Q: I've been a bit skeptical about teaching my employees anything online; however, the costs of sending them to a training class (gas, time away, hiring someone to do the training) are making it seem like a better option. What...
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Thoughts from “Four Hour Workweek” by Timothy Ferriss
One of my favorite HR and Career related books is The Four Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss. Some of the key principles I received from this book include1. How to speed read - there's an excellent excerpt in the book on...
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...
Cover Letters Advice
Q: What should I include in a cover letter? I don't want to sound too pushy or too desperate in my search, even though I am out of work.A: Cover letters can be the difference maker in whether someone will...
“Sometimes, you’ve gotta fire the customer.”
Q: We have a few verbally abusive customers who regularly come in and intimidate our employees. They are larger accounts, so we really don't want to lose their business. How do we handle this?A: Unfortunately, "the customer is always right"...
Resume Critiquing for 5 Lucky Readers
Your teachers, your peers, even your boss has their opinion on what belongs in a resume. Would you like another set of eyes?Somewhere on albany.com/hr there is a code at the end of a blog entry. The first 5 people...
Getting an Adjunct Teaching position
Q: How do I become an adjunct professor? I've always wanted to teach, and it seems like so many schools want people with lots of experience. I just finished my bachelor's degree but know I'd be good at teaching.A: I...
Fearless vs. Thoughtless Feedback
"It is not advisable, James, to venture unsolicited opinions. You should spare yourself the embarrassing discovery of their exact value to your listener." from Atlas Shrugged.Some of the best feedback in an organization that I have seen is of the...
Dealing with Workplace Stress
"When the last thing you want to do is deal with any humans, the best thing to do is to deal with many humans." Robert James Braathe, 2009I've found that the worst thing one can do during difficult times is...