According to a new survey, 74% of recruiters believe hiring will be more competitive this year; and 67% said their greatest challenge will be lack of high-quality candidates. Prepare to tackle these challenges by prioritizing a few key actions: hone your marketing skills, including cutting-edge search engine optimization, content and digital marketing, and social media engagement; monitor/protect your employer’s reputation; and use texting to reach and communicate with job candidates. Finally, be flexible. For instance, identify what job requirements are “must-haves” and which could be learned on the job or taught at a later date. Read the full article. … [Read more...] about (2/25) Recruiting Is Tougher in 2019
HR Industry Brief
(2/22) Paid Family Leave: Evolving Rapidly in the U.S.
The FAMILY Act, which was proposed in 2017 and would have provided 12 weeks of paid leave for family and personal medical needs, is being reintroduced in Congress this year. In the meantime, it’s important to know what’s happening on the state level. Some states, including Washington and Massachusetts, will have new state-mandated policies going into effect in 2020 and 2021. Elsewhere, the legislatures in 21 other states have introduced some type of paid family and medical leave bill. Other states, such as New York and California, already have family leave programs in place, but are proposing expansions—including extending the duration of benefits, the amount of benefits received, and/or definitions of family members for which workers can take leave. States are interested in what employers have to say; and many are working directly with state legislators and/or with their state/national trade associations. [Read more...] about (2/22) Paid Family Leave: Evolving Rapidly in the U.S.
(2/21) 5 Ways to Create an Ideal First Day for Home Care Hires
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
(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
(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
(2/13) Senators Collins, Casey Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Number of Geriatric Doctors, Nurses, and Other Health Professionals
A bipartisan bill, the Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act, has been introduced in the Senate that is aimed at increasing the number of geriatric health professionals and direct care workers to support aging Americans. Specifically, the bill would reauthorize the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) at $45 million per year over the next five years and also reinstate the Geriatrics Academic Career Awards (GACA) program at $6 million per year. The bill is supported by leading organizations, including the Eldercare Workforce Alliance, the American Geriatrics Society, and the Alzheimer’s Association Alzheimer’s Impact Movement. Read the full article. … [Read more...] about (2/13) Senators Collins, Casey Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Number of Geriatric Doctors, Nurses, and Other Health Professionals
(2/12) 4 Signs Top Talent May Leave: Best Strategies to Keep Them
Don’t wait until top performers hand in their resignation to realize they may have leaving on their minds. Even if they continue to do their jobs adequately, there are some subtle signs of dissatisfaction, restlessness, and disengagement. These include: taking more private phone calls during work hours, a declining work ethic (doing the bare minimum, or not going the extra mile when the employee has always done so before), lack of socialization or interaction with colleagues, and more activity on social media (such as an updated LinkedIn profile). If you notice any of these signs early enough, you may be able to retain the employee by presenting new challenges, recognizing their value and contributions, and/or offering continuing education or new training opportunities. Read the full article. … [Read more...] about (2/12) 4 Signs Top Talent May Leave: Best Strategies to Keep Them
