Talent acquisition

Talent acquisition is an ongoing, proactive, and strategic approach to developing a pool of high-potential candidates for current and future openings.
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Total remuneration

Total remuneration is the complete compensation package awarded employees on an annual basis, including all forms of money, benefits, services, and in-kind payments.
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First personnel management department

It's believed that the first personnel management department began at the National Cash Register Co. in the early 1900s, according to an HR Magazine article. After several strikes and employee lockouts, NCR leader John H. Patterson organized a personnel department to handle grievances, discharges, and safety, as well as training for supervisors on new laws and practices.
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Cultural intelligence

Cultural intelligence, or CQ, describes one's capability to grow personally through continuous learning and good understanding of diverse cultural heritage, wisdom and values, and to deal effectively with people from different cultural background and understanding.
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Alumni network

SelectMinds CEO Cem Sertoglu suggests that companies maintain an alumni network of ex-employees, according to a recent Inc.com article. Keeping track of former workers can pay off for a business as rehiring a former employee typically costs only about half as much as bringing in a brand-new hire. Rehired alums may also provide sources of new business.
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Introverts

Nearly 40% of top executives are introverts, according to a recent USA Today article. The term introvert was first used by Sigmund Freud to describe people's attitude of inward energy flow where the preferred focus is on thoughts and ideas. Workplace experts suggest that introverts succeed because they have inner strength
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Profit-eroding factors

The unintended costs associated with irregular schedules, night shifts and extended hours are eroding the profits of American businesses, according to a study by Circadian Technologies, Inc. The profit-eroding factors for businesses with shift operations include lower productivity, higher absenteeism, greater employee turnover, increased health care costs, and more job-related accidents.
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Repetitive Strain Injury

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration estimates the costs associated with repetitive strain injury (RSI) to businesses to be between $15 billion and $20 billion per year in the U.S. RSI in the workplace may be reduced by providing ergonomic workstation configuration and by providing appropriate pointing devices, monitors and keyboards to computer users.
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Who Moved My Cheese

The book "Who Moved My Cheese, An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life", by Spencer Johnson, has been on the New York Times business bestseller list since 1998. This story about adjusting attitudes to accept change is told as a tale of two mice and two humans who live in a maze where someone moves their cheese. Johnson's mantra: do what you would do if you were not afraid.
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Better performance reviews

Three tips for ensuring better performance reviews: show a commitment to employees and their work by sticking to the performance review date and time without rescheduling or deferring, meet in a quiet setting guaranteeing full attention to the review without interruption, and make sure both manager and employee are prepared ahead of the review session.
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Benefits survey

A recent national poll of ten thousand US workers conducted by the Hudson Highland Group found nearly 75% of respondents were generally satisfied with their compensation. Forty-four percent said they would change their mix of cash and benefits if they could, 33% would like a more flexible work schedule, and 22% would opt for additional family benefits such as parental leaves and personal days.
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Pregnancy

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act is a 1978 amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The act made discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions unlawful. Women affected by pregnancy must be treated in the same manner as other applicants or employees. Pregnancy discrimination is the fastest growing type of discrimination in the U.S.
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Recognition efforts

A recent poll of over 1,000 full-time employees by Maritz Research found over half believed the quality of their company's recognition efforts impacted their job performance. Respondents who were "completely satisfied" with their employer's recognition programs were more satisfied with their jobs, more likely to remain with the company, and more likely to recommend their workplace to others.
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Labor Relations Manager

The HR Labor Relations Manager directs the organization's labor relations agreement in accordance with executive level instruction and endorsement. They supervise labor relations support staff and serve as the management representative in labor negotiation, bargaining, or interpretive meetings.
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HR Compensation Manager

The HR Compensation Manager directs the organization's compensation program. Their responsibilities include developing job descriptions, analyzing jobs, conducting salary surveys and job evaluations, and establishing a salary structure. They suggest revisions to the compensation plan and procedures, administer bonus and incentive programs, and manage the performance appraisal system.
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Human Resource Champions

David Ulrich's international best seller "Human Resource Champions" challenges HR professionals to define their value or face the inevitable outsourcing of their function. Ulrich identifies the distinct roles of HR as strategic player, administrative expert, employee champion and change agent. He also shows HR managers how they can change, learn, move, and act faster than the competition.
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People strategy

A recent survey conducted by Arthur Andersen found that HR executives are missing two things that could improve their effectiveness: support from top management and sufficient financial resources. HR executives believe people strategy can significantly improve profitability. Conversely, the study found that top company managers were less likely to see a direct link between people and profits.
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Stay-at-home moms

Stay-at-home moms are on-duty 24/7, wear several hats and work many jobs in the home. Compensation software and services provider Salary.com recently set out to estimate the worth of stay-at-home moms in the marketplace. Based on a schedule of up to 100 hours a week, they have estimated that a fair wage for the typical stay-at-home mom would be $131,471 for executing all of her daily tasks.
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HR employment

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, overall employment of human resources, training, and labor relations managers and specialists is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. In addition to openings due to growth, many job openings will arise from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.
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Generations working

There are four distinct generations working side-by-side in the workplace: traditionalist (1922-1945), baby boomer (1946-1964), generation x (1965-1980), and generation y (1981-2000). Research shows that people communicate based on their generational backgrounds. Understanding each generation may help reduce confrontations and misunderstandings, resulting in happier, more productive workers.
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The 360 method

The 360 evaluation feedback method was first used in the 1940s. Analogous to the multiple points on a compass, the 360 method provides each employee the opportunity to receive performance feedback from his or her supervisor, peers, staff members, co-workers and customers. The 360 method has produced a fair amount of debate regarding its success, effectiveness, and validity.
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Seeds of your creation

“The way to activate the seeds of your creation is by making choices about the results you want to create. When you make a choice, you activate vast human energies and resources, which otherwise go untapped.” - Robert Fritz.
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Workplace notices

The federal government requires the following notices be posted in every workplace: Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Employee Polygraph Protection Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Migrant and Seasonal Agriculture Worker Protection Act, OSHA job safety and health protection, Equal Employment Opportunity Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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Human Resources Certification Institute

The Human Resources Certification Institute, the independent certifying body for HR professionals, offers three professional certifications: Professional in Human Resources, Senior Professional in Human Resources, and Global Professional in Human Resources. Certifications require professionals to demonstrate their expertise and application in the core principles of HR practice.
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Roth IRA

The Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is an investment account that provides retirement savings for employees. In contrast to traditional IRA's, contributions to a Roth account are not tax deductible, however account withdrawals up to the total of contributions are tax free, and withdrawals of account investment earnings are often tax free.
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Panel job interview

A panel job interview is considered the most stressful for job candidates as they face multiple interviewers who take turns asking questions. Panel interviews are more time efficient and allow decision makers to obtain the same information for making a hiring decision. Panel interviews require proper planning in order to avoid duplicate questions and to establish a rapport during the interview.
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Occupational Safety and Health Act

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) became a federal law in December 1970. OSHA was created to protect worker and workplace safety. Its main goal is to ensure that employers provide their workers with a safe and healthy work environment, free from dangers such as exposure to toxic chemicals, excessive noise levels, mechanical dangers, heat or cold stress, or unsanitary conditions.
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COBRA

The Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act (COBRA) enacted in 1986 provides terminated employees or those who lose coverage because of reduced work hours the ability to purchase group health coverage for themselves and their families for limited periods of time, ranging from 18 to 36 months. COBRA has been modified numerous times by Congress since its original enactment.
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Crisis management

Human resources personnel now have greater involvement and responsibility in crisis management, business continuity planning and disaster recovery. This is in response to the continuing threats of terrorism at home and abroad, increased globalization of business, and a global expansion in workforce planning.
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ROI

Return on investment, or ROI, is a ratio of the benefit or profit derived from a specific investment compared to the cost of the investment itself. ROI analysis is sometimes used along with other approaches to develop a business case for a given proposal.
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CEOExpress

CEOExpress.com, the executive’s interface to the Internet, employs expert human editors and "mind ergonomics" to deliver the most critical and useful web information in a clear, easy-to-use format. CEOExpress filters and organizes the content executives need on the Internet while adding features to the site to make their lives even more streamlined and efficient.
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Career choice

A businessperson is the top career choice among teens, according to the latest Junior Achievement national Interprise Poll focusing on kids and careers. Businessperson was followed by teacher, doctor, computers, entertainer, pro athlete, engineer, lawyer, nurse, and law enforcement. Junior Achievement has been conducting the Kids and Careers I-Poll annually since 2000.
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Search within a site

Use Google's "search within a site" syntax to search within a specified website. Use the following syntax at the Google Search text box: site: siteyoursearching.com search text. For example site:cnn.com Florida elections will search the CNN website for the text "Florida elections". See google.com/advanced_search for more Google advanced search methods.
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National Center for Employee Ownership

The National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) is a private, nonprofit membership and research organization that serves as the leading source of accurate, unbiased information on employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), equity compensation plans such as stock options, and ownership culture. The NCEO was established in 1981.
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Successful business meeting

Tips for running a successful business meeting: schedule meetings in the morning when people are usually more alert, plan the timing and setup of any presentations, create and distribute a set meeting agenda, avoid discussions of unannounced topics, encourage meeting participant dialogue and discussion, and summarize and distribute meeting results to participants.
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BLS

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is the government's principal fact-finding agency for labor economics and statistics. The BLS is an independent national statistical agency that collects, processes, analyzes, and disseminates essential statistical data to the American public, Congress, other federal agencies, state and local governments, business, and labor.
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Whistleblowers

Whistleblowers were honored as Time Magazine's Persons of the Year in 2002. Colleen Rowley wrote a letter criticizing the FBI for ignoring evidence before September 11, 2001 attacks. Cynthia Cooper alerted WorldCom's board to $3.8 billion in accounting irregularities. Sherron Watkins sent memos warning Enron chairman Kenneth Lay that improper accounting could cause the company to collapse.
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Productivity barriers

People work an average of 45 hours a week but consider about 17 of those hours to be unproductive, according to an office productivity survey of more than 38,000 people in 200 countries conducted by Microsoft. The most common productivity barriers reported were unclear objectives, lack of team communication and ineffective meetings, followed by unclear priorities and procrastination.
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Certified Turnaround Professionals

The Association of Certified Turnaround Professionals (ACTP) was formed in 1993 to develop, monitor and maintain a program for professionals engaged in the turnaround and restructuring of troubled businesses. The Certified Turnaround Professional (CTP) designation is based on education, experience and professional conduct, as well as passing a three-part examination.
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Three costs

There are three cost categories associated with employee turnover. Separation costs account for exit interviews, termination administration, severance pay, and unemployment compensation. Replacement costs account for attracting applicants, interviews, testing, and moving expenses. Vacancy costs account for increased overtime or temporary employee costs incurred while the position is unfilled.
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Social security

The long-term viability of the social security system is facing serious issues. People are living longer, baby boomers are nearing retirement, and the birth rate is low. The result is the worker-to-beneficiary ratio has fallen from 17 to 1 in 1950 to 3 to 1, and within 40 years 2-to-1. At this rate there will not be enough workers to pay scheduled social security benefits at current tax rates.
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HRIS

Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) provide software functions, procedures and processes to manage employees. 2020Software.com ranks the following HR products as best: Sage ABRA HRMS, PerfectHR, PeopleSoft, Oracle E-Business Suite HRM, and UltiPro HR. These products are developed by fiscally stable corporations that provide excellent support and long-term development strategies.
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Two of every three sick days

Two of every three sick days used by U.S. workers were used for something other than illness, according to a survey by human resources information company CCH. The survey of more than 1.3 million workers found that family issues, personal needs, and stress were the rationale for taking more than half of all sick days. About 32% of sick days were actually used for personal illness.
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HR Benefits Clerk

The HR Benefits Clerk coordinates benefits enrollment and maintains group insurance records for medical, life, and other coverage for employees and eligible dependents. They provide day-to-day benefits guidance to employees, process enrollment forms, and assist the Benefits Administrator.
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Up Is Not the Only Way

Beverly Kaye's "Up Is Not the Only Way" is a classic guide to designing and implementing an organizational career development program. The newly revised second edition book provides practical ideas and processes for helping employees and employers to adapt their career dynamics to the realities of contemporary work life.
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The American Staffing Association

The American Staffing Association (ASA) is a professional association representing the U.S. staffing industry, including temporary and contract staffing, recruiting and permanent placement, outsourcing, training, and human resources consulting. Established in 1966, ASA serves its members through legislative advocacy, public relations, education, and establishment of professional standards.
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WorldatWork

Founded in 1955, WorldatWork is a not-for-profit professional association that focuses on human resources disciplines associated with attracting, motivating and retaining employees. The WorldatWork family of organizations provides education, certification, publications, knowledge resources, surveys, conferences, research and networking. Learn more at worldatwork.org.
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Microsoft and the IRS

A 1990 IRS audit of Microsoft found the company liable for back withholding taxes due to its failure to distinguish independent contractors from its employees. According to the IRS, an independent contractor has the right to control the manner and delivery of their services. Microsoft was forced to pay the misclassified contractors earned employee benefits stemming from the IRS ruling.
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The "Hawthorne effect"

The "Hawthorne effect" refers to improvements in worker productivity or quality that results from the mere fact that workers are being studied or observed. This observation came from studies carried out at Western Electric's Hawthorne plant during the late 1920s. The experiments validated the idea that people are motivated by additional factors rather than by purely economic factors.
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MBA degrees

George W. Bush is the first U.S. President to hold an MBA degree. Dartmouth College established the first graduate business school in 1900 offering an advanced degree in commercial sciences, the fore bearer of the modern MBA. Today, more than 100,000 MBA degrees are awarded each year in the U.S. The estimated average cost of an MBA at an accredited institution is about $80,000.
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Wellness management

Many organizations are using "wellness management" as a proactive approach to employee health benefits. The emphasis is to identify preventable, long-term health problems that represent significant medical expenses, with the goal of prevention versus treatment. Employees with potential health problems work with health educators and coaches to plan and track their health progress.
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HR Quote of the Day

“The human mind is our fundamental resource.” - John F. Kennedy.
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Pay-for-performance plans

More organizations are replacing their annual salary increases and holiday bonuses with pay-for-performance plans. According to HR consulting firm Hewitt Associates, 78% of American companies use some form of variable pay plan to reward employees based on performance with the main incentive of aligning employee actions with corporate goals and objectives.
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HR services outsourcing

According to a Yankee Group study, the rate of HR services outsourcing will continue to grow by ten percent annually. The most commonly cited reasons for outsourcing HR activities include: to gain access to outside expertise; to improve service quality; a desire to focus on core business; and the opportunity to recognize cost savings.
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Chief Learning Officer

The Chief Learning Officer is a relatively new executive level position. The CLO is in charge of employee training, education, and learning structures across the enterprise, as well as providing the expertise to ensure everyone has access to the intellectual tools, information and data they need. The primary success factor of the CLO is to translate learning into a strategic business asset.
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Situational job interviews

Situational job interviews use situation-specific questions based on the job requirements to look at hypothetical performance of a job candidate. Job candidates are assessed on how they would react in theoretical situations. Situational interviews tend to reduce the chance of discrimination as they offer all candidates the same scenarios and evaluate them against the same criteria.
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The Employment Standards Administration

The Employment Standards Administration (ESA) is the largest agency within the U.S. Department of Labor. The ESA enforces and administers a wide array of employment and labor laws, such as wages and working conditions, child labor, overtime and family and medical leave, equal employment opportunity, workers' compensation, labor unions, and employment standards and practices.
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The Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 is a wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. The law prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities. In the workplace, employers must provide reasonable accommodation for the physical or mental limitations of a qualified individual to enable him or her to perform the essential functions of a job.
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Health, safety, and security

Human resources professionals are assuming health, safety, and security responsibilities within organizations. Such responsibilities include the identification of hazardous conditions and practices, exposure control and mitigation strategies, legal compliance, development of a safety culture, and measurement of health, safety and security program effectiveness.
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Knowledge supply chain

The "knowledge supply chain" is an HR term that describes the vital connections between people that ultimately deliver qualified workers to the workforce. A knowledge supply chain may include trade schools, colleges, educators, trainers, community groups, government agencies and service providers.
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Human capital

Human capital is the collective knowledge, skills and abilities of an organization’s employees. Human capital is also viewed as the economic value that is derived from the actual application of knowledge, collaboration, and process-engagement taking place within an organization.
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Myers-Briggs

The Myers-Briggs personality assessment has been identifying introverts, extroverts and other personality types since 1943. Based on the theories of psychologist Carl Jung, the Myers-Briggs questionnaire has been gauging personalities through attitude, style and cultural changes occurring during the past 60 years. Many consider it an essential tool for hiring and career development.
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Work-life balance

Work-life balance describes the when, where and how individuals work, leading them to be able to enjoy an optimal quality of life. Work-life balance is achieved when an individual’s right to a fulfilled life inside and outside paid work is accepted and respected as the norm, to the mutual benefit of the individual, business and society.
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Topix.net

Topix.net offers human resources news from thousands of sources around the net. HR news stories are compiled by subject and are searchable by key word or zip code. HR news headlines are also available as a direct feed into your website. Visit Human Resources News at topix.net.
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Resignation signals

An employee giving his or her two-week notice of resignation usually comes with little surprise. According to an article by Entrepreneur magazine, early warning signs include more personal phone calls, closed office doors and increased sick days. Other signs: the often vocal employee suddenly becomes passive, a normally quiet employee gets loud, and an employee who suddenly seems happy.
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Immigrants

Over half of all new legal immigrants arrived from just ten countries, and 63 percent live in six states, according to the Migration Policy Institute. The ten countries of origin were Mexico, India, the Philippines, China, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Colombia, Guatemala, and Russia. The top six states of residence were California, New York, Texas, Florida, New Jersey and Illinois.
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Internet job boards

Internet job boards are rapidly gaining market share of all advertised jobs. According to HRAdvice.com, the biggest concerns when recruiting on the Internet include not enough time to review resumes, too many resumes, too many unqualified applicants due to the ease of application process, and potential exposure to discrimination charges due to adverse impact.
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National Whistleblower Center

The National Whistleblower Center was established in 1988 to improve environmental protection, nuclear safety, and government and corporate accountability. Its primary goal is to ensure that disclosures about government or industry actions that violate the law or harm the environment are fully heard, and that the people who risk their careers to expose wrongdoing are defended.
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Online recruiting

According to online recruiting commentator Peter Weddle, nearly two-thirds of all companies under-utilize their corporate web sites for recruiting. Weddle suggests the following recruiting website improvements: take full advantage of virtually unlimited web space, communicate your company's image as an employer, attract both active and passive job seekers, and provide a high-quality web experience.
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Why they get paid what they do

A recent WorldatWork survey of more than 6,000 managers and employees in 26 organizations in North America found that many employees and managers do not understand why they get paid what they do. Forty percent reported as knowing what to do to increase their base pay. Only thirty-eight percent reported knowing how to increase the size of their cash bonus.
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Watson Wyatt

Watson Wyatt Worldwide is a leading provider of human capital and financial management consulting services. The company assists clients with employee retention and motivation, emerging opportunities in human capital management, and insurance and investment financial advice. The company was established in the U.K. in 1878 and has approximately 6,000 associates working in thirty countries.
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Workforce participation rates of women

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workforce participation rates of women between the ages 55 to 64 have recently increased as compared to declines in all other age groups for men and women. The primary reasons cited for this include the general increase in demand for older workers and the financial vulnerability of older, pre-retirement women.
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External reality

Joseph Wayne Brockbank, Director of the Center for Strategic HR Leadership, suggests the idea of "external reality" to boost HR's business impact. External reality is associated with understanding the customer. The theory states if HR is driven by what adds value in the customer's mind, it will be able to contribute more effectively to corporate strategy.
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Online higher-education

Online higher-education enrollment has increased dramatically as compared to traditional, in-person enrollment. The market research firm Eduventures estimates that by 2008, one in ten college students will be enrolled in an online degree program. A recent repeal of a federal rule requiring colleges to provide at least half of their instruction on campus is expected to further boost online education programs.
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Recruiting, Interviewing, Selecting

Diane Arthur's book "Recruiting, Interviewing, Selecting and Orienting New Employees" is a how-to guide that equips HR professionals with the skills and tools to get the best people on board. The expanded, third edition of this HR classic includes sections on workplace diversity, electronic recruiting, competency-related interviewing and other recruiting techniques.
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Help-wanted index

The Conference Board help-wanted advertising index is a key measure of job offerings in major newspapers across America. The Conference Board, an independent business research organization, compiles the number of lines of help-wanted advertising in fifty-one major newspapers from around the U.S. This index indicates strength or weakness in the labor market.
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National Human Resources Association

The National Human Resources Association (NHRA) is a network of local affiliates focused on advancing the development of human resource professionals. NHRA was established in 1951. NRHA offers programs and services to support human resources professionals throughout their career. They also provide networking forums and professional development for their members.
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Pay confidentiality

The number of companies with pay confidentiality policies has declined in recent years. Organizations are changing their attitudes for several reasons. Reluctance to discuss salary information among co-workers has faded with newer generations. More employers feel that open compensation systems work better. Lastly, employers are recognizing the potential legal issues with pay confidentiality policies.
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The "Peter Principle"

The "Peter Principle" is the theory suggesting that employees within an organization will advance to their highest level of competence and then be promoted to a level at which they are incompetent. Canadian-born author Laurence Johnston Peter coined and described this concept in his classic "The Peter Principal", a national bestselling book published in 1969.
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Human relations movement

Modern human resources gained a permanent role within organizations during the human relations movement initiated during the late 1920s. This movement acknowledged that social and psychological factors could better explain worker productivity and output. The Hawthorne Studies conducted at the Western Electric Company in the late 1920s initiated the human relations movement.
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Personality tests

Personality tests can be a better predictor of job performance. The tests are controversial, however. The U.S. Court of Appeals ruled against the MMPI personality test, stating its use resulted in a medical exam, a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Supreme Court ruled that Duke Power's use of the Wonderlic Personality Test violated parts of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
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Jimmy Carter

“For this generation, ours, life is nuclear survival, liberty is human rights, the pursuit of happiness is a planet whose resources are devoted to the physical and spiritual nourishment of its inhabitants.” - Jimmy Carter.
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Bonuses

According to the New York State Comptroller's office, Wall Street's most recent yearly bonuses grew by an estimated 15.5 percent to reach a record level of $21.5 billion. On the heels of exceptional revenue growth and profits, the typical Wall Street bonus grew to an average of $125,500, about $25,000 higher than bonuses paid in 2000 at the peak of the last Wall Street boom.
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HR services outsourcing

The rate of HR services outsourcing will continue to grow by 10% annually, according to a recent Yankee Group study. The most frequently outsourced HR functions include outplacement services, employee assistance programs, COBRA administration, and retirement plans. Companies expect future outsourcing initiatives to include payroll, recruiting, and health and wellness.
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Knowledge management

Knowledge management is the systematic approach to getting an organization to make the best possible use of its intellectual capital in order to sustain competitive advantage. Knowledge management is an enterprise discipline that promotes collaborative processes for the creation, capture, organization, access and use of information assets, including the uncaptured knowledge of people.
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Structured job interviews

Structured job interview techniques rely on pre-established questions and answers based on job descriptions and requirements. Job candidate responses to questions are rated against the pre-established answers, producing comparable interviews across all candidates. Structured job interviewing also keeps job interviews on track in terms of time and subject matter.
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The Classification Job Evaluation System

The Classification Job Evaluation System is based on pre-established general definitions of the kind of work that would be found at each level, grade or class in an organization. Each job is reviewed, evaluated and placed into a class or grade. The Classification Job Evaluation System is most commonly found in the public sector and heavily unionized industries.
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Family and Medical Leave Act

The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) provides employees twelve weeks of unpaid leave during any twelve month period to provide care for a new born or newly adopted child, provide care for a family member with serious health issues, or for extended sick leave. FMLA applies to all state, local and federal employers, local education agencies, and private-sector employers with fifty or more employees.
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Employee turnover

Employee turnover is calculated by dividing the number of annual terminations by the average number of employees in a given work force. The average employee turnover rate in the U.S. is about 12% to 15% annually. At the high end, fast food retailers experience up to 300% employee turnover. At the low end, advanced, market leading technology companies experience turnover of less than 8%.
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Cost leadership

Cost leadership is a competitive strategy that emphasizes offering the product or service at the cheapest price. This can be done by creating the most efficient manufacturing price, by economies of scale, or by control of suppliers and channels.
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The Great Place to Work Institute

The Great Place to Work Institute is a research and management consultancy based in the U.S. with international affiliate offices throughout the world. The Institute works each year with Fortune Magazine and other publications throughout the world to compile the "Best Companies to Work For" lists, which appear in 25 different countries. Visit the institute at GreatPlacetoWork.com.
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The 80/20 Rule

Pareto's Principle, or the 80/20 Rule, describes the principle that twenty percent of a resource is responsible for eighty percent of the results. The 80/20 Rule may be applied to almost anything, from the science of management to the physical world.
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Student loan debt

Nearly two-thirds of undergraduate students graduate college with some debt. As of 2007, the average federal student loan debt among graduating seniors was $19,202, according to the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study. Graduate and professional students borrow even more, with the additional debt for a graduate degree ranging from $27,000 to $114,000.
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Corporate Meetings and Incentives

"Corporate Meetings and Incentives" magazine is the senior executive's guide to decision-making. CMI explores trends in management, motivation, and incentives as they relate to how organizations successfully communicate with employees.
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The Civil Rights Act of 1964

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment practices that discriminate on the basis of sex. The law covers employers with fifteen or more employees, and prohibits sex-based discrimination in hiring, advancement, or any other terms or conditions of employment. The law also includes discrimination based on maternity, pregnancy and sexual orientation.
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Prescription drugs

According to HRAdvice.com, about 15% of employer health care costs are attributable to prescription drug plans. Prescription drug costs are the fastest rising component of medical expenditures, accounting for the largest percentage of increase in health care spending over the past several years. Most of the increase in drug costs reflect increased consumption.
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Civil Rights Act of 1964

Title VII of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it unlawful for an employer of 15 or more employees to refuse to hire, discharge, or take action affecting an employee’s compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of the employee’s religion.
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U.S. worker productivity

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average U.S. worker in today's workplace needs to work only eleven hours per week to produce as much as one working forty hours per week in 1950.
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Mercer Human Resource Consulting

Mercer Human Resource Consulting, a subsidiary of Marsh and McLennan, is a global leader in HR and financial services. Mercer Human Resource Consulting provides expertise in human resource areas, ranging from compensation and benefits to operational effectiveness and employee performance and engagement. Mercer has over 15,000 employees serving clients in 41 countries.
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Hewitt Associates

Hewitt Associates is the world's largest multi-service provider of human resources outsourcing and consulting. The company provides services to more than 2,600 clients, has nearly 22,000 employees, and operates offices in 35 countries. Hewitt Associates was founded in 1940 and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in June 2002.
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Lie detector tests

Most employers are prohibited by federal law from requiring employees to submit to lie detector tests. Notable exceptions to these laws are for public employees, government contractors, certain security personnel and drug company employees, as well as theft and industrial espionage investigations.
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HR metrics

HR metrics measure the effectiveness of HR programs and allow for fact-based decisions. HR metrics include turnover, workforce productivity, diversity, position vacancies, retention, cost of hiring new employees, compensation programs, and manager satisfaction. HR professionals use metrics to justify new programs and initiatives, and for effective communication with management.
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HRIS

The HRIS Specialist examines and verifies employee information processed by automated HR systems. They compile statistical information and prepare reports relating to payroll, recruiting, position classification, compensation, training, equal opportunity employment, or affirmative action. They also provide assistance with HRIS maintenance, troubleshoot user technical problems, and provide training.
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HMOs

An HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) is a form of health insurance combining a range of medical coverages offered by a network of doctors and medical professionals, usually for a flat monthly rate with no deductibles. Only visits to professionals within the HMO network are covered. The HMO must clear all prescriptions, referrals and other care in order to be covered.
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The Human Resources Scorecard

The book "The Human Resources Scorecard: Measuring the Return on Investment" provides a comprehensive, step-by-step process for measuring return on investment. Based on the classic balanced scorecard process developed by co-author Jack J. Phillips, the book aids HR managers in determining and improving the bottom-line impact that human resource programs have on an organization.
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Recruiter Confidence Index

The Recruiter Confidence Index (RCI) was introduced in May 2003 by ExecuNet, an executive job search and recruiting organization. The RCI is designed to measure and gauge executive recruiter confidence for the next six months. The index is based on a monthly survey conducted by ExecuNet of roughly one hundred executive recruiters from across the U.S.
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International Society for Performance Improvement

The International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) is an association dedicated to improving productivity and performance in the workplace. Founded in 1962, ISPI represents more than 10,000 members throughout the U.S., Canada, and 40 other countries. ISPI's mission is to develop and recognize the proficiency of its members and advocate the use of Human Performance Technology.
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Severance packages

There is no legal requirement in the U.S. to provide severance pay to terminated employees. Many employers routinely give severance packages to employees in order to bridge the gap between one job and the next and to hedge themselves against lawsuits. On average, severance-paying organizations provide terminated employees between one and two weeks pay for each year of service.
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Non-competes

A non-compete agreement is a document signed by an employee agreeing that, should the employee choose to leave the company, he or she will not work for a competitor for a specified period of time. Non-competes are used when employees have access to critical information. The legality of non-competes depend on state laws, the scope of the restrictions, and precedents set in court decisions.
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Disability insurance

Workers' compensation replaces income that is lost because of a job-related injury or illness. Disability insurance covers income lost due to injuries and illnesses that are not job related. Five states -- California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island -- require that employees be covered by disability insurance through state-run programs or by private or self-insurance coverage.
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Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines likes people with a sense of humor. The company's recruiting practices are built on the idea that humor can help people remain creative under pressure, work more effectively, and stay healthier in the process. By following this mantra, Southwest is able to foster a spirited workforce with employees that go the "extra-mile" when necessary while staying with the company longer.
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Marquis de Vauvenargues

“The greatest achievement of the human spirit is to live up to one's opportunities and make the most of one's resources.” - Marquis de Vauvenargues.
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Paired comparison evaluation

A commonly used job evaluation method is the paired comparison evaluation system. The paired comparison system compares each job within a company with every other job within the company. A job's resulting score is determined from the comparisons. The jobs are then ranked by score.
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Typical HR personality

According to CareerMag.com, the typical personality type in the HR field is described as: cautious, gentle, and thoughtful; hesitant until they know people well then affectionate and caring; very literal and aware of the physical world; uncompromising about personal standards and easily offended; diligent and conscientious, organized and decisive.
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Margaret J. Wheatley

"The things we fear most in organizations -- fluctuations, disturbances, imbalances -- are the primary sources of creativity." - Margaret J. Wheatley.
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Non-literate in English

Five percent of U.S. adults, or about 11 million people, lack literacy in English, according to the Department of Education. People classified as Non-literate in English were not able to communicate with interviewers or were unable to answer a minimum number of questions during a literacy assessment.
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Newspaper job listings

Nearly 75% of job-seekers still use newspapers to look for employment, according to a report released by the Conference Board. The survey of five-thousand households found nearly sixty percent of job-seekers use the Internet to look for employment. The Western U.S. is the only area of the country where the Internet topped newspapers among those seeking jobs.
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Part-time work

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, nearly five million people who desire full-time jobs have settled for part-time work, up nearly 30% from five years earlier. Only 17% of part-time workers get health insurance benefits from employers, and only 21% of part-timers are included in employers' pension plans, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
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The Adamson Act

The Adamson Act was signed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916. The law established for railroad workers an eight-hour workday with additional pay for overtime work. This was the first federal law that regulated the hours of workers in private companies in the U.S. The 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act made the eight-hour work day a "legal work day" work throughout the nation.
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Telecommuting

An estimated 15 to 20 million U.S. workers telecommute from home at least part of their work time. The advantages of telecommuting include better recruitment incentive for hiring, higher worker productivity resulting from less commute time, and better office space use efficiency. A disadvantage of telecommuting is the decrease in synergy achieved when workers are physically near one another.
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Just-in-time training

Just-in-time training (JITT) is employee training immediately prior to its usage in production. The advantage to implementing JITT is the shortened time between learning and application. JITT is usually offered and deployed through automated software training systems. When an employee requires new training, they log in to the appropriate software library and begin learning.
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Right to Work laws

Right to Work laws secure the right of employees to decide for themselves whether or not to join or financially support a union. Before passage of right to work laws as part of the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, an employee opting for non-union status could be fired even if the employee did not violate any of the employer's rules. There are currently twenty-two states with right to work provisions.
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Stock Options

Stock Options are options to purchase a predetermined number of company stock shares at a future date. The stock option owner gains if the company's stock price rises above the option price thus providing an incentive to improve the company performance and associated stock price. Stock options are usually vested over a period of time in order to compel employees to stay with the company.
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Defined contribution plans

A defined contribution plan is a retirement plan wherein a certain amount or percentage of money is set aside each year for the benefit of the employee. The benefits are based on the amount contributed and are also affected by income, expenses, gains and loses. Some examples of defined contribution plans include 401(K) plans, 403(b) plans, employee stock ownership plans and profit sharing plans.
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Unfilled jobs

A vacated or unfilled job within an organization results in tangible, measurable costs as well as intangible costs. The intangible costs include the uncompensated increased workloads other employees assume during the vacancy, the added stress and tension during and after the turnover, declining employee morale, and decreased work group synergy.
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Core employees

Core employees are permanent, traditional employees who have the critical skills necessary for an organization's continued existence. These employees guide the company's strategies for the future. Core employees are surrounded by a flexible ring of contingent workers who handle non-core work.
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Buckminster Fuller

"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly." - Buckminster Fuller.
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Absolute ratings

Absolute ratings describe an employee rating method where the rater assigns a specific value on a fixed scale to the behavior or performance of an individual instead of assigning ratings based on comparisons between other individuals.
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Happiest workers

Beauticians were reported as the happiest workers in the country, according to a recent worker happiness survey by a U.K. based placement form. Florists, members of the clergy and hairdressers were also at the top of the survey in terms of worker happiness. At the other end of the happiness scale were pharmacists, lawyers and civil servants.
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Human Resources Executive

Human Resources Executive magazine is written primarily for HR vice presidents and directors. The magazine provides news, profiles, and success stories of human resource innovators. Stories cover all areas of human resource management, including personnel, benefits, training and development, HR information systems, relocation, retirement planning, workplace security and health care.
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Best Companies to Work For

Consumer products maker SC Johnson ranked number seven on Fortune Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For. The company has a devoted workforce as evidenced by its remarkably low turnover rate of two percent. Among SC Johnson's unique employee perks are: flexible work schedules, no meeting day Fridays, paid sabbaticals, and lifetime membership at the company fitness center.
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Annual cost of injuries

The estimated annual cost of injuries occurring in the U.S. totals over $400 billion in medical expenses and productivity losses, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These costs include nearly $80 billion in medical expenses and $326 billion in lifetime productivity losses, including lost wages, fringe benefits, and ability to perform normal household responsibilities.
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Most difficult jobs to fill

According to a recent survey of 1,275 employers in the U.S. conducted by Manpower, Inc., the top ten most difficult jobs to fill by employers are: sales reps, engineers, nurses, technicians, accountants, administrative assistants, drivers, call center operators, machinists, and management/executives.
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10/80/10 Performance Principal

The 10/80/10 Performance Principal puts workers in three categories. The first 10 percent are self-starters; they possess the right skills and knowledge to be highly effective. The middle 80 percent represents the adaptors; employees with some self-starter skills but not all. The last 10 percent represent workers that will not be successful regardless of training or direction.
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Working women

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are sixty-three million working women in America. Though women make up nearly half the workforce, those with families perform more than 90 percent of the household and childhood duties.
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Relocation cities

According to a survey by the Employee Relocation Council, the city of Austin, Texas is the best large city for relocating families. The survey looked at factors families face in the first year in a new city, such as commute times, crime rates, taxes, in-state college tuition rates and utility service levels. Boulder, Colorado was the best mid-sized city and Yolo, California the best small city.
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Attract top talent

According to a survey of 1,400 CFOs conducted by search firm Robert Half International, paying more than competitors is still the best way to attract top talent. However, nearly one-third of the survey respondents reported non-monetary perks such as flexible hours and telecommuting options were more appealing with prospective employees, ahead of higher compensation.
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Personal time off

As the workplace has become more racially, ethnically and religiously diverse, organizations are making changes to accommodate for their non-Christian employees to take time off to observe their holidays. Most organizations are offering personal time off or "floating holidays," typically two to four days per year that can be used by employees for any reason.
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HR Clerk

The HR Clerk provides clerical support to the human resources department. They Maintain files and records, process employment applications, gather and distribute employee information. Additionally, they update personnel records and assist employees with forms and procedures.
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Cafeteria plans

Cafeteria plans allow employers to provide employees an additional benefit with little extra cost. These flex plans are authorized by Internal Revenue Code Section 125. Employees use pre-tax dollars to pay insurance premiums, deductibles and coinsurance amounts, or to pay medical bills, such as orthodontia or vision, which may not be covered by the employer's plan.
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HR Quote of the Day

Flex plans, or cafeteria plans, allow employers to provide employees an additional benefit with little extra cost. Flex plans are authorized by Internal Revenue Code Section 125. Employees use pre-tax dollars to pay insurance premiums, deductibles and coinsurance amounts, or to pay medical bills, such as orthodontia or vision, which may not be covered by the employer's plan.
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Ergonomics

Ergonomics is the study of workplace design and the physical and psychological impact it has on workers. Ergonomics is about the fit between people, their work activities, equipment, work systems, and environment to ensure that workplaces are safe, comfortable, efficient, and that productivity is not compromised.
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Competitive advantage

Competitive advantage occurs when one company can make more profit selling its products or services than its competitors. It occurs when a company can charge a premium because their product or service is more valuable or when they can sell their product for less than their competitors because they are a more efficient producer.
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HRIS

The International Association for Human Resource Information Management is the world’s leading source of HRIS knowledge and resource information. The association's membership represents twenty-two North American chapters, comprised of a community of practitioners, vendors, consultants, students and faculty.
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Internet use in the workplace

More than 25% of employers have terminated employees for misusing the Internet, according to a recent American Management Association survey. Recent surveys of Internet use in the workplace indicate a majority of workers use these tools for personal use. Management experts suggest organizations should have a written computer usage policy with specific consequences for violation.
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Expensive cities

Moscow is the most expensive city in the world, according to a survey compiled by Mercer Human Resource Consulting. The survey ranked 144 cities around the world in terms of costs of such things as housing, transportation and food. Moscow moved up three spots in the latest survey and surpassed perennial cost leader Tokyo.
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Timberland

The Timberland Company, best known for its outdoor wear and hiking boots, regularly makes Fortune's annual list of best companies to work for. In addition to core benefits, Timberland offers its employees several unique benefits, such as $3,000 credit toward a hybrid car, 40 paid hours per year of volunteer work in the community, sabbaticals, and everyday casual dress.
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Kirkpatrick's four levels

D.L. Kirkpatrick developed what has become one of the most popular models for evaluating workplace training and education programs. Kirkpatrick's four levels of evaluation measure the satisfaction level and completeness of the training, resulting increase in knowledge, extent of performance and capability improvement, and the effects on the business resulting from the trainee's performance.
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Oscar Wilde

”Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes." - Oscar Wilde.
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"Diploma mill"

A "diploma mill" awards academic degrees with little or no academic study and without recognition by official accrediting bodies. Compared to legitimate schools, diploma mills have reduced or nonexistent requirements for academic coursework. Diploma mill degrees are usually used to obtain fraudulent academic credentials for use in securing or advancing employment.
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401(k), 403(b), 401(a), and 457

Congress added section 401(k)to the Internal Revenue Code in 1978. A 401(k) allows a worker to save for retirement while deferring income taxes on earnings until withdrawal. Other tax deferred retirement plans include the 403(b) for workers in educational institutions, churches, public hospitals and non-profit organizations, and the 401(a) and 457 plans, for employees of state and local governments.
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Distance learning

Distance learning is a way to earn a degree or learn new skills remotely, often by mail or by Internet. The process is every bit as rigorous as physically attending a university, and the education is just as rewarding. Many accredited universities offer distance learning opportunities for professionals to enhance their educational background.
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Matrix organization

A matrix organization is an organizational structure where employees report to more then one manager or supervisor. One manager represents a functional area of the organization while the other manager(s) represent a project within the organization. Matrix structures allow members to share information more readily and it allows employees to develop increased specialization.
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ESOP

An Employee Stock Ownership Plan is a defined-contribution retirement plan where a company makes tax deferred purchases of its stock on behalf of its employees. The benefits for the company include increased cash flow, tax savings and increased productivity from motivated workers. Employees benefit by shareing in the company's success. ESOPs are also referred to as stock purchase plans.
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Preferred Provider Organization

A Preferred Provider Organization is a health care network composed of physicians, hospitals, or other providers, which provides health care services at a reduced fee. A PPO is similar to an HMO, except that care is paid for as it is received instead of in advance in the form of a scheduled fee. Visits within the network usually require a small fee or co-payment.
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National Bike

National Bike-to-Work Week and National Bike-to-Work Day are both held during the month of May. These workplace events are designed to get drivers to try commuting by bicycle, for better health, money savings, and a cleaner environment. Unlike most countries, the vast majority of bikes sold in the U.S. are used for recreation rather than transportation.
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HR.BLR.com

HR.BLR.com provides a comprehensive array of information and data for HR professionals. The online resource offers the following: the human resources library, state-specific regulatory analysis, HR daily news, HR industry tools, a weekly HR ezine, and the online HR community forum.
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Passionate employees

Most hiring managers believe passionate employees are high achievers. Assessing a potential candidate's passion is more of an art than a science. Some feel those that pursue a job opening with vigor are passionate. Some think speed-talkers or speed-thinkers are passionate. Others gauge passion by looking at high school or college activities such as sports, band, and debate team participation.
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Vacation days

Italy, France, and Germany top the list of average number of vacation days per year, according to the World Tourism Organization. Italians receive an average of forty-two vacation days per year. Korea, Japan, and the U.S. are at the bottom of the list. Americans receive an average of thirteen vacation days per year.
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Succession planning

Succession planning establishes a process to recruit employees, develop their skills, and prepare them for advancement, all while retaining them to ensure a return on the organization's training investment. Succession planning involves understanding the organization's long-term goals and objectives, identifying employee development needs, and determining trends.
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Paul H. Dunn

"It is almost as difficult to keep a first class person in a fourth class job, as it is to keep a fourth class person in a first class job."

-- Paul H. Dunn

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Millennials

Demographers have labeled the generation born from 1982 to 2000 as "Millennials". Millennials were raised in a climate of high self-esteem, rapid changes in technology, and more focus on lifestyle. They are taking longer to finish school, launch careers, get married and form families. In the workplace, millennials may challenge traditional corporate boundaries more than previous generations.
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Workaholism

According to a CareerJournal.com article on workaholism, a recent study found that highly effective managers worked an average of 52 hours a week, while less productive managers averaged 70 hours of work per week. Managers who logged more hours also reported twice the level of stress-related health problems, such as stomach ailments, headaches, lower-back pain and common colds.
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Workers with money woes

One in four American workers is seriously distressed about their personal financial situation, according to the report "Financial Distress Among American Workers". The study found nearly 80% of financially stressed workers spend time at their jobs dealing with money issues. Research shows that workers with money woes are less healthy and have higher rates of absenteeism.
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HR directors

HR directors in the U.S. earn the highest salaries in the world, according to a recent study by Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Mercer studied HR executive compensation levels in fourteen countries. HR executives in the U.S. had the highest base pay followed by Germany and the U.K. India registered the lowest base pay.
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Undocumented workers

There are eight to twelve million undocumented workers in the United States, according to data compiled by the Urban Institute Immigration Studies Program. Nearly 65 percent of undocumented workers live in the states of California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, and New Jersey. Mexicans make up over half of undocumented workers.
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Cashing out

According to a study by Hewitt Associates, nearly half of all retirement plan participants who change jobs fail to roll over their accounts upon starting a new job. Instead, they are cashing out retirement accounts, incurring tax liabilities and penalties. Another 25% of retirement plan participants have taken withdrawals against their retirement plan accounts in their current jobs.
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Reluctant to relocate

According to data compiled by the Worldwide Employee Relocation Council, the top two reasons that employees give when reluctant to relocate in the United States are family resistance to the move and high housing costs.
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The Occupational Outlook Handbook

The U.S. Department of Labor publishes The Occupational Outlook Handbook every two years. The handbook is a nationally recognized source of career information for hundreds of various jobs. Information subjects include required job training and education, earnings, expected job prospects, what workers do on the job, and working conditions.
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VP Human Resources

The Vice President of Human Resources plans and directs programs for all human resources areas including employment, employee relations, compensation, training and development, benefits administration and equal employment opportunity. They develop policies and programs to meet organizational needs and provide guidance and technical assistance to other areas.
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HR Assistant

The HR Assistant provides an array of support activities for the organization's HR functions. They assist in the areas of employment, affirmative action, salary and benefits administration, employee events, and employee communications. Additionally, they record data, maintain documents, furnish reports, and respond to questions about human resources issues.
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Federal Summer Work/Travel program

The Federal Summer Work/Travel program, administered by the State Department, allows foreign college-age students with special visas to come to the U.S. to work during their college breaks. This program has been a big help for seasonal industries that have found it difficult to recruit and hire local job candidates.
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Employment Practices Liability Insurance

Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) was created in response to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1992, and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993. These laws gave employees more rights, resulting in increasing numbers of work-related lawsuits based on harassment, discrimination and wrongful termination.
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.jobs Internet domain

The .jobs Internet domain, formally introduced in June 2005 by the Society for Human Resource Management, is intended to provide a consistent method to promote a company’s job openings and career information (e.g., companyname.jobs). The domain is expected to make recruiting and job searching more uniform and simpler for both employers and job seekers.
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911 tragedy

Already reeling from job cuts in the telecom, dot com and software industries, the U.S. economy posted a staggering 248,332 layoffs in the weeks following the 911 tragedy. There were nearly two million job layoffs in the U.S. in 2001, the highest ever recorded for one year. The U.S. economy has been recording annual layoffs of over one million since 2000.
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Job failures

Eighty-five percent of all job failures are due to lack of appropriate work habits or behavioral issues rather than lack of technical skills. Most HR experts believe that "behavior-based" job interview techniques provide indicators of a future success. Asking a job candidate how they did something, in addition to what they did, can reveal key aspects of their personalities.
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DiversityInc

DiversityInc Magazine publishes annually the Top 50 Companies for Diversity. Companies making the list demonstrate diversity strengths such as employee retention across racial, ethnic, and gender categories; diversity training; multicultural marketing; women- and minority-owned supplier partnerships, and a high level of CEO involvement in diversity initiatives.
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Baby Boomers

The decade ahead will see vast numbers of retiring Baby Boomers. To cope with the expected management shortage, organizations are experimenting with "fast tracking". This entails shortening the typical twelve to fifteen year leadership development cycle so promising individuals can move into the next level in about half the time.
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Pearl S. Buck

”To find joy in work is to discover the fountain of youth.” - Pearl S. Buck.
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Child care programs

The need for child care programs serving infant/toddler and young children will continue to grow. Sixty-five percent of mothers with children under the age of six are currently in the workforce. The need for daycare providers and child-care workers is projected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through the next several years.
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IRCA

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) bars employers from hiring individuals who are not legally entitled to work in the U.S. Employers must verify work eligibility by completing Form I-9 along with required supporting documents. IRCA also prohibits employers from discriminating in hiring, firing, recruiting, or referring on the basis of national origin or citizenship status.
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H-1B workers

H-1B workers may be employed temporarily in a specialty occupation or as a fashion model of distinguished ability. A specialty occupation requires theoretical and practical application of a body of specialized knowledge along with at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. An H-1B alien may work for any petitioning U.S. employer for a maximum period of six years.
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Nepotism

Nepotism is the practice of giving promotions, basic employment, higher earnings, and other benefits to relatives of current employees over other candidates. Nepotism is not illegal but may have adverse affects on an organization since hiring is based on personal connections rather than ability or merit.
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Union representation

A union representation election is authorized when a petition is filed and is supported by at least 30% of the affected employees. This support is shown through signature on authorization cards or the signing of a petition. In order for a union to win a representation election, the majority of the eligible employees must vote for representation.
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"Red-circling"

"Red-circling" refers to freezing a highly tenured or highly skilled employee's base pay in the event that the pay rate is above the established range maximum assigned to the job grade or classification. A red-circled employee is usually not eligible for further base pay increases until the top pay rate for their job grade/classification is increased.
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National Walk to Work Day

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson declared the first National Walk to Work Day as April 2, 2004. National Walk to Work Day was initiated to draw attention to the need to get out and exercise, and to get in shape. Officials hope this will encourage people to add a thirty-minute walk to their daily lives.
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British vs. American corporate exec's

British and American corporate executives are not created equally. British company shareholders usually vote on executive compensation packages. They also vote to reduce compensation that is deemed excessive. The British disclose more on executive pay packages as well as divide the roles of chairman and CEO in their companies.
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Contingent staffing

Alternative or contingent staffing includes all nontraditional work arrangements other than direct full-time employment. These staffing categories include: contractors, temporaries, consultants, self-employed, independent contractors and part-time workers.
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Resume pet peeves

Spelling errors, typos and poor grammar are the top resume pet peeves of HR recruiters, according to a recent ResumeDoctor.com survey of 2,500 recruiters. Other top-ranked resume annoyances: inaccurate or no dates, no contact information, poor formatting, long resumes, and resumes that include personal, unrelated information.
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Creative people

Psychology professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi suggests that creative people have one trait that most makes them different from other individuals - complexity. Csikszentmihalyi's summary of exceptionally creative people: smart but naïve, often introverted, both humble and arrogant, more androgynous than others, both conservative and rebellious.
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25 vacation days

It takes twenty-five years of service in the United States to achieve the mandated minimum vacation allotments in other comparable countries, according to an Economic Policy Institute study. France, Austria, and Denmark mandate at least 25 vacation days per year to employees. There is no mandated vacation time in the United States.
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HR executives

The criteria for hiring senior human resources executives include strong business acumen, proficiency in a variety of HR software applications and a track record of success, according to a recent CareerJournal.com article. The ability to measure and demonstrate returns on HR investments is key as well as experience with new services and technologies.
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Working while sick

Nearly half of all workers say they show up to work frequently while sick, according to a poll by staffing company OfficeTeam. The survey of nearly six-hundred office employees registered 49 percent of workers who go to work while sick or ill. Most medical experts agree it is preferable to take a day-off to recuperate rather than passing an illness on to coworkers.
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Coffee drinkers

There are nearly 110 million regular coffee drinkers in the U.S. Some of the adverse health affects of drinking coffee include: stained teeth, bad breath, increase stress level, and inducement of stomach problems. Some positive affects of coffee include: short-term body stimulant, natural diuretic, and increased short-term memory retention.
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Vacation

American workers receive on average about twelve vacation days a year. The typical American worker gives back an average of three vacation days, according to a recent survey by Expedia.com, leaving nearly 421 million vacation days unused. The survey estimates that 31 percent of employees do not take all their vacation days.
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Available jobs

According to the book "Job Search Basics, Third Edition" by Michael Farr, the most available jobs are with medium and small organizations versus larger companies. Companies with less than 250 employees account for 71% of the job market. Companies with 250 to 999 employees account for 16 percent. Companies with more than 1,000 employees account for the remaining 13 percent.
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Office Space

The comedy film "Office Space" was released in 1999. Aiming to get fired from his mundane job at a technology company, Peter Gibbons takes up a leisurely new attitude and the art of neglecting his work, which quickly propels him into the ranks of upper management. Not satisfied, Peter and other employees attempt a "get even", high-tech embezzling scheme in the office.
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Retirement savings

A survey of recent retirees conducted by Putnam Investments found over 78 percent regretted not saving more during their work years. Fifty-nine percent felt they should have started saving for retirement earlier in their careers. More than a third wished their employer or plan manager had encouraged them to save more aggressively.
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