Our national pastime is rich with memories and parallels to everyday life. A friend of mine knows how much I love baseball, and I told her that I had been thinking about writing a baseball column relating to HR. She...
Note: Albany.com is not responsible for posts and comments written by non-staff members.
Mental Health Days
Q: What are your thoughts on "mental health days"? What should employers do about people who want to take these?A: Mental health days are a great way to keep sharp and utilize benefit time for reasons other than illness....
The Value of On-Call Shifts and Hours
In retail and hospitality especially, the value of on-call shifts and on-call hours is priceless. Looking at it negatively, many may say "I don't like the idea that work can call me in at the last minute." Others on the...
Shave Your Head and Start Over
When it comes to business, sometimes, "shaving our head and starting over" means throwing out old practices completely and starting fresh with something knew.I was asked last week what was the meanest thing I ever said to someone.A few years...
Breaking The Breaks Up
Q: My staff is lethargic after about 5 hours of selling during an 8 hour shift. What can we do to improve productivity and improve their morale?A: For any 8 hour shift, I like to give 2 30-minute breaks instead...
Food for Thought – Human Resources in Restaurants
I spoke to my class today about my recent experience at a restaurant where I was served by a well-trained, confident, and competent bartender assisting probably 30 guests with a smile and with great follow-through. Meanwhile, at the same time,...
Unpaid Days Off That Work
I was at a BBQ this weekend and a friend mentioned to me about a furlough going on at their workplace - 1 unpaid day off three times per year. The friend was very enthused about the idea however, because the three days...
How high is Your MPH level?
Manners, Positivity, Heroics was a book I wrote in 2005 about a methodology called Manners, Positivity, Heroics. When practiced, these three traits can lead to a very productive and vibrant workplace.Manners - As I've explained in a prior entry on...
Behavior Modification and Absenteeism
Q: What are some of the intended consequences of applying behavior modification based on the growing problem of absenteeism and excessive sick leave? A: Behavior modification is meant to be used to reward people for what they do well and...
Over time, Overtime May Be Better Than Undertime
One best practice I saw employed at a retail business was to give employees voluntary overtime on a regular basis rather than hire an additional full-time employee. It enabled the store to keep two or three employees happy. These employees...