Tag Archives: employee success
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5 Strategies for Effective Organizational Communication
Posted on 03.04.2019
It’s no secret that great organizations cannot flourish without strong organizational communication. But what does that look like? Here are five strategies for effective organizational communication in the workplace. Create an Environment That Supports Open Communication. Whether it’s formal, informal, upward, downward or horizontal communication, it’s imperative to cultivate an environment where all team members … Continue reading
Posted in Strategy Alignment
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Updated FMLA Forms
Posted on 09.19.2018
An updated set of Family and Medical Leave Act (FLMA) forms for employers has been released by the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division. The only revision to these forms is an updated expiration date. The previous forms expired on August 31 of this year, but now, the updated forms will be valid through August 31, … Continue reading
Posted in Compliance
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A Client’s Perspective: CloudNine
Posted on 09.05.2018
Based in Houston, Texas, CloudNine is a data and legal discovery technology company with proven expertise in simplifying and automating the discovery of data for audits, investigations and litigation. CloudNine empowers legal and business professionals with eDiscovery automation software and professional services that simplify litigation, investigations, and audits for law firms and corporations. “We began working with Achilles Group … Continue reading
Posted in Strategy Alignment
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Feedback is a Gift
Posted on 11.03.2017
If you were about to take a hike through the wilderness, would you take a compass with you in case you got lost? Of course! And much like a compass helps you find your path in the wilderness, employee feedback helps you find your path in business. Feedback is a gift in business. It may … Continue reading
Posted in People Performance
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How to Receive Feedback with Grace
Posted on 11.03.2017
Inviting feedback can be hard enough, but receiving it can be even harder. Any sort of criticism (even constructive) tends to bring out all of our insecurities and defensiveness, but truly great leaders resist this impulse and readily accept feedback with grace and an open mind. It can touch on sensitive areas, but it’s important … Continue reading
Posted in People Performance
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Clear, Timely, Focused, Respectful, Feedback
Posted on 11.03.2017
“But I’m just a soul whose intentions are good/ Oh lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood.” The lyrics to that old blues song perfectly illustrate the importance of communicating your feedback in a clear, timely, focused and respectful manner. The goal is not to tear down your employees but to give them the gift … Continue reading
Posted in People Performance
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5 Tips for Virtual Workforce Engagement
Posted on 09.22.2017
Two of the hot topics in business today—employee engagement and workplace flexibility—can often seem at odds in terms of the virtual workforce. As working from home, at client sites, or second locations has increased, this has led to a decrease in employee engagement; however, there’s more to it than mere distance. The number-one reason virtual … Continue reading
Posted in HR Risk Mitigation
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How Does Payroll Work in Times of Natural Disaster?
Posted on 09.20.2017
As a result of Hurricane Harvey and the subsequent flooding throughout Southeast Texas, many businesses that were forced to closed may be wondering how to handle payroll and PTO issues. Here are a few tips and guidelines to help clear up the confusion: Payroll: Exempt (or salaried) employees: the employer is required by law to … Continue reading
Posted in HR Risk Mitigation
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Controversial Overtime Rule Struck Down by District Court
Posted on 09.13.2017
A federal court judge in Texas has struck down a controversial overtime change to the Fair Labor Standards Act (or FLSA) put in place by the Department of Labor (DOL) during the Obama Administration. The rule, which was originally scheduled to go into effect last December, was designed to extend overtime pay eligibility for over … Continue reading
Posted in Compliance
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Changes coming to the EEO-1 Report
Posted on 09.08.2017
As announced on August 29th, 2017 by the U.S. Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (or OIRA), the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (or EEOC) is implementing an immediate stay and reviewing of the effectiveness of the pay data collection components of the revised Equal Employer Information Report (as known as the EEO-1 report). Last … Continue reading
Posted in HR Risk Mitigation
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Minimize Your Company’s Risk with a Hands-Free Driving Policy!
Posted on 08.28.2017
Recent studies have shown that drivers who use their cell phones while driving—whether holding the phone or using a hands-free device—have a much higher risk of collision than those who do not. In fact, one-in-five car crashes are now related to driver distraction, and texting while driving makes a car accident 23 times more likely … Continue reading
Posted in HR Risk Mitigation
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How to Prepare Your Company for Inclement Weather
Posted on 08.25.2017
When bad storms occur, your business should be prepared and adapt accordingly. Below are a few tips to help you get ready: 1. Have a plan. What’s your evacuation procedure? How will your employees be informed of office closings? Who’s in charge of shutting everything down? Make sure that everyone receives clear and concise communication … Continue reading
Posted in Helpful Tips
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Why Employee Feedback is Essential to Business Growth
Posted on 07.28.2017
While rapid business growth is always an exciting prospect, it’s not without its challenges. In the case of South Hampton Resources, they were a smaller company with a family-style business whose growth quickly exceeded their management capacity. They had many tenured employees, so as the management personnel transformed it took some getting used to. However, … Continue reading
Posted in People Performance
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Compliance Update – I-9 Breaking News!
Posted on 07.26.2017
USCIS released the latest I-9 form (Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification) today, July 17, 2017. The changes are summarized below: Name update: “Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices” changed to “Immigrant and Employee Rights Section”. Deleted “the end of” from the phrase “the first day of employment.” List C addition of “Consular … Continue reading
Posted in Compliance
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Develop and Encourage Profitability
Posted on 07.19.2017
Have you ever heard someone refer to their job as “just a support role”, or “an administrative position”? Our focus as Leaders is often fixated on the sales, technical and production roles and we unintentionally overlook the needs and potential of those we assign to “support roles”. The reality is that administrative and supportive jobs … Continue reading
Posted in People Performance
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Avoid the business growing pains by focusing on People Performance!
Posted on 07.07.2017
People Performance: Growing from a family-style business to a larger company with a more remote management style was challenging, so we were referred to Achilles Group for their expertise. They put us at ease right from the start by being so personable, and their flexible approach worked perfectly for us. They also have great ideas … Continue reading
Posted in People Performance
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People Performance the Achilles Way
Posted on 07.03.2017
At its core Leadership is all about communication and the ability to encourage growth and accountability through clear expectations, feedback, goals and incentives. At Achilles Group, we believe that People Performance is the engine that drives any enterprise and that effective Leadership practices provide the tool kit to keep that engine running at peak efficiency. … Continue reading
Posted in People Performance
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Employee Handbooks: A Solid Foundation for Business Growth
Posted on 06.26.2017
An Employee Reflection on the Crest Management Success Story Earlier this month we shared a Success Story from Crest Management, one of our recent clients. Specifically, we focused on the work that we did to help improve their HR Infrastructure by updating their employee handbook. Now that you’ve heard the client’s perspective, we’d like to … Continue reading
Posted in HR Risk Mitigation
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Don’t Do HR for HR’s Sake
Posted on 06.19.2017
This month’s focus has been on HR Infrastructure, which is the very foundation of an HR program. One of the first things that comes to mind when people think of HR Infrastructure is policy: the mutually agreed-upon playbook and the guidelines that shape the employer/employee relationship. However, at Achilles Group this goes beyond mere policies … Continue reading
Posted in HR Risk Mitigation
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HR Infrastructure: What is it? Why do I need it? And why should I care?
Posted on 06.07.2017
At Achilles Group, we focus on delivering Human Resource expertise in a cost-effective way for our clients. Using our highly-personalized Fractional HR model, we focus on protecting and growing our clients in four major areas: HR Infrastructure, Recruiting Effectiveness, People Performance, and Strategy Alignment. This model is tailored specifically to each of our clients’ needs … Continue reading
Posted in HR Risk Mitigation