The Career Revolution

Exercise at work at your own risk - just ask Dwight...Thanks Jim

2008-07-01T21:55:00.004-05:00

I know...I know...I've been AWOL for a couple of months. I could go into more detail but who really wants to hear my excuses?

Take this as my attempt to get back into the swing of things.

I ran across this great clip of Jim and Dwight...any exercise ball users out there? Does this give you any ideas for creating a Wellness Program at your office?

Enjoy!

Twitter is good for many things...even getting you out of jail!

2008-04-24T21:00:00.002-05:00

Yes, you heard me right....

Check out the quote from this story I ran across...

Buck, a U.C. Berkeley graduate student of journalism, managed to type out a simple one word message -- "Arrested" -- to his network of followers on Twitter. Friends, fellow students and journalists quickly sprang into action by contacting U.C. Berkeley, the U.S. embassy in Egypt, the Associated Press, and other media outlets. The next day, Buck walked out of jail a free man with a U.C. Berkeley hired lawyer at his side and the U.S. embassy on the phone.

So, what are your thoughts about Twitter?

I'm now a Twitter user...am I a Twit? I'd define Twitter as a combination of a social-networking tool + instant message. Like most social networking sites what you type or twit can be public or private and you can allow almost anyone to follow your twits - and you can follow almost anyone's twits as well. I know...I am now over using the word twit.

So, who is really using Twitter anyway? I surprisingly saw where Democratic Presidential Candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton use Twitter...do they update it themselves or do one of their interns or staff members do this for them?

What if you are addicted to Twitter? I think my brother is and a few nights ago I called him a twit-a-holic...he didn't disagree.

Some of you out there that are a Recruiter like me might check out myspace or facebook to see if a candidate you are considering has a profile and if they do what does it look like or reveal about them? As a Recruiter I have done this before but I don't do it consistently with every new hire.

If you're a candidate (and twit user) out there check out this post on Fistful of Talent regarding what to be careful about. Below is a quote from that post...

Here's my take - the digital footprint is positive, but whether it has any impact on the hiring decision depends on three things:

1. Whether you use the digital profile to expand your knowledge or otherwise work more effectively..,

2. Whether you are giving me WAAAAAAY too much information in what you post... and

3. The type of job I have to fill.... If there's creativity involved and you're using the tool to expand your vision via #1, it's a plus... If I don't need that based on the job, than it's probably neutral or perhaps a liability...

So, for those of you twits out there, go ahead and twit away...just remember that it's always out there and available for anyone to find, read, and even possibly hold against you...

The Employment Law Sing-A-Long Song...yes, there is one!

2008-04-23T21:00:00.006-05:00

I ran across this great clip on YouTube by Manpower.

You've all heard it said that you can learn anything easier if you put it to a song. I would completely agree and know that from experience...

Now to the topic of Employment Law. Yes, it can be interesting at times and full of learning opportunities but there are times when Employment Law is just law...and it can be boring.

Here's a song that gives us HR Pro's some great reminders and common sense examples of ways to handle anything employment or employee relations related.

Enjoy!

Got Cancer? FedEx will fire you...only if you're an "independent contractor"

2008-04-22T21:30:00.001-05:00

Jean Capobianco...you won't meet a braver cancer survivor.

I was just introduced to Jean in this article I ran across on NY Times by Steven Greenhouse.

For more than 10 years Jean and her husband drover a truck together, hauling hazardous waste. After being diagnosed with cancer for the 2nd time and going through a mastectomy her husband decided that he didn't want to be married to her anymore.

After recovering from all of this and getting enough strength to go back to work, she found a job with Roadway Package Systems delivering packages. To her surprise, she was hired on as an "independent contractor", not an employee.

After suffering a back injury lifting packages she had to take 2 years off of work. But, before she could come back to work FedEx acquired Roadway Package Systems and the "rules" had drastically changed. She now had to buy her own truck and pay for her own gas and repairs.

Check out this next quote from the article...To attract drivers, FedEx Ground often runs ads claiming that its drivers earn $60,000 to $80,000 a year. Many drivers say those ads are deceiving. Gross income can exceed $60,000, but Jean, echoing many drivers, said she had to pay nearly $800 a month for her truck, $125 a week for gas, $55 a week for business equipment, $4,000 a year for insurance policies, plus outlays for tires, maintenance and repairs. Some years, Jean calculated, her net pay was just $32,000, amounting to $10.25 an hour.

Next, for the 3rd time, she was diagnosed with cancer - but this time it ovarian cancer. They removed the tumor and performed a hysterectomy but that next week they found Stage 4 cancer that had spread to her lungs.

Remember that she was still an "independent contractor" before reading this next quote...

She fully expected to return to her job in January, and called FedEx Ground’s headquarters to request a leave of absence. Weeks later, a letter arrived saying she was terminated.

Yes, you read the quote correctly...

Her husband has left her and she's been able to survive cancer 4 times...and this appears to be just another hurdle that she has to go through.

Now, for the justification and response from FedEx...

FedEx Ground officials said they had sympathy for Jean but had to terminate her under company rules, because she was no longer covering her route and she hadn’t found a replacement driver.

Company officials said they were free to terminate her because in FedEx’s view she was an independent contractor and therefore not protected by the Americans With Disabilities Act. That law requires companies to make reasonable accommodations to keep employees who have cancer or other disabilities. Jean has sued FedEx, asserting that it violated the act.

Wow...I can't believe I just read that. Sure, FedEx may be following the letter of the law very carefully but what about the public relations nightmare that FedEx is now receiving?

Would you say they would get your vote for being an Employer Of Choice? Nope.

Layoff after layoff after layoff...will they ever end?

2008-04-21T22:00:00.002-05:00

You've all been reading and hearing in the news of all the layoffs and projected layoffs that have been happening in the financial industry. These started happening pretty frequently last year and will be happening well into this year.

It's actually pretty hard to comprehend the numbers. I read an article which stated that since August of last year more than 38,000 jobs have been cut in the financial industry.

You have got to be kidding me!

Even close to home, here in the South, we've had Regions Bank laying off about 1,200 in the 16 states they operate in.

Globally, Citigroup is projecting that about 9,000 of their employees will be laid off and Bear Stearn's is projecting that about 14,000 of their employees will be out of a job. These numbers have been projected and announced just in the last month.

One group of people that you probably haven't heard much about is that group of 250 or so recent college graduates and interns that were made job offers by Bear Stearns only to find those job offers now rescinded.

Check out these two quotes from this article in NY Times...

Thousands of people are losing their jobs on Wall Street — some before their first day of work. They polished résumés; they sweated interviews; they landed dream jobs. But now a small group of college and business school students are discovering that their careers at Bear Stearns ended before they began. JPMorgan Chase, which bought the beleaguered investment bank last month, rescinded many of their job offers.

But instead of starting new jobs at Bear, these students are now hunting for work along with a growing number of bankers and brokers. Since August, the financial industry has shed more than 38,000 jobs as a result of the credit crisis and the collapse of Bear Stearns. Citigroup added to the misery on Friday, saying it would eliminate 9,000 more jobs. No one thinks the pain will end there.

I know...layoffs are probably the quickest way to save a company and to immediately cut expenses but this message doesn't do anything for those that have been impacted. When it comes to stock price and value, a company basically has no choice when their main objective is to make money and increase the value of their stock.

What do you think about these companies that are putting their employees through this?

I found this clip of Citigroup employees that were just so proud just to be an employee of Citigroup. How many of these employees are still around today and do you think they still feel this way?

No more "glass ceiling" in IndyCar...thanks to Danica Patrick

2008-04-20T20:54:00.012-05:00

For those of you out there that are racing fans, especially IndyCar racing fans, you're all aware and have heard the news that Danica Patrick just became the first female to win an IndyCar race.

I'm not a big racing fan but there are times when I'll stop and watch a race on a Sunday afternoon.

Like most of you out there, you've all heard of Danica Patrick - she been racing since 2005 and has been gaining attention year after year.

I was reading this article on the NY Times and found out some more information regarding some of the history of women in this sport.

Check out this quote from that NY Times article...There was a time when Patrick could not have competed in Sunday’s race. A few years before Janet Guthrie, an aerospace engineer and road racer, became the first woman to qualify for the Indy 500 in 1977, women were not allowed in the press box, the garage area or the pits.

As Guthrie wrote in “Life at Full Throttle,” an account of her career in racing, women were dismissed as lacking the strength, endurance and emotional stability to compete against men. Even a driver with Guthrie’s credentials as a road racer was seen as dangerous.

“A woman might be a reporter, a photographer, a timer/scorer, she might own the race car — but she couldn't’t get near it at any time for any reason,” Guthrie wrote. “A woman on the track itself was unthinkable.”

It sounds like we've had a good day in racing and a great day for women in this formerly male-dominated sport...

The Latest HR Carnival Is Out And Open For Business!

2008-04-16T16:54:00.004-05:00

All - the Latest HR Carnival is out!

Special thanks to Ann Bares with Compensation Force for this edition!

Be sure to check out the first on the list...from yours truly...

Enjoy!

A Pepsi Employee Is Fired For Testing Positive For Coke

2008-04-03T22:20:00.011-05:00

My Mom sent me this picture today so I had to get it out there...

Enjoy and have a great weekend...

Green-Collar Jobs - a political agenda or a real new job category?

2008-04-03T21:15:00.013-05:00

I learned a new term today...green-collar job. No longer do we just have white-collar and blue-collar jobs but we now also have green-collar jobs.

I went to Wikipedia and here's how they describe a green-collar worker - A green-collar worker is a worker who is employed in the environmental sectors of the economy, or in the agricultural sector. Environmental green-collar workers satisfy the demand for green development. Generally, they implement environmentally-conscious design, policy, and technology to improve conservation and sustainability.

There is much more than this on the Wikipedia website so feel free to click through the link and read more.

I also ran across this video on CNN that talks about this new wave of jobs that are emerging. The video tells the story of a start-up company that makes solar energy panels. This start-up decides to locate themselves in Toledo, Ohio due to the availability of highly-skilled factory workers that have been laid off from the automotive industry. The video also estimates that over the next 20 years 3 million new green-collar jobs will be created all over the country, with the right incentives and tax credits.

I decided to do some more searching on-line and an article on John Edwards website showed up - surprised? The title of his article is, "Building One America in the New Energy Economy with Green Collar Jobs"

Check out this quote from the article...Today, Edwards outlined his "Green Collar Jobs" initiative to train and employ at least 150,000 workers a year in new energy economy jobs. He will dedicate 50,000 Stepping Stone jobs—subsidized employment that form part of Edwards' anti-poverty plan—to energy-related occupations. In addition, the Green Collar Jobs training initiative will work with employers, unions, community colleges and high schools to prepare and engage the next generation of workers.

There were pages and pages of articles on-line and I could have spent all day reading these and updating myself on this new concept. But, I just didn't have the time...

I'm all for real jobs that are created and especially when these jobs can be filled by workers that have been laid off. But, when the government decides to step in with incentives and tax credits I just can't help to be skeptical.

I'll just have to read more about this...

What's your take on this?

I'm an Executive With An Annual Salary of $1. Who am I?

2008-04-02T20:48:00.009-05:00

If you're Steve Jobs with Apple or one of the top 3 Executives at Google then this describes you.

I just ran across this great article on Portfolio and honestly thought that it was part of an April Fools' Day joke...but then I realized it wasn't April 1st.

The title of the article is The 1$ Executive Club and today was the first time I had ever heard of this.

Check out this quote from the article...

What is the hottest status symbol in executive compensation?

It's not the private jet or huge buckets of stock options and restricted stock, or lots of little things like season baseball tickets or free dry cleaning. (Although those are always welcome, thank you very much.)

No, it's the $1 salary.

The three at the top of Google, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, and C.E.O. Eric Schmidt have affirmed their cachet in corporate cool by taking salaries of only $1, according to the proxy statement the company filed on Tuesday evening.

So, what do you think? What's also interesting is that every year since this started in 2004 all 3 of the top Google Executives have been offered more market competitive salaries but have turned them down. Would you do this if you were in their shoes?

Don't feel too sorry for these Executives because I'm sure that their "other compensation" completely makes up for any amount of perceived loss of income. Remember that there is "other compensation" called stock options.

I also learned that Steve Jobs (Apple) is the most famous $1 annual salary recipient and he's been doing this since 1997. Bill Ford (Ford) has been doing this since 2005 and Richard Fairbank (Capital One) decided to try it for 2007.

Here's another quote from the article that sheds some light on some other advantages to Executives as well...

Taking no or little salary is often done for symbolic reasons: an executive trying to bolster employee morale at a company in need of an immediate turnaround. But there is a practical motive as well. Salary is taxed at rates as high as 35 percent, while capital gains from stock sales are taxed up to 15 percent. Cutting down the salary portion of an executive's compensation could help reduce the overall tax bill.

In reference to the first part of the above quote I couldn't agree more. If I was working for a large corporation that was going through some difficult financial times and our CEO, CFO, and COO decided to forgo an annual salary then I'd probably be impressed...but once I saw the obvious tax advantages I wouldn't be as impressed...

So, what's your take on this?

Is That Cotton Candy I Smell? It Must Be Time For The HR Carnival...

2008-04-02T08:15:00.008-05:00

Yes, you guessed it...it's that time again.

The 30th edition of the HR Carnival is live!

Special thanks to Rowan Manahan at Fortify Your Oasis from all the way over in Dublin, Ireland for this record setting month. Not only is it the 30th edition but we also have a record 28 entries!

Enjoy and be sure to take some time to click through all the links. In case you're wondering, mine is the 3rd from the bottom...

Recruiting with a pickup truck - the future for 2009

2008-04-01T09:00:00.004-05:00

Someone forwarded me this great clip this morning and I had to get a post in about it...

Any thoughts about whether or not this will become a reality?

Enjoy!

Most Unusual Company Perks...scuba diving anyone?

2008-03-31T21:02:00.008-05:00

I ran across this great list on Fortune that included 15 of the best and also unusual company perks. Some of these I could probably of come up with myself but then there were others (like the scuba diving) that I don't think would have ever crossed my mind.

Like you, I hear of companies all the time that are looking for unique ways to attract (and of course retrain) great workers. So, if you're one of those employers that are looking for ways to spice things up around the office, take a hard look at the list below and incorporate what you think will work where you are.

Check out the list below...

1. Scuba diving lessons - Chesapeake Energy Corporation
2. Prayer and meditation rooms - eBay
3. $200 grocery card - Methodist Hospital System
4. Alternative mode of transportation and get a $4 daily credit - Genetech
5. Free ipod shuffle - PricewaterhouseCoopers
6. Free lunch Monday through Thursday - FactSet Research
7. Discounted rent in one of their company owned apartments - Camden Property Trust
8. Get married for free - Erickson Retirement Communities
9. Dollar for dollar charity contribution match - EOG Resources
10. Free Cleveland Cavs basketball tickets - Quicken Loans
11. $20,000 in annual tuition reimbursement - MITRE
12. 5 weeks of in year 1 of employment - KPMG
13. $1,000 toward the purchase of a hybrid or electric car - Google
14. On-site childcare for $240/month - Arkansas Children's Hospital
15. On-site dry cleaning, postal services, and free grocery delivery - Microsoft

So, what do you think?

Interested in any of these? If these aren't a perfect match for your company today they should be a great place for you to start thinking about some of the things that might work for you.

If interested, check out this video created by some Microsoft interns. It's a little lengthy but does a pretty good job showing why people want to work and stay at Microsoft.

It's Your Boss's Birthday...and there's not enough cake for everyone...

2008-03-30T20:57:00.007-05:00

I was reading this post over at The HR Capitalist titled, "Evaluate Your Street Cred at Work By the Size of Your Birthday Party..."

Included is a great clip by CareerBuilder that says you can evaluate your workplace worth by observing how your birthday is celebrated around the office. Go ahead and follow the link and check out the clip.

I immediately thought of this clip from Office Space where Bill Lumbergh has a birthday and the entire office celebrates it. From the singing of Happy Birthday I can't call it a celebration...

But, what happens when there isn't enough cake for everyone? Just ask Milton Waddams...

Enjoy...

Everyone's Salary is Public...No Joke?!

2008-03-30T14:11:00.006-05:00

So, what would you think if everyone in the company knew your salary and what everyone else made? Don't think this is misprint or an accident - just walk down the hall by the break room and you can find the list up on the bulletin board. If you aren't sure where the break room is just listen for all of the screaming and yelling.

Most of you would find this situation or scenario completely ridiculous and would say that this information is confidential and should stay that way.

Certain salaries or compensation packages are public knowledge and will probably always be. I "googled" college football coaches salary and it took me less than 1 second to find a handful of websites eager to give me this information. Here's one here. Or, take CEO compensation...that's easy to find - here's a list I found. These salaries are always discussed on the news and we expect to be able to get our hands on this information or at least to be able to find this information on-line within a couple of minutes.

So now...what about you? What if this was something your company decided to do? Or, what if you were interviewing at a company and heard that this was part of their "culture"? Would this make you think twice before accepting a job offer? Back when I worked at The Federal Reserve we posted our job titles and salary ranges on the bulletin board by the break room but this was obviously as transparent as we would ever go.

I ran across this article on Portfolio titled "When Salaries Aren't Secret" and it made me stop and think about this concept.

Check out this quote from the article...On the other hand, a radically open salary system could yield major benefits:

1. a fair compensation system based on actual performance
2. employee understanding of the business (e.g., why payroll is usually the largest cost; why certain employees earn more)
3. a culture of trust, as employees and senior managers share more information

So, what do you think? Agree or disagree?

In some companies (or occupations), I can definitely agree with these benefits and see how this would work. For example, in a company that was comprised with a lot of employees with variable compensation and where bonuses or additional compensation was based on sales or performance I could see how this would work. It could also motivate employees to work harder - especially the ones that are toward the bottom of the list. The more variable the compensation in your company the more of a chance that this will work.

Let me know your thoughts...

If you want to read about some ways to start experimenting with this concept go back to the article I mentioned at the top and scroll down to the bottom of the page...enjoy!

Presidential Candidate Background & Experience - Hillary's is caught on tape

2008-03-26T21:27:00.006-05:00

You won't ever find me getting "political" in my blog posts but since every day my job is to review resumes and talk to candidates about their background and experience, this recent story involving Hillary Clinton definitely caught my eye.

Every candidate that we bring in for an interview is there to talk about their background and experience and show how they are a perfect match for the position that we're looking to fill.

I don't just take their resume and believe everything on it but I ask questions and dig into each position that the candidate has held. I ask questions, present scenarios, and ask for examples to see if this person really has the background and experience that we're looking for.

So, as we all review Presidential candidate "resumes" and determine who we feel would be the best person for the job, what we hear and see are some of the factors that we have to consider.

Do you think that when Hillary was giving that speech last week she had any idea that a video of that exact trip she was describing would surface? As you watch the video listen for the unbelievable detail that Hillary gives as she describes the sniper fire and greeting ceremony...

For you HR Pro's out there is this "falsification of her application" or just an an honest mistake where she "exaggerated" some of the details?

I'll let you decide...

When "The Boss" calls in sick what do you do?

2008-03-26T21:02:00.003-05:00

I was introduced to this great video clip today...

I haven't seen it happen as much where I work today but can guarantee you that over the years I have seen this, or something very similar, happen every time "The Boss" calls in sick and decides to work from home.

What do you do when "The Boss" calls in sick and decides to work from home?

Since "My Boss" might read this, I've never done this and am always in the office when he's out...

Training 135,000 employees in one day - Starbucks closes stores to do it!

2008-02-27T21:21:00.011-06:00

Most of you out there have probably heard the news by now - on Tuesday evening, February 26th, Starbucks closes every store in the US for a few hours to train ALL of their 135,000 employees.

The press release on the Starbucks website can be found here...

Check out this quote from the article...

In one of its most significant efforts to transform the company and reignite its connection with customers, today Starbucks is conducting an unprecedented in-store education and training event for more than 135,000 partners (employees) in U.S. company-operated stores. As part of this major customer-focused initiative, Starbucks is also introducing a promise to exceed customers’ expectations by delivering the perfect drink every time.

At the end of the night, all of Starbucks U.S. partners will pledge their commitment to upholding the uncompromising standards and quality that have made Starbucks the world’s coffee leader. The promise will be prominently posted in every U.S. company-operated store, and baristas will demonstrate a personal commitment to their customers by signing the promise upon completion of tonight’s training.

So, what was your reaction to this?

My first reaction were the numbers. They actually trained 135,000 at the same time - this is unheard of! Secondly, I did the math to show how much it cost Starbucks for this 3 hour training. If I assume that each Starbucks partner (employee) makes $9/hour then they spent about $3.6 million dollars in payroll for this time - all while not selling even one drop of coffee - that's $0 in revenue during this time. Numbers like these truly shows their commitment to rejuvenate their workforce.

For those of you that are Starbucks addicts were you able to tell a difference from Tuesday to Wednesday? Did your coffee taste better? Did their employees appear to be more energized with a new commitment and emphasis on quality?

Since I'm not a coffee drinker I wouldn't be able to tell you. So, if you've got a story to tell, let me know my leaving your comment...

The 25 Top Paying Companies - Did your company make the list?

2008-02-25T20:30:00.007-06:00

I just ran across this list on CNN titled 25 top-paying companies.

Once you click through the link you'll do what I did - I quickly scrolled through the top 25 to see if my current employer, previous employer, or major competitor of my company made the list. I was also looking to see if any of these companies had headquarters or offices where I live. For me, none of these applied...no shock to me and now no reason to update my resume...

Below are the top 10 from the list of 25...
1. Bingham McCutchen
2. Arnold & Porter
3. Alston & Byrd
4. Shared Technologies
5. Nixon Peabody
6. Devon Energy
7. Perkins Coie
8. EOG Resources
9. Adobe Systems
10. Goldman Sachs

As I scrolled through the list I was surprised how many I had to click through before I came across a company I recognized or even heard of. The first company I recognized was #9, Adobe Systems. How about you? How many did you have to scroll through?

Next I had to check out #1 from the list, Bingham McCutchen. For more information on them go here...

The first shocker for me was this, their average total pay is $211,017 (For: Associate) - not bad at all!

Check this out from the article - This major corporate law firm brought three firms into its fold in 2007, boosting its staff to more than 1,000 lawyers working in 13 different offices, the largest of which is in Boston. Most hires fresh out of law school start here with a base salary of $160,000, and even the firm's legal secretaries average a not-too-shabby $69,000 a year. And talent looms large - the legal staff includes 72 graduates from Harvard Law, 24 from Yale and 20 from Stanford.

What was your first conclusion from this bit of information? Mine was obviously pay and how they are so willing to pay for and keep their talent. Speaking of retention, their turnover rate is 17%. That's not too bad but with a pay structure like theirs and a #41 ranking of the top companies to work for I would have expected it to be somewhat lower.

Check out the rest of the companies that made the list and see what else they are doing, other than pay, to attract and retain their talent...

Enjoy!

The Industry Radar Top 40 Most Viewed HR Articles of 2007

2007-12-31T10:43:00.000-06:00

Here we are. Today is Monday, December 31st, 2007 and it's the last day of the year.

Since today is my last opportunity for a 2007 post I thought I would take some time to have one final post for the year.

When I saw this Top 40 list from John Nail at The Industry Radar I couldn't help but post about it and notice that my BlackBerry User = Lower IQ = Bad For My Career post came in at #4. This was a HUGE day for me and generated almost 1800 hits in about 24 hours. The picture included in this post was a perfect addition to the BlackBerry post so I had to include it in this one as well.

Take a hard look and read at the list and enjoy...

Where I have been...HR Certification and Life...

2007-12-26T14:46:00.001-06:00

Some of you may be wondering where my posts have been - others may not even realize I was even out there... that's OK. After 5 months of consistent posts I suddenly dropped off the face of the planet back in mid-October.

The timing of this date just happened to coincide with when my HR Certification (PHR/SPHR) classes began. What this means is that for the last couple of months I have attended classes and began studying for my SPHR certification exam. Combine that with life and 4 kids (see picture) my time for blogging obviously started to fall way down on my list of priorities.

For those of you familiar with this certification or wondering what it's all about check out this link - Kris over at The HR Capitalist will introduce you to the certification and guide you to which certification you should sit for.

Anyway, be on the lookout for posts to begin again around the middle of January.

I hope everyone has had a great Christmas and will have a great New Years!

The Latest Carnival of HR Is Up!

2007-10-18T09:39:00.000-05:00

All - It's here...the latest Carnival of HR is up and running - #18!

Special thanks to Kris at The HR Capitalist for this edition...

Enjoy and be sure to check out "The Trainer" section!

The Latest HR Blog Power Rankings are out!

2007-10-11T12:14:00.000-05:00

All - the latest HR Blog Power Rankings for the week of 10/08/07 is out! It looks like I'm holding steady again at #14 and need to do some more work to climb closer to the top.

Thanks to Kris over at HR Capitalist for keeping us HR Bloggers engaged and connected...

Enjoy!

Viewing George Clooney's Medical Records - Was It Worth Being Suspended For It?

2007-10-10T14:48:00.000-05:00

For those of you unaware, George Clooney and his girlfriend, Sarah Larson, were involved in a motorcycle accident last month, on 9/21/07.

But, you probably haven't heard that 27 employees at the hospital where he was treated were just suspended for a month without pay for viewing his PHI (Protected Health Information) - here's the story on CNN...

Check out this quote from the article... More than two dozen employees at Palisades Medical Center have been suspended after accessing the personal medical records of actor George Clooney, who was taken to the North Bergen, N.J., hospital last month after a motorcycle accident.

Hospital spokesman Eurice Rojas said late Tuesday that 27 employees were suspended for a month without pay, after an internal investigation. Accessing a person's medical records without authorization is a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) -- a federal law that protects the privacy of patients.

So, what is your take on the punishment - a month off without pay? Does the punishment fit the crime? Even George Clooney, the victim, doesn't think these workers should be suspended for it...

My take? I don't think the punishment fits the crime. If the same 27 employees were found to have viewed my PHI then at the most they would have received a "verbal warning" for the file - but add George Clooney to the mix and the celebrity hype that comes with it, all bets are off and the punishment is taken to the extreme.

Anyone else out there with a take on this?

Offensive Candidate Voice Mail Greeting...Please Edit!

2007-10-03T07:50:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it happened again...offensive candidate voice mail greeting...and yes, it has now eliminated this candidate from consideration.

I immediately thought of this post by Kris over at The HR Capitalist titled, Press "1" To Eliminate Yourself As a Candidate.

Here's the scenario: On paper you've found a candidate that is a perfect match for the position you are looking to fill. As you look at their resume you can see that their education, work history, experience, and knowledge - basically every qualification you are looking for is included in this resume. You're next step is to get on the phone with the candidate for a phone-screen and to get them started through your process. You dial their number and to your surprise you don't hear a ring but a song starts to play. You are then treated to some of the most explicit lyrics you have ever heard - so bad you've never even heard this song played on the radio.

Check out this quote from Kris's post...I'm treated to 30 seconds of a profane Notorious B.I.G track before the innocent, professional voice I was expecting comes through over the track during the chorus. Professional position, 50-60K job. Bye-Bye...

Now what? Do you leave a message to schedule a phone-screen or are you done with this candidate?

For me, I'm done with this one and will move on to the next qualified candidate...

Candidates, for those of you out there that are one, please edit your voice mail greeting during this job search process. You may have just spent $1.99 for this greeting but the payoff for getting a new job is worth much more than what you spent on the greeting.

During this experience I immediately thought of George Costanza and his answering machine greeting. I know it's not the same situation but play the clip and listen to the message - many would say that it's just as offensive as the explicit lyrics...

Enjoy!

Update: Michigan State Government Shutdown...

2007-10-02T13:46:00.001-05:00

All - here's an update to my previous post over the weekend titled Michigan State Government Shuts Down - 35,000 Workers Sit at Home.

I just found an article this morning that sums up pretty well the circumstances, pressures, and resolution surrounding this ordeal.

It sounds like there actually was a brief (4 hour) shut down where workers did end up sitting at home but we're glad that it didn't last long.

Check out the first few sentences in the article...

There's nothing in the state tax increase/budget cuts/reforms package approved early Monday morning by state lawmakers that they couldn't have agreed to last summer.

They didn't have to wait until state services had been shut down for four hours before coming up with a budget agreement.

Yet the citizens of the state of Michigan were treated to an astounding display of political cowardice, mostly on the part of House Democrats, who could have passed a tax increase without a single Republican vote.

Maybe the next time this happens we won't need students attempting to raise money for their school so that they doesn't risk closing.

I'll end on this last quote from the article...

Had the shutdown persisted, Jonesville Community Schools would have been able to last through October and then may have had to cancel teacher paychecks, halt sporting events and/or use the fund balance just to keep the doors open.

Nurses Set to Strike in Northern California Over Patient Care and Benefits

2007-09-29T14:36:00.000-05:00

Not only do we have auto workers striking but now we also have about 5,500 nurses to strike in Northern California on October 10th and 11th - this according to BusinessWeek.

Check this out...

A nurses union has authorized a two-day strike at up to 16 Northern California hospitals to protest patient care practices and proposed changes to health care and retirement benefits.

The California Nurses Association said Friday that hospitals were being notified that as many as 5,500 nurses are planning to strike on Oct. 10 and Oct. 11, according to spokesman Charles Idelson.

Here is the press release from the CNA (California Nurses Association) website and below is a quote that sums up their number one concern and motivation for this strike.

"We are deeply concerned about the quality of care and the availability of patient services in communities that have long supported Sutter hospitals,” said Jan Rodolfo, an RN at Summit and chair of the CNA/NNOC Sutter wide Facility Bargaining Council. “Inadequate staffing is a persistent problem at Sutter facilities. No one understands what staffing we need to provide safe patient care better than bedside nurses.”

Here are their three main concerns:
1. Patient care: RN to patient ratio

2. RN healthcare benefits: Premiums, deductibles, co-payments, prescription drugs, etc...

3. Retirement Security: Increase value of retirement plan

These concerns seem pretty reasonable - especially when it comes to patient care and the potential liability and risk that can come from a wrongful death suit.

Regarding benefits, anytime you try to reduce benefits and increase costs you know that employees will in no way want to have anything to do with that - especially when it's your attempt to do both at the same time.

Lastly, a couple of facilities want to require RN's to participate in a wellness program. Non-participation will result in an increase in health care costs.

Michigan State Government Shuts Down - 35,000 Workers Sit at Home

2007-09-29T13:32:00.000-05:00

Check out this quote from this article I just ran across in BusinessWeek...

Two-thirds of Michigan's state government workers were told Friday not to report to work Monday as negotiations continued on a budget plan that could avert a partial state government shutdown.

Messages went to about 35,000 state workers, telling them they were being placed on a temporary layoff beginning at 12:01 a.m. Monday and not to go to work unless otherwise notified.

Sounds pretty extreme doesn't it?

The article tells us that about 18,000 government workers will actually stay on the job on Monday - 12,000 of them being prison employees. What they won't have on Monday will be food safety inspections or liquor deliveries. There also won't be anyone selling lottery tickets, issuing driver's licenses, or working on state roads. By the way, about three casino's will stay open since the state gets about 1 million daily from casinos - the money goes toward public schools and public safety.

Here's more from the article...

Members of the Granholm administration met with both House parties on Friday afternoon, raising hopes that a proposal was close to fill a $1.75 billion shortfall in the fiscal year that starts Monday.

Negotiations center on raising the state's personal income tax rate, now at 3.9 percent, to as high as 4.6 percent. Another key issue is extending the sales tax to some new services.

The Legislature adjourned late Friday and was scheduled to reconvene Saturday. There was hope among some at the Capitol that an agreement was within reach.

It sounds like there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel so we'll have to see if any more progress is made in these negotiations today.

Just never sounds good when you hear that 35,000 workers could be sitting at home on Monday.

Promoted the Lee Iacocca Way - Keep Making Goals and Achieve Them All...

2007-09-27T21:09:00.000-05:00

I ran across the quote below from a Napoleon Hill "thought for the day" I received today...

Take a quick read now...

DON’T ASK YOUR EMPLOYER WHY YOU ARE NOT PROMOTED. ASK THE PERSON WHO REALLY KNOWS BEST-YOURSELF

There is only one person who is in charge of your career progression, and that person is you. Lee Iacocca is said to have written his entire career plan on the back of a business card. On it were the promotions he expected to earn and the dates he expected to receive them-until he was named CEO of the company. Successful people know that they must create their own opportunities and be ready for them when they arrive. Some organizations have clearly defined career paths while others are more informal in their approach, but if you study the senior people in the company, you can quickly identify the kind of education and experience you need to advance. If you are with the right company, one that excites and enthuses you, identify the career moves you’d like to make and get to work making yourself qualified for the job you want.

So, what do you think?

Does this describe the way you have taken charge of your career? Have you been able to create opportunities and achieve them? Or, have you been to at least take advantage of the opportunities that have come your way?

If not, what are you waiting for?

If you haven't started yet here is what you've got to do first (this is from the quote above)...If you are with the right company, one that excites and enthuses you, identify the career moves you’d like to make and get to work making yourself qualified for the job you want.

It all starts with being with the right company - one in which you have a passion for and one in which you can make this all happen...

Now, go and do it!

The Latest HR Blog Power Rankings are out!

2007-09-27T08:18:00.000-05:00

All - the latest HR Blog Power Rankings for the week of 9/24/07 is out! Looks like I'm holding steady at #14 and need to do some more work to climb closer to the top.

Thanks to Kris over at HR Capitalist for keeping us HR Bloggers engaged and connected...

Enjoy!

Ping Pong in the Breakroom = Testosterone Overload

2007-09-26T20:34:00.001-05:00

Anyone up for a "friendly" ping pong match in the break room?

What? Do you think you're Google?

Actually, this took place at the local Target in Appleton, WI...

It all started out as an innocent ping pong match in the local Target break room for the usually mild mannered Tim Bergkamp. But somehow, as each point was won, he transformed (like Bruce Banner into The Incredible Hulk) into a "smack talking", fist pumping, thug with nicknames like "King Pong", "The Human Wall" and "The Harlem Pongtrotter".

Check out this quote from the article..."I don't know what the deal is," said Marty Zielke, a coworker of Bergkamp's at an Appleton-area Target, "but ever since we got that ping-pong table in the break room, Tim's been acting like he's Macho Man Randy Savage or something."

So, for you HR Pro's out there with charged with keeping your culture light and fun, what do you think about this story?

I think it's pretty funny and sums up pretty well a culture that most companies would love to have - just as long as the testosterone is kept in check.

For those of you that need to work on a forehand smash check out this clip and Enjoy!

BlackBerry User = Lower IQ = Bad For My Career?

2007-09-24T20:25:00.002-05:00

What?!

I thought that by having and using my BlackBerry I would become more productive, more innovative and especially smarter...never dumber.

I ran across this article in BusinessWeek by Sylvia Ann Hewlett titled, "Is Your Blackberry Lowering Your IQ?"

Check out this quote from the article...Researchers at Kings' College London University have found that, across the board, communication overload causes a professional's IQ to drop 10 percentage points. It damages a worker's performance by reducing mental sharpness. The drop in IQ is more significant among men than women.

So, what's your take on these numbers?

For those of you out there that are a BlackBerry user like myself would you agree that your IQ is dropping because you are overloaded by the amount of time you communicate on your BlackBerry?

Hmmm...I don't think that I'm convinced just yet...

Here's another quote that made me think a little more about the concept...IT consultant Linda Stone has shown how "continuous partial attention" can be seriously dysfunctional. When a professional is bombarded by multiple information streams it becomes hard to sustain focus. Innovation and creativity suffer—as does the quality of decision making. How good can your feedback be when your words of wisdom are sandwiched between intense backhand drills?

After that quote I can start to see where Linda Stone is coming from but if I had to choose between having a BlackBerry and not having a Blackberry I would choose having one every time. I'll definitely use my BlackBerry for sending and receiving e-mails when needed but one of the biggest ways I use it is to just keep up to date of what's going on in the office when I'm not physically there.

So, for you BlackBerry users out there, let me hear what you have to say...

"Workplace Sins" That Will Kill Your Career

2007-09-23T20:47:00.001-05:00

Have you ever seen the original list of the "seven deadly sins" associated with your career?

I hadn't so I just had to post about this article I ran across in CNN by Rachel Zupek titled, "Seven deadly workplace sins".

For those of you unfamiliar with the list here they are: pride, envy, anger, greed, sloth, gluttony, and lust.

As you read and think about each one of these from lists above and below you can probably think back at different times in your career when you have seen colleagues in your company make any one or a combination of these mistakes. Unfortunately, they end up paying the price for these mistakes - yes, there will be consequences. Hopefully you've watched them and been able to learn from their mistakes. As you reflect on these you might even see something that you are currently doing that needs to be changed so that you don't end up paying the price and suffering the consequences.

Here's the article's take on these workplace sins...

1. Pride
Despite any help they received along the way, time and again, people take full credit for their accomplishments in the office, thinking that personal success will fast-track their career.

The sin: "What often goes unrecognized is that people around, and especially below, the serially solo-successful resent the ego-centricity, and may actually begin to actively undermine that person's efforts in the future."
The salvation: "A dose of acknowledgment of and appreciation for one's peers and subordinates, so they may share in some of the glory, can go a long way to foster one's long-term success."

2. Envy
It's OK to acknowledge another's achievements, but lamenting "what should have been yours" can be destructive and adversely impact your own ability to focus on current job tasks, McKee says.

The sin: "Allowing yourself to be overly envious of others in the workplace can sabotage your self-esteem, which is one vital characteristic every successful business person shares."
The salvation: "Rather than being envious, let the accomplishments of others become motivational fuel for your fire in working toward your own successes."

3. Anger
Anger doesn't benefit anyone in the workplace -- it only damages your reputation, credibility and professionalism.

The sin: "Those prone to angry outbursts rarely get promoted; they are seen as being poor leaders who cannot inspire or motivate others."
The salvation: "It's fine to feel passionately about your job or a project at hand and to disagree with others, but learn how to channel those emotions into actions that will work to your benefit in the eyes of others -- especially your superiors -- rather than against it."

4. Greed
An employee's selfish desire for "more, sooner" is what motivates many workers. While these folks may do well in the moment, they won't be prepared to take things to the next level, McKee warns.

The sin: "Taking this notion to the extreme can and will be self-defeating as core values become misguided and life becomes unbalanced in the process."
The salvation: "The road to success requires a long-term approach in all aspects of one's job duties. Those laser-focused on quick, short-term gains may do well in the moment, but will be ill-prepared to take things to the next level."

5. Sloth
Indolence gets you nowhere in life -- especially in corporate America. Laziness in the workplace will have you sitting idle, watching others surpass you in success and authority.

The sin: "Simply put, complacency and laziness have no place whatsoever in the workplace -- especially for those with high aspirations. Expecting one's past achievements and successes to carry them forward in their long-term career is imprudent."
The salvation: "Treat every work day and every project as if your job, and your future at large, depends on it. It very well may."

6. Gluttony
Too much focus on only one facet of life, like work, is a recipe for overall failure. Make sure you're ready -- professionally and personally -- to take on new and bigger challenges, for which expectations are also bigger, McKee says.

The sin: "Many individuals move up the corporate ladder so fast that they actually end up failing as a consequence. More isn't always better -- especially if you're not ready for the challenge at hand."
The salvation: "Achieving career success also includes maintaining a life balance, and a misplaced professional desire can create a backlash both at home as well as amid peers for your perceived obsessiveness."

7. Lust
The old "grass is always greener" adage applies to the workplace as well. Spending your time focused on others' work achievements rather than working to further your own is a sure-fire career killer," McKee contends.

The sin: "Spending an inordinate amount of time fixated on what you don't have rather than what you do will foster a bad attitude and negative overall demeanor."
The salvation: "One's overall 'presence' in the office plays a big part in who gets promoted and who doesn't. No matter how ambitious, it's prudent to be 'present' and make the most out of your current position at this moment in time."

So, what's your take on these?

I thought this was a great list with some great comparisons of "sins" vs "salvations" that should give each of us some reasons why the extreme of any of these can really destroy our career.

Offer Rejection: It's not you, it's me...

2007-09-20T21:12:00.000-05:00

I was reading a recent post by Kris over at The HR Capitalist titled, When Your Job Offer Process Takes On a "Stalker" Quality.... In the article Kris gives us some great factors (and links to some of his previous posts) that will impact whether or not a candidate decides to accept your opportunity and come work for you and your company.

Here are a couple of points I took away from his posts:

1. You move so fast that you turn into a "Stalker". One of the main reasons you do this is because you can't seem to control your excitement about the candidate that you have convinced to come interview at your company. By the time the interview is over the candidate can already tell how desperate you are for them to fill the position - because you just must have their skills and abilities present at your company. By the time they have left the interview there is no doubt in their mind that you will offer them the position. Then, you don't let them down by making them a verbal/written offer that same day! Same day offer = never a good idea.

2. You're hiring managers are "LAME". Yes, you heard me right...LAME! You know I'm right and we've all had them at companies where we've worked and had to support. As an HR Pro you've been able to sell yourself, your company, and this opportunity. But, the next big step is to bring the candidate in for a face to face interview with the hiring manager. You almost wish you didn't have to go through this step but it's inevitable and must be done. Because, after all, you can do all the selling that's humanly possible but if the manager drops the ball then the deal is off.

As HR Pro's we have all experienced at least one of the scenario's above and you'll typically see these two the most when you have found the perfect candidate that is truly an exact match for the job and opportunity you've been charged with filling. Plus, the more marketable a candidate is the more these two points will come out.

Now what? What do you think is going to be the response from the candidate that has had to endure these two scenarios described above?

Nine times out of ten you're going to get a declined offer - you aren't really shocked are you?

The candidate (or victim) will typically be professional and courteous and thank you for the offer but say that they have decided to pursue another opportunity - one more in line with their current and future career goals and expectations.

Basically they will say, it's not you...it's me.

In this spirit and theme of rejections enjoy this clip from Seinfeld of George Constanza!

Napoleon Hill - Is it a "problem" or an "opportunity"?

2007-09-18T10:12:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted about Napoleon Hill in a couple of months but I received this "thought for the day" a few days ago and happened to open it back up today.

Why do we so rarely see jobs that aren't "officially in our job description" as someone else's responsibility or an annoyance instead of seeing them as "opportunities"?

I ask not only you this, but also myself...

Above and beyond our day to day responsibilities and duties what else do you see that needs to be done around the office, in your department, or for the company? I've seen it from time to time in almost every company where I have ever worked - and I know you have too. There is that employee (or group of employees) that is never happy or satisfied by the job they are doing or what the company does for them. Why is this? What is so wrong with enjoying what you do and being excited about what your company does?

I could go on but I'll stop for now.

Check out the quote below and truly sit back, reflect, and be willing to see these "problems" as real "opportunities".

IF IT ISN’T YOUR JOB TO DO IT, PERHAPS IT IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY.

Someone once observed that the reason we often fail to recognize opportunities is because they come disguised as problems. When a customer, a colleague, or your boss has a problem, it may create a valuable opportunity for you. It isn’t important to the person with the problem how your company is organized or whose responsibility it is to solve the problem; he or she only wants the situation resolved. The next time a customer, a colleague, or your boss asks for your assistance in something that falls outside your area of responsibility, instead of referring them to someone else, offer to help. Look at the situation from the other person’s point of view. How would you like the situation handled if the roles were reversed? Take the initiative to find the answer, solve the problem, or keep the project moving forward.

Recent College Graduate and Open To Travel?

2007-09-16T13:41:00.000-05:00

Does this scenario describe where you are today? Maybe you've got a son or a daughter or a friend of the family who has just graduated from college and is looking to travel internationally.

I ran across this article in BusinessWeek by Candace Corner titled, "Need a career change? Five jobs that let you see the world".

Here they are...
1. Teacher. We all either have a friend or family member that's a teacher and we know that that a high salary is neither expected or usually paid for those that choose this rewarding career. In fact, if you happen to live in South Dakota you're amongst the lowest paid in the nation, making about $32K per year. For an international spin on this occupation you can earn up to $60K in South Korea and up to $80K in Switzerland - not bad!

2. Chef. For this occupation I believe the opportunity to travel is going to be the selling point here since you really don't earn a whole lot more in the overseas vs the states. In the states a head chef can earn a median income from around $40K to $43K per year. Overseas you'll earn from $38K to almost $48K per year.

3. Massage Therapist. I'll have to admit that I am the least familiar with this occupation since I have honestly never had a massage by a "real massage therapist". Here's a plug for the only massage therapist I know, Eileen Sauer. Here is her website and her LinkedIn profile can be found here - she's also the most passionate java trainer I have ever been around and an unbelievable pianist. In the US you'll probably earn a median income of about $30K. For those of you that love being in a cruise ship you can earn between $34K and $46K.

4. Nanny. Since I've got 4 kids of my own I know that I know that I could never afford one of these - especially if I had to pay per child. In the US you'll earn a median income of about $30K but in France you'll only earn about $320 / month - the opportunity here is of course to see another part of the world. If you love France go for it!

5. Caterer. The article says that a catering manager can earn about $36K as the median income. Obviously, the better reputation you have and the more business you have the more money you make. Plus, if you happen to be employed by a celebrity or anyone with plenty of money to spend I would imagine that you can earn much more than the $36K.

So, now what?

Which location do you choose if you want to travel? Do you stay in the states and move from the east to the west or from the south to the north? Or, do you take the big step and go to another country?

My vote is another country.

Enjoy and take advantage of whichever location you choose.

The Latest HR Blog Power Rankings are out!

2007-09-13T08:07:00.000-05:00

All - the latest HR Blog Power Rankings for the week of 9/10/07 is out!

Thanks to Kris over at HR Capitalist for keeping us HR Bloggers engaged and connected...

Enjoy!

Workaholic - It's not a laughing matter anymore...

2007-09-11T19:49:00.000-05:00

If you're like me you've heard this issue joked about in basically every company where you have ever worked. It's workaholic. Most of us would never admit to being one and we probably wouldn't even own up to being described this way.

What's your take on this issue and trend?

This is my first post of more to come in a series addressing the topic and subject of work/life balance. We all know how important it is to balance work and life...but why is it?

Here is how Wikipedia defines a workaholic - a workaholic is a person who is addicted to work. This phrase does not always imply that the person actually enjoys their work, but rather simply feels compelled to do it. There is no generally accepted medical definition of such a condition, although some forms of stress, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder can be work-related. Although the term "workaholic" usually has a negative connotation, it is sometimes used by people wishing to express their devotion to one's career in positive terms. The "work" in question is usually associated with a paying job, but it may also refer to independent pursuits such as sports, music, art, or blogging.

Next, I decided to go to the place where I could knew I could find this issue addressed, defined and solved, Workaholics Anonymous.

Here is how they define what it's all about - Workaholics Anonymous is a fellowship of individuals who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problems and help others to recover from workaholism.

Since I was quite unfamiliar with this program and issue I was surprised to see all the great resources that were included there.

Here are a few of the resources I found...
- How do I know if I am a workaholic?
- Characteristics of a workaholic
- The Twelve Steps
- FAQ's

Take a look at the above links and dig through the information provided. There are some great tools included that can really help you determine whether or not you might be a workaholic.

If you determine that you really might be one, how's your performance in your current position and what type of feedback do you receive from your manager? Do your current habits really help your performance or are you just guilty of bad time management or doing work just to stay busy?

How about your career? Are you where you thought you would be and is your current position contributing or hindering your progress?

If you really aren't sure then explore the links above and be on the lookout for more information to come from me on this very topic.

Luciano Pavarotti: October 12, 1935 – September 6, 2007

2007-09-08T14:52:00.000-05:00

We've all heard the news by now - that Luciano Pavarotti passed away on Wednesday, September 6, 2007.

Wow...what an amazing tenor!

Sure, I was familiar with him but I had to do some research on-line to really learn about his career as a tenor, which started in April of 1961.

Here are some facts that I learned about him - included are two cips at the bottom of this post...

- Pavarotti began his career as a tenor in smaller regional Italian opera houses, making his debut as Rodolfo in La bohème at the Teatro Municipale in Reggio Emilia in April 1961.

- Pavarotti made his American début with the Greater Miami Opera in February, 1965 singing in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor opposite Joan Sutherland on the stage of the Miami-Dade County Auditorium in Miami.

- On December 12, 1998 he became the first (and, so far, only) opera singer to perform on Saturday Night Live, singing alongside Vanessa L. Williams. He also sang with U2, in the band's 1995 song Miss Sarajevo.

- He received Kennedy Center Honors in 2001 and holds two Guinness World Records: for receiving the most curtain calls — at 165 — and for the best selling classical album (this album is In Concert by The Three Tenors and is thus shared by fellow tenors, Plácido Domingo and José Carreras).

- In 2001, Pavarotti received the Nansen Medal from the UN High Commission for Refugees for his efforts raising money on behalf of refugees worldwide. Through benefit concerts and volunteer work, he has raised more than US$1.5 million, more than any other individual.

- Pavarotti gave his last performance in an opera at the New York Metropolitan Opera on March 13, 2004 for which he received a 12-minute standing ovation for his role as the painter Mario Cavaradossi in Giacomo Puccini's Tosca.

- On February 10, 2006 0 Pavarotti sang "Nessun Dorma" at the 2006 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Turin, Italy. The final act of the opening ceremony, his performance received the longest and loudest ovation of the night from the international crowd.

Now, enjoy this clip of Luciano Pavarotti and James Brown...

Here's another of Pavarotti and Bono...

New iPod touch...does it make you want a job at Apple?

2007-09-06T21:47:00.000-05:00

Are you an Apple and iPod fan like me?

What does seeing the new range of ipods do for you?

Are you passionate enough to want to work there?

If so, here is where you can find a job in one of their offices - this if you're looking for a job in marketing, software engineering, ipod engineering, or maybe even HR.

Maybe you're more into the face to face interactions with the customer - go here.

Here are their benefits...

Now, sit back and enjoy learning more about the new iPod touch...

Office Romance = New Job For Someone?

2007-09-06T19:54:00.001-05:00

We've all seen it in basically every company where we have ever worked. It's office romance and almost impossible to hide - and we can usually see it coming from miles away.

I've seen two single people get together, which is usually the story you like to hear, and I've seen two people who are already married divorce and get together, which is much more unpredictable and typically involves much more talk around the "water cooler".

I was reading through CNN and ran across this article by Jocelyn Voo titled, "How to handle an office romance".

Check out these statistics..."Forty-three percent of workers in the United States say they've dated a fellow employee; of those, 34 percent reported getting hitched, according to a 2006 survey on office romance by CareerBuilder.com".

I really didn't expect the percentages to be so high so there must be more of this going on than I'm aware of - I guess it's because I work in HR.

Here are some pointers mentioned in the article and I'll elaborate on each of them.

1. Think before you speak

You two must get together, discuss, and agree when or even if you are going to tell anyone at work about your relationship. Since this is usually early in the relationship I'll call this a DFR (define the relationship) - this is what we called it when I was growing up.

2. Be professional

This is going to be especially important if either one of you report to the other. You cannot let your relationship impact or affect how you make decisions at work - especially when it comes to type of work assigned, workload, salary increases, and bonuses. Plus, if you're still trying to keep this relationship a secret, any noticeable favoritism in these areas will get people talking.

3. Know the rules

What does your company have to say about relationships with others at work - especially those between boss and subordinate? Do you both need to start reviewing the job postings to see if either one of you can transfer to another opportunity within the company? Just because there may not be a policy doesn't mean you don't need to look internally or externally for something else - it really all depends on where this relationship is going.

4. Be subtle

Please watch the pda (personal display of affection)! No one wants to see the two of you sneaking around the office to get a little "alone time" Enough said...

5. Weigh the risks

Yes, there are risks involved with office romance. What happens if this relationship doesn't work out? Did it end well where the two of you are still "friends" or was it a nightmare ending? If the two of you still have to see each other after a bad ending the both of you will probably be miserable - especially if you work together or one for another. My take is that if it ends badly then one or both of you may need to look to another department or company for employment.

For you "The Office" fans out there check out this clip of Jim and Pam...

The Latest Carnival of HR Is Up!

2007-09-05T09:27:00.000-05:00

All - It's here...the latest Carnival of HR is up and running - #15!

Special thanks to Rowan Manahan at Fortify Your Oasis for this edition...

Enjoy and be sure to check out #12 on his list!

What Is Your Blog Rated? Mine is PG...

2007-09-05T08:03:00.000-05:00

Flaming Your "Former Co-worker"...Not a Good Idea!

2007-09-04T21:29:00.001-05:00

Disclaimer: I have changed the names to protect the innocent in this scenario below. As you'll see and read below, the only innocent ones that deserve protection are "former co-worker", "manager", and "third party" - the "candidate" doesn't deserve protection but he'll get it anyway.

Here's the scenario. "Candidate" applies for a job at "Company XYZ" while still employed at "Company ABC". He soon realizes that his "former co-worker" is now the "manager" for the position he has just applied for.

Here's where it gets interesting...the best part of this is that "candidate" sent this to me via e-mail.

Check it out...

Thanks for the information below. I didn't realize that it was "former co-worker" who was handling the position. I don't normally toot my own horn. But in this case I feel it's necessary. I am 10 times the developer that "former co-worker" is and his work ethic and level of excellence isn't even on the same page as my own. I have worked very closely with him and reviewed his code. It is substandard in my opinion. He's friendly and easy to get along with. I liked working with him because of his spirit of cooperation. But in all honesty, he's very lazy. I have done twice his work here at "company ABC". I have 17 years of experience in my skills and I've been an architect is some of my roles. "Former co-worker's" skills simply do not even compare. Ask "third party".

Any thoughts? Have any stories like this one that you would like to share?

If you are curious, this is definitely a true story and no, I am no longer considering him for the position he applied for.

Penalties for Hiring Illegal Immigrant Workers?

2007-09-04T09:38:00.000-05:00

What? Penalites for knowingly hiring illegal immigrant workers? I hope you can can you feel the sarcasm...

I ran across this article on CNN titled, "Judge puts hold on immigration penalty letters to employers"

Check out this quote from the article...

The Social Security Administration has sent out "no-match" letters for more than two decades warning employers of discrepancies in the information the government has on their workers. Employers often brushed aside the letters, and the small fines that sometimes were incurred, as a cost of doing business.

But this year, those letters are to be accompanied by notices from the Department of Homeland Security outlining strict new requirements for employers to resolve those discrepancies within 90 days or face fines or criminal prosecution if they're deemed to have knowingly hired illegal immigrants.

What's your take on this?

I'll have to admit that I really haven't been tracking this topic lately and just stumbled upon this article last week. My first question is why this has taken so long to really enforce? I would say that this has been a problem and concern for a long time so we'll have to see if this extra step by the Department of Homeland Security will start to 1. discourage employers from knowingly employing illegal immigrants and 2. discourage illegals from entering the US.

Check out this article regaring what New Jersey police are now being required to do..."New Jersey law enforcement was ordered Wednesday to notify federal immigration officials whenever someone arrested for an indictable offense or drunken driving is determined to be an illegal immigrant".

I also went to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website and found some great consolidated information - here.

Addicted to Blogging? Take the test...

2007-09-01T14:11:00.000-05:00

72%

IBM - They Don't Track Your Vacation Balance?!

2007-09-01T10:42:00.000-05:00

It’s every worker’s dream: take as much vacation time as you want, on short notice, and don’t worry about your boss calling you on it. Cut out early, make it a long weekend, string two weeks together — as you like. No need to call in sick on a Friday so you can disappear for a fishing trip. Just go; nobody’s keeping track.

Anybody out there want to take a guess which company has adopted the above guidelines and policy regarding vacation time?

I was browsing through The New York Times last night and I ran across the quote above in an article titled, "At I.B.M., a Vacation Anytime, or Maybe None"

Honestly, my first gut reaction from an HR policy perspective, would be to run from this type of practice - especially at a company like IBM that has 355,000 workers - yes, 355,000 workers - no typo. In companies where I have worked in the past, keepinig track of employee vacation balances by management and HR was something that was tracked with pride - especially from an approval and progressive discipline perspective. Because, after all, the business has got to run and without employees at work we can't serve and support our valuable clients...right?

So, how does this work so well at a company like IBM?

After reading the article I see how they do it... First, unlike most companies, they don't mandate how many hours you work in a day or work week. And second, they don't mandate which days of the week you decide to work. Third, they don't mandate where you get the work done - at home, Starbucks, or in one of the "e-mobility centers" around the world. Check this out...Aided by broadband connections, cellphones and video conferencing software, 40 percent of I.B.M.’s employees have no dedicated offices, working instead at home, at a client’s site, or at one of the company’s hundreds of “e-mobility centers” around the world, where workers drop in to use phones, Internet connections and other resources.

As you can see, it's all about getting your work and/or project done and completed on time. Sounds simple doesn't it... Because, aren't we all "professionals" with the ability to just get our work done?

Here's how they say it works - Instead, for the past few years, employees at all levels have made informal arrangements with their direct supervisors, guided mainly by their ability to get their work done on time. Many people post their vacation plans on electronic calendars that colleagues can view online, and they leave word about how they can be reached in a pinch.

If it works so well, why aren't companies all around the world doing this? There are actually three other companies that are doing this and most of us have heard of at least two of them. They are BestBuy, Netflix, and Motley Fool.

So, what do employees at IBM have to say about this practice?

Pro's...
Luis H. Rodriguez, the director of market management in I.B.M.’s software group, said he visits his office here in Somers about once a week, working the rest of the time on the road or at his home in Ridgefield, Conn., where he sat one recent afternoon at the kitchen table with his laptop open.

He said that in six years at I.B.M. he can recall only one time when he asked a co-worker not to take a long weekend off — when their group was about to buy another company — and that calling colleagues or checking e-mail while visiting relatives in Texas or Illinois is a fair trade for being able to work from home so he can spend more time with his children, Alec, 5, and Evia, 2.

“I get an incredible amount of flexibility from the company, but it cuts both ways,” he said. “Because people’s schedules and needs are so structured, you need flexibility at work.”

Con's...
Frances Schneider, who retired from an I.B.M. sales division last year, after 34 years, said one thing never changed; there was not one year in which she took all her allotted time off. “It wasn’t seven days a week, but people ended up putting in longer hours because of all the flexibility, without really thinking about it,” Ms. Schneider said.

“Although you had this wonderful freedom to take days when you want, you really couldn’t. I.B.M. tends to be a group of workaholics.”

Now what?

For all of you HR Pros out there - especially those with decision making authority around policies, procedures, benefits, and yes...vacation and personal time accrual, what do you do with this new information?

Is your company ready for this type of drastic shift? Would your culture, business, and executives even support it?

You decide...

Any Volunteers for Working on Saturday?

2007-08-31T15:07:00.000-05:00

All - this is for Dwight...who thought it was Saturday when it was really Friday.

Thanks to Jim and Pam for the always humorous pranks - and for being able to fool Dwight into thinking that it was Friday when it was really Thursday!

Priceless!

Power Rankings for HR Blogs?

2007-08-30T21:53:00.000-05:00

All - for those of you out there that are unfamiliar with Kris over at The HR Capitalist, you've got to check out his first installment of The HR Blog Power Rankings.

Click through the links and check out the list...

By the way, I'm number 13 - I'm glad that I'm not superstitious...

Doug Flutie - Unbiased ESPN Analyst?

2007-08-30T19:35:00.000-05:00

It's Thursday night, August 30th, 2007 and College Football has begun - War Eagle!

I'm watching LSU play Mississippi State and listening to Doug Flutie - he's now an Analyst on ESPN for their Thursday night games - and tonight is his first one. Anyone who has ever been around college or pro football has either seen or heard of Doug Flutie - if you aren't sure you have probably seen clips of his "Hail Mary" when his team, Boston College, was playing Miami back in 1984. Many would say that it's the greatest moment in college football.

I ran across an article on The Boston Globe titled, "Flutie's objectivity will be put to the test at ESPN". His old team, Boston College, will be playing Virginia Tech on October 25th for a Thursday night game on ESPN - and he'll be an Analyst. Can he be objective and unbiased?

Here's how Flutie defends himself..."Once I'm in the booth -- and I did BC games last year -- it's very easy because I'm sitting back up top there, just looking at X's and O's," he said, before he was interrupted by fellow analyst Craig James.
Now Craig's over there giggling because I did say 'we' one time [while broadcasting a game last season]," said Flutie. "But it is pretty easy [to be objective] because you sit back, and you're looking at teams, matchups, and strategies, like, OK, we're going to go in this two-minute situation, and here's what they've got to do, and you kind of go into automatic pilot as far as that's concerned. Plus, we're going to be in Blacksburg [Va.], so you'd better be objective."

My take? He'll do fine - nothing to worry about...

If you are curious about his character, check out The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation. He created this to honor his own son who has autism...

But, prior to us learning about a Ref that bet on basketball games, would we question Doug's ability to be unbiased as he analyzes a game for the team he used to play for. Unfortunately, professional sports hasn't had the best reputation. All I have to say is Michael Vick, Barry Bonds, and Pacman Jones...enough said.

For those of you that have never seen his "Hail Mary" check out the clip below...

Recording Meetings at Work - Is it Really Worth the Risk?

2007-08-30T15:44:00.000-05:00

Here's the scenario: Your boss goes on vacation and you are asked to not only take notes during the daily staff meetings but also record them. What do you do? Do you confidently put the recorder on the table in front of you and act like it's not there? Or, do you hide it in your pocket or put it in the plant in the corner of the room with plans to sneak back in the conference room and recover it?

What would you do?

If it's no secret in the office that you're a "kiss up" and you would do whatever your boss told you to do then what do you really have to worry about? And, if you are used to being ridiculed publically in the office then the decision is easy - proudly put the recorder right in front of you. If questioned all you have to do is confirm what your boss told you to do.

But, what if this is not you? You're relatively new and want to do all you can to impress your boss and show your commitment and dedication to not only him (or her) but to also the company.

Option 1: You sneak in the conference room and place the recorder in the plant in the corner of the conference room - you then press play right before the meeting begins. Once the meeting is over and everyone is back at their desk you quietly sneak back in and get the recorder. But here's the risk - what if you are caught? Then, not only you but also your boss are open to public ridicule.

Option 2: You place the recorder in your pocket to record the meeting. There are two risks here. The first is you being caught with it - not good. The second is that the recorder is so low in your pocket that it doesn't pick up anything.

Option 3: You give everyone a "heads up" before the staff meeting that you've been asked to record the meetings. With this option no one is surprised and hopefully the meeting will run like it usually does with no excitement. The risk? Not as much as Option 1 or 2 - everyone knows what the boss is like and you are perceived more like the "innocent victim"...

Me? I'm going with Option 3...

Dwight, in the below clip, is doomed for a disaster and pays the price for the option he selects...

Michael Vick's Jury Selected...

2007-08-29T16:33:00.000-05:00

All - sorry but I couldn't resist...

For a couple of great posts on Michael Vick's situation from an HR perspective check out Kris at HR Capitalist - here and here...

Enjoy!

Nap at work...Good Idea or Bad Idea?

2007-08-26T15:10:00.000-05:00

We've all been there...so sleepy at work that we can barely keep our eyes open. You've been up late the night before working (really?) and are paying the price the next day.

Now what? What do you do the rest of the day? You can chug your 5th Mountain Dew for the day but if you've already had 4 I really don't think a 5th will really work.

So, what's really wrong with a quick nap to rejuvenate yourself?

I ran across this article in BusinessWeek titled, "Napping Your Way To The Top", where this very topic and point of view is explained pretty well.

Check out this quote from the article... Sleeping on the job used to be grounds for dismissal. But now, years after Cornell University psychologist James Maas coined the term "power nap," companies are beginning to embrace the practice. Today, Nike (NKE ) and Deloitte Consulting are among those that encourage employees to add a midday snooze to their to-do lists. Sleep scientist Sara Mednick applauds this trend. Mednick, a researcher at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego and author of the new book Take a Nap! Change Your Life (Workman Publishing), says napping can enhance productivity.

So, did you expect to read that from the article? There were many great points made as to the benefits of a power nap during the day but I'm just skeptical to think that there are companies out there that would really implement this within their organization. There are some days that I'd be 100% on board with this but other days when I wouldn't even consider it.

I'd like to hear from some Nike or Deloitte Consulting employees so that they could tell us how this has really been encouraged and implemented among their workforce - if you happen to know one, forward this post to them and encourage them to comment.

I also found an article on CNN titled, "The cost of sleeping on the job".

Here is one I found on MSNBC titled, "Nap Quest". Here's a good quote...Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Athens Medical School have just released findings from a large study that shows how midday napping reduces one's chance of coronary mortality by more than a third. So go ahead and nap—a short daily snooze might ward off a heart attack later in life.

Lastly, check out the Napmosphere.

Here are also some books about napping...

1. The Art of Napping at Work

2. Power Sleep : The Revolutionary Program That Prepares Your Mind for Peak Performance

3. Permission to Nap: Taking Time to Restore Your Spirit

4. Take a Nap! Change Your Life

So, as an HR Pro in the company you work for, what do you do with this new information about napping? Are there companies in your area that really make time for this? What are your thoughts about formal support and policies around this?

Let me know your thoughts...

Click through the links above and enjoy the clip below.

"The Librarian" vs "The Comedian" - Seinfeld

2007-08-26T14:50:00.000-05:00

Ever seen a Librarian as passionate and emotional as Mr. Bookman?

Is this a new trend? You've got an overdue book and the next thing you see is your local Librarian at your front door reminding you that you've got 7 days to return it.

What? No phone call or letter?

Networking for the Elite: aSmallWorld

2007-08-22T20:22:00.000-05:00

I was browsing through BusinessWeek and ran across this great article by Catherine Holahan titled, "Way Too Good for Facebook or My Space". Click through and check it out...

I have now been introduced a relatively new networking site called aSmallWorld. I immediately went to Wikipedia and here is what they had on the site...

I have just realized that the main reason I've never heard of this site is because I've never been invited - yes, you heard me right. You can't just create a profile and join like basically all the other networking sites with millions and millions of members. You must be patient and wait on an invitation. By the way, not all members can invite new members to join - only established members can.

I have a confession to make...I'm just a LinkedIn user and have used it quite a bit over the last year to re-connect with former colleagues and good hires that I've made over the last 7 to 9 years. This very statement probably disqualifies me from being an invited member of aSmallWorld but for today, that's ok.

So, what's your take on these exclusive networking sites?

Check out these quotes from the article...

Critics are split into two camps: Some call aSW dreadfully elitist, while others say it's not exclusive enough. Nonmembers have nicknamed the site "Snobster," arguing that its invitation-only policy contradicts the premise of open communications upon which the Web was built. Then there are those on the inside who complain that, in an effort to become profitable, aSW is accepting less "valuable" members.

While there's little argument that aSW is growing fast, what constitutes too fast is open to debate. In the three-and-a-half years since its launch, membership has grown from 500 users to about 260,000. But MySpace has grown to more than 100 million members over a similar timeframe, making it a major recipient of the $900 million that research firm eMarketer estimates will be spent on social-network advertising this year.

Now, which one do you join? It's your call - well almost your call since you're the one that's got to wait on the invitation...

HR Nightmare: Diversity Day at "The Office"

2007-08-21T20:04:00.000-05:00

Disclaimer: As an HR Pro I am not recommending that you treat any type of diversity awareness or training like Michael does in this clip. Humor is my only intent. After reading this post and viewing this clip you'll know what to or not to do...

For those of us in HR, we've chosen this profession for a reason. On one extreme you may love being the HR police. If this is you, you'll probably find yourself dreaming of the next policy and procedure you can force into your organization - not because it's needed but just because you can. On the other extreme you are doing what you can, as an HR Pro with a true seat at the table, to really add value. You're taking the areas you have direct control over (performance management, compensation, recruiting/retention, and benefits) to really make a difference in your organization. The result is a vibrant organization equipped with the knowledge, information, and tools to exceed it's annual goals and objectives.

Now, back to diversity...

Whether you're the HR police or the true HR Pro adding value, diversity training and awareness can be a nightmare waiting to happen. Once the discussions and conversations start going down hill it's nearly impossible to turn things around.

My suggestion? Utilize only when it's really needed within your organization. I've seen it used and done well but in order to make it work you've got to keep your audience on track, use real world examples, and make sure it's practical and relevant to your organization.

After viewing the clip below you soon realize the legal liability that Michael and Dunder Mifflin have now exposed themselves to.

I ran across a great post by attorney Julie Elgar where she explains the potential liability and exposure that could result from the actions in this episode.

View the clip and follow the link to her insightful post...Enjoy and learn!

Jason Bourne: The Ultimate Assassin...from an HR Pespective

2007-08-20T20:02:00.000-05:00

Any Jason Bourne fans out there?

My wife and I celebrated our recent wedding anniversary by seeing The Bourne Ultimatum on August 5th. Wow...it's an amazing movie.

I've put my HR hat on and thought what it would be like if Jason were an Assassin for the company I work for - this is obviously a hypothetical example so let's just assume for a few minutes that I really have an Assassin on my payroll.

How do you think you or your company would handle these HR or related areas - keeping an Assassin in mind?

Recruiting and Job Postings. So, where do you find someone that wants to be and is qualified to be an Assassin? Which works better - an on-line job board like Monster or a local ad in the newspaper? How about a referral bonus? I found this site, G.I. Jobs...it's probably a great place to start.

Pre-Employment Testing. For those of you that have seen the most recent Bourne movie, you are given a glimpse of all that he went through to become an Assassin. Can we say psychological testing to the extreme? I'm sure he also had to have quite a few former superiors and co-workers vouch for how he handled himself in stressful situations. How many hours do you think he spent being interviewed? Was behavioral interviewing utilized?

Performance. What's your take? Is Jason an Exceeds or Meets? (Or, for those of you with a five point scale is he an Outstanding or Exceeds?) My gut tells me that he's probably the best there has ever been...a "legend" around the office. How is he evaluated or what are his metrics? How many "assignments" have to be completed per week or month? Are there incentives for completing "assignments" quickly while keeping within the budget?

Expense Reports and Receipts. How timely do you think Jason is in making sure he submits his expense reports before the payroll deadline so that he can pay off his American Express with the reimbursement he receives in his paycheck? Or, do you think someone in "corporate" always make sure these are handled in a timely manner? Also, do you think he always has a receipt to show for every purchase? For someone with this type of demanding work schedule I'm sure he's got an unlimited limit on his AMEX and never has to worry about an expense report or receipt.

Retention. When you notice turnover among your Assassins what are some of the things you put in place to keep Assassins alert, motivated, and eager to do their job better and better? Spot bonuses for a job well done? How about shares of ownership in the company? Diverse assignments from one part of the world to another? Company picnic or pizza party?

Employee Assistance Program (EAP). What do you offer Assassins when the job becomes more than they can handle? What about their work/life balance? Now, I have to ask, is work/life balance even possible in this job? Probably not.

Just some HR related thoughts and topics for you to consider as you watch the movie...here's a clip to give you a taste...

Enjoy!

Defense Attorney vs Prosecutor - How To Keep Your Strategy A Secret & Jim Carrey

2007-08-16T21:35:00.000-05:00

So, you're a Defense Attorney and are doing your best to keep your strategy from the Prosecutor...

Check out this clip of Jim Carrey and think about how a Prosecutor you face might react to you doing this...

Dangerous Job = High Salary?

2007-08-16T19:57:00.000-05:00

Anyone out there interested in risking their life on a day by day basis just to earn more money than the guy next door with the Maserati? Has keeping up with the "Jones's" tempted you to roll the dice and become a Pilot - the 2nd the most dangerous job in the US?

Hmmm...I don't think I'm there yet.

I just ran across this article on CNN by Les Christie titled, "America's most dangerous jobs". The article tells us that last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 5,700 people lost their life while on the job.

Check out this chart below of the Top 10 most dangerous jobs.

I guess Commercial Fisherman doesn't really surprise me as being the most dangerous job in the US but I really wouldn't have picked Pilots as #2. Also, if I was risking my life daily I'd expect to be compensated for it. According to the BLS website commercial fishermen only made from $322 to $775 per week - not worth the risk to me and I'll pass.

On the other hand, Pilots made an average of $129K per year - now you've got my attention. If you don't have the nerves for flying through the air, Air Traffic Controllers made an average of $102K per year.

Now, for #3, a Logger. Any thoughts about how much money they made? The most you'll probably make is about $26.00 per hour.

So, as you can see, an increase in danger doesn't automatically give you an increase in salary.

Now what? You going to make a job change or just stick to your current job?

If all you want to know is what the top paying jobs are, CareerBuilder has a list here...

Enjoy!

Merv Griffin - A Lifelong Career in Entertainment...

2007-08-14T20:08:00.000-05:00

We've all been surfing the net and watching the news over the last couple of days and have heard about Merv Griffin's death on Sunday, August 12th. We've seen numerous stories and watched the history of his lifelong career in entertainment replayed before our very eyes.

I have to admit - I was born in the 70's and really wasn't that familiar with him. Sure, I had heard of the Merv Griffin Show but other than that I really wasn't aware of all that he had accomplished.

For those of you in my age group (and with my level of familiarity) let me share with you some of his accomplishments...

1. The Merv Griffin Show ran for a total of 25 years
2. He created Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune - you heard of these?
3. Singing on the radio at the age of 19 was his first gig
4. When his radio fans saw him for the first time they laughed outloud due to his weight. So, he soon lost 80 lbs in about 4 months.
5. When he retired in 1986 he sold Merv Griffin Enterprises to Columbia Pictures for $250 million
6. Merv invested heavily in real estate by purchasing the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills
7. In 1988 he bought Resorts Hotel and Casino (formerly Chalfonte-Haddon Hall Hotel) in Atlantic City from Donald Trump.
8. He loves horses and would wear his lucky gold tie to races

You learn something? I sure did...

Enjoy this tribute!

Turnover Rate & Performance Rating: TSA Baggage Screener vs Airline Baggage Handler

2007-08-08T20:25:00.000-05:00

Kris over at The HR Capitalist had a couple of posts two weeks ago (here & here) regarding the turnover rate and performance rating of TSA baggage screeners.

The first thing I was curious about was how much TSA baggage screeners made. Here is their pay scale (screeners fall into pay bands D & E). It looks like you're hired into D ($23,836 - $35,754) and then once you're fully trained and on your own you move into E ($27,371 to $41,107). For those of you curious about career progression it's all pretty clear and laid out for you...

We'd all agree that this role and position is extremely import to our safety while flying. Can you imagine walking through the metal detectors and scanners and happen to see a couple of baggage screeners goofing off? It's never something I want to see... Plus, since their job is so important, do you want a "does not meets" or an "exceeds" screening all the luggage that comes into the airport and onto your plane?

But, what about the airline baggage handler - those who actually handle your luggage once you're sitting comfortable on the plane? What's your take on their turnover rate and performance rating?

If you're like me you've heard story after story from friends and family about luggage that's been lost, stolen, or damaged. The next thing you hear, valuable items start "missing" from inside your luggage and you don't even realize it until you arrive at your destination. Who is held accountable and responsible for this? I've read about baggage handlers that are arrested for stealing items from luggage but what other consequences are there?

You may be lucky enough to receive an apology from the airline...but is that it? Is that as far as it goes?

Once you are on your way home with your apology what happens with the "does not meets" airline baggage handlers - those who are truly responsible for what happened to your luggage? Does any of this information or feedback ever get back to them? Does each event or complaint ever impact their quality metrics, performance rating, and thus salary increase?

On the flip side what about the "exceeds" airline baggage handlers - those who truly take pride in their work? These are the ones you really want to thank because they are the ones that are handling your baggage with care - and they also do their part to keep the plane and you on time...

I've got no beef with airline baggage handlers myself but Kris's posts just started me thinking. I attempted to do some research on-line regarding the turnover rate and performance rating for airline baggage handlers but came up empty...

What's your take?

The Latest Carnival of HR Is Up!

2007-08-08T09:13:00.000-05:00

All - It's here...the latest Carnival of HR is up and running!

Special thanks to Ann at Compensation Force for this edition...Enjoy!

X Games & Jake Brown: Your Career As A Skateboarder...

2007-08-03T15:07:00.000-05:00

So, you've been skateboarding for a while and are actually starting to think about quitting your day job to skate professionally?

Go for it...but only if you've got what it takes...

My guess is that if you're a true skateboarder then you've been keeping a pretty close eye on the X Games and what's been happening out in LA.

That being said I'm sure you were watching when Jake Brown flew across the sky and then fell about 50 feet in the air. The flying through the air part was probably amazing...the falling to the ground part, no thank you...

Now it's your call...you still got what it takes after watching the video below?

Workplace Violence: Murdered when asked for a raise...

2007-07-31T14:04:00.001-05:00

Anyone interested in one of the roomates to the left? Of course not - none of us want to end up there. This can be a quick consequence to workplace violence...

I blinked and almost missed this article on CNN but was obviously shocked by it. The article I ran across is titled, "Police: Boss kills workers who asked for raise".

As fellow HR Professionals, we would all agree that workplace violence is something that we never want to see at our company. We do our best to coach managers and employees on the best way to work and interact with each other - confrontation and difficult conversations is just about the biggest area that needs improvement. We can make recommendations, give examples, and even role play with each other but sometimes our advice is ignored and either party can be found guilty of reacting in a way where the immediate and future consequences of that reaction is the last thing on their mind.

In the story on CNN we aren't really given a lot of information - just told that the employees weren't happy about their pay and they had asked their boss on numerous occasions about an increase. Their boss just snapped and killed them both. This is obviously the worst possible scenario and outcome...

Here are some resources I found on-line that can be very helpful...

I found some information on Workforce that linked to a couple great pdf's from the FBI and ASIS International. If you're wondering what ASIS is, check out this link.

OSHA has some great resources available. Check out this bit of information from the OSHA website...Its most extreme form, homicide, is the fourth-leading cause of fatal occupational injury in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), there were 564 workplace homicides in 2005 in the United States...

For a great post from a Workplace Violence/Anger Management perspective check out this post from The HR Capitalist...

Drugs & Alcohol On The Job and Random Drug Testing: Astronauts & The Office

2007-07-27T15:02:00.000-05:00

OK - so we've all heard or read from the news today about the astronauts that few the space shuttle while drunk...

This is obviously something we didn't want to hear but we do know that NASA is acting quickly to address the problem.

I found a couple articles on CNN - here and here...

Here's is a report that gives some findings from the NASA Astronaut Health Care System Review Committee. It includes data from findings done from February 2007 to June 2007...

Hopefully, going forward, we'll start to hear fewer and fewer examples of stories like these involving astronauts - we still want our kids to continue to dream of becoming an astronaut one day. This also means that we need more and more astronauts being painted in a positive light as a good role model and someone to look up to.

But, since I'm a huge fan of "The Office", I couldn't help but think back to the episode when a joint is found in the parking lot of Dunder Mifflin. Dwight decides to question all of his co-workers and we get to see Michael as he takes an opportunity to speak to all of his employees about drugs - we also learn his definition of random drug testing...

Enjoy.

Negative Unemployment?

2007-07-26T20:39:00.000-05:00

I was listening to the radio today (Rick & Bubba) while driving home from work and I heard the term negative unemployment. New to you? It certainly was to me. My simple definition would be a situation that exists when you have more jobs available than qualified workers...

From what I heard from the interview, jobs are on their way to Huntsville (Alabama) but, at this time, there aren't enough people to fill them. Who wouldn't want to work at the home of the United States Space & Rocket Center?

Check out this website that will tell you all about it...

Here's a quote from the site that sums it up pretty well - Huntsville Alabama is home to the Army’s Aviation and Missile expertise and to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. It is soon to be the home of the Army Material Command and the Missile Defense Agency. There is already a shortage of professional people including engineers, scientists, program managers, acquisition and logistics experts and there are several thousand vacant positions coming between now and 2011.

Here's an article from the Huntsville Times that gives much more detailed information about this opportunity and predicament that Huntsville has found themselves in...

I did some research on-line and found Huntsville's unemployment rate as of May 2007 to be 2.4% - that's ranked 14th compared to other metropolitan areas in the US. My metropolitan area of Birmingham, AL has a current unemployment rate of 2.7% and is ranked 28th.

And you thought you had it hard? How would you like to be presented with this challenge and how do you think you would do?

Here are my first two initial suggestions.
1. You must offer incentives for qualified workers to come to Huntsville - be creative!
2. You must make sure the city - from tourism and government are all working together in a way to encourage and attract those workers.

Good Luck!

Tattoo? And You Want To Work Here?

2007-07-26T11:56:00.000-05:00

So, who really cares if I have a tattoo or not - especially if I'm a hardworking and dedicated employee? The answer is - it depends...

HERE'S THE MAIN QUESTION TO CONSIDER (IF YOU ARE AN EMPLOYEE) - does the fact that you have a tattoo represent the image that your employer wants to portray to it's customers and clients - and especially their potential customers and clients? When $$ and profits are concerned your employer will always care. Since you already work there you're probably safe today.

HERE'S THE SECOND QUESTION TO CONSIDER (IF YOU ARE A CANDIDATE) - will the fact that I have a tattoo hinder me from getting the job that I'd like to have, make the money I need to make, and progress in my career like I want to?

I began thinking about this topic when I saw this video on CNN's website titled "Tattoos in the workplace" - CNN's Stephanie Elam reported on the prevalence of tattoos at the office and how some companies are responding. The video reported that approximately 25% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 50 have a tattoo and approximately 35% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 have a tattoo. If you're thinking like me those percentages sound a little high...

Here's an example to think about based upon the above stats... Let's say that in your company 200 employees fall between the ages of 18 and 50. If this is the case then there's a pretty good chance that about 50 of them have a tattoo. Now I'll bet you are pretty surprised - and I am too.

Now, let's go back to my MAIN QUESTION from the top. In my question I'm making the assumption that you are employed today and you're asking this question because you fall in one of these two following categories:

1. You have a small discrete tattoo today and you are thinking about your second tattoo or the upgrade that may be larger and less discrete.

2. You're thinking about getting your first tattoo.

If this is you then you've got to think about how this move is going to impact your current employment and future promotional opportunities. If this is your first tattoo and you've already decided that it's going to be small and discrete (and in a location that probably no one will see) I'd say your pretty safe. But, maybe you fall in the first question - this will obviously be a bigger decision and will take more thought from you as to the size and location - both of these will determine your future...But, maybe you don't care at all - then this may be your chance to rage against the machine and just accept how the chips fall...

Now, let's got back to my SECOND QUESTION from the top. You don't have a job or are very early in your career and have started to send out resumes and interview with prospective employers. How is your tattoo going to impact your ability to find work or has it already impacted your ability to find work?

Because of the size and location of your tattoo do you need to start looking into tattoo removal? If your curious about the idea, check out this video on CNN's website titled "Tattoo removal a big business". The doctor they interviewed says that it can cost up to $4,000 to get a tattoo removed and approximately 80% of his patients are women.

I found this article on Fox News titled "Body Art and Tattoos in the Workplace" and it gives a great example of a librarian at the University of Kentucky that desipite her tattoos has been pretty successful gaining and keeping employment.

Here's a quote from the article...The 27-year-old — who has multiple masters degrees and a job at the University of Kentucky's research library — feels no pressure to cover up. "It's not really possible at this point, unless I wore gloves," Harris said, adding that she thinks academia has been more accepting of her body art than the corporate world would be. "I think my qualifications should speak for themselves."

This other quote from the article reminds us that there are companies that are accepting of tattoos and body art...For some companies, allowing body art can be a boon - it attracts young workers that may not feel welcome in more conservative environments, said Paul Forster, CEO of the job search Web site Indeed.com (which shows that postings for tattoo artist have surged in the past year). Forster allows body art in the office, and about a quarter of his 25 employees have it.

Now the decision is up to you - it's completely your call on how you want to tackle this decision...

If you are still after more here are some links to more articles and policies on this topic.
Check out this post from George's Employment Blawg
Here's a quick take from Workforce
Here's an article from MaineToday
Check out this policy from the Army

Enjoy!

P.S. Here's a place where tattoos are not only exposed but also encouraged - Miami Ink or check out LA Ink where Kat (pictured above) has a new show and place to work.

The Latest Carnival of HR Is Up!

2007-07-25T08:08:00.000-05:00

All - It's here...the latest Carnival of HR is up and running!

Special thanks to Ask A Manager for this edition...

Enjoy!

When A Reservation Really Isn't A Reservation - Seinfeld And Workplace Ethics...

2007-07-24T20:53:00.001-05:00

How many of you out there have ever experienced one of these scenarios?

Scenario 1: You've been an employee of a company and been asked to somewhat "mislead" the public regarding the "fine print" that no one ever reads. How long did you stay working there after an experience like this one with Jerry? Did you feel guilty and confront management or just find another job and move on?

Scenario 2: You've been a consumer and had an experience like what Jerry went through. What did you do? Write or e-mail the company regarding these misleading/unethical tactics or just move on to the next rental car agency?

Just something to think about...enjoy the clip!

Also, If you have an example of either of of these scenarios please share by commenting...I'm sure we'd all like to read...

Job Opportunities At The Beach?

2007-07-17T14:45:00.000-05:00

Anyone want to be a Lifeguard?

I'm in Florida all week long and I've been thinking about those tourists that come down here and start to seriously think about moving the family down here. No, not just a long vacation but really relocating the family.

If that is you let me make a list for you of some employment locations,opportunities, and occupations...

Seaside - they even have a "careers" page...
Beach Chair Rental...
Banker - at Regions Bank
How about Hilton Head?
Find a resort job - here...
Ever consider South Beach or Miami Beach?
Yacht crew?
How about buying a shrimp boat?
Are you a pilot? You could pull an airplane banner
You skilled enough to make surfboards?
Interested in Walt Disney World?

These are just some of the ones that I could think of and I know there are hundreds more out there...

As you can see, if you are really serious about the idea there are definitely some available careers for you.

Enjoy!

Marine Biologist: George Costanza's Second Career

2007-07-13T12:20:00.000-05:00

Hopefully you've read my below post and have thought about your "second career"...

Here's some humor from George Costanza...Enjoy!

A Second Career - Is Now The Time?

2007-07-13T09:38:00.000-05:00

I've been reading a lot about "career switching" and "second careers" and I've found some great resources and articles in BusinessWeek.

The first article I found was this one by Emily Keller titled, "Real Life Career-Changers". It gives a couple of great examples of how Eric Green, a Navy veteran, and Karen Tuttle, a retired 2nd grade school teacher, make this transition.

Here is a great quote from Eric Green as he talks about his transition from a Navy vet to co-managing a $50 million hedge fund. Although many of his skills carried over, Green says it has been difficult learning "how to filter the signal from the noise" when it comes to using market data to develop business strategies and pinpoint opportunities for growth. "I don't know if I will ever overcome this problem," says Green, who combats the obstacle by focusing on value-investing news rather than popular business information sources. "Most of my time is trying to hone the investment process, rather than worry about the hot headline."

The second resource I found was this great took kit that BusinessWeek put together - a Special Report on "second careers" and included are many resources, articles, and tips on how to take the jump into this new phase and chapter in your life. Take a deep dive into the links and information included there and you'll find youself bettere educated and prepared when thinking about all the factors that you will need to consider when making this change.

Here are some factors I'd recommend you consider before taking this leap...

1. Can you afford it? This may be an obvious question but you'll need to look at your financial situation and where you want to be when you "officially retire". If you've done your homework and prepared over the years you may already be there. If you are not where you need to be take how ever much time is needed to get you there. This may take some time, sacrifice and commitment but if you really want to transition out of what you are doing and into something you truly have a passion for, you've got to do it.

2. Find something your passionate about. You've been in your current career for a while and have had plenty of time to think about what you wish you would have done. You've also had experiences and learning opportunities in your life that have introduced you to ideas and careers that you had never would of dreamed of back when you were 18 and trying to choose your major in college.

3. Find something that gives you the work/life balance you want and need. You will need to select a career that gives you the work/life balance you want at this stage in your life. You may have a passion and always dreamed of becoming a jet pilot or a wilderness guide in the Amazon - but are these really going to give you the work/life balance you need? Probably not. But, there may be something you can do locally that is closely related to these passions that will still give you the satisfaction you are looking for.

These questions and factors are a great starting point for this new chapter in your life so continue to plan, set goals, and make that transition well into that new career.

David Beckham = New Compensation Strategy

2007-07-10T14:13:00.001-05:00

For those of you out there who aren't soccer fans, you may have overheard on the news (TV, radio, internet) that David Beckham is coming to the states to play soccer. If you you don't know who David Beckham is, he's married to Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham. If this clue doesn't help just follow my links...

He'll be playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy and making about $250 million over the next 5 years - this will come from sponsors, merchandise sales, and a % of club profits. If you're a hardcore fan you can go to the Galaxy site and see a countdown to David Beckham's arrival in LA!

I just read this article in Time by Gary Andrew Poole titled, "The Beckham Circus Comes To Town" where he talks about the circus (Beckham family) that will be coming...

I immediately put my HR/Compensation hat on when I read in the article about the "Beckham Rule". This is otherwise known as the designated player rule (but named after David Beckham) and allows a team to sign one player that is not counted or considered in that teams salary cap for the year.

For you HR and Comp Pros out there can you imagine your company creating a compensation rule, strategy, or exception just for that "high performer" on the market? Before today, I had never even considered the idea.

It's quite an interesting strategy and only time will tell if it pays off for the Galaxy and other teams who have and will take advantage of it...

Enjoy!

Our Safety vs Open Positions: Department Of Homeland Security

2007-07-09T11:47:00.000-05:00

I just ran across this article at The Washington Post by Spencer S. Hsu titled, "Job Vacancies At DHS Said To Hurt U.S. Preparadness", and of course it really caught my attention.

As an HR Professional and American I wanted to hear how open positions, job satisfaction, and turnover at the Department of Homeland Security could impact or affect how prepared we are for a terrorist or other attack.

Below are some quotes from the article that sum up the three main areas of concern that any HR pro and American should have...

Open Positions:
"The Bush administration has failed to fill roughly a quarter of the top leadership posts at the Department of Homeland Security, creating a "gaping hole" in the nation's preparedness for a terrorist attack or other threat, according to a congressional report to be released today.

As of May 1, Homeland Security had 138 vacancies among its top 575 positions, with the greatest voids reported in its policy, legal and intelligence sections, as well as in immigration agencies, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Coast Guard. The vacant slots include presidential, senior executive and other high-level appointments, according to the report by the majority staff of the House Homeland Security Committee."

Job Satisfaction:
"Homeland Security employees reported the lowest job satisfaction among 36 federal agencies in a January survey by the OPM. The average tenure of the Secret Service director has dropped from 10 years during the past century to less than three years since 1992, and the agency has had three directors since it was moved into the DHS."

Turnover:
"The department faces high turnover because top officials are in demand in a private sector willing to pay lucrative salaries. It is heavily dependent on contractors, yet its staff to manage them is overstretched. Partisan political combat over homeland security issues has also made jobs less attractive."

I won't get political but will have to say that after reading this article I am somewhat concerned. I know there are a lot of "agendas" driving some of the "facts" that were presented in this article but we should all due our homework regarding this and other related articles and stories about the Department of Homeland Security and our safety.

I know that I'll be keeping a close eye to this story and I hope you will as well...

Enjoy the post and be sure to dig through the links...

"The Office" Pranks with Dwight - Thanks to Pam and Jim

2007-07-03T12:12:00.000-05:00

Here are my last two clips from "The Office" for a little while - I found these and couldn't resist...

Enjoy "CIA Mission" and "Future Dwight"

Pepper Spray At Work - Good Idea or Bad Idea?

2007-07-03T11:40:00.000-05:00

Cube Etiquette - How Bad Can It Reallly Be?

2007-07-03T11:19:00.000-05:00

I've been hearing and reading a lot recently about "cube etiquette" and often wondered if it was really as bad as claimed. But then I remember that we have all been there - you either sit in a cube today, you did in a previous job, or you have friends that work in a cube...

Now, you may be wondering - who really cares about "cube etiquette"? It Looks like CNN & The NY Times does and they have done some legwork and felt this topic was print worthy.

The NY Times article, "Turning Down The Volume In The Next Cube", was published on June 17, 2007 by Eilene Zimmerman and includes some great Q & A's from "readers" presenting various scenarios and how various situations can best be handled.

The CNN article, "Your biggest cubicle complaints...solved", was published on July 2, 2007 by Robert Half International and address some complaints with some great "what not to do" / "what to do" scenarios.

Here's my favorite scenario...

Complaint: "Things keep disappearing off my desk."

What not to do: If you see your stapler is missing, quickly swipe someone else's to replace it.

What to do: It's hard to monitor your belongings when you're away from your workspace, but you can help crack the problem when you are there. The next time someone reaches over your cubicle wall to "borrow" a sticky note or stapler, politely direct the person to the supply room. If the issue persists or goes beyond company-supplied items, you may want to talk to your manager. In the meantime, reduce the temptation for others to swipe your stuff by placing anything of value, like a favorite book or MP3 player, in a bag or purse that you take home with you each evening.

Now some humor - at least your "stuff" doesn't end up in a vending machine...

The Apple iPhone Is Here?

2007-06-29T09:47:00.000-05:00

I'm feeling the pressure to post about the iPhone that is out today...

Here's the link

If this is the first place you've heard about it where have you been hiding?

P.S. If you are an Apple employee you'll be getting one for free...

The Latest Carnival of HR Is Up - Letterman Style!

2007-06-29T08:08:00.000-05:00

All - the latest Carnival of Human Resources is up...

Special thanks to Kris Dunn at The HR Capitalist for this latest edition...

You can find it here

Enjoy and especially check out #10 of the Top 10 Benefits of a Career in HR/Talent Management...

Google: Is It Really A Great Place To Work?

2007-06-28T09:25:00.000-05:00

Google...who in the world hasn't heard the word Google? And...they are not just a search engine anymore!

They are...(according to Fortune Magazine) the best company to work for (check out this pdf) and a verb - "Let me go google that...".

I could go on but I really want to focus on why they are the best company to work for.

Here are some reasons I found out there that confirm this...

1. The Great Place To Work Institute says so - here

2. Check out their benefits!

3. They have 11 cafeterias at their Mountain View, CA campus - gourmet food included - and the food is free!

4. Check out these perks:$500 voucher for takeout food after the birth of a child, $5,000 subsidy to buy a hybrid car, $2,000 bonus for referring a new employee

5. Check out these slides from the Googleplex Campus...

6. The Google Culture...

7. Recreation Facilities - on the campus you can work out, take a shower (please do!), get a massage, play video games (foosball and ping pong incuded), and also play a baby grand piano...

8. The Google Philosophy...

9. Google Lava Lamp anyone?

10. Read these "Googlers" testimony...

11. Here are their "Top 10" reasons to work there...

12. Check out these video's on what it's like to work there...

13. Here is their Official Blog...

Now, who wouldn't want to be a part of this?

Check out this video and enjoy!

New Technology = New Careers

2007-06-25T16:13:00.000-05:00

Here's an article I just ran across on CNNMoney.com titled The new new careers.

We all know that as our world (and especially technology) changes the need for different types of occupations, skillsets, degrees, knowledge, etc...will therefore be impacted.

Here is the top 5 "new new careers" found in the article...

1. Disease Mapper

2. Robot Programmer

3. Information Engineer

4. Radiosurgeon

5. Second Life Lawyer

Most of those were definitely new to me so take a hard look at these and see how advances in technology, medicine, data, and robotics have and will impact the jobs of the future.

Maybe you're looking for a new career or have a child that's looking for one. Here's a great place to start.

When A Promotion Really Isn't A Promotion - "The Office"

2007-06-25T14:23:00.000-05:00

Enjoy...

So, You're The Obnoxious New Guy?

2007-06-22T16:55:00.001-05:00

You've been interviewed, evaluated, and heard the sales pitch about what XYZ Company can do for you. You've considered the offer and opportunity and have decided that this new company and culture will be a great place for you to grow, contribute, and progress in your career. They have also told you how excited they are to have you on their team and emphasized everything about you that will be a great fit for you and them.

Now, you're it - "The New Guy"

I found this article in BusinessWeek by Liz Ryan titled, "How Not to Be the Obnoxious Newcomer". I immediately had to laugh and think back to when I was "The New Guy" at various placed where I've worked. I remember some of the awkwardness - how much should I say or should I wait until I'm asked upon for my opinion. We all can think about new hires at companies where we have worked and how they have presented themselves and their opinions - some good and some bad.

Here's my take on this dilemma that "The New Guy" faces...

1. Think about what you were hired to do - or least what your boss said you'd be doing. Were you hired to shake things up because the way things are being done today will definitely not work? If this is you then you obviously shouldn't be as concerned with being "The New Guy". You've been brought in to take charge, question the way things have been done, and (using your past experiences and accomplishments) make changes. Most of us aren't going to fall into this category so continue reading...

2. Listen more than you speak. You've heard it before - we've been given 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason. You've done your research on the company and asked all the right questions during the interview process so you feel pretty confident about what you're walking into. Think again - it's never exactly what you thought it was going to be (not being pessimistic - just reality). Now is the time to listen to whats going on. What are they doing today that works/doesn't work? How have they done it in the past and what changes or enhancements have been done over the years to make it better?

3. Reflect on your past experiences. You've probably been hired to do a job that is similar to what you've done before so think about (and if needed write it down) how you did your job. What made you successful or what worked at your previous company? Was it your charisma? technology? a particular software package? a process? Remember, just because it worked there it will not automatically work at the XYZ Company. Maybe you and your previous company were not successful - now you've learned how not to do it.

4. Now, really learn about your new employer. What is their core product and what does the product do - why is your company in business and how do they generate revenue? Who are your customers - and why are they still your customer today? Who are your competitors - and how similar or competitive is what they have on the market? How is the company really doing financially? What is the culture? What technology does your company use to accomplish their main objective? Are they forward thinking about what shape they will be in 5 or 10 years down the road? What's going on in your industry? There are obviously more but here's a great starting point...

Hopefully these 4 points have made you think about the next time you are "The New Guy". You may even have a friend that is about to be or has just become "The New Guy" - forward this to them to save them from making the mistakes that we have all been guilty of.

Enjoy!

"Jott" A Note With A Phone Call - No Pen Required

2007-06-22T09:22:00.000-05:00

We've all been there...

You need to write a note down but it's not the time or place to pull a pen and piece of paper out to write it down. You've thought about buying one of those mini digital records but don't really want to spend the money.

Introducing Jott - Mobile Note Taking and Hands Free Messaging. It takes a minute to set up - and it's free!

Check this out. All you have to do is dial a number, speak your notes, and you'll receive an e-mail. I've just registered and recorded my first note - received the e-mail within seconds...

You'll be able to Jott yourself, a friend, or a group of people - just import your contacts and customize the name and members of the group.

For those hardcore bloggers out there you can even Jott to you blog!

Here is Jott's Blog - if you're really in to it...

See below what Henry has to say about it...

George Costanza - So, Do I Have The Job?

2007-06-21T09:01:00.000-05:00

So, you have a great discussion with the hiring manager and based upon his comments you aren't exactly sure what he intends next steps to be...

Do I wait for a phone call back or just assume I have the job?

If you were George what would you do?

Be A Gamer - It's Good For Your Career!?

2007-06-20T13:13:00.000-05:00

I think I've just heard that IBM research says that "online videogames can help you become a better corporate leader..."

Here's the press release titled, "IBM Study Says Gaming Is Good for Your Career".

Attention gamers: Want to get ahead in your career? According to new IBM research (NYSE: IBM), online videogames can help you become a better corporate leader by fostering skills related to collaboration, self-organization, risk-taking, openness, influence, and communications. These competencies are increasingly being sought by businesses as they compete in the global economy.

I did a little more research on this topic and found a great article in Businessweek by Aili McConnon titled, "IBM's Management Games".

We'll, for you skeptics out there, what I'm reading is actually true. And, IBM is taking this concept very serious. The've committed quite a bit of dollars, time, energy, and resources toward this new idea. Disclaimer: If you're idea of "online video games" is playing Ms. Pacman or Galaga on your PC then you've got a lot of learning to do.

Check out these quotes from the article...

The IBM researchers found that those who are deeply immersed in online worlds that link millions of players, such as World of Warcraft, were ideally suited to manage in the new millennium. They were particularly savvy at gathering information from far-flung sources, determining strategic risks, failing fast, and moving on to the next challenge quickly. "If you want to see what business leadership will look like in three to five years, look at what's happening in online games," says Byron Reeves, a Stanford University communications professor and co-founder of Seriosity.

The study points out that games can become "management flight simulators" of sorts, letting employees manage a global workforce in cyberspace before they do so in the real world. More than half of the managers surveyed say playing massive multiplayer games had helped them lead at work. Three-quarters of those surveyed believed that specific game tools, such as expressive avatars that can communicate via body language, as well as by voice and typing, would help manage remote employees in the real world.

If you've got the time check out the links in my post - there's some great information and they will provide you with quite a bit of insight into why IBM is doing this.

Remember, our world is changing and everyone out there doesn't think, react, respond, or even learn like you. We've got a new generation coming up that will challenge the way we do business, progress through our careers, and tackle opportunities.

Happy Gaming!

Telecommuting - not exactly what I thought it was going to be...

2007-06-20T10:31:00.000-05:00

Hold on a second...let me make sure I understand. So, with this new deal all I have to do is "be available" at 8 am for work (or if you're lucky, all you have to do is accomplish about 8 hours of work during the course of the day - just get it done - doesn't matter if it's at 8 am or or 8 pm).

You have got to be kidding...so I get to wake up almost whenever I want, drink some coffee (for me a Mtn. Dew) and sit at my "home office" in my pajamas and work. What a deal - I must have the best job in the world! No commute, no ironing clothes, no parking, no "time wasted" in meetings, no boss (that's right - no Bill Lumbergh), no annoying co-workers, and no office politics.

Week 1: I must be the luckiest man on earth - I've got the best employer and the best job...

Week 2: It looks like I'm going to enjoy this - Hmmm...I wonder what's going on at work? I wish someone would call me - or at least send me an instant message. Maybe I'll go to Starbucks with my laptop and see what I can get done there...

Week 3: Boy, I kind of miss my co-workers...I wonder if I could start going into the office a couple of days a week?

Is this your idea of what may happen to you if you decide to telecommute?

I just read this NY Times Article by Abby Ellin, "Plugged In at home, but Somehow Left Out". In the 17 years of writing she's only spent about 1 year in the office and now, after weighing all the pros and cons, she is going to try it out.

Here's a quote from the article and sums up her "defining moment" - when she decides she's ready...

The final straw came a few weeks ago, when the battery in my answering machine died and I didn’t have time to replace it. For two long days, unable to screen my calls, I was forced to answer the phone myself — always a risky proposition. I was also forced to acknowledge just how much I missed that disembodied voice cutting through the silence.

THAT’S when I knew I was craving a full-time job in a real office. It wasn’t about money or health insurance or paid vacations, though those are certainly nice perks; it was about sanity and recognizing that it’s O.K. to be just like everyone else. That sometimes it’s all right to be another brick in the wall. That conformity exists for a reason.

So, you're given the option to telecommute and are doing your best to weigh all the options. Here are some thoughts to consider.

1. Who will be at home if you're there? Do you have a spouse that stays home with the kids? Will you really be able to separate yourself from what's going on at home? Me - no way! Unless you'll be the only one at home or can really separate yourself, it's probably not a good idea.

2. Discipline/Initiative/Distractions. Are you disciplined enough to stay focused on just work and get done what needs to get done? Would you have the cleanest house on the block? Dishes washed? Clothes washed and folded? Carpets vacuumed? Windows washed? Discipline will be key to stay focused on the task. The last thing you'd want to do is to drag your 8 hour work day into a 12 hour work day because you constantly get distracted and sidetracked. Next topic....productivity.

3. Productivity. You need to look at what it takes today for you to be productive? Are you basically an individual contributer and take direction from your boss - and typically via e-mail? Or, does your job require you to attend meetings, collaborate with your team members, and gather information from other departments and resources in the office? If you had to rely on e-mails, instant messages, and voice mail how successful do you think you'd be?

4. Cost savings. This will more than likely be a "no brainer". You've already got the high speed internet at home and your company is going to start reimbursing you a portion of it, supply you with a laptop, a printer, and some office supplies - you're all set. The instant savings will be in gas, lunches, and probaby some on clothes - no need to stay as current if no one is going to see you.

5. People Interaction. Are you a "people person" and thrive on that interaction with your co-workers? Do you love the office politics? If so, you'll be miserable at home. But, this may be exactly what's driving your decision to telecommute. Your co-workers may drive you completely crazy and they are actually hindering you from being productive at work...no...they wouldn't do that - would they?

Now what's your decision?

This isn't an exhaustive list but definitely one to get you started toward weighing all the options about telecommuting.

Good luck!

Simon Cowell & Unexpected Talent - Paul Potts...

2007-06-15T13:24:00.000-05:00

I've just seen this video for the first time - so have over 1.5 million people in the last 5 days. Special Thanks to Jason Corsello for introducing me to it with his latest post.

The video starts and based upon my first impression, I'm pretty skeptical on this guy's ability to sing opera - which is his absolute dream. The music starts and he begins to sing. I'm totally shocked and so is everyone else - take a look at the faces of those in the audience - take a look at the expression on the face of Simon Cowell. By now I've got goosebumps. The audience is absolutely amazed and his singing has brought many to tears. Here's a guy many probabaly felt sorry for as he walked across the stage to the microphone - but now we see him in a new light. We see this "hidden talent" that we never would have thought he would have been capable of.

Now, let's look at ourselves...do you have a "hidden talent" that could change the job you're in or even change your profession? Do you have a dream of doing something but have never had the guts to give it a shot?

Why in the world are you waiting?

For additional details and more information see my previous post on taking advantage of "white spaces" in your life titled "The Industrial Revolution vs. The Career Revolution".

Presenteeism vs. Absenteeism & Wellness - what does it really cost?

2007-06-14T11:49:00.000-05:00

Here's a new word and concept I ran across at a Wellness Conference last week - presenteeism. Was your reaction the same as mine? I thought to myself, what did you say and how do you spell that?

For those of you looking for a definition, here's how wikipedia defines presenteeism, "Presenteeism is the opposite of absenteeism. In contrast to absenteeism, when employees are absent from work illegitimately, presenteeism discusses the problems faced when employees come to work in spite of illness, which can have similar negative repercussions on business performance".

I decided to do some research out on the web and I found quite a bit of information out there. Obviously this is a new idea and concept - the oldest article or story about this I could find was in April of 2004 when WebMD, CBS , and MSNBC covered it. Most of these stories referenced a study done by Cornell University - here's the article or press release - which came out just days before the media covered it.

You may be thinking that if I'm sick I just stay home - the last thing I'd want to do is to get the rest of my co-workers sick as well - then they would be missing time and productivity. But, as well all know, all employees out there are not as conscientious as you - especially when it may come down to getting paid vs not getting paid. Also, what's the culture at your company? Are you expected to come to work or possibly just work from home when you're sick or just not feeling well? I know that there are many companies out there that view "calling in sick" as a sign of weakness and a lack of teamwork - please don't be one of those companies!

We all can look at the surface and brainstorm about the factors or distractions that cause the loss of productivity while coming to work sick. Here are some I came up with that probably take up the most time.

1. On the phone with doctor, family, friends - telling them how bad you feel
2. Constant restroom breaks - I won't go into anymore details...
3. Constant breaks to get a drink and snack
4. Talking to your co-workers about how bad you feel and discussing treatment options from when they or another family had the same symptoms.

Now, let's take this deeper and see how this may impact your company - from a financial, loss of productivity, and higher healthcare cost perspective.

The Cornell University study presents some pretty staggering figures and statistics. They say that "the productivity losses from presenteeism are possibly as high as 60 percent of the total cost of worker illness - exceeding the costs of absenteeism and medical and disability benefits".

"For such conditions as allergies and headaches, on-the-job productivity losses could account for over 80 percent of employers' total illness costs, the Cornell and Medstat researchers report in the first study to add the cost of on-the-job productivity losses from common health problems to total employer health-related expenses."

"All in all, this means that from about one-fifth to three-fifths of the total dollars attributable to common health conditions faced by employers appear to be the result of on-the-job productivity losses," says Ron Goetzel, director of IHPS. He notes that headaches, allergies, arthritis, asthma and mental health-related problems such as depression incur the greatest on-the-job productivity losses.

So, if these common health conditions are really impacting our bottom line, what should we doing from a Wellness perspective to combat and reduce the impact of these ?

Be on the lookout for more information from me as this concept of presenteeism continues to gain more and more attention - and as we look at how we can practically develop wellness programs to tackle these conditions and the impact they have.

For those of you that want to read more free hard facts and details related to this, The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (JOEM) did some extensive study and here's their data - pdf or html - published in January 2003, Volume 45, Number 1.

If you're open to paying for some more information go to the Archives of the JOEM and look for the April 2004 Issue, Volume 46, Number 4.

Do we call you George or T-bone?

2007-06-13T10:00:00.001-05:00

So, you've got a nickname in mind and now it's what you want everyone to call you at work. You've thought about dropping hints to your co-workers but haven't found the right moment - take a lesson from George Costanza and learn from his mistake.

Unless you're ready to be called whatever your co-workers come up with don't bring up or even hint that you want a nickname...

Leave the nicknames to only your closest friends and family...

No Blogging During The Baseball Game!?

2007-06-11T21:39:00.001-05:00

Here's an article I just ran across on CNN SI where a newspaper reporter was ejected from an NCAA baseball tournament for blogging about the game, during the game...

As the story reads, Brian Benett, a reporter/writer for The Courier-Journal in Louisville, KY had his credentials revoked and was asked to leave the game - it's actually against NCAA rules.

Wow...this shocked me and caught me off guard...

Should he of followed the rules and done what he was told - to not blog during the game or is it his First Ammendment right to do so?

What do you think?

Napoleon Hill - What? He Got The Promotion?

2007-06-10T14:02:00.000-05:00

Here's a Napoleon Hill "Thought For the Day" I received over the weekend that I just couldn't leave out.

DON’T COVET THE OTHER FELLOW’S JOB IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT GOES WITH IT.

How often do you look at those around you and say, "I could do any of their jobs better than they can if I only had the opportunity," never realizing the price they have paid and the knowledge they have accumulated to earn the right to hold that position? It’s easy to be a Monday-morning quarterback and second-guess the actions of others. But it’s far more productive to recognize the contributions of others and give them the credit for a job well done. If you aspire to a higher level of recognition, demonstrate to others-your peers as well as your superiors-that you can be counted upon. The world’s greatest rewards accrue to those who always deliver on their promises.

We all, at one time or another, have either asked the following questions ourselves or been asked these questions by an employee in our organization (assuming we're a member of the HR Team):

1. What? He got the promotion?
2. Why didn't I get that promotion?

There are typically many different types of employee that will ask these questions but for my purpose and example here, I'd like to focus on two.

1. I complain but I'd rather keep on complaining than really be the one that is promoted next. You mean there are really those people out there that just complain for the sake of complaining? So, they complain and really never want to progress in their career or even the next promotion that's handed out? Yep, there are people out there like that. We've all seen them and have unfortunately had to listen to them rant and rave about the co-worker that actually worked for and deserved the promotion. What more can you say about this person? I'll move on...

Here's a "Thought For The Day" I received today that sums up the above person pretty well.

LOAFING ON YOUR JOB HURTS YOUR EMPLOYER, BUT IT HURTS YOU MORE.

Some people expend far more energy getting out of work than they would spend doing the job well. They may think they are fooling the boss, but they are only fooling themselves. An employer may not know all the details of every job or every task an individual performs, but a good manager knows the results of effort. You can be sure that when promotions or plum assignments become available, they won’t be offered to loafers. If you do your job cheerfully and well, not only are you more likely to be recognized and rewarded, but you also learn how to do your job better. As you become more proficient, you become more valuable to your employer. You also acquire the most valuable of all assets-the confidence that comes from knowing you possess skills that will increase your value to any organization.

Don't you agree?

Here's the next type of employee I'd really like to focus on...

2. You may question the promotion but deep down you want it next time and will do what it takes to be the one that's promoted when given the opportunity. Maybe I am overly optimistic - or some may say naive. I truly believe that most of us are in this category. But, the time it takes us to get to this point is what will differentiate us the most. For some of you out there, the very next day you're ready - others may take weeks to get there.

Once you "get there" here are some things I'd recommend.

1. Look at yourself and evaluate where honestly think you are from a performance perspective. See my previous post on how to take advantage of the "white space".

2. Compare yourself to the objectives for the position (or the standards for which you'll be evaluated upon) and also think about where you fit it compared to other teammates that perform the same job or function as you.

3. Talk to your manager about the promotion (or the next step or level in your position) - and do your best to not sound bitter or resentful but ask about ways you can improve your performance.

4. Listen attentively and take good notes. Keep yourself and your manager accountable by following up and asking for feedback - but remember to do this in a fashion that your manager is comfortable with.

5. Follow up with action and results will follow...

Napoleon Hill - Fundamentals of Sound Character

2007-06-07T22:07:00.000-05:00

I've recently been introduced to Napoleon Hill and have just signed up for his "Thought for the Day". Most of his quotes are very motivating and are obviously great words and encouragement for success.

Here's one I ran across and, as a parent, this especially caught my eye...

THE PRIVILEGE OF BRINGING CHILDREN INTO THE WORLD CARRIES WITH IT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TEACHING THEM THE FUNDAMENTALS OF SOUND CHARACTER.

One of life’s greatest joys is the sense of wonder that accompanies the arrival of a tiny new human being into the world. But that joy is accompanied by a tremendous responsibility that perfectly encapsulates the need for personal initiative. You can provide children with all the physical advantages of a good childhood, but unless you strive to set a good example for them to follow, you will know only dismay as they reach adulthood and blossom into purposeless drifters. Your personal initiative, whether or not you are raising a child, must always incorporate exemplary behavior. You cannot take ethical shortcuts, big or small, without other people observing them and assuming that this behavior is something you wouldn’t mind having turned back on yourself. Certainly you will make mistakes, but if you have always striven for the best course, others will remember it and treat you accordingly.

From a career perspective let this be that motivating factor that keeps your ethics where they need to be and in check!

Career Advice from Kramer?

2007-06-04T14:05:00.001-05:00

I ran across this video on YouTube and thought you may enjoy - this is for all you Seinfeld and especially Kramer fans!

Some of you out there may be wondering why it's so important to get a job or to find a better job - one that will really satisfy you - like it did for Kramer. Have you been drifting aimlessly and now realize that structure is really what is missing in your life?

Here are 10 things I learned from Kramer...

1. Dress for success
2. Eat a good breakfast
3. Be on time
4. Find a job that truly satisfies you - one that meets your innermost needs
5. Enjoy who you work with
6. Make sure it's a job you enjoy - regardless of pay
7. Get things accomplished - TCB (Taking care of business)
8. Save money by bringing your lunch
9. On occasion, socialize with your co-workers after hours
10. Tells others about it - your enthusiasm will motivate others!

Try these and your career should take a turn in the right direction!

Career Advice on your iPod?

2007-06-01T16:27:00.000-05:00

How many of out out there have ever associated your iPod with career advice? Before today, I surely hadn't...

Lately I've been surfing through iTunes and just happened to start clicking through the different Podcasts that are out there. I already have a couple of my favorite movies, a few TV shows, and most of my music on my iPod but I have never explored or even considered a Podcast. In my browsing I was surprised to find all of the options for those that may be looking for solid career advice.

For those of you without an iPod there is no need to close out this post - you can still subscribe to Podcasts and listen to them on your mac or PC. But, if you want the convience of taking these anywhere you've got to check out the iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano, or iPod.

Here is a sampling of some of the good ones out there...you'll find these in iTunes/Podcasts/Business/Careers

JobDig - Career Advice, Workplace Tips & Job Search
The Accidental Creative - Todd Henry
48 Days to the Work You Love - Dan Miller

Monster Podcast: Career Advice
Secrets of the Job Hunt - Chris or CM Russell
Sales Rant - Jeffrey Gitomer

Here's a good episode I just ran across - make sure you already have iTunes installed before you click...

Know When It's Time To Quit - Seth Godin, Author of The Dip, is interviewed by Bryan Person with Monster.

Enjoy!

The Industrial Revolution vs. The Career Revolution

2007-05-25T15:00:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading this manifesto at ChangeThis by Elizabeth Haas Edersheim titled, "The Silent Revolution: Peter Drucker's Voice Still Resonate".

Reading about the industrial revolution really made me think back to my childhood, growing up in an old, historic section of Birmingham, AL. (I'll have to add here that I did not grow up in the late 1800's or early 1900's.) From my bedroom window at the back of our house I could see the lights and hear the clanging of steel from the local Mini Mill. I could also hear and feel the trains that would pass by a couple of blocks away, at all hours of the night. Even though this was in the 1970's and 80's I'm sure the sounds, sights, and probably the smells were the same as they were back 100 years before.

The industrial revolution was truly an amazing time for the US and for Birmingham, AL. Driving by or having the chance to walk through Sloss Furnaces or Vulcan will help any visitor to Birmingham see how so much of what we have was molded and shaped by this amazing time in history.

But, this age and time in our history is over. Therefore, we must move forward, think differently, and change the way we think about business - and especially our careers.

I love this quote from the manifesto...it's an amazing description of the change and shift to this new way of thinking.

Business has undergone a silent revolution. We no longer hear the hum of machinery. We can't look out our windows and see the catalysts for the opportunities that will change the way we and our children do business, get educated, and live our daily lives. The silent revolution is built with human assets. It's all about knowledge, information, and collaborative connections-the powerful new tools driving our future don't announce themselves with the clanking and sputtering of 19th century mills and factories, or the sprawling parking lots of 20th century malls.

This next quote is my favorite...

Management's journey through this upended world is all about strategy in its most sophisticated form. In this journey, Peter F. Drucker remains the invaluable guide and compass. His forwardlooking ideas on meaningful strategy resonate in the silent revolution. And Drucker has surprising ideas, even about what he considered "strategy". It is not about competing for a larger slice of pie. Rather, strategy is a recipe for creating an entirely new pie to fill a new white space. And during that creation, the recipe is constantly tested and refined.

I have now been introduced to a new word and concept called "white space". This new concept can be the all-inspiring change agent and motivator for you - if you'll just let it. You're probably asking your self, how do I apply this to my current job and especially my career? As mentioned in the manifesto, here are a few examples of people and companies that have seen and taken advantage of this "white space" - eBay, ZipCar, and YouthNOISE. Click through the links and read the history of how these began.

Now what? I've read the manifesto and clicked through the links but now I need some direction on where to take my career from here.

1. Look at where you are today. This may be unpleasant for some of you. (I'll have to add here that I don't have a solution for moving back time or a time machine in my garage to immediately go back and do things over. And, we all know that hindsight is always 20/20.) Is this where you thought you'd be x number of years out of high school or college? If you are completely satisfied with where you are and what you've accomplished, congratulations and I wish you continued success. For the rest of you out there hopefully this exercise has been thought provoking for you. Now, here's what to do moving forward...

2. Look at your career. For many of you, your career will not change as a result of this exercise. You started in your line of work out of some passion or enjoyment for what you have chosen to do - so keep doing it. Now, look at how your progressing through you career. Have you become stale and fallen into the trap of doing the same thing over and over, year after year? How has your career changed over the years? Are there advances in technology that have significantly impacted your career? Are you learning more about it? Are you applying these advances in technology to your current job? Are you networking? Is there a professional association you can join? Are there certifications you can achieve? Are there advanced degrees? Are there websites that provide information or a forum for information? Are there blogs you can start reading or subscribing to via e-mail or a feed?

3. Evaluate what you do on a daily or weekly basis. Look closely and identify those "white spaces" where you can innovate and create in your current job. You will find them - just take the time to be open and look.

4. Take Action! Once you have identified those "white spaces" start going through the process of tackling and accomplishing them. In some organizations this may be easier said than done. If you get stuck, talk to a trusted co-worker, manager, or mentor in your company about your ideas and suggestions where there are opportunities for change. Gain their support and do it - no need to wait!

5. Decide where you want to be. After you've gone through steps 1 through 4 you need to look back and evaluate to see if the changes that were made accomplished or filled the "white spaces" that were originally identified. You must take this time to do this. Going forward, continue to look for areas in your career, job, and every day life where there are "white spaces".

Now is the time to revolutionize your career!

Wellness Initiative - Super Size Me

2007-05-21T11:07:00.000-05:00

Here's an idea we tried for our Wellness Initiative - and had mixed results. The "infamous" Morgan Spurlock decides to eat McDonalds every meal for 30 days...not a pretty sight.