For job hunters, every day they don’t hear back from a company they’ve interviewed with can be agony. Yet a recent survey found that the average time between the first interview and a job offer is about 33 days, an 84% increase since 2010. This causes, or at least contributes to, a 16% reduction in candidates accepting offers. Being decisive reaps benefits, the survey suggests, indicating that hiring managers prepared to make quick decision end up with 10% more high-quality candidates and 11% fewer low-quality candidates that their slower-moving counterparts. This partly because they reduce to time-to-hire time period by 17%. To make faster and better hiring decisions, consider aligning hiring with expertise and involving people beyond a hiring manager in decision-making. It also is helpful to engage with candidates, building a trusting relationship. Read the full … [Read more...] about (7/29) Are Slow Hiring Decisions Dragging You Down?
HR Industry Brief
(7/26) Pay Transparency: How Much Should You Share with Employees?
What does pay transparency really mean and just how transparent should you be? While under the National Labor Relations Act, you can’t have a policy saying that employees can’t discuss salaries or compensation with each other, you don’t have to publish a list of everyone’s individual salaries. Instead, you can just be open about your organization’s overall compensation philosophy, how compensation is set, and how salary increases and bonuses are handled. This gives employees and stakeholders insights into how fair compensation is and how it is determined, without fostering an overly-competitive workplace environment or exposing the company to legal risks. Read the full article. … [Read more...] about (7/26) Pay Transparency: How Much Should You Share with Employees?
(7/25) Three Coaching Mistakes That Prevent Change in Others
Coaching takes time and energy; so if you’re going to do it, you want to do it right. Author Richard Boyatzis observes that leaders often make the mistake of just telling workers what to do to fix a problem or improve performance. This, he says, makes people feel obligated or pressured instead of inspired or empowered. As a result, they get defensive and shut down. Instead, he suggests coaching with compassion. This means efforts such as involving employees in formulating or articulating their dreams, asking them to describe times in their lives when they learned something important from someone, and building a caring and trusting relationship. Read the full article. … [Read more...] about (7/25) Three Coaching Mistakes That Prevent Change in Others
(7/24) Neurodiversity: The Other Kind of Diversity
You’ve heard celebrities talk about their previously secret issues—ADHD, dyslexia, bipolar disorder, circadian rhythm disorders, etc. While the concept of neurodiversity originally applied to people in the autism spectrum, it now encompasses people with a wide array of conditions to be viewed as strengths instead of deficits. If you don’t consider neurodiversity in your hiring, you could be missing out on good employees. To embrace neurodiversity, consider using behavior-based assessments in recruiting, instead of traditional self-report measures. These can help measure for attributes such as altruism, innovative thinking, and sociability. For your neurodivergent employees, look at ways to make the work environment more comfortable for them. This may mean more natural lighting, allowing the use of noise-canceling headphones, and equipment that has clear operating instructions. [Read more...] about (7/24) Neurodiversity: The Other Kind of Diversity
(7/23) Here’s How Real Leaders Own Their Mistakes
To err is human; people make mistakes. However, good leaders own their mistakes, instead of denying them or blaming others. Start by stating openly that you take responsibility for a mistake. Be specific about the error you made, and explain the thought process/reasoning behind your decision or action. Understand that explaining does not mean excusing. Explaining why you made a mistake helps others see you as open, honest, responsible, and human. It also demonstrates a culture of risk-taking, tolerance for mistakes, and personal accountability. Finally, be sure to outline your plan to correct or resolve the situation and what is being done to prevent similar issues in the future. Read the full article. … [Read more...] about (7/23) Here’s How Real Leaders Own Their Mistakes
(7/22) For Leaders, Decency Is Just as Important as Intelligence
It takes more than a high IQ to be a great leader. It also takes an emotional quotient (EQ), the awareness of your own and others’ emotions, which enables you to “read a room” and act accordingly. However, this doesn’t always mean empathy or compassion. Therefore, a great leader also needs DQ, a decency quotient. A high DQ means you want something positive for all employees and are committed to ensuring that everyone feels respected and valued. You can’t overestimate the value of the DQ. Leaders with high DQs understand that their decisions affect people’s lives and families, and they take this into consideration on a daily basis. Organizations perceived as decent and caring are more likely to attract employees who care about their work and are passionate about helping others. Read the full article. … [Read more...] about (7/22) For Leaders, Decency Is Just as Important as Intelligence
(7/19) Employee Preference Has Little Place in FMLA, FLSA Compliance
Some research suggests that there is often a gap between what employees want and what employers are providing. While there can be some give and take on many issues, there is little room for employee preference when it comes to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The U.S. Department of Labor recently clarified that employees can’t opt out of FMLA coverage. If they need leave for a reason covered under FMLA protections, that time off counts against their available allotment. The employer has responsibility for designating that leave. Specifically, he or she must provide certain notices and request information that will enable determination of whether FMLA applies to the leave. If an employer fails to identify FMLA-qualifying leave, the organization runs the risk of a lawsuit, so it’s important to know and follow the law—with no rule-bending allowed. [Read more...] about (7/19) Employee Preference Has Little Place in FMLA, FLSA Compliance
(FEATURED BRIEF) More Than One-Third of Business Owners Not Prepared to Manage Legalized Marijuana in the Workplace
To date, 46 states and Washington, DC, have enacted legislation allowing the use of marijuana/cannabis with or without prescriptions; but a new survey suggests that more than one-third of small businesses are not yet prepared to manage the impact of legalized marijuana in the workplace. While 42% of respondents say they are “very prepared” to deal with legalized medical marijuana, 24% are only “somewhat prepared” and 34% are “not prepared. Confidence is slightly lower for legalized recreational use. Only 39% of respondents say they are “very prepared,” and 38% are “not prepared. Broken down by industry sectors, professional services organizations are the most prepared for medical marijuana use (70%) and the least prepared for recreational use (58%). Read the full article. … [Read more...] about (FEATURED BRIEF) More Than One-Third of Business Owners Not Prepared to Manage Legalized Marijuana in the Workplace
(7/17) How Data Has Become a ‘Universal Language’
Data literacy, the ability to read, work with, analyze, and use information and statistics, gives your organization a real edge, according to a new study. Data-literate companies are more likely to see improvements in productivity and other corporate metrics, partly because of enhanced individual data skills and employees’ ability to make data-drive decisions. When employees at all levels have the right information and are data-literate, they can make better decisions based on insights and experience instead of instincts and gut feelings. Widespread data literacy in an organization requires top-down vision, support, buy-in, and investment. Start by communicating to workers the value of data in decision-making and how they can best use data to improve processes, track activities and trends, and solve problems. Read the full article. … [Read more...] about (7/17) How Data Has Become a ‘Universal Language’
(7/16) Employees Are Skimping on Supplemental Health Benefits. Here’s What Employers Can Do
According to a recent survey, employees may not understand the benefits of supplemental health coverage and don’t realize that they can use additional protection to cover medical and non-medical costs, including childcare, transportation, and other out-of-pocket and living expenses. Specifically, the survey found that just 34% of workers say that they would use these benefits to cover non-medical expenses related to a serious injury or illness. Nearly half (49%) say they would use their savings, 32% say they would use a credit card, and 22% would borrow from retirement savings. At the same time, employers say they are actually boosting voluntary benefits to address rising medical and insurance costs, insurance deductibles and copayments, changes to the Affordable Care Act, and reduced employer benefits/coverage. You can help raise employee awareness of supplemental benefits by: ensuring an active annual enrollment, starting early and keeping the enrollment process simple, and … [Read more...] about (7/16) Employees Are Skimping on Supplemental Health Benefits. Here’s What Employers Can Do
