tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59514866134705535822024-03-12T21:32:01.937-04:00HRI News and ViewsHRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-87797447454705877892013-03-29T10:38:00.001-04:002013-03-29T10:38:36.445-04:00Links You Can Use: March 25-29<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In this week's Links You Can Use, we want to highlight one article in particular that had us thinking.<br />
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Yesterday, the <i>New York Times</i> ran a great <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/31/magazine/is-giving-the-secret-to-getting-ahead.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp" target="_blank">feature about how to get ahead in the workplace</a>. The proposed solution may seem counter-intuitive in our competitive corporation-driven world: altruism. How would helping others make us happier with our jobs? Adam Grant, the organizational psychologist interviewed for this piece, explains it this way.<br />
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“In corporate America, people do sometimes feel that the work they do isn't meaningful. And contributing to co-workers can be a substitute for that.”</blockquote>
This is an echo of a sentiment we've expressed in an <a href="http://hriworld.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-three-requirements-for-job.html">earlier post about job satisfaction</a> -- that a meaningful connection between effort and reward is one of the three job factors that encourages employee retention.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>As evidence for this theory, Grant recounts an experiment where he wanted to get hospital workers to wash their hands more. At one hand-washing station, he posted a sign that said, "Hand hygiene prevents <i>you</i> from catching diseases," while at another station a sign read, "Hand hygiene prevents <i>patients</i> from catching diseases" (emphasis ours). Grant determined which sign had more hand washing by measuring the amount of soap used at each workstation. As it turns out, the sign that referred to helping patients had 45% more soap used.<br />
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Grant is coming out with a new book called <i>Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success</i>, where he goes over interesting concepts such as grouping people as "takers," "givers," or "matchers"; something known as the five-minute favor; and how gossip can be used as a tool for workers to warn each other about selfish takers. In a multimedia sidebar to the article, he tells the <i>New York Times</i> that he believes as our world becomes more interconnected, having a good reputation as a helpful worker or boss will matter more.<br />
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Take some time to check out the article. As a big fan of the comedic duo Key and Peele, I enjoyed watching the accompanying video where they act out Grant's theories about helping out in the workplace -- proving that even altruism can become a competitive sport:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I'll make you CEO; I'll just be Senior VP."<br />
"I'm signing over the company jet to you!"<br />
"Can't wait to use that plane... to take you to the island of your choice for a vacation since I plan on acquiring the entire lesser Antilles. Just take your pick!"</blockquote>
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<i>* The opinions expressed at these linked websites do not reflect the opinions of Harris, Rothenberg International, Inc. (HRI). HRI is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information reflected on these sites.</i>HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-57848805968690479262013-01-07T12:37:00.003-05:002013-01-07T12:37:44.371-05:00Links You Can Use: Dec. 31-Jan. 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A Happy New Year to everyone!<br />
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In 2013's first Links You Can Use, surveys show that employees are experiencing more stress but are taking fewer sick days (the bad news), but also that workplace wellness programs work (the good news). In addition, find a good breakdown on the importance of "training your successor." Managers shouldn't be worried about grooming their own replacements. Instead, they should try to maintain a level of complexity, if possible, for their staff to keep them interested in staying with the company. After all, <a href="http://hriworld.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-three-requirements-for-job.html" target="_blank">complexity is one of the three requirements for job satisfaction</a>.<br />
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Uh-oh. One of your more experienced staff members is leaving to pursue other opportunities, taking years' worth of institutional knowledge and experience. Read this <a href="http://www.triplepundit.com/2013/01/sustainable-workplace-training-successor/" target="_blank">blog post to see why managerial oversight of training and career development</a> will help minimize employee turnover. (<b>Triple Pundit</b>)<br />
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Surveys reveals that workplace wellness programs are working. Does your company have one? If not, here's a how-to guide for taking some initiative and <a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2012/12/employer-wellness-programs.html" target="_blank">starting one yourself</a>. (<b>Small Biz Trends</b>)<br />
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A study shows that people took fewer sick days in 2012. But experts do not believe this means workers are getting healthier, but that they are <a href="http://talentmgt.com/articles/view/study-workplace-stress-leads-to-fewer-sick-days-taken-in-2012" target="_blank">more willing to work despite illness due to job insecurity</a>. (<b>Talent Management</b>)<br />
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<i><b>* </b>The opinions expressed at these linked websites do not reflect the opinions of Harris, Rothenberg International, Inc. (HRI). HRI is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information reflected on these sites.</i> <br />
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<br />HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-25101461074450407032012-12-07T15:51:00.000-05:002013-01-17T13:12:45.704-05:00Links You Can Use: December 3-7<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dtd9x-M33Cs/UMJVbQqrWiI/AAAAAAAAAQA/PojGWUgGq80/s1600/Links+You+Can+Use+12-07-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" nea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dtd9x-M33Cs/UMJVbQqrWiI/AAAAAAAAAQA/PojGWUgGq80/s320/Links+You+Can+Use+12-07-12.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
This week, we watch as big companies like Netflix struggle with unprecedented issues when using social media. In other news, learn how to conduct more productive meetings, how to get people to do things they don't want to do, and survive the holiday season.<br />
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And to end on a bright note: if divorced spouses can run a business together, then there's hope for the rest of us who work and interact together!<br />
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It's often a great idea to promote public awareness of company milestones and achievements using a strong business social media strategy. However, it's not so great if the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/100289227" target="_blank">views it as a violation of public disclosure regulations</a>. In July, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings boasted on the company's Facebook page that "Netflix monthly viewing exceeded 1 billion hours for the first time ever in June." The SEC issued their warning just this week. (<strong>CNBC</strong>)<br />
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<a name='more'></a>We've talked before about <a href="http://hriworld.blogspot.com/2012/07/one-easy-way-to-influence-other-people.html" target="_blank">how to influence people</a>, but what if someone really doesn't want to do something? The key, according to one blogger, is to create three conditions for "<a href="http://lifehacker.com/5965334/how-to-motivate-people-to-do-things-they-dont-want-to-do" target="_blank">better behavioral design</a>." (<strong>Lifehacker</strong>)<br />
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Sometimes, a meeting can feel like an unproductive distraction from "real work." Nevertheless, team communication is essential and here are <a href="http://www.business2community.com/strategy/5-steps-to-effective-meetings-and-improved-workplace-communication-0350252" target="_blank">five simple guidelines for improving meetings at work</a>. (<strong>Business2Community</strong>)<br />
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Think you have a rough time getting along with someone at work? As it turns out, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/business/smallbusiness/when-couples-divorce-but-still-run-the-business-together.html" target="_blank">even divorced couples can get over their issues and run a business together</a>. (<strong>New York Times</strong>)<br />
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In last week's Links You Can Use, we talked about <a href="http://hriworld.blogspot.com/2012/12/links-you-can-use-november-26-30.html" target="_blank">how your organization can take steps to reduce holiday stress</a> in the workplace. This week, here are <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2012/12/06/5-keys-to-transform-workplace-holiday-stress-from-the-inside-out/" target="_blank">five tips you can use for yourself to feel "zen" during the year-end festivities</a>. (<strong>Forbes</strong>)<br />
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<em><strong>* </strong>The opinions expressed at these linked websites do not reflect the opinions of Harris, Rothenberg International, Inc. (HRI). HRI is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information reflected on these sites.</em> HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-39263163751435237222012-12-03T12:04:00.001-05:002012-12-03T12:04:44.231-05:00Links You Can Use: November 26-30<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ik1vrxfVLWM/ULj6e8GRADI/AAAAAAAAAPs/oPZIOZqqZyg/s1600/Links+You+Can+Use+11-30-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ik1vrxfVLWM/ULj6e8GRADI/AAAAAAAAAPs/oPZIOZqqZyg/s1600/Links+You+Can+Use+11-30-12.jpg" height="213" tea="true" width="320" /></a><br />
In this week's Links You Can Use, see how smoke-free environments have impacted the workplace, and how to deal with stress at work, especially at the onset of the busy holiday season. And in other news: do conflicts involving English-speaking ability and foreign accents constitute a diversity issue?<br />
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About 23 states (roughly half of the U.S. population) have smoke-free workplace laws, <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/11/28/study-shows-smoke-free-workplaces-really-do-save-lives/" target="_blank">which some attribute to the recent decline in heart attacks</a>. But some experts are saying it's not enough. (<b>FOX News</b>)<br />
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The economy is still undergoing some hardship, and the holiday season has just begun. So chances are many businesses are working harder with fewer resources. Check out these<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2012/11/27/there-is-no-band-aid-for-workplace-stress/" target="_blank"> organizational tips to keep stress levels down among your workers</a>. (<b>Forbes</b>)<br />
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From 1997 to 2011, <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_22093589/language-conflicts-trend-higher-workplace" target="_blank">workplace discrimination complaints based on national origin have risen by 76 percent</a>. Some of these complaints are related to employers' complaints of workers speaking with a foreign accent or in a language other than English. (<b>San Jose Mercury News</b>)<br />
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<i>* The opinions expressed at these linked websites do not reflect the opinions of Harris, Rothenberg International, Inc. (HRI). HRI is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information reflected on these sites.</i>HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-77342900261708688642012-11-16T15:03:00.002-05:002012-11-16T15:04:14.115-05:00Links You Can Use: November 12-16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Find out how to establish a cohesive work culture, how to "manage up" when a supervisor seems difficult, and why it's best to have zero expectations about privacy when using work email. All this, and more, in this week's Links You Can Use.<br />
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What's the most important thing in establishing a culture at work? One expert says <a href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-11-13/business/ct-biz-top-workplaces-interviewing-20121113_1_culture-bricks-doughnuts" target="_blank">it is the people you choose to hire</a> and offers tips on selecting candidates. (<b>Chicago Tribune</b>)<br />
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A clinical psychologist offers advice on <a href="http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/boss.aspx" target="_blank">how to "manage up,"</a> especially when dealing with difficult bosses. (<b>American Psychological Association</b>)<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
It's a mistake for employees to assume they have email privacy at work, <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/workplace-computers-offer-little-expectation-of-employee-privacy" target="_blank">and here's why</a>. (<b>Examiner</b>)<br />
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One in every five workplace fatalities is <a href="http://www.esrcheck.com/wordpress/2012/11/15/workplace-violence-accounts-for-nearly-one-in-every-five-fatal-work-injuries-in-us/" target="_blank">due to violence, instead of accidents,</a> according to the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration estimates that 2 million people are victims of workplace violence each year. (<b>ESR News</b>)<br />
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">* The opinions expressed at these linked websites do not reflect the opinions of Harris, Rothenberg International, Inc. (HRI). HRI is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information reflected on these sites.</i>HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-22571103974228084822012-11-13T10:19:00.002-05:002012-11-13T10:22:20.703-05:00Plugging the Brain Drain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The statistics are breathtaking: according to the Pew Research center, every day from now until 2030, ten thousand Baby Boomers will turn 65. (1) Every day.<br />
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In other words, hordes of working people are retiring, planning to retire, or thinking about retiring. <br />
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Who are these people? Very often, they’re the people in your organization who best know the whys and wherefores of your projects and procedures. They’re the ones who have so internalized tasks and deliverables that they’ve never even written the steps down. They’re the ones who remember why a certain project succeeded and why another failed and how that affected the company’s direction. In short, they are the holders of what’s known as organizational memory. <br />
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And they’re retiring. <br />
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What can you do to capture their knowledge? How can you make sure they don’t take the organizational memory with them? <br />
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<a name='more'></a><b>Using Baby Boomers as Trainer/Mentors </b><br />
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One approach is to harvest the Baby Boomers’ knowledge by utilizing them as trainer/mentors. This role can be presented to them as an honor, which, really, it is, since it acknowledges the importance of what they know and what they can share. <br />
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<b>Establishing Written Procedures </b><br />
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Establishing written procedures can be more difficult to manage and less effective. A lot of people don’t like taking the time to write down instructions, and without the give-and-take that occurs during training and mentoring, they may assume that people will understand certain difficult points or already know how to do certain steps. <br />
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It’s important to make this a company-wide initiative rather than focusing on older employees. Otherwise, they may feel that you are secretly planning to let them go. <br />
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<b>Establishing Consultant and Part-Time Opportunities for Retirees </b><br />
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Perhaps the best option, if it fits with your organization’s culture, is to retain relationships with retirees by offering them the opportunity to be consultants or to work part-time. Realistically, no matter how many sets of instructions a person writes down, or how many people she mentors, she cannot cover everything she has learned in her decades of experience. And it’s not just the older worker’s knowledge that’s important; it’s also her ability to synthesize her knowledge, experience, and instincts to come up with the correct response to a particular situation at a particular moment. <br />
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Luckily, it won’t be difficult to entice Baby Boomers to maintain a working relationship with your organization. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project, roughly half of Baby Boomers have considered delaying retirement, due to uncertainty about their financial situations and the economic future of the world at large. (2)<br />
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How does your organization make sure that retiring Baby Boomers don’t take your company’s organizational memory with them? And how do the potential retirees respond? <br />
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Sources:<br />
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(1) <a href="http://pewresearch.org/databank/dailynumber/?NumberID=1150">http://pewresearch.org/databank/dailynumber/?NumberID=1150</a><br />
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(2) <a href="http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2009/05/28/most-middle-aged-adults-are-rethinking-retirement-plans/">www.pewsocialtrends.org/2009/05/28/most-middle-aged-adults-are-rethinking-retirement-plans/</a><br />
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--Wendy Caster</div>
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<i>Wendy Caster is a writer specializing in finances, health and wellness, and organizational management. Her short movie, </i>Second Glance<i>, is making the rounds of film festivals.</i></div>
HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-88174925106942731002012-11-09T11:06:00.000-05:002012-11-13T10:21:04.842-05:00Emergency Preparedness in the Workplace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week the East Coast was rammed by Hurricane Sandy, which is now the largest Atlantic hurricane on record, as well as the second costliest (following only 2005’s Hurricane Katrina). In its wake, over a hundred people have been killed, thousands of homes have been destroyed, and millions have been left without power. <br />
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A firm that performs catastrophe risk modeling “<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/01/us-storm-sandy-losses-idUSBRE8A00V620121101">estimates… $20 billion in insured losses and $50 billion in economic losses</a> in the United States.” These losses cannot be calculated just by property damage, but also by reduced productivity. Many workers lost hours or days of work due to power outages, mass transit suspensions, bridge and tunnel closings, evacuations, and other city- and state-wide measures implemented to protect citizens. <br />
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Cases like Sandy prove that it’s imperative for businesses to plan ahead—both for emergencies and for operational continuity in case of building closings, power cutoffs, and transportation shutdowns. <br />
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<b>Emergency Planning</b><br />
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Every workplace should have an emergency action plan. There are several websites from knowledgeable organizations that offer useful guidelines specifically for work sites: <br />
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<li><a href="http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/workplace">American Red Cross</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.ready.gov/workplace-plans">Ready.gov</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3088.html">Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)</a></li>
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<b>Business Continuity Planning </b><br />
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In case of office closings, workplace relocations, or other disruptions due to disasters or pandemics, employers should have a business continuity plan in place. <br />
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Such a plan should include: <br />
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<ul>
<li>A hub of information that can be accessed by everyone from home (a phone line with an automated message or a website) </li>
<li>Departmental meetings in advance of an imminent disaster, if possible </li>
<li>Up-to-date lists of employees’ personal contact information in case business phones or email are down </li>
<li>A meeting involving Information Technology (IT) employees to help ensure technological maintenance through a disaster </li>
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The main goal of the back-up plan is to keep workers safe and informed, while maintaining the highest possible level of productivity. CSOOnline offers <a href="http://www.csoonline.com/article/204450/business-continuity-and-disaster-recovery-planning-the-basics">more in-depth details</a> on how businesses can remain operational during disasters. <br />
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Bottom line: if your business has not formed an emergency protocol or business continuity plan, do it ASAP. You don’t need to look any further than the devastation wrought by Sandy to understand their importance. <br />
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--Joanna Kim </div>
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<i>Joanna Kim is a content strategist/writer for HRI, which has felt the impact of Hurricane Sandy. Everyone here at HRI remains dedicated to serving their clients as we recover from the effects of the storm. </i><br />
<br />HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-5555017534047421152012-10-19T12:47:00.000-04:002012-10-19T12:47:21.871-04:00Links You Can Use: October 15-19<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In this week's "Links You Can Use," we discover some companies are allowing employees to bring their children to work every day (without a daycare facility on the premises). <i>BusinessWeek</i> interviews some workers about their reactions to this innovative arrangement. In other news, research shows that having six or fewer hours of sleep could lead to weight gain and the development of diseases like diabetes. And CNN features the financial situations and strategies of individuals and couples who plan to retire within 10 years.<br />
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An emerging trend that attempts to resolve the work-life balance issues parents face... <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-10-15/bringing-your-child-to-work-everyday#r=hpt-fs" target="_blank">bring your child to work<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">—</span>every day</a>. (<b>BusinessWeek</b>)<br />
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We all know that exercise and a balanced, nutritious diet are key to avoiding chronic conditions and excess weight. But a new study highlights <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/10/17/163018568/poor-sleep-may-lead-to-too-much-stored-fat-and-disease" target="_blank">the important relationship between poor sleep and body fat storage</a>. (<b>NPR</b>)<br />
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CNN features eight profiles across the U.S.<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">—</span>individuals and couples who vary in age, occupation, and retirement goal date<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">—</span><a href="http://money.cnn.com/gallery/retirement/2012/10/19/preparing-for-retirement.moneymag/index.html" target="_blank">on how they plan to retire</a>. (<b>CNN</b>)<br />
<br /><i>* The opinions expressed at these linked websites do not reflect the opinions of Harris, Rothenberg International, Inc. (HRI). HRI is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information reflected on these sites.</i>HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-62894879218887250532012-10-12T14:20:00.000-04:002012-10-12T14:20:37.423-04:00Links You Can Use: October 8-12<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VeUB84GobtE/UHg8xh14DJI/AAAAAAAAANw/oPEdMCdmB2A/s1600/Links+You+Can+Use+10-12-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VeUB84GobtE/UHg8xh14DJI/AAAAAAAAANw/oPEdMCdmB2A/s320/Links+You+Can+Use+10-12-12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
With the ongoing presidential debates, conversations about politics may come up at work--but we would all like to avoid open conflict if possible. Below are some ways to prevent heated arguments in the workplace. Also, find out how to be more efficient, start conversations (even if you're a bit shy), and deal with co-workers who just aren't picking up the slack in this week's Links You Can Use.<br />
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With Election Day just a few weeks away, people can get emotional about their beliefs and ideologies, but here are <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/blog/2012/09/4-tips-to-avoid-political-divisiveness.html" target="_blank">four ways to preemptively address any potential political conflicts in the workplace</a>. (<b>Memphis Business Journal</b>)<br />
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A business expert questions the value of constantly staying late at work, deeming <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/business/measure-results-not-hours-to-improve-work-efficiency.html" target="_blank">"efficiency" to be an underrated trait in today's work culture</a>. He provides some tips on how to make better use of time during regular business hours. (<b>New York Times</b>)<br />
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If you're introverted, you don't have to be a wallflower at work. Use any of these <a href="http://www.savvysugar.com/How-Talk-Your-Colleagues-25406630" target="_blank">six topics to start up a conversation</a>. (<b>SavvySugar</b>)<br />
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Working with someone who isn't contributing that much? Here are <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/10/11/how-to-be-a-team-player-when-you-work-with-a-slacker" target="_blank">some ways to deal with a "slacker co-worker."</a> (<b>U.S. News Money Blog</b>)<br />
<br /><i>* The opinions expressed at these linked websites do not reflect the opinions of Harris, Rothenberg International, Inc. (HRI). HRI is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information reflected on these sites.</i>HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-15302325528273528862012-10-10T10:01:00.000-04:002012-10-10T10:17:52.280-04:00How to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft & Corporate Hacking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jlxh5s9aA1c/UHV9x6a-JnI/AAAAAAAAANc/zEJXjBJ_cZU/s1600/Password+protection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jlxh5s9aA1c/UHV9x6a-JnI/AAAAAAAAANc/zEJXjBJ_cZU/s320/Password+protection.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
During the month of June, the professional networking site LinkedIn got hacked. The website has over 161 million users, and a hacker published over six million passwords without usernames to prove his technological prowess. <a href="http://mashable.com/2012/06/08/linkedin-stolen-passwords-list/">And what were the most common passwords</a>? Confounding, obscure words such as “link,” “1234,” “princess,” and… “monkey.” Obviously, some LinkedIn users are not NSA-level security experts.<br />
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But it’s a problem that trickles up to the executive level. Less than a year ago, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45871509/ns/technology_and_science-security/t/breach-shows-even-experts-choose-bad-passwords/#.UHL5TZhlFiM">the hacker group Anonymous broke into the data of “global-security consulting firm Stratfor”</a> and a follow-up investigation revealed that even the top leaders of a global intelligence company used weak passwords! Anonymous got a hold of information like credit card details and private email addresses from Statfor’s clients including Bank of America, Wells-Fargo, Sony, Google, the United Nations, and the U.S. military.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Nowadays, it doesn’t take much to be a “hacker.” Usually, just a bit of persistence and access to a password-breaking program are sufficient because many of us get lazy about our one line of defense against security breaches: the password. A hacker will simply attempt logins with variations of “123456” and “password,” including “123password,” or “password12345”—as well as other commonly used words such as “admin” or “love.” <br />
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Yes, we all have numerous accounts that require passwords, and it’s difficult to remember multiple random sequences of numbers and letters. However, if your account contains information like credit card numbers, bank accounts, personal photos or communications, or if it is one of your online identities, you will want to protect yourself against identity thieves and corporate security threats. <br />
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Here are three ways to create a strong, memorable password:<br />
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<li><b>Use a phrase that is only meaningful to you as the basis of your password.</b> For example, “Remember, remember, the fifth of November, the gunpowder treason and plot!” becomes: Rrt5oNtgt&p. It is a seemingly random, 11-character passcode but it’s memorable because you came up with it. Using this method, I’ve never had to write down a password or suffer from login attempt failures. Credit goes to this <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2012/06/linkedin_hacked_fix_your_terrible_insecure_passwords_in_one_minute_with_this_foolproof_technique_.html">Slate article for this great tip</a>. </li>
<li><b>Make the password longer than six characters.</b> The longer, the better. </li>
<li><b>Avoid duplicate passwords. </b>Do not use the same password for multiple accounts. That’s the easiest way for hackers to wipe you out across the board. </li>
</ol>
Don’t feel right about the random phrase method? Here are some <a href="http://www.sizledcore.com/2011/05/top-5-free-online-password-generator/">safe online password generators</a>. <br />
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Finally, on the subject of writing down passwords: some say it might be OK to write down non-work-related passwords because most security breaches happen online rather than from home break-ins. As tempting as that is, I would rather use a <a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2407168,00.asp">password management software program</a> (links to free and paid products at the end of the article), which holds all of your passwords in a safe place. This way, you only need to remember one password for all of your private accounts.</div>
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--Joanna Kim</div>
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<i>Joanna Kim is a writer/content strategist for HRI. She would love to use "monkey" for every one of her passwords.</i></div>
HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-35483001987685930272012-10-05T16:22:00.000-04:002012-10-05T16:22:27.284-04:00Links You Can Use: October 1-5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oIZFrAowH-Y/UG71mQLFkBI/AAAAAAAAANI/9H8H7rAZeGA/s1600/Links+You+Can+Use+10-05-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oIZFrAowH-Y/UG71mQLFkBI/AAAAAAAAANI/9H8H7rAZeGA/s320/Links+You+Can+Use+10-05-12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Is "a few weeks" too short a time for maternity leave? Does the convenience of mobile devices outweigh their possible security risks? When it comes to violent workplace incidents, are there always warning signs or do people "just snap?" All these questions<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">—</span>plus more<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">—</span>get addressed in this week's Links You Can Use.<br />
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Yahoo's CEO Marissa Mayer announced she would take only a few weeks of maternity leave, and one blogger weighs in on <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/10/02/marissa_mayer_gives_birth_to_baby_boy_yahoo_ceo_s_short_maternity_leave_is_a_big_mistake_.html" target="_blank">whether this level of commitment would set unrealistic expectations for working mothers</a>. (<b>Slate Blog</b>)<br />
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Employees bringing their own mobile devices to work may be convenient, but the practice comes with certain security risks. This article outlines <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-10-02/the-risks-and-rewards-of-personal-electronics-in-the-workplace" target="_blank">the pros and cons</a>. (<b>BusinessWeek</b>)<br />
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The average number of doctor visits per year has gone down in the past decade, which can be <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/02/health/doctor-visits-drop-census-finds.html" target="_blank">attributed to population trends and access to health insurance</a>. (<b>New York Times</b>)<br />
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Workplace violence has become a growing concern due to a recent flurry of incidents involving disgruntled employees. Check out this <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-57525901/workplace-violence-is-your-office-at-risk/" target="_blank">interview with a psychiatrist on the subject</a>, as well as our own <a href="http://hriworld.blogspot.com/2012/08/how-to-spot-and-respond-to-disturbing.html" target="_blank">expert opinion about identifying early warning signs for disturbing or inappropriate behavior at work</a>. (<b>CBS News</b>)<br />
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Interested in improving your communication skills? Here are <a href="http://sustainablebusinessforum.com/tedcoine/68461/3-ways-communicate-more-effectively" target="_blank">three great tips for "managing transactions, developing relationships, and handling crises."</a> (<b>Sustainable Business Forum</b>)<br />
<br /><i>* The opinions expressed at these linked websites do not reflect the opinions of Harris, Rothenberg International, Inc. (HRI). HRI is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information reflected on these sites.</i><br />HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-55360761977970892712012-10-03T16:10:00.001-04:002012-10-03T16:10:52.524-04:00Effective Email Marketing: How to Avoid the Trash Bin & Get What You Want<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iOWF7bFdleM/UGyaUmP3wCI/AAAAAAAAAM0/3x7oei4TGCM/s1600/Effective+Email+Marketing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iOWF7bFdleM/UGyaUmP3wCI/AAAAAAAAAM0/3x7oei4TGCM/s320/Effective+Email+Marketing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Email marketing campaigns are a great way to let people know about a new product, service, or event; to have them sign up for a newsletter; donate money, etc. However, not all organizations make the best use of this method and execution is poor. <br /><br /><a href="http://hriworld.blogspot.com/2012/08/5-reasons-why-people-ignore-emails.html">People have various reasons for not reading emails</a>. To prevent your email from getting discarded without a glance, here are some tips to maximize the number of conversions. <br /><br />(In case you don’t know, a conversion is when an email recipient heeds your call-to-action; it is distinct from the response to the offering itself. In other words, the conversion rate tells you how well people reacted to the campaign, and the sales or number of sign-ups tells you how many people responded to the offering.) <br /><br />To increase your conversion rate, just follow these steps: <div>
<br /><a name='more'></a><b>Send a well-designed marketing email, which includes: </b><br /><ul>
<li>An attention-grabbing subject heading </li>
<li>As little text as possible </li>
<li>A clear call-to-action (usually a link to a landing page so it’s easier to track conversions—don’t have too many links unless you are intentionally tracking how people respond to different keywords) </li>
<li>Clean design that reflects your company’s brand (recipients should recognize where the email is coming from, plus they respond poorly to ugly or “cheap-looking” emails which may look like spam) </li>
<li>A reminder about spam filters (retain boilerplate text at the bottom of the email to remind people to add your email address to their accepted mailing list) </li>
</ul>
<b>Create an ad hoc landing page just for the email campaign. </b>Too many places still use existing pages off of their website with a hastily added link or text as their call-to-action. The problem is that these pages usually have too much text or distracting links, or they are too off-topic. Use Google Analytics or a similar program to track how many people visited the landing page. <br /><br /><b>Lastly, treat every marketing campaign as if it were a research study.</b> Review which subject headings got the highest and lowest open rates. Take a look at which links people clicked on. Try splitting up your mailing list and send the same email with different subject headings, or send them at different days or times to measure which performed the best. Always tweak and adjust your marketing campaign approach to optimize results for the future. <br /><br />Tell us about your successful marketing campaigns. Or even the ones that didn’t fare too well…</div>
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--Joanna Kim</div>
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<i>Joanna Kim is a writer/content strategist for HRI. As a follower of the "<a href="http://www.43folders.com/izero" target="_blank">Inbox Zero</a>" philosophy, she immediately deletes terrible marketing emails, but holds on to the good ones for research purposes.</i></div>
HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-47772991335453316682012-09-28T16:29:00.002-04:002012-09-28T16:29:48.251-04:00Links You Can Use: September 24-28<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g2IjHj15PmM/UGYAiVye24I/AAAAAAAAAMg/FCjM2LZtVa0/s1600/Links+You+Can+Use+09-28-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g2IjHj15PmM/UGYAiVye24I/AAAAAAAAAMg/FCjM2LZtVa0/s320/Links+You+Can+Use+09-28-12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Sometimes, even with a fancy smartphone or tablet lying around, nothing beats a pen and pad of paper. But advances in technology are definitely causing some office items to get phased out. LinkedIn has a fun infographic showing survey participants' opinions of which common workplace objects they think are becoming extinct.<br />
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Speaking of LinkedIn, check out a great slideshow below about 12 underrated features that are available on the business networking site and app. In other news, discover whether there is a certain time of day where people are most productive, how reading hand signals can help you understand a speaker's state of mind, and some essential email marketing tips. All this and more in this week's Links You Can Use.<br />
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Are tape recorders and rolodexes becoming extinct in the office? Will they be <a href="http://blog.linkedin.com/2012/09/25/cube-dinosaurs/" target="_blank">replaced by more technologically advanced tools like cloud storage?</a> (<b>LinkedIn</b>)<br />
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LinkedIn has over 33 million members, so chances are you're on it. But did you know about <a href="http://www.cio.com/slideshow/detail/47426" target="_blank">these 12 cool features available from the website and app?</a> (<b>CIO</b>)<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Does your body exhibit peak performance at a certain time of day? <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444180004578018294057070544.html?mod=rss_Health" target="_blank">Experts are saying yes</a> and that it would be wise to take full advantage of the timing. (<b>Wall Street Journal</b>)<br />
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Ever had trouble reading someone during a meeting? Maybe <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/brain-wise/201209/your-hand-gestures-are-speaking-you" target="_blank">taking a look at their hands will help</a>. (<b>Psychology Today</b>)<br />
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Make sure your marketing emails get opened by customers by following <a href="http://www.business2community.com/online-marketing/six-tips-for-email-marketing-that-work-0293312" target="_blank">these six tips</a>. (<b>Business 2 Community</b>)<br />
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<i>* The opinions expressed at these linked websites do not reflect the opinions of Harris, Rothenberg International, Inc. (HRI). HRI is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information reflected on these sites.</i></div>
HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-40206394629136579422012-09-25T13:03:00.003-04:002012-10-02T12:42:45.345-04:00Study: Communicating Benefits to Employees? Better Do It in Person<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F2CDKecf4RQ/UGHiU32zpMI/AAAAAAAAAMM/62lPNvFpBS4/s1600/Communicating+Benefits.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F2CDKecf4RQ/UGHiU32zpMI/AAAAAAAAAMM/62lPNvFpBS4/s320/Communicating+Benefits.JPG" width="263" /></a></div>
We've already shared with you that <a href="http://hriworld.blogspot.com/2012/04/benefits-communication-could-use-boost.html" target="_blank">employees have trouble understanding their benefits</a>. But has there been research done to reveal solutions to the problem?<br />
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<a href="http://www.gallagherbenefits.com/portal/server.pt?open=512&mode=2&objID=4438">Gallagher Benefit Services</a> recently released its 2012 Benefit Plan Report, which includes information based on a survey of 264 regional employers employing over 135,000 people.<br />
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Many interesting topics were discussed; this post focuses on one in particular: Methods used by employers to communicate benefits to employees and their perceived levels of effectiveness.<br />
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The methods used are not surprising. Email tops the list with 95.4% of respondents utilizing it to tell employees about their benefits; group employee meetings follow at 81.8%; and webcasts come in last at 40.5%. But what is surprising, at least to this blogger, is how little faith the respondents have in any of the mediums used.<br />
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Only one method received a “very effective” response of over 25%: one-on-one employee meetings, at 42.1%. In terms of combined “very effective” and “effective” responses, only one method received over 80%—again, one-on-one employee meetings. These are the methods that received a combined total of over 50%:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KijroesCoSY/UGHhqkMM_yI/AAAAAAAAAME/XM9NcBnWWUE/s1600/Benefits+Communication.JPG"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KijroesCoSY/UGHhqkMM_yI/AAAAAAAAAME/XM9NcBnWWUE/s640/Benefits+Communication.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5951486613470553582"></a>I guess the takeaway is that the personal touch matters! The survey also suggests that different employees respond to different types of communications. Organizations must use a variety of marketing and communications tools and methods to speak to the full range of needs and interests of their workforces. <br />
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Thoughts? Questions? Drop them in the Comments section. <br />
<i><br />(By the way, stay tuned for information on our upcoming webinar, “Changing the Conversation About EAP and Work-Life: Communication Strategies That Work,” on October 16th at 2:00 EDT and featuring some very interesting panelists.) </i><br />
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--Wendy Caster</div>
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<i>Wendy Caster is a writer specializing in finance, health and wellness, and organizational management.</i><br />
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HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-80833010311040338112012-09-21T17:20:00.002-04:002012-09-21T17:20:40.246-04:00Links You Can Use: September 17-21<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HQDYvxKgXJc/UFzZnfaNuAI/AAAAAAAAALs/DgFLdLinGgY/s1600/Links+You+Can+Use+09-21-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HQDYvxKgXJc/UFzZnfaNuAI/AAAAAAAAALs/DgFLdLinGgY/s320/Links+You+Can+Use+09-21-12.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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This week's Links You Can Use focuses on handling constantly complaining coworkers, impactful and impressive introductions, and dealing with down days.</div>
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The perpetual whiner. There's one in every workplace. Unfortunately, nodding and smiling to their rants may actually hurt you in the end, according to experts, so <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444017504577645481036510356.html" target="_blank">here are some alternative ways to handle grumps and bellyachers at work</a>. (<b>Wall Street Journal</b>)</div>
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Making a good first impression is an important skill in business, so <a href="http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/a-great-way-to-introduce-yourself.html" target="_blank">check out four solid tips on how to introduce yourself</a>. (<b>Inc.</b>)<br />
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Slow day at work? Here are <a href="http://www.thedailymuse.com/career/dealing-with-down-time-5-things-to-do-on-a-slow-day-at-work/" target="_blank">five suggestions on what to do when your workload is low</a>. (<b>The Daily Muse</b>)</div>
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">* The opinions expressed at these linked websites do not reflect the opinions of Harris, Rothenberg International, Inc. (HRI). HRI is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information reflected on these sites.</i>
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HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-12409287315260365862012-09-13T14:48:00.000-04:002012-09-13T14:48:59.804-04:00Short & Tweet: (Mostly) Managerial Advice Under 144 Characters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KdU1UBLd23c/UFIqH74Ya2I/AAAAAAAAALA/V7N-0oNQtsc/s1600/Short+and+Tweet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KdU1UBLd23c/UFIqH74Ya2I/AAAAAAAAALA/V7N-0oNQtsc/s320/Short+and+Tweet.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Twitter didn’t invent the brief message; people have been saying important, useful, and even inspiring things in under 144 characters since humans started talking. Most, though not all, of these quotations are relevant to being a manager.</div>
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<b>Abraham Lincoln: </b>I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.</div>
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<b>Albert Einstein: </b>Imagination is more important than knowledge.</div>
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<b>Albert Szent-Gyorgi:</b> Discovery is seeing what everybody else has seen, and thinking what nobody else has thought.</div>
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<b>Annie Lennox: </b>Ask yourself: Have you been kind today? Make kindness your daily modus operandi and change your world.</div>
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<b>Darrell Royal:</b> I try not to make the same mistakes today that I made yesterday.</div>
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<b>George Allen: </b>Every day you waste is one you can never make up.</div>
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<b>Henry David Thoreau: </b>Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.</div>
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<b>James M. Barrie:</b> The secret of success is not doing what one likes, but in liking what one does.</div>
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<b>Jody Conradt: </b>A good team member must have extraordinary communication skills, not just speaking but listening and seeing.</div>
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<b>Joe Gibbs:</b> The will to win is meaningless without the will to prepare!</div>
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<b>John Wooden:</b> Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.</div>
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<b>John Wooden: </b>Details create success.</div>
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<b>Lao-Tzu: </b>A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.</div>
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<b>Larry Bird: </b>First, master the fundamentals.</div>
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<b>Lou Holtz:</b> Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.</div>
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<b>Pat Riley:</b> Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better.</div>
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<b>Shannon Wilburn:</b> Lack of confidence is born from a lack of preparation.</div>
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<b>Thomas Edison: </b>If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astonish ourselves.</div>
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<b>Tommy Lasorda:</b> Managing is like holding a dove in your hand. Squeeze too hard and you kill it, not hard enough and it flies away.</div>
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<b>Vince Lombardi:</b> Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.</div>
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<b>Vince Lombardi:</b> We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible.</div>
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<b>Voltaire: </b>Common sense is not so common.</div>
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<b>Woody Allen: </b>Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons.</div>
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What are some of your favorite quotations? We’d love to hear them.</div>
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--Wendy Caster</div>
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<i>Wendy Caster is a writer specializing in finances, health and wellness, and organizational management.</i></div>
HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-72295859902909188252012-09-10T12:30:00.004-04:002012-09-10T12:31:25.960-04:00The One Big Secret to Changing Your Habits<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R82M7dXIpa4/UE4T-HwT5GI/AAAAAAAAAKs/FK7yc3gh334/s1600/The+One+Big+Secret+to+Changing+Habits.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R82M7dXIpa4/UE4T-HwT5GI/AAAAAAAAAKs/FK7yc3gh334/s320/The+One+Big+Secret+to+Changing+Habits.jpg" /></a>
Pursuing a goal like losing weight or putting an end to procrastination can start off great but then fall apart as time goes by. Usually, the big challenge is overcoming a bad habit and turning it into a good one. Easier said than done. <br />
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Fortunately for us, one journalist, Charles Duhigg, wrote a book on how to do just this. <i>In The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business</i>, Duhigg uses real-life examples from past business strategies and his own life on how to permanently change behavior. <br />
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According to Duhigg, “<a href="http://lifehacker.com/5896846/the-right-habits">some habits are more important than others</a>.” You start major changes in your life by concentrating on an important habit, known as a keystone habit, which will go on to influence other behaviors. <br />
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So far, so good. So what is a keystone habit?<br />
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<a name='more'></a>A keystone habit is a behavior that helps you perceive yourself differently. It has several characteristics, but I want to highlight two that will make this concept a little more concrete: <br />
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<b>1. A keystone habit comprises a series of “small wins.” </b><br />
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Let’s say you want to lose weight, but you never exercise. You could start changing by pledging to walk for fifteen minutes a day. Then you could set a distance goal or add another five minutes of walking time. Accomplishing a series of plausible objectives creates a feeling of winning minor victories, which would only encourage you to take on more. <br />
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<b>2. A keystone habit allows you to create new platforms. </b><br />
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This type of habit will be a starting point for other habits to form. If you walk a little bit every day, you could make create a goal to visit a fresh fruit stand and eat fruit as a snack. Right then and there, your habit leads to another one that contributes to a common goal. <br />
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Perhaps the psychological barrier to change is that we don’t really buy this “new person” who is supposed to emerge. But if we observe evidence to the contrary, we may slowly accept that change is possible. By watching ourselves gradually reach new milestones (small wins) and brainstorm and enact superior habits (new platforms), we may be better equipped to take control of our habits, and ultimately, how we live our lives.<br />
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--Joanna Kim</div>
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<i>Joanna Kim is a Writer/Content Strategist for HRI. Although she's very fond of her bad habits, Joanna has been working on slowly replacing them with good ones with the help of Duhigg's book.</i></div>
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HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-4766358558161712382012-09-07T15:58:00.000-04:002012-09-07T15:58:23.084-04:00Links You Can Use: September 3-7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In recent years, news stories of fraud, insider trading, and other dishonest business activities have prompted the question: are we doing enough to teach business students about ethics? In other news, human resource staff are struggling with filling in the gaps left behind by retiring Baby Boomers, and a worker survey reveals that job retention is largely the result of very personal preferences. All this and more, in this week's Links You Can Use.<br />
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Are business schools effectively teaching ethics to their students? Experts are saying <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/business/the_dismal_science/2012/09/business_school_and_ethics_can_we_train_mbas_to_do_the_right_thing_.html" target="_blank">no, but there are some ways to improve business ethics training</a>. (<b>Slate</b>)
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According to the Workforce Retention Survey, "Work-Life Fit" and "Enjoying What I Do" were <a href="http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2012/08/work-life.aspx" target="_blank">two of the top reasons why people chose to stay with a job</a>. These findings echo some of the points from our post about the <a href="http://hriworld.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-three-requirements-for-job.html" target="_blank">requirements for job satisfaction</a>. (<b>American Psychological Association</b>)<br />
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If you're trying to improve how you use up your time, <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/09/06/7-productivity-traps-for-overachievers-to-avoid" target="_blank">watch out for these seven productivity killers</a>. (<b>U.S. News and World Report</b>)<br />
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A survey reveals that human resource executives of federal agencies are deeply concerned with <a href="http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-09-03/business/bs-bz-federal-workplace-survey-20120830_1_federal-agencies-federal-workforce-federal-executives" target="_blank">attracting workers to compensate for the ongoing loss of experienced, skilled workers due to Baby Boomers going into retirement</a>. (<b>Baltimore Sun</b>)<br />
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Here are <a href="http://lifehacker.com/5940946/20-google-search-shortcuts-to-hone-your-google+fu" target="_blank">20 Google search shortcuts to enhance your online research skills</a>, i.e., "Google-Fu" (like Kung-Fu but more practical for daily life). (<b>Lifehacker</b>)<br />
<i><br />* The opinions expressed at these linked websites do not reflect the opinions of Harris, Rothenberg International, Inc. (HRI). HRI is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information reflected on these sites.</i>HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-36369831267418878872012-09-05T17:01:00.001-04:002012-09-05T17:02:09.229-04:00How to Make Your Work-Life Balance Program Successful<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t4TBZNB8XyM/UEe8UjbbR2I/AAAAAAAAAJw/8_9Chi1BYsk/s1600/Work-Life+Balance.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t4TBZNB8XyM/UEe8UjbbR2I/AAAAAAAAAJw/8_9Chi1BYsk/s320/Work-Life+Balance.jpg" /></a>
The <i>New York Times</i> recently ran an article about <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/02/business/straightening-out-the-work-life-balance.html?pagewanted=all">how some work-life balance programs, like flextime, become a “zero-sum game.”</a> Many organizations have strived to improve the work-life balance of their workers, mainly by allowing parents to have more flexible schedules to attend to the needs of their children. <br />
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Unfortunately, this kind of flexibility has often resulted in more work for others. Even though it’s easier than ever to get things done outside of the office, workers still have to cover for their colleagues in meeting deadlines and making valuable face time with clients or customers. One flextime expert cites “colleague resentment” as a “reason that some work-life balance programs fail.” In these instances, the workload at least <i>appears</i> to go in only one direction—to workers without children. <br />
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Despite the best intentions, these programs might not be as successful as they can be, because those organizations fail to acknowledge the following realities:<br />
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<a name='more'></a><b>1. There is more than one type of caretaker. </b><br />
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In the article, we meet Kelly Azevedo, a 27-year-old worker who “sacrificed her own obligations to take care of her ailing grandparents.” As the Baby Boomer generation is aging, we are seeing <a href="http://hriworld.blogspot.com/2012/07/why-employers-should-care-about_24.html">more workers in the U.S. taking care of older adults</a>. However, many organizations only accommodate parents and not those who provide care for elderly relatives. <br />
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<b>2. It is difficult to be objective when determining whose private life has more priority. </b><br />
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People without children have lives, too. They may have volunteer commitments, night classes, or a second job. In a fair work-life balance program, caregiver employees should be expected to pick up the slack for their colleagues from time to time as well. <br />
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<b>3. Communication is essential to implementing work-life balance effectively. </b><br />
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To minimize the risk of misunderstandings and last-minute requests, one person could be designated to know and coordinate everyone’s schedule. Also, the company should decide how scheduling needs are communicated. For example, workers may feel more comfortable if they do not have to state the reason for leaving the office early, so no one feels pressured, embarrassed, or guilty. Others may feel better about spelling out why they have to leave, to avoid an atmosphere of secretiveness and distrust. <br />
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By promoting transparency, fairness, and open communication, employers have a better chance of making flextime work. And as the article points out, some employees are more than happy to help out a colleague. They may see it as “paying it forward” and expect the same level of cooperation when they themselves become parents/caregivers, or they appreciate the opportunity for extra money and job experience. The willingness to make it work is there; if organizations persevere and communicate directly with their employees, they are likelier to generate a more productive and satisfied workforce. <br />
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What has your organization done to achieve a sustainable work-life balance strategy?<br />
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--Joanna Kim</div>
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<i>Joanna Kim is a Writer/Content Strategist for HRI, and is an avid supporter of flextime in the office.</i><br />
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HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-84310392839213808622012-08-31T12:14:00.000-04:002012-09-06T10:41:27.366-04:00Links You Can Use: August 27-31<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In this week’s Links You Can Use, experts talk about how general population trends are impacting the workplace. For example, do caregivers of older adults have sufficient legal protection against employee discrimination? How will Generation Y affect the way we work in the year 2020? In other news, is PowerPoint becoming PowerPointless? And a leaked company document reveals that Apple’s sales team may indeed be a group of geniuses—in psychology! Finally, a 30-year study makes a startling discovery about the health of full-time working mothers. <br />
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Is there a <a href="http://www.enterprisenews.com/blogs/goodage/x282947166/AARP-Workplace-discriminates-against-elder-caregivers">workplace discrimination problem against employees</a> who are <a href="http://hriworld.blogspot.com/2012/07/why-employers-should-care-about_24.html">caregivers of older adults</a>? According to a study done by AARP, there are few laws that protect against this type of employee discrimination, despite the fact that care for older adults is increasing in the U.S. (<b>AARP</b>) <br />
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In just eight years, <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443713704577603302382190374.html?mod=WSJ_Careers_CareerJournal_2">Generation Y workers will comprise 40% of the U.S. workforce</a>. How will this affect the way business is done? (<b>Wall Street Journal</b>)<br />
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<a name='more'></a>PowerPoint has been installed on over a billion computers, but <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-08-30/death-to-powerpoint">some professionals are using alternatives to the ubiquitous software program</a> (including no slides whatsoever). (<b>BusinessWeek</b>) <br />
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Tech blog Gizmodo received a leaked document—a secret sales training manual for Apple’s Geniuses (Apple’s term for its tech support and sales staff). It’s a fascinating look into how <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5938323/how-to-be-a-genius-this-is-apples-secret-employee-training-manual">psychological tactics are used in salesmanship and customer service</a>. (<b>Gizmodo</b>) <br />
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Nearly 30 years of data reveal that <a href="http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/23/full-time-work-means-better-health-for-mothers/">mothers who work full time experience better health</a>. (<b>New York Times</b>) <br />
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<i> * The opinions expressed at these linked websites do not reflect the opinions of Harris, Rothenberg International, Inc. (HRI). HRI is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information reflected on these sites.</i></div>
HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-35159044179360869702012-08-29T14:47:00.000-04:002012-08-29T14:47:53.922-04:00Improve Your Productivity a Million Percent in Just One Step<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y78tOVp9P9c/UD5iumcjiNI/AAAAAAAAAJE/D4MrlRvlGqY/s1600/Improve+Productivity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y78tOVp9P9c/UD5iumcjiNI/AAAAAAAAAJE/D4MrlRvlGqY/s320/Improve+Productivity.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Okay, maybe not a million percent. But a lot. <br /><br /> In fact, a high-powered executive once paid an efficiency expert $25,000 in thanks for making him aware of this one step.<div>
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There are many versions of the story, and they cite a range of sources. But they all seem to agree that the efficiency expert was a man named Ivy Lee, that the executive was Charles Schwab, who was the president of Bethlehem Steel at the time, and that this happened in the 1910s or 1920s. <br /><br /> But the details don’t matter. Here’s what matters: <br /><br /><a name='more'></a> Lee gave Schwab this piece of advice: <br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq">
At the end of every day, list the most important five or six things you need to do. The next morning, to the extent possible, go to work on the first item without interruption until it’s done. Then go on to the next one. </blockquote>
After trying this out for a few months, Schwab sent Lee a check for $25,000. <br /><br />To give you an idea of just how valuable Schwab found the advice, here is the average <i>yearly</i> salary in 1920 in the United States: <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>$1,236. </i></div>
<br />That is, Schwab paid Lee <i>twenty times</i> the average yearly salary for this one piece of advice. (Nowadays, that would be $940,000!) <br /><br />Kinda makes you want to give it a try, doesn’t it? <br /><br /> Do you have any productivity tips you want to share? What’s your most valuable piece of advice? <br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">
--Wendy Caster </div>
<br /> <i>Wendy Caster is a writer specializing in finances, health and wellness, and organizational management. Her short movie, </i>Second Glance<i>, is making the rounds of film festivals.</i><br /> </div>
HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-86638038956703416002012-08-27T14:47:00.001-04:002012-08-29T14:48:19.637-04:00Friending Colleagues on Facebook: Pros and Cons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/technology/facebook-needs-to-turn-data-trove-into-investor-gold.html?pagewanted=2">With over 900 million people on Facebook</a>, chances are your coworkers are on the popular social networking site. <br />
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Is it ever OK to friend a colleague? That’s a tricky question. People you friend on Facebook will be able to see your information, photos, and life updates. If you have anything personal or potentially embarrassing on your profile, it could affect your professional image.<br />
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But Facebook has been around since 2004, and many users now know how to control what others see by tweaking their <a href="http://www.facebook.com/help/privacy">privacy settings</a>. And it could be beneficial for your career to be friendly with the people you work with. <br />
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So what to do? Let’s go over the pros and cons. <br />
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<b>Friendship.</b> Sometimes, you form genuine friendships with colleagues. For those that you see outside of the workplace for social reasons, it’s perfectly natural to friend them on Facebook. <br />
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<b>Transparency. </b>Some corporate cultures may be all about openness and collaboration. Especially in workplaces like technology start-ups, friending coworkers may be routine and commonplace. <br />
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<b>Cons </b><br />
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<b>Lost privacy. </b>People can find out some highly personal things about you from your Facebook page. Designating a “limited” view in your privacy settings for certain people lets you control what they see. <br />
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One caveat, however, is that Facebook has been known to change their privacy controls and default settings—sometimes without proper notification to users. Log in regularly to check your settings, and stay tuned to the news for any major changes to Facebook’s design or features. <br />
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<b>Possible Resentment or Awkwardness. </b>What if you receive an unwanted friend request? You are not obligated to friend someone simply to avoid workplace tension. Thankfully there are two things you can do to smooth over potential conflict: <br />
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<li>Go to your “friends” settings and do not allow the general public to view your friends list. That way, your colleagues won’t know that you rejected their friend requests while accepting others’ from work. </li>
<li>If you ignore a request but fear that it will cause problems, talk to that person directly. Say that you like to limit the number of your friends on Facebook, or that you keep your personal and work-related lives separate, and invite them to connect with you on a professional networking site like LinkedIn.</li>
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<b>Human Resources Professionals and Managers </b><br />
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If you work in HR or manage a team, friending a coworker might also pose some problems. As an HR staffer, you may end up in the awkward position of reporting your colleague if he or she posts inappropriate or confidential information. Friending a subordinate could result in the manager losing his or her credibility if the wrong information is revealed. Likewise, subordinates could lose the respect of their supervisors by posting a photo or update indicating irresponsible behavior. <br />
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A personal life should be personal. Feel free to connect with colleagues on Facebook, but remain mindful of the relationships and reputation you have to maintain at work.<br />
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--Joanna Kim</div>
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<i>Joanna Kim is a Writer/Content Strategist for HRI.</i></div>
HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-39523901147538165642012-08-24T16:00:00.002-04:002012-08-24T16:00:51.341-04:00Links You Can Use: August 20-24<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yet another horrifying shooting has rocked the nation today, this time in a work-related incident. For this week’s Links You Can Use, we are focusing on this urgent and serious subject, providing a link to the news story and information on preventing workplace violence and other types of disturbing behavior: <br />
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Today, a workplace shooting has occurred at the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/25/nyregion/several-people-shot-one-fatally-outside-empire-state-building.html">Empire State Building in New York City</a>. Read our post about <a href="http://hriworld.blogspot.com/2012/08/how-to-spot-and-respond-to-disturbing.html">spotting warning signs for troubling workplace behavior</a>. (<b>New York Times</b>)<br />
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<b><i>* </i></b><i>The opinions expressed at these linked websites do not reflect the opinions of Harris, Rothenberg International, Inc. (HRI). HRI is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information reflected on these sites.</i></div>
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HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-17839916520278510352012-08-21T12:59:00.000-04:002012-08-21T12:59:08.203-04:005 Reasons Why People Ignore Emails<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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“Didn’t you read the email?”<br />
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We’ve all been there, whether we’re the one who didn’t read the message or the one who got ignored by colleagues. However, if people frequently disregard your emails, the problem may have something to do with the way you are communicating.<br />
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Have you committed blunders that make co-workers tune you out? Here are some reasons why others might be giving your emails the cold shoulder:<br />
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<b>1. You write too many emails.</b><br />
Email is an amazingly convenient medium, <a href="http://hriworld.blogspot.com/2012/05/when-not-to-use-email.html" target="_blank">but it might not be appropriate for all situations</a>. If you needlessly email colleagues, they will soon learn to ignore you. The same can occur if you CC too many people. Those individuals who do not need to be kept in the loop may also start skipping your messages altogether.<br />
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<b>2. Your emails are too long.</b><br />
Email recipients are more likely to skim—and miss important information—if they see a huge essay waiting for them in their inbox. Try to use simple, short sentences, and avoid large blocks of text by breaking up your message into shorter paragraphs or bullets. (However, bullet lists cease to be useful if they become too long.)<br />
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<b>3. Your emails need editing.</b><br />
Do typos, incomplete thoughts, and incorrect grammar plague your emails? If so, the recipient has to use more time and energy deciphering what you wrote. Again, no one wants to spend an eternity with their email, so proofread even the shortest memos before you hit “Send.” It will also spare you some embarrassment.<br />
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<b>4. Your emails need rewriting.</b><br />
It’s not always mechanics that discourage people from reading your messages. When you proof your email, ask yourself if you are making these mistakes:<br />
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<li>Am I repeating myself? What can I delete?</li>
<li>Am I getting off-topic?</li>
<li>Am I forgetting essential details? Use concrete numbers and specifics, instead of vague adjectives (e.g., “due in seven days” as opposed to “due in a few days”). More often than not, you will end up with a shorter email when you’re done with revisions.</li>
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<b>5. Your colleagues are busy.</b><br />
This is one of the most common reasons why people do not read email—or, at least, thoroughly. Make it easier on your co-workers by following the steps outlined above, and remember that there are other ways to communicate. Pick up the phone, schedule a meeting, or just drop by a colleague’s workspace to talk.<br />
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<i>--Joanna Kim</i></div>
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<i>Joanna Kim is a Writer/Content Strategist for HRI. </i>HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5951486613470553582.post-11105069224050477282012-08-17T15:21:00.000-04:002012-08-17T15:22:40.922-04:00Links You Can Use: August 13-17<div class="MsoNormal">
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This week's <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Links You Can Use</i> includes
a few tips for managers and organizations interested in enhancing the
workplace.<br />
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Staying productive at work during the late summer season can be tough, so
here are <a href="http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/08/16/how-to-stay-productive-during-the-dog-days/" target="_blank">some guidelines for managers to help keep their teams focused</a>.
(<b>Forbes</b>)<br />
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This article provides insight on <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/business/investopedia/article/Managing-Varied-Generations-In-The-Workplace-3791976.php" target="_blank">managing workers from different generations</a>. (<b>San
Francisco Chronicle</b>)<br />
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Here are some helpful tips to <a href="http://lifeinc.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/08/17/13298641-stress-a-big-time-workplace-malady?lite" target="_blank">spot signs of stress in your work life</a>. (<b>MSNBC</b>)<br />
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More organizations are <a href="http://www.workforce.com/article/20120817/NEWS02/120819965/more-workplaces-dig-farmers-markets-to-cultivate-employee-health" target="_blank">embracing farmers' markets to promote health and wellness to
workers</a>. (<b>Workforce.com</b>)<br />
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Work dress codes can be hard to decipher. Here are a <a href="http://articles.cnn.com/2012-08-14/living/living_workplace-dress-code_1_dress-code-president-obama-goth" target="_blank">few examples of unusual work style, plus some advice from human
resource professionals</a>. (<b>CNN</b>)<br />
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<b><i>* </i></b><i>The opinions expressed at these linked websites do not
reflect the opinions of Harris, Rothenberg International, Inc. (HRI). HRI is
not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information reflected on these
sites.</i>HRI Marketing Staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16838930768317904898noreply@blogger.com0