QUESTION: Like many employers in this job market, we are struggling to recruit new staff. We have many positions unfilled at all levels of the company. What are some new strategies we might try to stand out from our competitors and attract qualified candidates? ANSWER: You are right. It is a tight labor market […]
QUESTION: We have an employee that supports several of our staff and her communication style and approach can sometimes be abrasive. As a result, her co-workers either avoid interaction all together or they disagree, sometimes by arguing in the office. Neither of these responses are productive and are negatively impacting employees, and more concerning, are […]
QUESTION: We have an employee who gained access to confidential employee information. How should we respond to the employee and prevent this from happening again? ANSWER: When thinking about data security, we often think about protecting customer or patient data, including adhering to HIPAA or FERPA regulations, depending on the industry. Businesses sometimes don’t […]
QUESTION: I am trying to fill a position and am not having a lot of luck. When I talk to my colleagues, it seems I am not alone in my recruiting struggle. While I’m trying to work every angle, the clock is ticking. My team is doing more with less and I can see the […]
QUESTION: I am at a loss for how to celebrate the holidays with my remote staff. I used to invite the team over to my house for dinner, drinks, and some holiday cheer. It’s something we all looked forward to, but now we have several remote staff who live far away. Do you have any […]
Question: In addition to the COVID 19 pandemic, there seems to be many crises that have impacted our business. We are unsure how to respond to these and balance the employee needs as well as our business requirements. Can you help guide us? Answer: No one is “ready” for a crisis, and we all […]
QUESTION: Smart phones are everywhere, and I must admit they are helpful in the operation of my company. The problem I am facing is the wasted time employees spend on their phones on non-job-related activities. I know that members of my staff spend work time on social media, playing games, and texting because I’ve caught […]
QUESTION: When I interview a potential candidate, I ask them how well they take criticism. I have never had anyone say that they do not take it well. Yet in reality, I find that when I criticize a staff member, they often get upset and some actually cry. They make the changes I suggest, but […]
QUESTION: I recently implemented a 401(k) plan for my staff. I used an inexperienced agent and found out later that the plan was missing some important components required by law. Before I could have it corrected, one of my staff contacted the Department of Labor and filed a complaint. I was extremely angry at her. […]
QUESTION: We are a large company with multiple locations and over 50 employees total. We comply with the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and have had a staff member who has recently experienced a significant loss. Her husband passed away suddenly last week – he was only 40. She was off last year on FMLA for the birth […]