At age thirteen I was led to an epiphany. The year was 1976, and this is my story – – I was an eighth grader, rocking a pair of light blue converse all-stars, the perfect afro, and living large at Canterbury Jr. High School. That was the year of my (to this day) most infamous encounter with Clifford, a classmate and neighbor, who by that time …
The Five New Year’s Resolutions of an HR Leader
2019 is just around the corner and HR leaders everywhere are making their New Year’s resolutions. I’m not talking about false promises to lay off gluten, flatten that spare tire around the midsection, call grandma in Sheboygan more often, eat more kale, blah blah blah. That’s all well and good, but how about making a collective resolution to your employees and …
Walk This Way: What the #GoogleWalkout Means for HR Leaders
The irony of the Aerosmith reference in my title is not lost on me in the wake of the #GoogleWalkout over sexual harassment, gender and pay equality, and transparency in reporting. Check the lyrics if you were born in the ’90’s. What struck me as I was reading about this protest wasn’t necessarily the fact that Google paid executives to …
I’m Not Sensitive, You’re Just Wrong
“I’m very laid back. I only care about two things: 1) everyone on earth and their opinion of me, and 2) the crushing psychological weight of being alive.” –author unknown ______________________________ Let’s say you’re a hiring manager trying to fill a key position. You think you might want to know how well someone can take feedback? Of course …
If You Want Me To Stay, Show Me The Money.
Last week The Wall Street Journal reported a 17-year high for folks leaving their roles to take new positions this year. This comes with reports of 30 percent plus increases for those in executive and management level roles. The average annual increase for employees this past year across all organizations in the USA is under 4 %, with promotions less …
Walmart to Provide Employees a College Education for $1 a Day…
If you follow this space, you’ll know I think the following about Tuition Aid as a benefit: 1–It’s one of the most powerful benefits you can provide. 2–It will never cost you as much as you think it will because it is incredibly hard to use. People have families, people have lives once they get above the traditional age of …
It’s Not Me, It’s You
People are going to leave your organization. Sure, you can say that they left because they found a new industry, they found their passion, or they just got bored. You can brush it off and refuse to take a look at the ins and outs of your business and benefits. While there will be a certain amount of folks who …
How Much is Too Much When It Comes to Relationships with Your Direct Reports?
You know that side-job you have as the informal HR Advisor for any/all of your friends? It can be enlightening at times, even uplifting, when you hear some of the ridiculous sh*t people are forced to put up with in their workplace. For the situation to reach the “Mind if I run something by you?” stage, it usually entails the …
We Don’t Actually Have to Retain All of Our Employees!
In 2018 and beyond, employee retention will become a huge focus. Why? Unemployment rates and demographics are kicking all TA shops in the mouth! The best hire you will ever make is the one you don’t have to make! So, welcome back to the main stage, Retention! Some could argue that employee retention is always an important issue, but during …
You Hate Your Job: Welcome to Camp Suck It Up
It’s the end of 2017, and there’s one trend I’ve picked up on. A lot of people in my life are generally negative about work. A little mad, a little disenchanted about where they find themselves in life–and work is always a part of it. Is that you? Are you having a Christmas break pity party for yourself? Welcome to …