Yelp!, Google, Angie’s List, TripAdvisor…. There’s no question that consumers truly have a wealth of information on other customers’ experiences online, but did you know your employees are reviewing your company as well? With sites like Glassdoor.com, CareerLeaks.com, and Vault.com on the rise, it’s time to start thinking about how you will respond to reviews – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Like most consumer sites, the ability to have reviews removed can be very difficult, but responding to reviews can show that your company is actively engaged in what current and former employees are saying about your company! [...]

Every year, near the end of summer, as Football season approaches, people start to get really amped up about the Football season. More specifically, people get excited about their fantasy football leagues. As business owners and operators, the idea of a company-sponsored Fantasy Football league might be cringe-worthy, but maybe it’s not as bad and scary and it seems. Sure, a study came out last year from Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. that had employers absolutely terrified that Fantasy Football was costing BILLIONS! Headlines read “Study Shows Fantasy Football costing $13 Billion Annually” or “Employers Paying Billion Dollar Price for [...]

Workplace bullies, like schoolyard bullies, have always existed. But only recently, with revisions to sexual harassment legislation and inclusion of anti-bullying policy in company handbooks nationwide, have the bullies been identified as harmful to productivity and legal liabilities for employers. Studies have shown that an estimated $200 billion is lost annually due to higher absenteeism, lower productivity, and litigation caused by workplace bullies. Here’s a handy list of potential problem employees to watch for. Do you know someone in your organization that fits the bill? Or an even tougher pill to swallow: are you one of these bullies? If you [...]

Anyone seen Magic Mike… or more recently Magic Mike XL? Maybe it’s just the woman in me, but I would say those moves are pretty creative! Apparently, District Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr., doesn’t share my same enthusiasm for the arts. Haha!  So...is Magic Mike exempt...or not? [tweetthis]Magic Mike: Exempt or Not? Depends on your definition of Creative Professional...[/tweetthis] Currently under the Fair Labor Standards Act, a class of employees known as Creative Professionals are exempt from overtime and other protections.  The official description of a Creative Professional: To qualify as a “creative professional,” an employee must be (i) compensated [...]

After my initial Digital Natives blog, I got a lot of feedback from friends and family and readers about the term and who falls under which heading! (Thanks for reading!!) My favorite piece of feedback came from my cousin who wasn’t a big fan of the term Digital Immigrant – which is the official term for those who don’t fall under the ‘digital native’ heading. Defining himself as a Digital Legacy, I started to really break down the meaning of that phrase and why it may be a better indication of the skillset he represents. [tweetthis]Why you may want to add Digital Legacies to your job descriptions.[/tweetthis] [...]

It’s happened to all of us, you go to your favorite restaurant or neighborhood hangout and there’s a banner outside “under new management” or “under new ownership.” Depending on your personal experiences and what you’ve heard from friends, neighbors and relatives, this could be a blessing or terrifying change. Imagine how a business transition like this felt or looked for the employees of the establishment? [tweetthis]How business transitions are handled can make all the difference to employees.[/tweetthis] As an HR professional, I’ve assisted with changes both in ownership and management. I must say that the way business transitions like this are handled can make all the difference to the [...]

In the news lately there have been an overwhelming number of stories about children and adolescents being a victim to a bullying. Did you know that reports of workplace bullying are on the rise? It’s been a hot topic in the HR realm – adding anti-bullying policy to your handbook, but is it still happening in your workplace right under your nose? Are you missing some of the signs? Teasing and banter is common in workplaces, but when does teasing cross the line? I’ve done some digging and found 3 helpful guidelines about when bullying may be happening right under [...]