Monday, May 31, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Buckminster Fuller

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

Friday, May 28, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Thursday, May 27, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Monday, May 24, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Sunday, May 23, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Saturday, May 22, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Friday, May 21, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Thursday, May 20, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Monday, May 17, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Sunday, May 16, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

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.
More Human Resources

Saturday, May 15, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Friday, May 14, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Thursday, May 13, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Monday, May 10, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Sunday, May 9, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Oscar Wilde

”Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes." - Oscar Wilde.
More Human Resources

Friday, May 7, 2010

"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.
More Human Resources

Thursday, May 6, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Monday, May 3, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Sunday, May 2, 2010

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.
More Human Resources

Saturday, May 1, 2010

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.
More Human Resources