so far downhill), a new manager walks into the office and on the first day does performance reviews where she just gives everyone raises since she doesn't know anyone or their skills. Sometimes it feels like companies do this all the time. Although promotions and raises are supposed to be based on production and hard work, many companies base it on other factors, and it's a shame that they do so.

This is not something new--office politics have been around forever--but the sad part is that in today's economy, it's better to be liked, than to produce. And, in some ways, that's fair as the sum is supposed to be greater than its parts and if someone isn't contributing to the "team" their contribution isn't worth as much. But the truth is that we all have some sort of metrics we get judged on and 90% of the battle should be meeting or exceeding those numbers.

But its rare that companies embrace that way of thinking, and it's a shame. Companies lose some of the best workers because they're too busy trying to make them brown nose their way to a promotion. We've all had bosses who rather hear how great they are and how much you can say "yes" rather than looking at your great numbers and how many times you hit the bell after a sale.

So how do companies change that? Embrace the meritocracy. You produce "X", you get "Y". Simple and straightforward. Special circumstances can always be made for people who go the extra mile but don't get the results that others get, but if someone goes the extra mile and produces, make sure that's celebrated. You want employees to know that you value their production and the best way to do that is to make sure those who make you successful, are rewarded handsomely. You do that by embracing the idea of being a true meritocracy.

Astronology - Work Share vs. Layoffs

Astronology Volume XII Issue 25 March 20, 2012 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 Chocolate can help with your memory.   FACT!   According to Jeff Victoroff, MD, Associate Professor of clinical neurology at the Keck School of Medicine, some researchers suspect that compounds in dark chocolate can help improve memory by increasing blood circulation.  As a result, your brain gets more oxygen and nutrients.  Although more research is needed on the topic, that's all the incentive we here at Astronology need to eat more chocolate!     The Astron Road Show This Thursday, March 22nd, National Director Mike Maciekowich will be attending the Capital Region Human Resource Association (CRHRA) annual One Day Conference in Albany, NY.  Mike looks forward to meeting with our clients and friends from the Albany region in the conference's exhibit hall!  Please be sure to stop by and say hello!   Work Share vs. Layoffs The idea of a layoff brings sheer terror to employees...and headaches to employers. Yet in unsteady economic conditions, many organizations have been faced with this consideration.  As we move into our new normal of ongoing economy uncertainty, any organization could possibly face a layoff in the future, if they have not gone through one or more already.....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 2012, Astron Solutions, LLC ISSN Number 1549-0467 Quick Links Client List Meet the Astron Team Contact Us   World of HR Blog Bringing you Human Resource news from around the globe...compliments of Astron Solutions. More

 

Do One Thing and Do It Well

Whenever I start at any new job position, I have a bit of a panic in the first week: "how the heck am I supposed to be doing all this stuff that they want me to do?!" Life seems overwhelming, and, the truth of the matter, as the job goes along, that feeling doesn't go away--it just changes. So what's the key to multitasking? The Harvard Business Review says today that the goal should be doing one thing at a time:

Tell the truth: Do you answer email during conference calls (and sometimes even during calls with one other person)? Do you bring your laptop to meetings and then pretend you're taking notes while you surf the net? Do you eat lunch at your desk? Do you make calls while you're driving, and even send the occasional text, even though you know you shouldn't?

I nodded my head at all of these, and that can't be a good sign. It got so bad the other day that while on a conference call, I went to send an e-mail and while thinking about the next e-mail I was about to send, I sent the first e-mail to the second e-mail's recipient. Outlook's "recall mail" feature isn't going to make up for that mistake.

But I liked the author's solution: "The best way for an organization to fuel higher productivity and more innovative thinking is to strongly encourage finite periods of absorbed focus, as well as shorter periods of real renewal." And here's how he suggests managers promote doing that:

Astronology - What Type of Managerial Attitude Do You Have?

Astronology Volume XII Issue 24 March 6, 2012 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.   The Astron Road Show On Thursday, March 22nd, National Director Mike Maciekowich will be attending the Capital Region Human Resource Association (CRHRA) annual One Day Conference in Albany, NY.  Mike looks forward to meeting with our clients and friends from the Albany region in the conference's exhibit hall!       What Type of Managerial Attitude Do You Have? Many of us are familiar with the inspirational phrase, "your attitude determines your altitude." In the worlds of human resources and management, this phrase holds much truth. In this issue of Astronology, we take an in-depth look into managerial attitudes, and how they affect the overall health and functioning of an organization.....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 2012, Astron Solutions, LLC ISSN Number 1549-0467 Quick Links Client List Meet the Astron Team Contact Us   World of HR Blog Bringing you Human Resource news from around the globe...compliments of Astron Solutions. More