Employers (Page 5)

May 12, 2021-4 min read

A small medical equipment manufacturer had a great deal riding on the completion of their next-gen medical device. Engineers, technicians, and marketers were stressed and exhausted from setbacks and long hours. Yet, no one dropped offline or stopped showing up for work. Why? Because this company had worked hard to develop a culture that resembled a family...

Apr 28, 2021-4 min read

Are you one of the unsung heroes of the pandemic? You know, a mom who had to ditch a promising career so your kids would not be home alone? Have you spent the last year deciphering math mats with your child, wrangling the unemployment system, and soothing your stressed-out significant other? If it feels like you time-warped […]

Apr 12, 2021-5 min read

What do the new drug testing rules and long-term marijuana users have in common? Confusion, paranoia, and poor judgments! [i] [ii] Remember when drug and alcohol policies in the workplace used to be cut and dried? A candidate or employee’s positive test meant refusal, dismissal, or a last-chance rehab at the employer’s discretion. Now, with newly legal...

Mar 4, 2021-5 min read

President Joe Biden signed more executive orders (EO) on his first day than the previous three presidents combined, the most ever by his third week. While 15 of 42 actions are aimed at fighting the coronavirus, the remaining orders, proclamations, and memos (see the difference here) affect labor, HR policy, employment, immigration, resources like power […]

Feb 4, 2021-4 min read

The hardest work in the world is being out of work. So said Whitney M. Young, the civil rights leader who fought to end employment inequity. Today, 10.7 million Americans are experiencing this hard work because of COVID shutdowns and the slow economy. Fortunately, last year jobless workers received much-needed economic relief through the […]

Jan 22, 2021-5 min read

January is a hot month for hiring. If you are starting a new job, you may feel that excited, jittery sensation imagining how this opportunity will transform your life, career, and finances. Before you get carried away imagining how you will spend your first paycheck, why not give some thought to building a healthy and […]

Dec 30, 2020-4 min read

Let’s face it; 2020 will go down as one of the most challenging years in business history. But for many companies, it was also a year of self-discovery. Perhaps no other time in the past century has the economy faced such turmoil, with the need for businesses to respond so expeditiously to wide-spread disruption. Are […]

Dec 29, 2020-5 min read

Finally – the long-awaited fix for the devastating COVID-19 is here! Businesses large and small are breathing a collective sigh of relief with the hope that when all their employees are inoculated, everyone can get back to congregating and collaborating in person. You might be writing that company-wide memo even now, telling people how, […]

Dec 23, 2020-4 min read

This season reminds us to do the things that make our world a kinder and more beautiful place, including expressing our thanks and appreciation to employees, suppliers, contractors, and customers. But 2020 has really been a struggle for many American companies and workers. The pandemic is demanding that we rethink traditions like the annual holiday […]

Dec 16, 2020-4 min read

Tempted to fill a labor gap with a contract worker? Here’s what you should know before you do: In 2019, California passed Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5 to) to reclassify freelance workers as employees rather than independent contractors. However, app companies, citizens, and many contract workers revolted, launching one of this year’s most expensive ballot […]

Nov 24, 2020-5 min read

Have you noticed that even-tempered Fred is arguing with callers, and sunny Nancy seems disengaged and snarky in Zoom meetings with clients? If so, you might have a service problem! Don’t overestimate the tolerance of your customers. Take these steps today to ensure that your clients and customers are customers for life! Step One: Review your customer...

Nov 18, 2020-4 min read

If there were a ‘Word of the Year’ for 2020, it would likely be “anxiety.” For over nine months now, Americans have been grieving the loss of their everyday lifestyle – birthday parties with friends, meetings in person, business and personal travel, and lunch with colleagues. They have struggled with learning new technologies and work-at-home routines, […]