Focused Articles

State of Colorado Addresses Staffing Shortages: Key Takeaways for Public Sector Employers

By Lorrie Ray posted 19 hours ago
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Federal and s tate governments , municipalities , and other public agencies are facing signific ant staff shortages. The state of Colorado is addressing this , and looking at its strategy might prove useful for other public-sector employers . The state is addressing pay gaps , employee satisfaction , and the hiring process to increase employment. Pay A recent Denver Post Article explored the methods the state government was using to increase its number of employees . The Colorado Legislature authoriz ed a 5% across-the-board wage increase, which took effect ...
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To Meet or Not to Meet? For Employers, that’s a Question Worth Considering

By Ruth Rusongoza posted 20 hours ago
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We all know that meetings can be an essential aspec t of managing a business . Among other things, meetings can be a n avenue for management to communicate vital information to staff , for team members to brainstorm, and for colleagues to collaborate on ongoing projects. But , if not managed well, meetings can be time-consuming, leading to employees becoming less productive. Meetings can also be taken over by extroverts, leaving important ideas missing from quiet members of the team. What’s more, many organizations increased the number of daily meetings after the COVID-19 ...
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Take Steps to Prevent Weight Discrimination in the Workplace

By Dustin Brown posted 6 days ago
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Federal discrimination laws protect individuals from discrimination in the workplace on the basis of  race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity) , national origin, age (40 and older) , disability , or genetic information. Obesity , however, is noticeably absent from protection under federal law as well as most state laws . As a result, sizeism, or weight-based discrimination, remains a prevalent issue, with more than 40 % of U.S. adults experiencing weight stigma at some point in their lives , according to the American Psychological Association (APA) ...
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Creating an Internship Program: Practical Steps for Success

By Teri Brown posted 21 days ago
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I nternships are a long-term investment, not a limited - term engagement. To that end, c reating an internship program takes time and care. The following are some of the benefits of internships for organizations and individuals and key considerations for starting and running a program. Benefits for the Organization Internships provide the chance for organizations to connect with undiscovered talent . You can play a n important role in training the next brilliant professional in a field such as technology, finance, or human resources. The internship period allows you a chance ...
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Combating Employee Loneliness Is a Vital Task for Employers

By Chelsea Jensen posted 26 days ago
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Loneliness in the workplace is a growing concern that can impact an employee's well-being, productivity, and overall job satisfaction. A U.S. surgeon general advisory recently  reported  that widespread loneliness poses health risks as deadly as smoking up to 15 cigarettes daily, accounting for billions of dollars in annual health care costs . The same surgeon general report  s tated , "A 2022 study found that when people were asked how close they felt to others emotionally, only 39% of adults in the U.S. said they felt very connected to others. An important indicator of this declining social connection is an ...
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Is the 40-Hour Workweek a Relic? What Employers Need to Know About Alternatives

By Dean Harris posted 26 days ago
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The 40-hour workweek has long been the full-time standard in the United States. But w ill it remain the norm in the future? Maybe not. There is a growing buzz calling for a new normal , as evidenced by headlines on n umerous news websites, including Time ( Why 2023 Could Finally Be the Year of the 4-Day Workweek ) and CNBC ( Pe ople A re O ver the 40- H our W orkweek ). History So, h ow did the 40-hour workweek become the standard? It did not arise because every job has 40 hours of tasks to complete. For most ...
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Mental Well-Being Impacts Productivity in the Workplace

By Jenny DeFranco posted 08-17-2023
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Our personal lives impact how we show up at work , our ability to focus and make decisions, and our productivity. When employees are experiencing mental health concerns or supporting loved ones’ mental health challenges, it’s likely to appear in the workplace , including in the following ways: Mental well-being concerns can lead to increased absenteeism from work. Workers with “ fair or poor” mental health have nearly five times more unplanned absences from work than their colleagues with “good, very good, or excellent” mental health , according to a 2022 Gallup surve y . Individuals ...
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Organizations Are Unleashing the Power of AI in the Workplace

By Kirsten Ellis posted 08-10-2023
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Businesses are discovering innovative ways to utilize technology every day and will continue to do so, from selling products to staffing and recruitment technology. Many organizations have embraced a rtificial intelligence ( AI ) , which is, without a doubt , altering the world as we know it. About 80% of Fortune 1000 companies have an ongoing investment in AI, according to a 2023 survey by NewVantage Partners, a global consultancy that provides data-driven services. Among small businesses, 39% say they are using AI to help save time, according to American Express’s recent Small Business ...
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How to Help Your Employees Deal with Change Fatigue

By Wayne D'Antoni posted 08-03-2023
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Employers have long realized that employee engagement is a critical factor in any organization’s success. Engaged employees are more productive and more enthus iastic about what they do in their careers, as well as where they do it. Studies have shown that employers with a higher level of engaged workers outperform those with lower levels by a significant margin. But the numerous and rapid changes that have impacted the workforce over the past few years have take n a toll on many workplaces. Changes in systems, procedures, protocols, and in more extreme cases, changes in workplace locations and/or senior management can ...
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Planning for the Inevitable: The Crucial Nature of Succession Planning in the Public Sector

By Lisa Primising posted 07-27-2023
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S ome employers push succession planning to the back burner . Reasons may include a focus on immediate recruitment needs rather than investing in long-term planning , a lack of resources , and the perception that what attracted longer-tenured employees of the past is going to have the same appeal for the current generation of workers . Focusing solely on the immediate and reactive needs of the organization and neglecting the more strategic long-term efforts of succession planning comes with risks. For public employers, not having a clear plan to mitigate and fill ...
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Sexual Harassment in a Remote Environment: What to Look for and What to Do About It

By Jessica Bonds posted 07-21-2023
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The #MeToo movement went viral in October 2017, driving increased awareness of the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace. Many employers were motivated by the national conversation to take steps to prevent sexual harassment . In early 2020 , t he start of the COVID-19 pandemic changed workplaces across the nation, spark ing a dramatic rise in remote work. More than three years later, many employees continue to work from hom e . One unexpected challenge employers have had to confront is the changing nature of sexual harassment . In a remote environment, sexual harassment looks different, ...
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With Proper Planning, Employees and Organizations Can Benefit from Sabbaticals

By Diana Sadighi posted 07-20-2023
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Employers seeking to recruit and retain talent may be overlooking a benefit that workers are likely to appreciate : a sabbatical. If you’re looking to improve employee well-being, offer a unique an d competitive benefit, or reward longer-tenured employees, consider offering sabbatical leave. What I s a Sabbatical? A sabbatical is time off granted to an employee for rest, rejuvenation, or personal growth. Compared to vacation or personal leaves of absence, sabbaticals are typically a more structured leave focused on personal or professional growth . Some common reasons for sabbaticals ...
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Layoff Strategies for Managers and HR Partners

By Kim Robinson posted 07-13-2023
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There’s no getting around it: L ayoffs are painful for everyone involved . Affected employees are the hardest hit. As early as 1967, researchers classified job loss as among the top 10 life stressors and developed the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale to help medical providers assess patient stress. Job loss remains near the top of many lists of life - altering events , and t here are very few Americans whose lives have not been touched in some way by a layoff. Employees whose jobs were not affected during a layoff, or survivors, experience their own set of reactions , including guilt, anger, uncertainty ...
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Preparation Vital to Defending Against a Discrimination Charge

By George Russo posted 07-06-2023
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Charges of workplace discrimination received by the E qual Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) increased by nearly 20 % i n 2022 compared to the prior year . E mployers need to take active steps to prevent charges, as well as steps to protect themselves when charges come across their desk. The steps can range from training , anti-discrimination/harassment policies, and appropriate discipline when necessary. However, an e mployer ’ s preparation doesn’t end there. No matter the prevent ive measures taken, e mployer s should also ...
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Employees vs. Independent Contractors: The Pitfalls of Misclassification

By Hannah Rich posted 06-22-2023
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As an employer, it is vital to understand the differences between employees and independent contractors. An employee is a n individual with whom a business has established an employment relationship . A n independent contractor is an individual or business with whom a business h as establis hed a contractual relationship. In a contractual relationship, each party’s obligations to the other are agreed upon in advance and can change only if renegotiated by both parties. An e mployer, on the other hand, has broad discretion over the work assignments, duties, and schedule of an employee and can make significant changes at any time ...
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Separating Work and Vacation Pays Off for Organizations, Employees

By Brandy Walker posted 06-14-2023
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While the word vacation can mean different things to different people, t he Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as a noun meaning the following : “a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation ” a. “a scheduled period during which activity (as of a court or school) is suspended ” b . “a period of exemption from work granted to an employee ” “a respite or a time of respite from something: INTERMISSION” “ an act or an instance of vacating” S ynonyms for vacation include “break , ” “leave ,” and ...
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Returnships Offer Opportunities for Experienced Professionals, Government Employers

By Lorrie Ray posted 06-07-2023
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With the nation experiencing a labor shortage in many sectors, employers may want to consider alternativ e ways to fill positions with qualified workers. One option that can benefit organizations and individuals is a returnship , which e ssentially combines elements of an internship and a back-to-work program. The U niversity of Texas describes r eturnships as geared toward professionals who have been out of the workforce for at least two years and have five or more years of professional experience . C andidates apply and participate in an interview process. If chosen, ...
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Take Time to Focus on DEI Efforts as Juneteenth Approaches

By Sonia Chowdhury posted 06-02-2023
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Juneteenth , officially recognized by the federal government as Juneteenth National Independence Day, commemorates the day the last group of enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas , were freed on June 19, 186 5 . Even though the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed almost two and a half years earlier by President Lincoln, many slave owners continued to hold Black Americans enslaved . Juneteenth , also known as Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, and other names, is a symbolic representation of freedom for many Black Americans to this day. In 2021, the United State s government officially ...
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Create a Culture that Embraces Courageous Conversations

By Brittanie Young posted 05-25-2023
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We’ve all had moments in our careers and personal lives whe n we wish we would have spoken up about an important issue . Even though the world of work has changed, our tendency to avoid talking about critical issues that impact our teams and our workforce has not . We still battle our silent fears about speaking out on workplace issues that matter to us out of fear of causing conflict or offending someone. We tell ourselves things like , “I don’t want to rock the boa t,” “ I t’s not my place to say this , ” or “I already know leadership is not going to change anything , so why bother?” ...
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How Do You Talk to an Employee About Personal Hygiene?

By Kim Robinson posted 05-25-2023
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T alking with an employee about personal hygiene is one of the most uncomfortable conversations managers and HR professionals face . Many companies have re-opened their workplace s , and employees are again working in close proximity and in enclosed spaces. If it hasn’t already happened, complaints about personal hygiene will be on the rise. Personal hygiene problems include body odor, bad breath, strong odor s on clothes , clothes that haven’t been washed, dirty hands , and a host of other things. Often , managers and HR professionals learn about the issue when another employee complains ...
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