2019-11-12 06:38
Is there any value in investing in the training and development of your employees? Some business owners are cynical when it comes to investing in staff because of the fear that their employe… Read More
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The Easy Small Business HR Blog and Podcast is here to provide tips and strategies for anyone charged with finding, hiring and managing employees. Our goal is
2015-12-21 06:13
It is not breaking news that effectively managing your employees is key to the success of any business. Understanding how to keep your employees happy and engaged is just as important as you… Read More
2015-11-17 06:15
Four years is a lot of time to spend in meetings, but that’s how long the average staff member will spend sitting around a conference table during their working career. A study highlig… Read More
2015-11-03 06:34
The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA’s), primary mission is to safeguard the rights of employees with the goal of helping to curb labor and management practices that negatively impac… Read More
2015-10-27 05:31
The purpose of an internship ideally is to provide in-house training for students earning degrees or certificates in their chosen field of study. Historically, internships were not always a… Read More
2015-09-15 05:30
It can be a bit confusing when it comes to deciphering the rules related to which employees should be tracking their time worked daily versus salaried, versus who should be paid overtime&hel&hell…Read More
2015-09-08 05:33
Let’s face it, we are all exposed to stress. How can we not be? Life exposes us to all types of bumps in the road, uncertainty, and curve balls which can wear us down and result… Read More
2015-08-31 05:29
Recent court rulings centered on the rights of transgender workers have changed the playing field related to employer responsibilities vis-à-vis restroom access for all staff. Summary… Read More
2015-08-24 05:10
Several weeks ago, the United States Supreme Court made a monumental decision concerning the right and legality of same-sex marriages, ruling that same-sex marriage should be legal and recog… Read More
2015-04-28 05:45
Two huge mistakes that can have major consequences for your business when it comes to paying your employees are: 1. Misclassifying your employees 2. Not paying eligible employees overtime pa… Read More
2015-04-21 05:25
To use a popular cultural vernacular – “let’s not get it twisted“! Money is and important incentive for employees, but it is not the holy grail of motivators for all… Read More
2015-04-14 05:25
Many employers believe that the minimum wage is the lowest hourly rate that can be paid to a worker; however, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) also allows an employer to pay workers what… Read More
2015-04-07 05:33
As your company grows so does the need for expertise in the area of employee management and payroll. It is during the growth stage that you may be giving more thought to hiring a human… Read More
2015-03-31 05:01
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and its Strategic Enforcement Plan did not fare well in the last couple of years. However, reasonable cause determinations were up in 2014. Furthe… Read More
2015-03-31 05:01
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and its Strategic Enforcement Plan did not fare well in the last couple of years. However, reasonable cause determinations were up in 2014. Furthe… Read More
2015-03-24 05:53
The year 2015 is a Pay Period Leap Year; a year that will likely go by unnoticed by your employees but should not be missed by your payroll department. Accurate time keeping is necessary for… Read More
2015-03-24 05:53
The year 2015 is a Pay Period Leap Year; a year that will likely go by unnoticed by your employees but should not be missed by your payroll department. Accurate time keeping is necessary for… Read More
2015-03-16 05:51
If you’ve been carrying out the same old employee evaluations year after year and haven’t achieved the desired results, it is time to change things up. Evaluating employees is no… Read More
2015-03-04 06:42
After an employee has left your company, he or she is entitled to receive their last paycheck with wages earned during their final pay period regardless of whether the employee decided to le… Read More
2015-03-02 06:37
This article is a guest contribution, courtesy of SkyPrep, a LMS software and elearning software that currently has over 150,000 registered users. HR managers play a large role in how a comp… Read More
2015-02-23 19:24
This guest post is courtesy of Grapevine Evaluations, a web-based software solution for performing employee evaluations of any size, at any level. It is essential for any business to m… Read More
2015-02-20 06:01
Small micro-businesses, (those with less than 5 employees) have a culture or vibe that is decidedly different than larger organizations. Small and “cozy” and often distinctly &ld&hell…Read More
2015-02-17 06:42
One the most highly visible and hotly contested form of employee monitoring involves using GPS tracking devices on company and employee owned vehicles in situations where the employee’… Read More
2015-02-13 06:29
It is tough being a manager with creative ideas that you know will push the company forward just to have your ideas fall on deaf ears. Senior leaders say that they want managers who think ou… Read More
2015-02-06 06:14
There is a very thin line between having a workforce that is all-inclusive by taking steps to ensure a diverse workforce versus potentially overstepping the boundary between creating a more… Read More
2015-02-03 06:38
Regardless of the size or type of business, or how well the business is run, the odds are that you will eventually be faced with some type of employee lawsuit. According to Fisher and… Read More
2015-01-30 06:19
Since it’s 1938 enactment, the Fair Labor Standards Act, or FLSA, has created exemptions for executive, professional, and administrative employees from any minimum wage and overtime ex… Read More
2015-01-27 06:19
Recently, the House of Representatives voted handily in favor of increasing the number of hours required to be categorized as a “full time worker” under the Affordable Care Act… Read More
2015-01-23 06:46
Overtime and minimum wage lawsuits continue to increase as more employees claim violations against the wage and hour provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). According to AD… Read More
2015-01-20 06:29
Recent employee protests focused on increasing the minimum wage has sparked a growing trend in several states centered on increasing the minimum wage over the last several months. The minimu… Read More
2015-01-20 06:29
Recent employee protests focused on increasing the minimum wage has sparked a growing trend in several states centered on increasing the minimum wage over the last several months. The minimu… Read More
2015-01-06 17:36
You just interviewed the perfect job candidate and now the only step left is to check their references. Your job candidate presents you with a list of references which includes a letter of r… Read More
2014-12-22 06:47
The holiday season is here, which means a busy time of the year for many businesses. Between the retail craze of Black Friday and the celebratory rush of the end of the year, every in… Read More
2014-12-18 10:11
Most business owners and HR departments know the saying that a happy employee is also a productive one. One well-known psychologist, Martin Seligman,claims that feeling of happiness is 60% d… Read More
2014-12-16 06:59
Unpaid wages and overtime lawsuits continue to increase as more employees file claims against their employers for not abiding by the wage and hour provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act… Read More
2014-12-11 21:54
I truly believe (and it has been my experience) that most employees bring their best selves to work. Employees are generally very committed to doing a great job for the organization an… Read More
2014-12-02 06:50
The holiday season is traditionally a time when many employers hand out cash bonuses, awards and non-monetary gifts to employees. If you are planning on gifting employees this year, make sur… Read More
2014-11-25 06:58
In order to be competitive, it is integral for employers to have staff with the appropriate level of expertise that will keep the company performing at its highest capacity. This makes sense… Read More
2014-11-18 06:44
Imagine a world where people always said “please” and “thank you”. A world where drivers didn’t speed up when they saw that you are trying to merge in to… Read More
2014-11-12 06:45
The mantra to keep your personal life separate from your job is an old school belief that doesn’t always apply to the realities of the modern workplace. Human nature being what i… Read More
2014-11-07 06:13
For most businesses, workers’ compensation is an unavoidable expense. While workers’ comp laws vary from state to state, just about every state except Texas requires most busines… Read More
2014-10-31 05:30
Many of us were affected in some way by the ice bucket fundraising challenge for a little known disease, ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. We either knew of someone who took the… Read More
2014-10-20 05:54
Domestic violence is wrong. So are many other actions such as driving while intoxicated, check fraud, soliciting for sex, speeding, public drunkenness, etc. Of course, we have criminal laws… Read More
2014-10-03 05:48
If your small business is interested in starting diversity initiatives similar to larger corporations, but you don’t know where to start, take note. Here’s the simple sauce: the… Read More
2014-09-29 05:47
Sending a legally mandated notice via ordinary U.S. mail is not sufficient proof that the intended recipient of the notice actually received it, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circu… Read More
2014-09-26 05:40
It seems that phrases like “workplace stress” and “work life balance” are just buzzwords that have no real meaning or applicability for organizations – that is… Read More
2014-09-22 05:35
I have had the opportunity to consult and partner with a variety of smart, business savvy managers in my career as an HR professional. Most of the managers that I worked with were firm but f… Read More
2014-09-19 14:00
New to supervising staff? You’ll want to read and put into practice these five success tips: Never 1. Think that your employees will automatically trust or respect you. At least… Read More
2014-09-15 05:35
New statistics released by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) present a somewhat mixed outlook for employers on the harassment front. On the positive side, the total number o… Read More
2014-09-08 05:03
Many human resource departments could lay claim to an episode of the television series “Hoarders,” which chronicles the tribulations of people who suffer from compulsive hoarding… Read More
2014-09-05 05:47
My backyard opens up onto a main thoroughfare with a walking path. It’s not a fenced-in yard; and because it is not fenced in, it basically has no boundaries. Some of the teens and eve… Read More
2014-09-03 05:42
Dating website EHarmony plans to leverage its online matchmaking skills in the careers marketplace. Starting this December, the company will offer a new platform called Elevated Careers by E… Read More
2014-08-27 15:24
Some may argue that delegating and influencing employees that do not have a direct reporting line to you is much more difficult than managing direct reports. I would tend to agree. Let&rsquo&hell…Read More
2014-08-25 05:35
California employers would do well to pay attention to a flurry of Supreme Court decisions dealing with employment law over the past year. The decisions touch upon a broad range of issues an… Read More
2014-08-15 05:41
Employers take note: Inappropriate comments can cost you. The Case A former New York volunteer firefighter recently won a $60K sexual harassment settlement against the Elmore Fire Department… Read More
2014-08-13 05:44
Are you faced with the possibility of terminating your employee? Here’s a quick list of items that you will want to consider before taking the leap towards termination: 1. Have y… Read More
2014-08-11 05:42
Your employees are exhausted. The Virgin Pulse Institute in conjunction with vielife conducted a research study on the impact that lack of sleep has on employee productivity. Key findings: 7… Read More
2014-08-08 13:22
Problem: You have a negative employee – the office critic – who finds it a challenge to make it through one work day without criticizing your decisions, disparaging colleagues, o… Read More
2014-08-01 05:33
There are companies that are considering doing just that. The FBI and the National Football League Commission have taken steps to slacken their employment policies regarding marijuana use. I… Read More
2014-07-30 05:14
According to a survey conducted by LinkedIn Talent Solutions, 85% of employees including those who are content in their jobs, are open to talking to recruiters about job opportunities. Eight… Read More
2014-07-28 05:44
Frequent breaks can help minimize work related stress and improve their overall productivity. According to an online survey conducted by Staples in March 2014, employees who left their desks… Read More
2014-07-25 05:52
Are you an employer who is interested in dipping into the telecommuting pool by approving telecommuting or telework for your employees? Ever wonder if there is any real value to allowing you… Read More
2014-07-25 05:52
Are you an employer who is interested in dipping into the telecommuting pool by approving telecommuting or telework for your employees? Ever wonder if there is any real value to allowing you… Read More
2014-07-23 05:17
Just how do you supervise a contrary, jaundiced, or overly aggressive direct report? What’s the magic formula to managing that onerous staffer who will not let a day go by without comp… Read More
Avoiding Cookie Cutter Management: Knowing When (and Why) It Is Not Okay To Treat Employees The Same
2014-07-21 05:37
It is much easier to not ruffle any feathers with your staff by treating everyone exactly the same regardless of the circumstances isn’t it? After all, managing with a fair and equitab… Read More
2014-07-18 05:34
Most employers know that they cannot discriminate against employees and applicants based on their religion. But employers also have a duty to “reasonably accommodate” an employee… Read More
2014-07-16 05:47
I recently came across a fascinating national survey conducted by Dr. Gary Namie of the Workplace Bullying Institute which highlights a number of issues related to bullying at work. The repo… Read More
2014-07-14 05:48
What do you do when your employee comes to you requesting a change in hours because a sleep condition makes it difficult for them to get up early? Or when an employee needs to take time off… Read More
2014-07-09 05:10
Companies put quite a bit of time, money and effort into the recruitment and hiring process. But once the ideal candidate has been hired, all of the energy that was put into finding and hiri… Read More
2014-07-02 05:06
Psychological disorders are a very real health dilemma in the workplace; and issues like depression are much more prevalent than you may think. It can be easier for an employee to share that… Read More
2014-06-30 05:18
Answer: What is succession planning? Succession planning, the process of strategically grooming your current employees to back fill positions within your company when staff member… Read More
2014-06-28 05:59
Smaller businesses are often more vulnerable to fraud issues than larger companies based on a lack of overall resources or ineffective or non-existent anti-fraud measures. You can change the… Read More
2014-06-26 05:51
Your business is growing which means change is in the air. New employees need to be hired. Your approach towards interacting and meeting your customers’ needs may shift. Your sta… Read More
2014-06-24 05:21
Employees can make or break your business. It only takes one outstanding employee to engage clients and customers in a way that brings them back to your business time and time again an… Read More
2014-06-19 05:10
Small business owners in Louisiana, Mississippi, or Texas: Restricting your employees from discussing their wage information has been ruled as unlawful by the Fifth Circuit. In the case of F… Read More
2014-06-16 15:02
Employers understand that motivated employees are happy employees. But if you have an employee that hates coming to work, it’s not likely that your employee will tell you. The sentimen… Read More
2014-06-13 05:51
As a hiring manager, you already know that finding and hiring the right person for your job opening is critical to your success and the prosperity of your business. You also know that… Read More
2014-06-11 05:42
Last March, President Obama mandated that the Department of Labor (DOL) update the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) “white collar” exemptions which will eventually result in overt… Read More
2014-06-09 05:18
The Department of Labor will be leading the charge in support of several presidential mandates on behalf of workers that every employer should be aware of. Dedria Harper Kolb, Associate at N… Read More
2014-06-04 05:55
Employers are routinely faced with the challenge of figuring out how to meet the productivity and financial goals of the company with less money and even less staff. Couple that with keeping… Read More
2014-06-02 05:14
I recently reviewed the book, Trajectory: 7 Career Strategies to Take You From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be. Managers who are interested in staying ahead of the curve w… Read More
2014-05-30 05:00
Luckily, the owners and leaders of many smaller workplaces are able to claim that employee relations are great and that employment law really does not concern them. In many cases, those owne… Read More
2014-05-29 05:56
Standard language found in many employee handbooks include references to the company’s position on employment at will, or policies limiting how employees can use company property. Some… Read More
2014-05-27 05:26
The good news: In 2013, healthcare premiums only increased by 3.3%. compared to increases of 4.9 percent in 2012 and 8.5 percent in 2011, according to global consulting, and healthcare solut… Read More
2014-05-27 05:26
The good news: In 2013, healthcare premiums only increased by 3.3%. compared to increases of 4.9 percent in 2012 and 8.5 percent in 2011, according to global consulting, and healthcare solut… Read More
2014-05-23 05:12
Did you know that there are employers who are refusing to hire overweight applicants because they consider these applicants to be a health risk? Or that there have been employees that… Read More
2014-05-19 05:31
Workplace bullying. A distasteful phrase that has become part of the lexicon of our society. Bullying, as we now understand, is not only limited to school kids on the playground… Read More
2014-05-15 05:15
It used to be that an application, a resume, and a simple job interview were enough for most employers to know whether or not they wanted to hire somebody. These days though, with a growing… Read More
2014-05-12 05:33
With the raised consciousness over the last several years about the health affects of second hand smoke, including lung cancer and cardiovascular disease, many companies, particularly in the… Read More
2014-05-09 05:26
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals confirmed in the appeals case of Patrick Hurley v. Kent of Naples, Inc. that in order to be protected by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), an emp… Read More
2014-05-07 05:21
As an employer you get that your staff needs occasional time away from work due to illness, a planned vacation, or just to run errands during business hours. But not all absences are c… Read More
2014-05-05 05:52
For the third time, the Paycheck Fairness Act did not make it through to a floor vote as it was blocked by members of the Senate. The act aims to reduce wage discrimination against women who… Read More
2014-05-02 05:56
No one wants to lose their best employees. There have been countless studies done on why employees leave an organization and these studies reveal that employees leave because of career oppor… Read More
2014-04-30 05:48
Even the best employees make mistakes once in a while, but what do you do with a staffer whose mistakes are chronic? Constant errors by just one employee can breed frustration and rese… Read More
2014-04-28 05:33
There has been an increase in the hiring of students with freshly minted masters level business degrees and small companies are hiring these new grads at a record rate according to the Gradu… Read More
2014-04-24 05:11
A federal court dismissed a claim of racial discrimination filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on behalf of a job candidate who was not hired by a company because of… Read More
2014-04-21 19:43
Employers are being stung by soaring health insurance premiums and desperately need to control their costs. Harmful behaviors, such as smoking, which contribute directly to higher medical bi… Read More
2014-04-17 05:25
Employees not only bring their skills and experiences to work but their beliefs. When it comes to religious beliefs, you may be required to provide your employees with reasonable accommodati… Read More
2014-04-15 05:38
Why do employees decide to leave their jobs? You may be familiar with the adage employees do not leave jobs, they leave managers. Although this may be true in some cases, a LinkedIn survey r… Read More
2014-04-11 05:35
Poor work habits. It is a workplace issue that all employers will inevitably face regardless of the type or size of your company and despite your management style. No matter how strong… Read More
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