Happy Thanksgiving! I've heard varying stories of people having to work today to prepare for holidays sales, or stores that are open for part of the day to better serve their customers.Some things to consider around every holiday - Is there...
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Plain vs. Ex-Plain
The more you have to explain things to people, the less "plain" it becomes. This applies to training situations, dealing with your employer who wants a reason you aren't performing, and a variety of situations that require limited explanation.The better...
HR and Baseball – The Hot Stove League
The hot stove league is my favorite part of the winter break between baseball seasons. This is the time where general managers for all teams meet to work out trades, free agents negotiate contracts with their own team (and then,...
Taking a Left Turn on Red in a Left Turn Only Lane
Something I claim to have invented was the left turn on red in a left turn only lane. There was a stretch of road near Sea World in Orlando where no traffic ever would be coming and I'd sit there...
5+5+5>16 in retail and hospitality
Using flexible work schedules can enable a team to develop a stronger, more energetic workforce both short-term and long-term. On a short-term basis, using 3 employees each working 5 hour shifts to cover a work day can save on break...
Kangaroo Court – HR and Baseball
Many teams have a player run court they call the Kangaroo Court to hand out "fines" for infractions like missing a sign, making an error, and so on. In the workplace, such a program could encourage fellow employees to contribute donations...
More on Hiring Inexperienced vs Experienced Workers
In March, I explored a reader's question on Hiring Inexperienced vs Experienced Workers. Today, I'd like to talk with you about this a bit further.Many employers seek to bring new ideas and new perspective to their organizations. This sometimes means...
Stopping the Manager Game
Do you have an employee who likes playing managers against one another? Do you someone who tries to get the answer they want to hear by asking people the same question over and over?To stop people from playing this "Manager...
Thoughts on Sway – The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior
I just finished reading Sway by Ori and Rom Brafman, which shared some excellent points on many Human Resources related issues. Here are a sample of quotes and passages from the book and some comments."As difficult as it can be...
Debates on Hot HR issues by students of SUNY Delhi @ Schenectady County Community College
On Tuesday December 8th at 1pm, my students at SUNY Delhi at SCCC in Schenectady will be debating hot issues in human resources. If you are interested in attending this free event, please contact me at braathrj@delhi.edu. Five debates will take...