I was delivering EEOC training when the next slide was Protected Classes. I noticed some quizzical looks and furrowed brows in the audience so I gave a broad definition of Protected Class, and went on to define Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; only the most important federal statute banning discrimination in the workplace. I went on to explain that …
Addressing the Side Hustle
I recently listened to a podcast of one of my fellow FOT team member’s Let’s Fix Work podcasts (which are awesome Laurie, by the way) that was titled Why the Side Hustle is Failing You. The premise of the episode is that side hustle is something that’s been inappropriately glorified by Gary Vee and others, and that it actually can …
Josh Bersin at HR Tech: You Need to Hire Generalists Because “They Are Going to Rule the World”
Editor’s Note – FOT Contributor John Hollon is on the ground this week reporting from the HR Technology Conference & Exhibition in Las Vegas. When Josh Bersin talks, talent management people listen. Everyone’s favorite technology analyst kicked off the first full day of the annual HR Technology Conference & Exhibition in Las Vegas with a keynote speech on Making Sense …
Transgenderism In The Workplace: The New Not-So-New Normal
Many years ago I met a co-worker, Terry. Terry was quiet, but friendly enough, a bit of a loner, but social enough. Terry was introverted, but just outgoing enough to be someone to look forward to chatting with. We crossed paths frequently in the kitchen, the men’s room, the elevator, Starbucks, etc. We would chat about everything from food, life, …
Degrees Measure Resilience In Employment… And That’s Why We Require Them.
Do you have to have a degree to get hired at your company? Maybe. Do you need a degree to be one of the best in any company? Hell no. That’s probably why Ernst and Young and other have made decisions in the last few years to drop the degree requirement recently. Then why do we require degrees? I think …
Artifacts of Culture or “What’s in the BOX!”
Company culture. The go-to excuse or ultimate reason for everything good or bad that happens at a company. It’s never the people – it’s the culture. It enables idiots and sinners. It encourages geniuses and visionaries. It is what makes each company different and unique. It’s also what everyone shares, making us the same. It is the ultimate paradox. It is both good and bad. It is common while still being individual. It allows you to mold it while …
Onboarding…Who Cares?
Really, who cares? I suppose many do not. I know many companies do not onboard effectively and seem to keep their doors open. I know many companies that say they onboard, but do an abysmal job at it. They too seem to be still schlepping soap products or selling mattresses or building software regularly. However, if you have a workforce …
How Do You Bury The Dead in Your Organization?
So, the question for today is how do you bury the dead in your organization? As I discuss this, I am reminded of a scene in the Monty Python classic movie “The Holy Grail”. During the black plague, dead bodies are being loaded onto a horse drawn cart and an individual says to the body taker that he is not …
Lessons On Leadership from My Bad Boss(es)
Need a conversation prompt? Just say, “I hate my boss.” Add a swear for emphasis, some name-calling if that makes you feel better. That phrase usually starts an echo around a table or at a bar. A lot of “me too” and “oh, you should meet mine.” Then everyone starts to recite all of the oh-so-obvious ways that their managers …
Paid Family Leave is a No-Brainer
As you begin reading this article, imagine a place where babies are born into the world by mothers and fathers that might want to spend a little bit of time with the newborn. Just a few weeks though, nothing wild. Crazy, right? You would think so when you look at federal policy that protects the rights of working parents, and also …