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HR Question: We’re having a hard time meeting our business goals as we’re understaffed and finding it difficult to fill our open positions. The idea of using interns came up in a brainstorming session. Should my company consider creating an internship program to address our talent shortage? HR Answer: You are not alone as many […]
HR Question: Can you explain Total Compensation Statements … What are they? What should they include? When should we use them? HR Answer: Total Compensation Statements convey the total value of your compensation and benefits offerings as they include an employee’s direct and indirect compensation. They are a great tool to show not only how […]
Can we ask if our employees are vaccinated? Isn’t this a HIPAA violation or an illegal inquiry under the ADA or somehow confidential information? Employers can ask for proof of vaccination unless there is a state or local law or order to the contrary.* When an employer is requesting or reviewing medical information in its capacity as […]
HR Question: As June is Pride Month, many organizations are taking this opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to the LGBTQ+ community. But is it enough? How can we support our LGBTQ+ employees? HR Answer: A year ago, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that employers may not discriminate based on sexual orientation or […]
HR Question: How can we reduce workplace violence? HR Answer: The numbers are staggering and undeniable. According to SHRM’s 2019 study, 48% of HR professionals reported some type of workplace violence incident in their organization. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported in the same year there were 888,220 events or exposures involving injury […]
In today’s chaotic environment, many American workers have been searching for ways to cope with the “new normal.” Between the pandemic, civil unrest, a divisive and contentious election, and frequent changes in their day to day life, it’s no surprise that mental health concerns in the workplace are on the rise. What impact can your […]
As HR professionals and business leaders, we are often seen as the guardians of our organization’s culture and tasked with leading change in the work environment. That said, molding a culture into one that embraces and encourages Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) is not necessarily an easy task. There is no switch to flip, and […]
Leader performance during a crisis sets the tone for the entire organization, and the current pandemic has tested leaders like no other. How leaders respond or fail to respond is key to future success. Leaders who remain calm, encourage input, take an open-minded approach, and evaluate what the company can do better post-crisis are more […]
“The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.” ~ Joseph Campbell “…and not being penalized for it.” ~ Robin Shabazz, JD By Robin Throckmorton, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP: Last week, I had the honor of emceeing the Clermont County Chamber of Commerce’s Top Talent event – “The ABC’s of DE&I.” I can confidently […]
HR Question: The longstanding systemic racism and racial injustice against Black Americans is causing turmoil in my community – with my friends, with my family, and with my coworkers. What can my organization do to activate solutions to promote progress against systemic racism? How can I be a part of the solution through my workplace […]
As the coronavirus continues to dominate much of our news and impact every facet of our day to day lives, it can be difficult for employees to manage their stress and anxiety amid COVID-19. Managers and HR professionals can play an important role in helping employees cope with the added stress and uncertainties of the […]
HR Question: As a business owner, how do I know when I should engage someone to help me with our human resources needs? HR Answer: The quick answer is the typical rule of thumb is to have one HR professional for every 100 employees. However, depending on the scope of the role and how proactive […]
Question: AED’s have been mentioned in safety demos and tutorials that I have attended. Does my company need one of these devices? If so, what type of training is needed in order to use it? Answer: The safety and well-being of your employees and anyone who visits your place of employment should be top of […]
Question: We are a small business trying to attract and retain staff in this competitive job market. We can only offer so much in compensation. Are there any low-cost benefit ideas you can recommend? Answer: With unemployment levels at a record low, attracting and retaining talent is extremely hard regardless of the size […]
HR Question: I reported “creditability” of my prescription plans in March of this year and now I am getting notices that it is due in October. Are these the same notices? Is this the same creditable coverage document and what do I need to do? HR Answer: Creditable coverage documents and notices can be confusing […]
Be smart. Do good. That’s a simple, yet powerful message for companies that want to have a positive public image. Particularly in today’s world, your company’s brand, reputation, and involvement in the community play an important role on your current and potential consumers’ interest in doing business with you. In addition, your company’s community involvement, […]
Question: Our office struggles with workplace gossip. It tends to breed negativity between our employees and hurts our culture of teamwork. What tips do you have for dealing with employees who love to gossip and complain? Answer: Communication is always a good thing, right? Typically, the answer to this is a resounding, “Yes!” However, when […]
Question: We know that finding and hiring good talent is a real challenge. Fortunately, we don’t have many open positions right now, but how do we keep the talent that we have? What can we do to prevent our employees from leaving and improve our retention? Answer: This is an excellent question! And one that […]
Sexual Harassment, gender inequality and discrimination are all issues that have been wrestled with in the workplace for decades. You would be hard pressed to find a manager or HR professional who hasn’t learned about these issues, received some sort of training about what they are, and strategies on how to help protect their organization […]
Question: We’re in the process of improving our candidate experience, and we just don’t know where to start. What should we consider as we re-vamp this process? Answer: In an industry that contains a high percentage of rejection, talent acquisition can often times become somewhat demoralizing, both for the job seeker and the recruiter. One […]
Question: With the cold months and potential for bad weather, I’m concerned about the possibility of weather impeding our employees’ ability to get to work. What workplace practices and policies do we need to consider? Answer: Great Question, and kudos to you for proactively thinking about potential challenges for your employees and the business. As […]
Question: We have received several complaints from employees and upon investigating they seem to be more bullying than harassment. There doesn’t seem to be any reference to protected status. How do I handle bullying complaints? Answer: Even though bullying may not be legally actionable, it’s no less detrimental to the work environment and morale. The […]
HR Question: With Halloween right around the corner, we’d like to allow our employees to wear costumes to celebrate Halloween in the workplace but we are worried it could get out of hand. What kind of guidelines should we set? HR Answer: While celebrating Halloween in the workplace may sound festive and fun, it’s important […]
By John Throckmorton, MS, SPHR Many HR professionals have experienced working on a project and struggling to finish the job. This could have been the result of resources that were only available part time, scope that changed after the job was started, or a timeline that was way too ambitious. As HR professionals, we are […]
Question: I just took over responsibility for managing workers’ compensation claims at my company. Where do I start? Answer: If you are new to the responsibilities of managing the workers’ compensation process, it can be overwhelming. There are responsibilities that both the employer and employee have in the process. Compliance laws vary from state to […]
Question: What is Civility Training and should I be offering it at my work-site? I have done the typical harassment, communication, and customer service training – is Civility Training different? Answer: Civility Training is a new approach for training. It is workplace training that includes: Harassment, Bullying, Cultural sensitivity, Diversity, and Professional Etiquette – all […]
HR Question: Our organization is hosting our annual holiday party, and we’re trying to answer a question – do we have to pay our employees to attend? HR Answer: It’s that time of year again – the holiday season is here! And with this season come parties and events designed to celebrate this festive time […]
By Avery Helwig, aPHR and Robin Throckmorton, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP Whether you like it or not, the Millennial generation has arrived; and amid the stereotypes, this is a generation that is determined to reach success. While it may be hard to look past the labels that have been put on this young generation, we must […]
Question: I’m trying to improve our old traditional employee newsletter. What information will help create a communication piece that is effective and meets the needs of all of our employees (onsite, remote, etc.)? I really want it to be worthwhile. Answer: The days of the old employee newsletter have really changed. With today’s technology, we […]
HR Question: What are some fun and interesting ways to encourage employee engagement with my team that do not take tons of time or money? HR Answer: We spend so much of our time with our co-workers every week, and it is important to keep things exciting and to maintain open communication among the teams. […]
Question: My manager is upset because his employees are speaking another language in front of him and he is unable to understand what they are saying. He wants me to write a English-only policy for the department and I am not comfortable with that. Is there a legal basis to help back me up to […]
Senior HR Business Strategist
By Robin Throckmorton, MA, SPHR, SCP Have you heard about the ‘Gig Workforce’? Also called: on-demand workforce, freelancers, subcontractors, and contingent workforce. The Gig Workforce is not really new but according to Freelancing in America more than 57 million Americans do freelance work – that’s 35% of the workforce. And, as reported by the […]
Question: I’ve been hearing a lot about employers offering financial wellness programs as a benefit for employees in 2017. What is a financial wellness program and what are the advantages of offering this benefit to my employees? Answer: Financial wellness programs are becoming increasingly popular as an employee benefit. A 2016 Aon Hewitt report found that […]
HR Question: We are struggling to ensure our communications are being heard by all employees. What could we be doing wrong? HR Answer: Communication with employees is extremely important. As much as you communicate, you will likely never be told your business over communicates. However, we are a society that is on information overload. We […]
Question: What are total compensation statements and why should I consider them for my employees? Answer: Most of the time, an employee’s pay and benefits spread far beyond the base pay. A total compensation statement can be anything from a simple, computer-generated spreadsheet to an elaborate, in-depth analysis with charts or graphs. Providing total compensation […]
Question: My husband just received a “Notice of Creditable Coverage” at home from his employer. As a Human Resources professional, I’m not sure what this is and I am wondering if I am supposed to be distributing something to my employees? Answer: Yes! The Medicare Modernization Act requires entities, employers with prescription drug coverage, to […]
HR Business Advisor
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Clark Schaefer Strategic HR is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities.
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