May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month and we encourage you, both the business owner and executive, to take a hard look at your current disability coverage.Some sobering facts:1.       Most group disability plans are designed to cover up to 60% of your base income. The plan definition for Base Salary may NOT include commissions, bonuses, etc.  In addition, there are typically monthly caps on the base amount covered.If you become disabled, the group coverage may ultimately pay 40-50% of your...

Hot Topic:Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling was banned for life and fined $2.5 million by his employer, the National Basketball Association (NBA). The punishment came after public outrage was aimed at Sterling who was recorded making racist comments to his girlfriend regarding NBA players, her friends and whom he wants to not see at Clippers games.This story could affect your own Human Resources practices. Your employees may be asking you, "Isn't he protected by Freedom of Speech?"   Yo...

Your website is great, your jobs are posted, your candidate tools and company information are ready. Now continue to represent your brand during the rest of your recruiting process.  While you're selling your company as the Best Place on Earth to Work, be sure you represent your brand in the most professional manner possible.To help you along the way, below is a list of interviewing behaviors candidates who answered a Monster.com survey foundThe Most Annoying:70% - interviewers who were slow to ...

Today’s Internet-based security/surveillance solutions, like many new web-based technologies, are both inexpensive and amazingly efficient. How cool is it to have ‘24 by 7’ access and a view of multiple areas of a company’s offices from a manager’s smartphone? While employers are looking at this technology as a tool to help them curb workplace theft, bogus worker’s compensation claims and a host of other difficult issues where video evidence might make a difference, it is equally important for t...

"Don't"  Number One -  Showing No RespectOne of the quickest ways to run off a great candidate is to cancel the interview at the last   minute because you're disorganized or your day has run away from you.Don't leave them waiting for you in the lobby past the interview time for "oh so important" you to finally show up. You're telling candidates as loudly and plainly as possible that the job candidate isn't important and that you and your company don't value the people who work for them."Don't" N...

According to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association (FSTA), there are about 30 million fantasy players in the United States alone and this number is increasing. According to a study by Challenger, Gray & Christmas, fantasy football is played by 22.3 million workers and costs employers upwards of $6.5 billion in lost time and productivity during the NFL season. With more and more people getting into fantasy football, are people so much into fantasy teams and games that they contribute less to t...

The Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) is designed to provide job protection and work/life balance for American workers.  FMLA provides time off for employees with an illness or injury, to care for their loved ones, or for the birth or adoption of a child. In 2008 FMLA was strengthened with the addition of the National Defense Amendment Act which provides additional job protection and leave time for families of military members.Many employers just don’t realize they are not in compliance wi...

After all, you are adding someone to your payroll, to the work life of your staff and to the future of your company.Don't rush! Hiring a CFO should take more than 5 days! If you think you can post an ad and get someone fast - you’re short-changing yourself and your company.Using an experienced Recruiter is your best bet when you need someone in a timely manner. Losing a CFO or other important employee can be detrimental to your business - but “posting and praying” can be dangerous and slow. A sh...

We’ve all been there.  A coworker has dropped a verbal bomb and you don’t know what to do about it.  We suggest the following best practices in dealing with inappropriate and unprofessional workplace behavior.1.  Don't Confront:  In many cases it's best to press the "ignore button" and walk away, especially if you're in a group setting. Often you can simply respond with, “I hear what you're saying,” then quickly move on. Do it without getting upset. If you fight fire with fire, you'll surely get...

A stellar candidate deserves a worthy interview.It’s not difficult; just practice these painless steps: Prepare your interview for the correct position. (bring job description, org chart, etc) Prepare and follow an agenda. Know whom you are interviewing. (resume studied and printed) Be on time! Ask questions. (don’t do all the talking) Be ready for the candidate’s questions.Even if you have conducted interviews for years, it’s always good to review the basics.  Following these 6 simple guideline...

1.  Ensure that your long-tenured employees will remain valuable to your organization.  Require your employees with 20 years of experience to attend conferences, training programs and networking events.  This will help them stay current with industry trends. Remember this group in your HR programs designed to increase employee engagement.2.  Reassess your 401(k) plan.  This plan has been in existence for 30 years and has failed to equip the majority of the workforce with the ability to retire. R...