Are you protected? Online security
Identity theft is a growing problem for individuals and organizations. Passwords are one of the most fundamental online security measures, yet most people are fairly careless in creating a password, opting for convenience and memorability over security. If you want to be really scared, check to see how quickly a password can be breached by a determined cracker when it is just a combination of letters and numbers. Then try this password checker to test the strength of your favorite passwords. So just how do you create a password that is secure enough to foil the evil-doers, but simple enough to remember? Here’s a simple tutorial that teaches you how to create and use strong passwords – useful information that would be well worth sharing with your staff in the next company newsletter.
Enhance your employee communications
Trying to come up with some ways to dress up a report or to present a complex concept to employees in your next presentation? This periodic table of visualization might be a good idea generator. This clever tool categorizes various types of graphical representations and suggests ways they might be used. Simply let the page load, and hover over any of the elements.
Once you’ve determined the way you’d like to present your information, use this list of nifty tools for drawing diagrams, charts and flow-charts. And a site called “Brainy Betty” has free PowerPoint templates and backgrounds, as well as a variety of tutorials, tips, and tricks to help you create better presentations.
Regulatory compliance

  • The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Overtime Calculator Advisor – this calculator will help you determine the correct payment of overtime, under federal law. Remember to check with state law, too. (thanks to Jill Pugh of Employment Law Blog)
  • U.S. Department of Labor State Workers’ Compensation Laws – state by state comparisons of various benefits and regulatory provisions, such as the waiting period and which states are employee or employer physician choice.
  • IRS guidelines for determining whether a worker is a contractor or an employee for tax purposes. Check with your state law on this matter, too.

Increase your productivity
There’s been a delightful profusion of productivity sites cropping up over the last few years, many of them geared to discussing ways to use online tools to simplify and organize your personal and professional life. Lifehacker.com is a blog that focuses on harnessing technology to enhance your productivity. We love the philosophy: “Don’t live to geek; geek to live.” Not to be confused with lifehack.org, a blog dedicated to lifehacks or “… any hacks, tips and tricks that get things done quickly by automating, increase productivity and organizing.”
Can’t get enough productivity tools? This list compiles the top 50 productivity blogs (most of which you haven’t heard about). It’s a great list – the only downside is that if you check them all out, there goes your productivity for today … but think of it as an investment in your future.

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