The State of Connecticut is instituting a new Paid Leave program (CTPL), allowing employees who work in CT to take paid leaves for certain events, starting January 1, 2022. Up to 12 weeks of benefits may be paid in connection with approved reasons for the leave, with an additional 2 weeks for certain medical conditions…Continue readingConnecticut Paid Leave Program – What to Know and Do Now
Since the invention of the time clock, employers have obsessed over their employees’ time and attendance. Why are employees late to work or absent? Personal duties outside of work, primarily childcare. Transportation issues such as heavy traffic or mass transportation delays. Physical issues, such as illness or injury. Rules resisters. Written policies are meant for others. Internal clock issues, often…Continue readingHow to Handle Late or Absent Employees
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5 Tips to Reduce Turnover
Turnover is costly and disruptive. Here are five tips to reduce your turnover and find and keep your good employees. Know what you want. Before you hire someone, decide what you are looking for and the the best way to attract good candidates. Write a job description, post an attractive ad answering the question, “why should a…Continue reading5 Tips to Reduce Turnover
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7 Tips for Reference Check Success
Are Reference Checks a Waste of Time? Employers commonly ask candidates for references before offering them a job. Frustration with common problems leaves some thinking, “what a waste of my time!” Here are some solutions that will increase the usefulness of reference checking. Problem: The candidate is unlikely to put their worst enemies on the list.…Continue reading7 Tips for Reference Check Success
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3 Steps to Hiring the Right Person
Jim Collins’ best selling management book, Good to Great, teaches us that a primary goal of employee selection is to sit the right people in the right seat on the (company) bus. In other words, hire the right people and put them in the right position. While a typical recruiting effort takes great pains to measure the…Continue reading3 Steps to Hiring the Right Person
The two managers saw Sam walk past them and did a double double-take. “Look at that new tattoo on the side of his face. Can he do that here?” Can he? Even something as extreme as a facial tattoo may be allowable in the work place. There is no federal law regarding employee dress code. Employers may set any…Continue readingFacial Tattoos, Mini-Skirts and Your Company Dress Code
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Hiring: Beyond the Interview
Hiring decisions are so important, and so costly if wrong, that an interview is not enough information on which to make a choice. Get more information about your candidate by testing, reference checks, background checks and online data gathering. Testing You can test your candidate’s PC skills, such as the ability to create an Excel spreadsheet. Psychological…Continue readingHiring: Beyond the Interview
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Do You Need an Employee Handbook?
An employee handbook is one of the most important documents your business needs. 1. The employee handbook establishes your company’s policies clearly and effectively. “What is the dress code? “What is the paid time off policy?” “What are the performance standards?” “My manager is harassing me. Who do I complain to, or should I…Continue readingDo You Need an Employee Handbook?
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A Simple and Effective Job Ad
We all hope that our job ads will attract candidates who will turn into motivated, passionate, productive employees. However, our hopes are often dashed. This is because the typical ad is attracting the wrong people. Let me explain why. Here is an example of the “typical” ad, for a customer service manager: Customer Service Manager…Continue readingA Simple and Effective Job Ad
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Are Unpaid Interns Legal?
If your company uses interns, then you need to think through your policies on how (or whether) you pay them. Failure to do so could expose you to a potential lawsuit. Let’s say that you bring in a college student as an unpaid marketing intern for the summer. She is eager to gain professional experience…Continue readingAre Unpaid Interns Legal?