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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

HR’s Role During An Economic Crisis

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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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Designing a Modern Dress Code for Today’s Workplace

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HR Question: We’re taking a look at revising our dress code policy. We want to balance today’s increasingly casual approach while still asking our team members to look professional. How can we create a modern dress code policy? HR Answer: In today’s modern workplace, the concept of dress code has evolved to reflect a more […]
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What is Equal Pay Day?

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HR Question: I keep seeing information about “Equal Pay Day” during Women’s History Month. What is Equal Pay Day, and how can I recognize it in my organization? HR Answer: Equal Pay Day is a symbolic day that puts into perspective the 23% pay gap between a woman and a man in the same role. Based […]
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How To Organize Employee Records And Remain Compliant

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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

How To Set Up The HR Function In Your Company

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Could Sabbaticals Be Your Next Retention Tool?

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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?

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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: […]
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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

What is the Value of Job Descriptions?

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HR Question: Do I really need job descriptions for my employees? Are they legally required? We have a small staff and everyone has to be willing to do everything. What is the value of having job descriptions? HR Answer: No, job descriptions are not legally required documents, however, they can help your employees (and their […]
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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

How to Develop a Strategic Plan for Your Business

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Creating a strategic plan for your business or new division is like creating a map for an exciting, but unfamiliar, journey. This map will help to keep you on course if you start going in the wrong direction, but it isn’t so stringent that you can’t check out different roads along the way. As a […]
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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

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

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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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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 Employee Gift Cards Considered Taxable Benefits?

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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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How To Determine If A Home Office Injury Is Covered By Workers’ Compensation

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HR Question: Our company has agreed to allow employees to work a hybrid schedule, allowing them to work from home on multiple days during the week. Although this has been very well received by employees, we have seen an increase in the number of injuries from employees working from home. How do I know if […]
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Tips For How To Have Difficult Conversations With Employees

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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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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 I Prevent Unethical Behavior On My Team?

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HR Question: I’m a new supervisor. Now that I have oversight of my team, I know it’s my responsibility to keep an eye out for unethical behavior. But what does that behavior look like? How can I prevent unethical conduct on my team? HR Answer: Ethics in the workplace can be a broad and, at […]
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Mental Health Concerns in the Workplace

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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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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

Do Our Remote, Out-of-State Employees Qualify for FMLA?

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HR Question: Our company has employees located in Ohio who all qualify for the protections covered under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), but we also have employees working remotely in other states. Do our remote, out-of-state employees qualify for our FMLA policy? HR Answer: Great question. Even if the employees don’t fall within the […]
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Should We Abolish Performance Improvement Plans?

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What is a PIP? A performance improvement plan (or PIP), as defined by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), is a tool utilized specifically to provide employees with an “opportunity to succeed,” rather than lose their job. PIPs provide two important features: first, to provide a timeline for improvement; and second, to create documentation […]
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What’s the Most Effective Way to Use Panel Interviews?

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HR Question: As a retention and growth opportunity, we have decided to shift to panel interviews to engage our team members in the hiring process. What’s the most effective way to use panel interviews? HR Answer: Panel interviews, when planned properly, can greatly exceed the effectiveness of single interviewer methods. Why Single Interviewer Methods Can […]
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Why Employee Retention is More Important Now Than Ever

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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 – […]
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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

Strategies for Managing Change in Your Organization

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Change – it impacts us at work and in our personal lives. Sometimes it happens suddenly and swiftly where no pre-planning can occur. We find ourselves scrambling to process what’s happened, what it means, and how it will affect us. We are forced to pivot and determine what to do differently so “the change” becomes […]
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Bonus Grants: A Creative Way to Retain and Reward Key Employees

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HR Question: I’ve been asked to look into how we can use bonus grants as part of our retention strategy. Can you help? HR Answer: Changes in the economy – as well as clashing generations in the workforce – have altered the employment landscape. Gone are the days of someone retiring after 40 years with […]
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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

Compensating Employees for Travel Time

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Question: We have employees who occasionally have to travel from one of our offices to another during their work day.  Are we required to pay them for their travel time? Answer: This is a very common situation, and the quick answer is it depends.  Exempt employees generally are not entitled to additional compensation for travel […]
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How to Handle Unemployment Fraud?

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HR Question: Our company is getting unemployment notices for people that have never worked here, or in some cases, people who are still employed.  How should I handle this unemployment fraud?
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What is a Certificate of Qualification for Employment?

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HR Question: This week a hiring manager was excited about a candidate but learned during an interview that the candidate has had a Felony for theft.  The candidate mentioned having an Ohio Certificate of Qualification for Employment that they could provide. Although we are not a bank and the role does not handle money, we […]
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