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Clark Schaefer Strategic HR's wheel of HR Services, including HR Strategy, Recruitment, Training & Development, Benefits & Compensation, Communications, Employee Relations, Recordkeeping, and Health, Safety & Security

Succession Planning: How Can We Prepare for Exits of Key Employees?

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What Role Should HR Play in Benefits Open Enrollment to Ensure Success?

There's no doubt that employee benefits brokers play a vital role in any benefits enrollment process. They know what benefits programs are available, which vendors can provide them, and how benefits are priced.
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Conflict Management Strategies To Help Employees Work Together

With the help of a few good tactics and a great HR partner, it is possible to address conflict in work relationships and help employees find functional strategies for moving forward and working well together.
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Civility in the Workplace

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What Questions Should I Ask During An Exit Interview?

HR Question: We’ve decided to start conducting exit interviews but aren’t sure of the right questions to ask. What are some key questions to ask during an exit interview? HR Answer: Exit interviews are an important part of the employee life cycle. These interviews, conducted after an employee has formally turned in their resignation and […]
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Specific Ways HR Can Cultivate an Inclusive Workplace

HR Question: We’re celebrating the last full week of Black History month, and we want to keep the conversation going. How can our HR department cultivate a more inclusive environment beyond Black History Month? HR Answer: While the month of February inspires us to celebrate the successes and recognize the struggles of Black and African […]
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How Do I Successfully Coach Employees to Improve Performance?

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How Do I Manage a Disrespectful Employee?

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How Can I Support Employee Well-Being Beyond the EAP?

HR Question: Our HR team is exploring ways we can support employee well-being in addition to offering an EAP. What should we consider in our approach? HR Answer: While many organizations have implemented an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) as an important way to support their employees’ mental health, that is only one component of well-being. […]
Clark Schaefer Strategic HR's wheel of HR Services, including HR Strategy, Recruitment, Training & Development, Benefits & Compensation, Communications, Employee Relations, Recordkeeping, and Health, Safety & Security

How Can HR Play a Strategic Role in My Organization?

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Barriers To Effective Training and Development

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How to Simplify Your Work Life

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Three Ways Employers Can Promote Work-Life Balance

It’s no secret that the work environment has changed in recent years. We’ve experienced a pandemic, a labor shortage, inflation, and a contentious election, just to name a few. The recent Mercer Global Talent Trends found that more than 80% of employees are at risk of burnout. This was found to be stemming from excessive workload, […]
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What Are Employee Pulse Surveys And How Can They Increase Retention?

HR Question: We are exploring ways to increase our employee retention and engagement, and someone suggested doing an employee pulse survey. Can you explain what that is and how to best use it to drive engagement? HR Answer: Given the labor market the past few years, it is no secret that employers have seen formidable […]
Clark Schaefer Strategic HR's wheel of HR Services, including HR Strategy, Recruitment, Training & Development, Benefits & Compensation, Communications, Employee Relations, Recordkeeping, and Health, Safety & Security

What Happens If the Non-Compete Ban Goes Into Effect?

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How to Offer Training & Development for Remote Employees

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How to Re-Energize Your Team Through Training & Development

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How Do I Conduct a Training Needs Analysis?

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How Can Managers Reduce Turnover?

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Top 3 Reasons Why New Hires Leave… And How to Turn Around Your Turnover!

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Is it Important to Use Consensual Relationship Agreements?

Clark Schaefer Strategic HR's wheel of HR Services, including HR Strategy, Recruitment, Training & Development, Benefits & Compensation, Communications, Employee Relations, Recordkeeping, and Health, Safety & Security

Are You Ready For These Top HR Trends in 2024?

As we transition into a new year, the world of Human Resources is poised to undergo several transformative trends that reflect the evolving landscape of work. Some transformations are already at work, such as the continued integration of technology in HR processes, with the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and automation tools. These […]
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Four Ways to Improve New Hire Onboarding and Training

HR Question: Currently, our onboarding includes completing new hire paperwork, going over our company history and policies, ensuring they have the necessary technology tools, and having them meet with select employees to learn what they need to learn to hit the ground running. What else should we incorporate to improve our new hire onboarding and […]
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5 Key Points To Use Assessments in the Employee Life Cycle

What is so significant about the term experience? Experience is how we remember life. An experience awakens the senses and, for better or worse, leaves a lasting impression. Often, those impressions are shared with others, especially with the ease of the Internet and social media. Driven by this, organizations today strive to leave a positive […]
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What Are Total Compensation Statements?

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 […]
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Building A DEI&B Roadmap

When considering how to implement a diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B) roadmap, many organizations may feel intimidated. It can feel like a mountain to climb when it comes to the sheer number of possibilities, programs, and efforts that you can undertake. So, what’s a measured and structured way of implementing (or evaluating already established) […]
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How will AI impact the Human Resources function?

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked debate about its effect on a wide variety of industries and job roles—and the Human Resources function is one of them! Many have wondered if AI’s impact on HR will lead to a significant reduction or complete elimination of HR professionals. Surely, it’s not possible to take […]
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What Are The Benefits of Providing a Mentoring Program?

HR Question: Our team members have been asking for additional development opportunities and a mentoring program has been suggested. What are the benefits of a mentoring program, and how do we implement one? HR Answer: The benefits of having a mentor can be immeasurable. Almost 80% of CEO’s say they had mentors throughout their careers […]
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What Are Stay Interviews and What Questions Should I Ask?

HR Question: Can you explain stay interviews – what are they? How should we use them and what should we ask? HR Answer: Not to be confused with exit interviews (meant for seeking to understand why departing employees are leaving), stay interviews are a great tool to understand why your employees choose to stay with […]
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HR’s Role During An Economic Crisis

High inflation, rising interest rates, record-low unemployment, and strong consumer spending seem to have economists scratching their heads. In today’s economic uncertainty, HR professionals are preparing to pivot to meet the needs of their organizations should the economy go into recession. HR professionals are no strangers to navigating and leading through turbulent times. Throughout the […]
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Could Sabbaticals Be Your Next Retention Tool?

HR Question: In today’s fast-paced and high-pressure market, it’s difficult to truly disconnect from work. We’ve been trying to find ways to give our team a break to avoid burnout, but sometimes a week of vacation just isn’t enough. Could sabbaticals be the newest tool in our retention toolbox? HR Answer: You’re not alone in […]
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How Can You Teach a Manager to be a Good Listener?

HR Question: I’ve received a couple of complaints about one of our managers because he is quick to jump to conclusions and doesn’t listen well to his team. I want to provide him with some coaching on active listening. Can you offer suggestions on how to teach him to be a good listener? HR Answer: […]
Clark Schaefer Strategic HR's wheel of HR Services, including HR Strategy, Recruitment, Training & Development, Benefits & Compensation, Communications, Employee Relations, Recordkeeping, and Health, Safety & Security

Why Is It Important To Get An Employee’s Signature?

Have you ever had an employee question an employment agreement or say they didn’t mean to agree to a term of their employment? Why is it so important to get an employee’s signature? This is a critical question for all employers, and the answer applies to more than just employment agreements! At its root, a […]
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Work-Life Balance Has Become Work-Life Integration

Let’s begin with the understanding that some people are going to hate this idea. Work-life integration? Work seeping into all areas of your life at all hours of the day sounds awful, right? Isn’t it already happening? It is likely that most of you thought about an upcoming deadline, had a great idea on that […]
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Are Employee Gift Cards Considered Taxable Benefits?

HR Question: To thank my employees for their extra efforts, I have provided them with a $50 gift card.  Accounting is telling me I have to report the value of the gift cards as taxable benefits.  Is that true? HR Answer: Yes, it’s true! According to the IRS, cash, gift certificates, and gift cards are […]
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What is HR’s Role in the Mergers & Acquisitions Process?

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) are a complicated process affecting every facet of an organization – most importantly, its people. Because employees are the key to ensuring the success of any organization, it is critical to develop a thoughtful and strategic human resources-focused approach in the M&A process. This requires HR leaders to be involved from […]
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Tips For How To Have Difficult Conversations With Employees

HR Question: Each time I take on a new role managing staff, I find myself needing to have difficult conversations with employees about sensitive issues. I’ve had to deal with hygiene issues, someone who wore too much perfume, and even someone who wore an unsightly shirt every single day. What is the best way to […]
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Benefits of Using Employee Engagement Surveys

Question: What is an employee engagement survey and why would our company need one? Answer: Employee engagement surveys are a great tool to have to help businesses get their employees involved and actively engaged in operations. Basically, it’s a survey that gives employees the opportunity to share their opinions on the business-related issues of their […]
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Mental Health Concerns in the Workplace

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 […]
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Why Employee Retention is More Important Now Than Ever

We’ve all been hearing the same thing: we’re in the Post-Pandemic War for Talent. Some have called it the Turnover Tsunami or the Great Resignation. No matter what it’s called, the reality remains the same: businesses are in a talent crisis. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 9.2 million job openings in May 2021 – […]