Archives

7 Steps that Managers Can Take to Improve Employee Engagement

By William Taylor If you want higher productivity from your employees and better customer service, one way to achieve that is boosting employee engagement. A recent survey reported that about 63 percent of U.S. workers are not engaged in their jobs. When employees are disengaged, they lose productivity and can negatively impact the morale of […]

OSHA and the NLRB gang up on employers

by Jeffrey A. Gruen The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will now refer all untimely retaliation claims to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to determine whether an employer engaged in an unfair labor practice (ULP) under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).   Background On March 6, 2014, David Michaels, OSHA’s assistant secretary of […]

How Attractive Are You to Potential Employees?

For instance, while you may be the greatest employer, if you do not have a company website, chances are that you will appear “antiquated” and some candidates may not consider you as their top choice.  Therefore, the following are areas that you may want to explore in preparation for recruiting candidates.

Train Workers on What to Do in Weather Emergencies

Weather emergencies and other natural disasters can strike any workplace, often with little warning. If you and your employees are not adequately prepared for these events, the potential for a catastrophe is heightened. On the other hand, when you’ve anticipated emergency needs and prepared your employees to deal effectively with the most difficult situations, the […]

Maryland transgender rights law takes effect October 1

by Kevin C. McCormick Maryland’s new law prohibiting discrimination against transgender individuals in areas of employment, housing, credit, and public accommodations goes into effect October 1. The Fairness for All Marylanders Act passed the legislature in March and was signed by Governor Martin O’Malley in May. It adds “gender identity” to Maryland’s existing laws that […]

Strategy, Mission, and Vision: How Do They All Fit Together?

A lot of buzzwords get thrown around in business today. Some of them are productive, some of them are trendy, and some are confusing. What can be especially confusing is when multiple words are used to convey related but separate themes. Employees and managers alike are often confused by the difference between their company’s vision, […]

Résumé Review System

Here’s the system I recommend: Make a quick pass through your pile of credentials, glancing at each candidate’s résumé. Don’t read, just glance. (This is critical—résumés can be fascinating, but you must steel yourself. Set the résumé aside the instant you know the person is not fully qualified.) Put the credentials into three piles: Pile […]

Maryland parental leave law takes effect October 1

by Kevin C. McCormick Maryland’s new Parental Leave Act (PLA), which grants unpaid parental leave benefits to employees working for some employers too small to be eligible for leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), will take effect October 1. The PLA requires employers with 15 to 49 employees to provide unpaid […]