Saturday, 5 April 2008
When Work Works
 Part of the joy of running a small business is the chance to create a life not just a living for both yourself and your employees. Sometimes knowing what else you can do to create a fulfilling workplace (and not run the business into bankruptcy in the process) can be a challenge. This week the Alfred P Sloan Institute released their report on When Work Works - a report of the winners of a major US competition for Business Excellence in workplace flexibility. This 90 page report is worth a read by any one who has employees. Some of the points they have found is the best businesses all have a few things in common:
The other applicable concepts are listening and acting on employees comments and holding employees accountable for results not "face time" in the office. You can download a free full copy of the report from www.whenworkworks.org. Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Labels: HR articles, hr tips |
Thursday, 20 December 2007
HR Tips - Shift Swapping
| As a business owner you can waste hours each week setting up rosters - only to have team members come back with changes they want to make (particulary during school holiday periods). This can set you into a spiral of chasing people to swap shifts to cover your roster. A well considered HR policy should include some basic admin processes Have a shift request book - that way if someone can't work they should write it in the book before you do up the rosters (and remember to check and rule off the book when you do up the rosters for that week). Get people into the habit of trying to find their own replacement from other staff if they can't work a shift.That way they come and tell you that they are not available but Mary Joe will cover for them. Have people initial their rosters to say that they have seen them. Firmly and equally apply your "no show - not sick - no pay" policy. By being clear on your rostering rules and procedures you will save hours of your precious time each week as well as reduce your overtime bill. Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony www.heartharmony.com.au Labels: hr policies, hr tips, shift policies, shift swapping |
Monday, 17 December 2007
HR Tips - Recruiting through thought
| When you need to recruit, take time to think through the role in detail. Too many businesses leap into recruitment without planning the person they need to fill the role best. As a result they get a mismatch in personality or skill. Think through what tasks need to be performed and to what standard. Do you need a bubbly extroverted person to talk with people or a quiet person who prefers just to get on with the job? What sort of skills are needed to be able to successfully perform the role? What personality traits and work ethic do they need to fit in with the team Where do they live? What sort of salary expectations should they have? The time taken in thinking through your ideal candidate will pay dividends when it comes to advertising, interviewing and selecting. Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony www.heartharmony.com.au Labels: hr tips, recruitment |
Sunday, 9 December 2007
HR Tips - What Google can teach you about recruitment
| Recruitment and selection is not an easy artform. How do you attract the attention of people you want to have work in your business? New Scientist reported in July 2007 of one of the strategies Google uses. Giant billboard ads appeared in Silicon Valley the USA and other places where geeks hangout with the message (First 10-digit prime found in consecutive digits of e).com. Unless you knew what you were looking for this would be total gibberish. But the answer was the first 10-digit prime number in e (one of the most revolutionary numbers in maths - if you want to learn more about e read New Scientist 21 July 2007). The answer 7427466391 appears in the 101st digit of e. For those that figured it out and went to 7427466391.com another even more tricky maths challenge awaited. Those who figure that out correctly were taken to another website from Google - asking them to submit their resume to Google's research laboratory. So - what can we learn from Google's recruitment?
Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Business development for small to medium businesses through human resources
Labels: Google recruitment, hr tips, marketing articles, recruitment, selection |
Wednesday, 5 December 2007
HR Tips - Position or Job Descriptions
| HR Managers know that clearly written position descriptions are vital in creating a shared understanding of the expectation of any role. Here are some key tips for writing PDs:
If you would like to know more about how to manage your team go to http://www.heartharmony.com.au/hr-manual.html Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony Business development for small to medium businesses ... through human resources Labels: HR articles, hr tips, human resource management, job description tips, job descriptions, position description tips, position descriptions |
Wednesday, 28 November 2007
HR Tips - HR Planning
| Most people understand the need to plan their business and their marketing, but the need to plan for their team often gets pushed down the list. Your people will make or break the implementation of your business vision and direction. Unless you have the right team with the right skills at the right time in the right place your vision won't be realised. Once you have planned for your business direction stop and ask:
Until next time Ingrid Cliff Heart Harmony http://www.heartharmony.com.au/ Business development ... through human resource management Labels: hr planning, hr tips, recruitment, skill assessment |