Author: Lin Grensing-Pophal, Contributing Editor

absenteeism

The Vicious Cycle of Absenteeism and Employee Engagement

Even for very large companies, absenteeism among employees can be a big deal. But, for smaller organizations, where there are fewer people in a given position—perhaps only one person in a certain position—absenteeism can have a significant impact on productivity and customer service.

mother

Would More Favorable Parental Leave Laws Help Boost Workforce Participation?

We hear a lot in the news these days about the historically low unemployment rate, but one figure we don’t hear about nearly as much is the labor force participation rate—the ratio between the size of the labor force and the size of the overall population for that age group, often grouped by cohort (i.e., […]

An Employee Perspective on Workplace Trends

New research from Paychex sought to learn what employees, not employers, have to say about what shapes an organization. The research offers a useful perspective for any HR professional or recruiter that wonders what jobseekers are looking for when it comes to certain employment trends like benefits and retirement, pay equity, ghosting, and more.

training

6 Reasons Why Training Employees Is Worth the Investment

Training your staff: It’s good for workers, and it’s good for employers, too. It’s easy for businesses to get sucked into the perceived reasons why they shouldn’t be providing training to their employees, such as the cost to the business and the time it takes out of regular working hours.

raise

Weak Reasons to Ask for a Raise

It’s not uncommon for employees to feel that they are undervalued and, consequently, underpaid. But, while some employees seem adept at building the case for a pay raise, others struggle to do the same, continuing to feel frustrated and sometimes even choosing to leave the organization in search of better pay. It may be that […]

E-Verify: What Employers Should Know Before Enrolling

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has increased employers’ Form I-9 audits by 60% in the current fiscal year. Consequently, many employers are considering enrolling in E-Verify, which could assist them in verifying their new employees’ employability and decrease the risk of an audit. You should involve legal counsel in the decision-making process, however, because […]

pay

How to Implement a Hierarchical Pay Raise Strategy

In two previous posts, we’ve been discussing the need for, and the merits of, implementing a hierarchical pay raise structure as opposed to a more or less flat structure whereby all employees generally receive about the same pay increase.

process

Letting Employees Own Their Processes

Most people who have managed employees have at one time or another been frustrated with the performance of a staff member. He or she just simply doesn’t seem to “get it.” The person isn’t performing the work the way you think he or she should, and despite all of the sit-downs, performance reviews, additional training, […]

In-House Recruiters Are Out; Staffing Firms Are In

As technology becomes more advanced, the human race must be prepared to adapt with it, or risk being left behind. While recruiting technology is making recruiters lives easier, it’s also shaping the hiring landscape. Is your company prepared for this shift?

Job Applicants with Criminal Charges, Convictions: What Can Employers Do?

Employers often use job applications to seek information about candidates’ conviction records. Criminal background checks are often performed before hiring an employee. The reasons for seeking the information seem obvious, but unfortunately, how the information can be used is not.