How a first day goes can determine if an employee ultimately stays or leaves. With industry turnover at about 60% and record low unemployment, it’s more important than ever for home health workers to hit the ground running and have a positive, productive, and engaged first day. Some tips to ensure this include: making new hires feel welcome and appreciated (know their names and something about them, personalize onboarding, etc.); prioritize high-engagement learning and set the training stage; don’t just focus on skill-building (address the organization’s culture, mission, and values in orientation and training); employ mentors and relationship-strengthening tools; and check in “early and often” (e.g., make workers feel supported, listened to, and appreciated). Read the full article. … [Read more...] about (2/21) 5 Ways to Create an Ideal First Day for Home Care Hires
Study Provides Insights into Employee Engagement Factors
Several psychological benefits spark employee satisfaction and loyalty, according to researchers. Organizations invest billions of dollars every year in employee engagement tools, but too often they miss the mark. Now a new study offers some insights into the psychological factors that promote employee engagement. “Delivering the Psychological Benefits That Drive Employee Loyalty,” which involved a survey of 1,466 full-time employees at mid- and large-size U.S. companies, suggests that five types of psychological benefits drive employee engagement. … [Read more...] about Study Provides Insights into Employee Engagement Factors
Minimum Wage Raise Proposed: What This Means for Employers and Employees
Talk about raising federal wages moves to action, but barriers remain. Late last month, Congressional Democrats introduced legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. The bill, the Raise the Wage Act of 2019, calls for a gradual increase, reaching $15 per hour by 2024. Six years after enactment, and each subsequent year, the minimum wage would increase based on the percentage increase, if any, in the median hourly wages of all employees. The bill would also would phase out sub-minimum wages for tipped, youth, and disabled workers. … [Read more...] about Minimum Wage Raise Proposed: What This Means for Employers and Employees
(2/20) Why Workplace Ghosting Is on the Rise
Employees are used to being “ghosted” by employers and are giving back in kind. Candidates say they often submit applications for jobs and hear nothing back. Now many believe it’s okay to return the favor by not showing up for jobs they’ve accepted or just ditching jobs they don’t want. According to one survey, a startling 40% of employees think it’s acceptable to ghost companies during the interview process. Over 20% said they ghost when a company stops communicating with them; 30% said they do it because they accept another job, and 19% said they ghost because the job is a poor match. The recent increase in ghosting is likely because of the tight job market, in which employees have more leverage. Read the full article. … [Read more...] about (2/20) Why Workplace Ghosting Is on the Rise
(2/19) Best Practices for Training and Developing Employees with Autism
Increasingly, more companies are making a concerted effort to hire and train autistic employees. This is an untapped pool of potential workers, as 80% of autistic people are unemployed, despite being educated and wanting to work. To improve your ability to hire and retain workers with autism, it’s important to understand the autism spectrum and accommodate workers accordingly. When interviewing and training these employees, know where they fall on the spectrum and assess what they can do and how they function. Provide clear, individualized instruction and regular feedback to autistic employees; don’t expect them to understand nuances and follow insinuations. Know that change likely will be stressful for them, so try to keep schedules and work responsibilities as consistent as possible. Consider pairing autistic workers with a mentor who can comfortably introduce them to the workplace and be there to provide guidance, reassurance, and support. [Read more...] about (2/19) Best Practices for Training and Developing Employees with Autism
Employees See Flexibility as Key to Health, Happiness
According to a recent survey, employees feel strongly that flexible job arrangements have a positive impact on their mental and physical health. When 1,200 employees were asked an array of questions about how their work life affects their mental and physical health, as well as their relationships, stress level, and other issues, 89% said that flexibility would help them take better care of themselves. At the same time, 87% said it would enable them to spend more time with family; and 81% said it might even make them a better spouse or partner. … [Read more...] about Employees See Flexibility as Key to Health, Happiness
Survey: Visionary HR Digital Leadership Needed
Identifying, implementing cutting-edge digital tools and resources should be at the top of your to-do list. A global survey of 1,200 HR executives suggests that visionary professionals are embracing innovative digital resources and ideas to redefine HR in 2019 and beyond. But it also showed that many HR people have a less-than-clear vision about the digital future and are clinging more to the status quo. … [Read more...] about Survey: Visionary HR Digital Leadership Needed
(2/18) 8 Most Common Communication Mistakes Made By HR
Communication is key to a high-functioning workplace and engaged, energized workforce. However, communication mistakes often lead to turnover and other troubles. Avoid some common HR communication errors: not keeping things simple and avoiding technical language; not spending enough time addressing why a policy, benefit, or change is implemented; not dedicating communication platforms for a clear, specific purpose; not talking to employees on a regular basis; not making sure written materials/information are accurate; using generic content instead of information specific to your company and employees; and not allowing feedback opportunities. Seek input from employees at all levels about how you could communicate better with them and identify where there are gaps in information that you can fill. [Read more...] about (2/18) 8 Most Common Communication Mistakes Made By HR
(2/15) 6 Myths about Office Romance You’ll Want to Stop Believing
Stars in their eyes may keep employees from seeing the truth about workplace romance. For instance, they may think they can keep their relationships secret; but the odds are against this. Eventually, someone will uncover the truth. They also may justify their actions by saying that their love life is no one else’s business. However, the employer has legitimate business/legal reasons to know about office relationships. Employees may believe that the relationship won’t affect their work; but issues of favoritism, hostility and tension, inappropriate displays of affection, and so on often arise and can lead to problems for the couple and others who work with them. Read the full article. … [Read more...] about (2/15) 6 Myths about Office Romance You’ll Want to Stop Believing
(2/14) One-Third of Employees Don’t Want to Drink at Work Events – 15% Drink Anyway
According to a new report, over one-third of employees don’t want to drink, but 15% do so anyhow at work-related events because they feel obligated. Even among those who said they like to drink, 28% said they feel extra pressure when their coworkers engage in that behavior. In this same group, 45% said they feel they would be negatively judged for not going to events where there is alcohol, and 20% said they feel pressured to drink if the boss is indulging. Drinking has a dangerous impact for some workers. Over 8% said they have engaged in sexual activity with a coworker at work events where alcohol was served; and 2% said they have sexually harassed a coworker at such events. Read the full article. … [Read more...] about (2/14) One-Third of Employees Don’t Want to Drink at Work Events – 15% Drink Anyway
