|
Server : Apache/2.4.62 System : FreeBSD fbsdweb2.web.rcn.net 14.1-RELEASE FreeBSD 14.1-RELEASE releng/14.1-n267679-10e31f0946d8 GENERIC amd64 User : www ( 80) PHP Version : 8.3.8 Disable Function : NONE Directory : /domains/highlandlabs/cqi-bin/ALFA_DATA/alfasymlink/root/domains/hrahg/hru/otj/ |
Upload File : |
<!DOCTYPE HTML>
<html>
<head>
<title>HRA - On The Job</title>
<meta name="robots" content="noarchive, nofollow" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="hronthejob.css" />
</head>
<body>
<div id="header" align="center">
<img src="../../graphics/logo.jpg" style="height: 100px; margin: auto; display: block; text-align: center" />
<b style="color: blue">Human Resource Associates</b>
</div>
<div id="wrapper">
<div id="content">
<span class="heading">HR - On The Job</span>
<p class="issue">Is Your Workplace Stressful?</p>
<p>Stress has a bad reputation. But not all stress is bad. Stress that causes you to think sharper, be more productive and to "reach beyond your grasp" can be very positive. But too much stress, or the wrong kind of stress can also be a killer. It can kill motivation, quality and people. At work, stress needs to be an issue of concern.</p>
<p>Not all workplace stress is caused by the workplace. Many people create their own frantic pace as part of their lifestyle. They may over schedule their life; use poor time management and bring a lot of personal and social problems into work everyday. The causes for these problems are neither found, nor can they be solved in the workplace.</p>
<p>Having recognized that, it's still fair to say that most workplace stress is caused by the workplace. The way things get done at work; the environment and the atmosphere are how we define "Corporate Culture".</p>
<p>There are ways to make your corporate culture less stressful. Here are 8 areas to examine for stress:</p>
<ol>
<li><b>Communication Style.</b> Take a look at how you communicate now. Is it done formally, in writing, at scheduled meetings? Or is word-of-mouth the way it happens? For general information, do you e-mail everyone or send out a printed memo or just pass it along to those you pass during the day? Are all problems examined in a "who's to blame" mode? Find out from each member of your group how they would like you to communicate. Everyone may need to make compromises, though, in order to find the style that works best for the group. But also remember to communicate often and to everyone.</li>
<li><b>Hierarchy.</b> How defined is your "chain of command". Does everyone rigidly stick to the hierarchy? How formal do you want the getting-work-done process to be? Can an informal process do it better? Some companies need a firm structure to manage the complexities of a growing, dynamic company. Other companies are not so large or complex. For them teamwork is the best process. Which do you need? Which does your group want?</li>
<li><b>Teamwork.</b> Are projects and information shared freely, or are you expected to work entirely on your own? Do you have group brainstorming sessions (formal or informal) or are ideas saved for a one-on-one with the boss? Are coworkers pleased or offended when someone offers suggestions about their work? Does your company need loners who take personal charge in getting things done, or teamwork players who share the load and support each other? What works best for your company and your employees?</li>
<li><b>Leadership.</b> What is the role of the boss? Does he or she do the thinking, solve the problems and delegate the functions? Or does each individual produce the results with the resources he or she has or can generate? Does management lead or support? Do they guide, coach or micromanage? Does the person in charge have the respect and trust of the group? Should there be buffers between the executives and the crew that gets things done or should the top folks and the crew folks be communicating face-to-face? In some companies, the best leader is one who stays in the background and draws the best from everyone to the surface. They let the leaders emerge from the group. In other companies, the best leader may be the one out in front leading the team in his/her direction.<br />
What kind of leadership do you need or want? What kind works best for you?</li>
<li><b>Appearance.</b> Is there a dress code? Is it a formal written policy? If standards of dress are too casual or even unkempt, self-respect can deteriorate. The way people dress when they meet is still a sign of respect to each other. Of course overdress can make the workplace too stuffy and uncomfortable. Individuality may be a virtue, but the more one does to separate themselves from the group, the more one will be separated from the group. Set the standard that works for your company.</li>
<li><b>Your Workspace.</b> Prisons are cold, hard colorless places where drabness, silence and regimentation is the standard. They are intimidating environments that discourage interaction, creativity and teamwork, because that's the way prisons want prisoners to feel. Is your workplace colorful, open and alive? Do employees feel free to call out to someone in another group, to go beyond the defined boundaries of their work and extend themselves into every area where they are needed or where they feel they need to be?<br /><br />
Do walls and cubicles work best for your group? Would the newer "open office" or "virtual office" concepts work? Ask employees for their feelings and suggestions.</li>
<li><b>Office Relationships.</b> Do these people like each other? Have they had a chance to do anything together except work? Do they know about a coworker's family activity or problems? Do they go out together? Are there any company non-job related events or activities for the group? Some employees want to be left alone to do their work. Others really want to be part of a larger family. Create a culture that provides those activities and that interaction for those that want it and still allows a loner to be so.</li>
<li><b>The Pace.</b> Many successful companies have workplaces that are hectic, stressed and fast paced. Most of us would rather be at the beach or a party. But all human endeavors require focus, involvement and intensity. Few companies can survive if everyone in their workplace were focused on comfort, fun and going home. Employees can live with and thrive on stress. But it cannot be constant. It cannot be a non-stop train of panic and worry. An Olympic long distance runner doesn't win by going full speed all the way. Winners are those who can pace their effort. A stressful, frantic, pace may be part of the job, but don't let it be a continuous river of activities. You can see to it that there is a break between the rushes.</li>
</ol>
<p>Take the time out of your busy schedule to examine to your corporate culture and workplace environment. Make sure you have done your part to reduce workplace stress, which should result in a happier and more motivated workplace.</p>
<hr />
<p align="center"><b><i>Have an employment question?</i></b></p>
<p align="center">Send it to <a href="mailto:[email protected]?subject=From HR On The Job">[email protected]</a>.</p>
<p align="center">Please include Company Name and Association in your e-mail. Company identification will be kept confidential.</p>
<hr />
<p class="heading">Hitchhiking on the Information Highway</p>
<p><b>Dateline:</b> March 2010</p>
<p><i>(Note: Although we attempt to provide the HRU update on the first of each month, we are normally delayed awaiting the release of several monthly government statistical reports. We will hereafter update the information as each report becomes available without waiting for all of them to be released.)</i></p>
<p class="section">Alice and Osha in Wonderland</p>
<p>In Tim Burton's recent hit movie "Alice In Wonderland" Johnny Depp plays the "The Mad Hatter", a central character in the Lewis Carroll classic, as a red haired, red eyed "wild and crazy guy". Depp, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times says he based his interpretation of the character on historical fact. The Mad Hatter, a figure from history? What's the story?</p>
<p>The 19th century setting of the story takes place during the Industrial Revolution, a time when hats in England were made by factory workers (The Hatters). The hat making process, which used mercuric nitrate, was called "carroting". Prolonged exposure to this industrial poison resulted in the worker's hair, fingernails and eyes turning red. It sometimes also caused irreversible brain damage, hence the term, "Mad as a hatter".</p>
<p>Dr. John Howard, Director of NIOSH (The National Institute of Occupational Safety) in a recent press release commented on the movie saying that "society has made great progress in recognizing and controlling industrial hazards since Lewis Carroll's day... The Mad Hatter remains a cautionary figure since exposure to mercury and other hazardous industrial substances can still occur in the workplace". It is important to be vigilant about work-related illness and to act decisively to protect workers health" The press release went on to describe the effects of mercury in today's products such as pesticides and dental fillings. The symptoms include tremors of the hands, face and tongue which Depp used in his characterization.</p>
<p>So maybe now they'll look into Depp’s earlier characterization of Edward Scissorhands?</p>
<p class="quote">"I'll have a café-mocha, vodka,<br />
valiume latte to go please"<br />
- Mickey Gorman</p>
<p class="section">The Survey Says...</p>
<span>Number of states unable to pay tax refunds to its citizens (delaying or planning to pay with I.O.U.s)</span>
<span style="float: right; font-weight: bold">14</span><br />
<span>Number of states unable to pay for state employee pensions</span>
<span style="float: right; font-weight: bold">30</span><br />
<span>Additional tax rate that states are planning to apply to soda drinks</span>
<span style="float: right; font-weight: bold">18%</span><br />
<span>Percent of American earners who are excused from paying income taxes</span>
<span style="float: right; font-weight: bold">48%</span><br />
<span>Percent of companies who say they will not hire new employees just to
get the government's payroll tax break</span>
<span style="float: right; font-weight: bold">74%</span><br />
<span>Percent of Americans who believe we are being visited by UFOs</span>
<span style="float: right; font-weight: bold">24%</span><br />
<span>Percent of Americans who believe Elvis is still alive</span>
<span style="float: right; font-weight: bold">7%</span><br />
<span>Percent of Americans who believe the government's stimulus plan is working</span>
<span style="float: right; font-weight: bold">6%</span><br />
<p class="quote">"I'm having an out of<br />
money experience"<br />
- Anon</p>
<p class="section">UK - Unreliable Workers Are A Protected Class?</p>
<p>Some people think we are moving closer to the super-protected, super benefit employment system of European workers. There are certainly many in Congress who think we should be doing just that. A recent item from the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) may be just a reflection of political correctness or overzealous bureaucrats but it's the kind of news that pricks up the ears of employers and HR professionals in the U.S.</p>
<p>A professional recruiter ran an ad in the Norfolk Daily Mail seeking hospital workers. The ad did not mention age, race, sex or sexual orientation. But she was shocked when the ad was rejected by the newspaper and labeled "offensive". The paper said that her use of the terms "reliable" and "hard working" were unacceptable as they could be viewed as "offensive to unreliable people".</p>
<p>The recruiter, Nicole Mamo, said that "If this weren't so serious I would be laughing out loud". The newspaper said that this was an established policy recommended by their legal department in fear of a lawsuit from someone claiming discrimination against unreliable people. Mano, fearing for the reputation of her firm and clients told the newspaper, "I am pleased to discriminate against unreliable people".</p>
<p>This stared a firestorm of inquiries and position-taking by government agencies and civil protection groups. The Department of Work and Pensions refused to comment at this time. But the "Campaign Against Political Correctness" (CAPC) came out in support of Mamo upholding the right of employers to refuse employment to unreliable job candidates. In the end, the "Equality and Human Rights Commission" released a stamen saying that "This is in no way in breach of any discrimination law". So far, that bullet has been dodged.</p>
<p class="quote">"Don't make her call<br />
the flying monkeys"<br />
- Matt Scheele</p>
<hr />
<p style="text-align: center"><sub>© William J. Cook</sub></p>
</div>
<div id="sidebar">
<span class="heading">Labor Stats</span>
<hr />
<b>Federal Minimum Wage</b>
<hr />
<p align="center">
<b>$7.25</b>/hour<br />
</p>
<hr />
<b>Average Income</b>
<hr />
<p align="center">
<u>Hourly</u><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>February 2010</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>$22.46</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>February 2009</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>$22.05</b></span><br />
</p>
<p align="center">
<u>Weekly</u><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>February 2010</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>$759.15</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>February 2009</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>$751.91</b></span><br />
</p>
<hr />
<b>Federal Povery Level</b>
<hr />
<p>
<span style="float: left"><i>one person</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>$10,830</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>family of four</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>$22,050</b></span><br />
</p>
<hr />
<b>IRS Mileage Allowance</b>
<hr />
<p align="center">
As of <b>January 2010</b><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>business</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>50</b> cents/mile</span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>medical or moving</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>16.5</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>charitable</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>14</b></span><br />
</p>
<hr />
<b>Postage</b>
<hr />
<p align="center">
<span style="float: left"><i>1 oz</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>44</b> cents</span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>postcard</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>28</b></span><br />
</p>
<hr />
<b>Population</b>
<hr />
<p align="center">
<span style="float: left"><i>world</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>6.8 billion</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>U.S.</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>308.8 million</b></span><br />
<i>one birth every </i><b>7</b><i> seconds;</i><br />
<i>one death every </i><b>13</b><i> seconds;</i><br />
<i>one new immigrant every </i><b>35</b><i> seconds;</i><br />
net gain: <i>one person every </i><b>11</b><i> seconds.</i>
</p>
<hr />
<b>U.S. Civilian Workforce</b>
<hr />
<p align="center">
<u>February 2010</u><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>Total</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>153,512,000</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>Employed</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>138,641,000</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>Unemployed</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>14,871,000</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>Want A Job</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>6,170,000</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>Unemployment Rate</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>9.7%</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="float: left"><i>Absentee Rate</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>3.1%</b></span><br />
<span style="float:left"><i>- Female</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>4.2%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>- Male</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>2.3%</b></span><br />
</p>
<p align="center">
<u>February 2009</u><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>Total</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>154,401,000154,140,000</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>Employed</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>141,687,000</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>Unemployed</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>12,714,000</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>Want A Job</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>5,677,000</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>Unemployment Rate</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>8.2%</b></span><br />
</p>
<br /><hr />
<b>U.S. Workforce Productivity</b><br />
<sub><i>(The amount of goods produced, divided by the number of work hours it took to produce it)</i></sub>
<hr />
<p align="center">
<span style="float: left"><i>1992</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>3.7%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>1993</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>0.5%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>1994</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>1.3%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>1995</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>0.9%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>1996</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>2.5%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>1997</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>2.0%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>1998</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>2.6%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>1999</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>3.3%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>2000</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>3.4%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>2001</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>2.9%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>2002</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>4.6%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>2003</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>3.7%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>2004</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>2.8%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>2005</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>1.7%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>2006</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>0.9%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>2007</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>1.9%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>2008</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>1.8%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>2009 1st quarter</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>0.3%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>2009 2nd quarter</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>6.9%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>2009 3rd quarter</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>8.1%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>2009 4th quarter</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>+6.9%</b></span><br />
<span style="float: left"><i>2009 average</i></span>
<span style="float: right"><b>+5.8%</b></span>
</p>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>