Well, here we go again! This time of year is the time where we get the "end of the world" storms where the bread and milk aisle are bare and so are the streets. As I plan my day tomorrow,...
Being Effectively Thankful Around The Holidays
Happy Thanksgiving! I've heard varying stories of people having to work today to prepare for holidays sales, or stores that are open for part of the day to better serve their customers.Some things to consider around every holiday - Is there...
HR and Baseball – The Hot Stove League
The hot stove league is my favorite part of the winter break between baseball seasons. This is the time where general managers for all teams meet to work out trades, free agents negotiate contracts with their own team (and then,...
Taking a Left Turn on Red in a Left Turn Only Lane
Something I claim to have invented was the left turn on red in a left turn only lane. There was a stretch of road near Sea World in Orlando where no traffic ever would be coming and I'd sit there...
5+5+5>16 in retail and hospitality
Using flexible work schedules can enable a team to develop a stronger, more energetic workforce both short-term and long-term. On a short-term basis, using 3 employees each working 5 hour shifts to cover a work day can save on break...
Debates on Hot HR issues by students of SUNY Delhi @ Schenectady County Community College
On Tuesday December 8th at 1pm, my students at SUNY Delhi at SCCC in Schenectady will be debating hot issues in human resources. If you are interested in attending this free event, please contact me at braathrj@delhi.edu. Five debates will take...
Conference Call Leadership
The conference call can be an effective way of keeping everyone on the same page. However, becoming a serial conference caller can create a situation where the call becomes a chore for those who are on it, and a redundant...
Covering Nights and Weekends in Your Business
I heard a commerical on the way in to work today asking for part-time employees who "must be available nights and weekends." Some of the greatest turnover I have seen has been in the night and weekend workforce. One of...
Preparing for “Postseason” – HR in Baseball
When September 1st arrives, baseball teams bring up anywhere from zero to 15 players to support their teams during the playoff stretch. In the case of the Yankees, this came in the form of a 3rd catcher, a second backup...
Dealing with Lateness
Lack of timeliness on the job (both from the employer and employee view) causes lapses in productivity, stress, and in some cases severance of employment.From an employee point of view, the excuses I heard often were "my commute is too...