In this issue of HR News Roundup, we feature FAQs related to workplace issues in the wake of disasters, gender bias, the ROI of kindness, hiring tips, the reintegration of formerly incarcerated people, and more. Don’t miss our picks from “the lighter side.”
Comprehensive FAQs For Employers on Hurricanes and Other Workplace Disasters: 2023 Edition
Fisher Phillips
This detailed set of Frequently Asked Questions, fully updated for 2023, addresses the workplace-related issues facing employers in the wake of hurricane-related disasters. In addition to legal obligations, you need to consider, this Insight also addresses the practical questions that most often arise both while preparing and in the aftermath of storms. The information contained here could be of value beyond the current hurricane season and may be helpful following any natural catastrophe. What are the most critical issues you need to be aware of during preparation and recovery?
More than Half of Women Leaders Believe Company Promotions Are Biased by Gender, Survey Shows
Anna Smith, Industry Week
In a report titled “In Her Own Words: Breaking the Glass Ceiling is Good for Business,” the Manufacturers Alliance Foundation examines data collected from surveys and more than two dozen first-person interviews with women manufacturing leaders. The final report compiles and analyzes the gender disparity in manufacturing and offers tips for companies on how to successfully gain and use female talent in the industry.
5 Things to Consider When Hiring a New Employee
Ayesha Whyte, Training Magazine
Almost 66 percent of all organizational leaders currently are prioritizing building their talent pools of the future, yet challenges persist. So how can hiring professionals improve candidate quality and time-to-hire, increase diversity, and grow a talent pipeline in this new world of work?
Here are the top five things you should consider when hiring an employee.
Why Kindness at Work Pays Off
Andrew Swinand, Harvard Business Review
When anxiety is high and morale is low, kindness isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. With mass layoffs, economic uncertainty, and geopolitical tensions, kindness is needed now more than ever, especially at work.
Research suggests that kindness yields positive outcomes for businesses. If you’re an emerging leader, being kind to your employees can help you retain top talent, establish a thriving culture, increase employee engagement, and enhance productivity. When people receive a compliment or words of recognition, it helps them feel more fulfilled, boosts their self-esteem, improves their self-evaluations, and triggers positive emotions. The result: happier, more engaged employees.
How Organizations Can Support the Reintegration of Formerly Incarcerated Individuals
Trent Griffin-Braaf, HR Daily Advisor
In the wake of the “Great Resignation,” during which millions of workers quit their jobs, America faces a workforce desperate for new employees. At the same time, the unemployment rates for formerly incarcerated men and women are 23% and 18%, respectively, compared with 4% for those who have never been incarcerated. Thus, for many industries, the unemployed labor force of formerly incarcerated individuals could be the solution to their urgent labor needs
HR News Roundup: Quick Takes
- I-9 Verification Just Got Easier
- Employer-sponsored insurance costs to rise 8.5% for 2024: Report
- US suicide deaths reached record high in 2022, CDC data shows
- What’s the role of upskilling as economic fears ease?
- Gartner HR Survey Finds Within 12-Month Period, Half of Candidates Have Accepted a Job Offer – and Then Backed Out Before Starting
- Firms With Flexible-Work Policies Hire Faster Than Those Fully in Office: Research
- US Workers Exposed to Extreme Heat Have No Consistent Protection
- Drinking in the C-Suite
- How to Run a 15-Minute Meeting
- 4 ways to safeguard employees from mental stress
- 11 healthy ways to handle life’s stressors
- Sexist humor at work is even more toxic than you thought
- Job seekers want record-high wages — and men expect $25,000 more than women do
- This time of day is when workers make the most errors, according to a new study
- McKinsey’s 2023 summer reading guide
HR News Roundup: From the Lighter Side …
Jargon watch: Add “grumpy staying” to the growing HR lexicon of jargon. Is it better or worse than “quiet quitting,” “loud quitting,” or “bare minimum Mondays”?
Lending a hand. This short, sweet and amusing video clip shows a supportive Dad helping his little daughter learn new skills. (link to YouTube video)
A whopper of a thank you. A Burger King employee in Las Vegas logged 20 years of work without ever taking a sick day. His employer recognized him with a goody bag of candy, movie tickets and assorted small gifts. He was appreciative and showed the goody bag on TikTok. The Internet was underwhelmed and thought he should have gotten a more substantial recognition for his achievement. Seeing the response, his daughter started a GoFundMe page with a goal of $200. Over the last year, he has logged more than $400,000 in donations. See: Burger King gave candy to a worker who never called in sick. The internet gave $400K
Small hero: 5-year-old Edison and his family were vacationing in O’ahu when the fires started. When Edison got back to his home in Seattle. With his parents help, he set up a lemonade stand and raised $16,000. If you don’t want to open your own lemonade stand, here are some ways you might consider helping the people of Maui County.
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