The Realities of a Remote Work Force for Small to Mid-sized Businesses   There is no litmus test that will definitively say a remote workforce is the best solution for your business. But there are new realities that need to be factored into people decisions. The effect of the global pandemic shocked the work environment in a short period of time forcing business leaders to pivot and arrange for vast numbers of non-essential workers to work remotely during 2020 and 2021. Now in 2022, althoug...

OSHA Reminds Texas Employers that Record High Temperatures Can Put Employees at Risk for Heat-Related Illnesses   Don't Let the Heat Beat Your Business As temperatures rise in the summer months, it's essential to keep employees whose roles are impacted by heat safe and healthy to keep your operations moving. Heat-related illness can lead to costly medical leaves and lower production. OSHA's implementation of a National Emphasis Program (NEP) in April has been restated by a subsequent p...

Achilles Group is proud to announce our new website developed by FDI Creative Services, Inc. Please browse our services, learn more about our team, or Request A Discovery Session to learn more about our Outsourced HR Services. Achilles Group is a team of accomplished HR professionals that has elevated the concept of teamwork to the next level. Generalists by trade each of us have areas of depth, passion, expertise and experience. We know working smarter, faster, and stronger as a team effec...

  You don’t hire people to lose them. It’s essential for your organization to retain your employees which means building a sense of role clarity, purpose, and an understanding of why things matter. Many employers are seeing high rates of turnover in their business. The combination of the Great Resignation and shorter employment spans shines a spotlight on retention. Below are beginning points to consider to improve your organization’s retention and engagement that are not tied directly to s...

 Hiring in a Competitive Job Market   We get it – good people are hard to find, especially in today’s tight labor market. And it’s vital to your organization’s future to find talented people that will contribute to its success. In current times, qualified candidates apply to multiple opportunities, and this applies across the spectrum of experience and industry. Below are a few simple tips to improve your success in attracting and closing the right fit for the right role.   1. Pla...

  On Valentine’s Day, 2022, the Achilles Group celebrates 20 years in service to business leaders across Houston. We understand that our mission to “Equip and Encourage Leaders to Make Smart People Decisions” is entirely dependent upon the collective strengths and work ethic of our people. And reaching a 20-year milestone is evidence that the Achilles culture of innovation, hard work and passion to make a difference is at the heart of our success. As owners and caretakers of the business Da...

The Why, The Where, and The How We Get There   We have finally reached the end of our road trip, and what a journey it has been! We presented our Mission, Vision, and Values, and how we exemplify them each and every day.    Mission Statement:   Our journey began with our Mission Statement. Mission statements show the heart of the company and why it exists. Our Mission Statement is “to equip and encourage leaders to make smart people decisions.” This defines why we exist ...

Employers will have more time to weigh in on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's mandate-or-testing rule for Covid-19 — and even small employers not affected by the rule would be wise to submit their feedback. OSHA said it has extended the comment period by 45 days to Jan. 19. The rule, which comes in the form of an emergency temporary standard or ETS, was unveiled Nov. 4, and is part of the Biden administration's plan to increase national vaccination rates and limit Covid-19 out...

You might have noticed in the last few weeks, we have brought you along on our journey to define our Mission Statement and Vision Statement. We began our journey with our Mission Statement: “to equip and encourage leaders to make smart people decisions.” This defines why we exist and our Reason for Being. Next, we defined our Vision Statement: “Giving HR a new name through a Professionally Human approach.” This serves as our company roadmap, and our Pathway to Growth. Our last stop on our road t...

A vision statement is a company’s road map, indicating what the company wants to become by setting a defined direction for the company’s growth. At Achilles Group, we think of it as the pathways that lead us to where we are aiming to go. Our pathway to growth is "Giving HR a new name through a Professionally Human approach." What do we mean by that? It's simple: Our unique methodology is a collaborative approach between your organization and ours that starts with identifying your specific needs....

  What does the OSHA ETS mean for your business? On November 5, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring all private employers with 100 or more employees to implement either requirement that employees be vaccinated against Covid-19 or be subject to weekly testing and wear of a face covering. The ETS does not cover employers already subject to other federal vaccine mandates such as Federal Contractors/Subcontractors...

Texas Governor’s Executive OrderOn October 11, 2021,Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued Executive Order (EO) GA-40 which states that “no entity in Texas can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccination by any individual, including an employee or consumer, who objects to such vaccination for any reason of personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID-19.”It is worth noting that EO GA-40 does not prohibit employer vaccine mandates. Rather, ...

A mission statement defines what an organization is, why it exists, it's reason for being. What is our Why? We're glad you asked! Our mission statement is "to equip and encourage leaders to make smart people decisions." We are an organization that proactively delivers human resources expertise in a cost-effective way. We take a professionally human approach by placing people, yours and ours, at the center of everything that we do. In other words, it’s all about the power in people, which is why ...

If you’ve tuned into the news lately, chances are you have probably heard of The Great Resignation of 2021, a coined term referring to the recent overwhelming spike in people leaving their jobs. Across the United States, as businesses are coming back into the office, many people have found themselves contemplating their careers (and expectations of such) after spending months, sometimes over a year at home. A new report cited in the The Business Journals suggests this could be just the beginning...

New Sexual Harassment Laws Went Into Effect September 1Governor Greg Abbott signed two new bills in August, SB 45 and HB 21, which broaden protections for Texas employees who file sexual harassment claims. Both laws went into effect on Wednesday, September 1. Employers should take heed of the impact these new laws will have on their businesses. The most important highlights include: The timing of the allegation. While previous language stated that “prompt” attention should be taken by an employe...

Achilles Group began working with us during a difficult time, but the transition went a lot smoother than expected. They adapted quickly to get us up to speed and headed in the right direction. They learned our business needs and helped us strategize according to those needs. We have been impressed by the number of people they have working on our projects, and we are very pleased with what this group has been able to accomplish in a short amount of time.Achilles Group has ironed out about 50 job...

The COVID-19 vaccine is a hot topic in the news right now, both inside and outside of the office. As an employer, there are many factors to consider when deciding if and how to incorporate the vaccine at your business. Before making a decision, we encourage you to read our answers to some frequently asked questions we have received regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.Q: What Are Some Factors To Consider Before Mandating The COVID-19 Vaccine At My Company?A: The first thing to do is figure out the rat...

Has hiring been a struggle for your business?If so, you are not alone.Many companies in Texas are experiencing recruiting woes, with a lack of candidates topping the list. It’s safe to say that it’s a “buyer’s market” on the hiring scene right now. The power lies with candidates, and the recent jobs report further proves this; the US added only 266,000 jobs in April 2021, significantly missing the 1 million expected. This news comes shortly after the jobs report for March 2021 was revised downwa...

We were lucky to find Achilles Group through a Google search. As a firm, they are personable and attentive to details. We were using another much smaller HR firm, but it wasn’t a good fit. Achilles is a mature firm, and they always have the client in their minds and hearts.Our first big project with Achilles was the employee handbook. They did an assessment, identified gaps, and helped us fine-tune our processes and procedures. Even while handling a longer-term task such as the handbook, they to...

Unemployment fraud is a growing issue for many employers in Texas. A form of identity theft, unemployment fraud occurs when an individual knowingly collects unemployment benefits using a social security number or other private information that does not belong to them. If you or your business become the victim of fraudulent unemployment benefits claims, there are several steps you can take to dispute the claim. In order to file an unemployment benefits claim, a social security number is needed. T...