• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

Employee Relations

Long list of conveniences keeps employees on board

07/03/2008
The HR team at Insomniac Games in Burbank, Calif., constantly surveys employees to learn which benefits they want. The exercise, says HR Director Carrie Dieterle, boosts productivity. One employee favorite: the firm’s $125,000-a-year snack program …

10 ways to help ease employees’ pain at the pump

07/03/2008
Nearly a third of HR pros in a recent survey reported knowing at least one employee who quit in the past year because the high price of gas made the commute too expensive. Some organizations are addressing the driving dilemma—and revving up their retention programs—by pushing telework and shorter workweeks. But other employers take an even more direct approach: paying for employees’ gas …

Add state-of-the-art equipment to list of Gen Y benefits

07/03/2008

You expect colleges and universities to prepare your youngest workers for their new jobs. But are you prepared for them? Twentysomething employees expect the workplace to greet them with technology that is no less cutting edge than the tools they use in their personal lives and on campus. Here are seven ways to use technology to retain Gen Y’ers …

Prepare to meet older workers’ needs for ‘Encore careers’

07/03/2008
Your organization’s mature workers might decide not to end their careers when they reach retirement age. If your organization wants to keep experienced, retirement-age employees on board, prepare to meet the needs of this older cohort. Here’s how …

Financial services firm promotes from within

07/03/2008
A bank teller who makes a career at Tampa, Fla.-based Amscot Financial is likely to wind up as a manager or executive. The consumer-oriented financial services company keeps employees by making it a policy to promote. “Every key position is filled with someone from within,” CEO Fraser MacKechnie says …

Remind employees often and clearly about handbook

07/02/2008
Smart HR pros set up tickler files to remind themselves to make sure everyone has the current version of the employee handbook—and any arbitration agreements you ask employees to sign. That file makes it easier to ensure every employee has an up-to-date copy and gets revisions every time policies change …

Back up even minor disciplinary action with solid records

07/02/2008
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Nothing wins lawsuits like good records. Tell all managers and supervisors that HR won’t approve any disciplinary action without a copy of the documentation used to justify the decision …

Funky fudge worries IU workers, police

07/01/2008

Nothing brightens up a dull workday like the appearance of a co-worker bearing treats. But when an Indiana University dorm worker and her 13-year-old daughter brought in a box of fudge, some fellow employees got more than they bargained for.

Conducting ‘Stay’ interviews: 7 questions to ask

07/01/2008
Don’t wait for employees to exit before you get their input on what your organization is doing right or wrong, says Greg Smith, author of the book 401 Proven Ways to Retain Your Best Employees. Conduct periodic “stay” interviews …

The No. 1 Low-Tech, High-Touch Retention Solution

07/01/2008
Companies spend millions on complex employee-retention strategies, but the best retention strategy is totally free, said Patrick Lencioni, author of The Three Signs of a Miserable Job. “The first requirement for a manager is to take a genuine interest in his employees” as people, said Lencioni. “Everyone has a fundamental need to be known in their work …"