December 2008

Welcome to the December issue of "News for HR", a monthly newsletter profiling new products and services in the human resource marketplace and timely articles on various HR topics.

The newsletter's content is selected by our editorial committee and is not the result of paid advertising. Most of the content comes from our Human Resources Community - one of the industry's largest and most up-to-date knowledge centers with a library of nearly 2,000 white papers, webcasts, podcasts, articles and more. Visit the community at www.HRmarketer.com/community

Enjoy the newsletter! And please let us know how we are doing by e-mailing newsforhr@hrmarketer.com

Newsletter Contents:

    Article: Three Simple Rules for Managing Telecommuters
    Article: Words to Lead By
    White Paper: Understanding Generation Y - What to Know About the Millennials
    HR Humor: Constructive Feedback
    Webcast: Becoming A Talent Organization: Your Roadmap Based on the Toyota Culture
    Podcast: Converting Boring Job Descriptions Into Great Jobs
    HR 180: How to Defend Yourself Against Verbal Assaults

  What's New? The Latest in HR Software and Services
    •   Recruitment & Staffing
    •   Compensation & Benefits
    •   Talent Management
    •   Training & Development

Article: Layoff Advice: Three Simple Rules for Managing Telecommuters
Source: WIPFLI

Article: Thanks to modern communication technology, millions of employees are now able work from their houses - along with airports, hotel rooms, coffee shops and client sites. Some employees work regularly from a distance, while others spend the occasional day working from home.

As telecommuting (or teleworking) continues to grow in popularity, it delivers clear benefits to both employers and employees. Organizations that offer the alternative work arrangement see it as critical to their hiring and retention strategies. They can attract top talent regardless of geography.

Many employers also recognize the cost benefits of telework. It saves money on office space and real estate, reduces absenteeism costs, and can earn tax credits for reducing pollution and traffic congestion. Employees who eliminate their commute times have fewer distractions and can maintain a better balance of work and family responsibilities. Both employers and employees say teleworking leads to increased productivity and job satisfaction, lowers turnover, and heightens loyalty and commitment.

Success with the telework trend depends on how it's used and managed. It's important to apply it toward the right positions, offer it to the right types of employees, and implement the right infrastructure. We provide two resources here for companies interested in workplace flexibility:

1. Three key practices for managing employees from a distance.
2. The Impact of Flexibility on Organizational Performance: Making the Business Case.

Article: Words to Lead By
Source: Media Partners

This article by Media Partners discusses twelve ways to inspire, encourage and challenge your team members. At the end, you can complete the Coaching Assessment questionnaire to see how effective you are as a coach.

Featured White Paper: Paper: Understanding Generation Y - What You Need to Know About the Millennials
Source: Princeton One

Today, there are an unprecedented four generational groups coexisting in the workplace. This demographic diversity poses a challenge for employers, in terms of creating and managing harmonious workplaces, where each generation's unique values and office expectations mesh. The newest group to enter the workforce, Generation Y, poses a particular challenge for organizations. Generation Y is not only different from past generations, but also misconstrued in many ways.

This white paper examines the current multi- generational workforce, focusing specifically on Generation Y. In doing so, this paper debunks many of the myths associated with this demographic and provides practical tips and advice concerning the management, recruitment and retention of the workforce's newest entrants.

HR Humor: The Lighter Side of Our Work: Constructive Feedback
Source: punkrockhr.com

Laurie Ruettimann is a punk rock, Human Resources professional with extensive Fortune 500 experience. She writes and speaks about business trends, employment, Corporate America, and permanently opting-out of the rat race. See some "constructive feedback" in action. (Trim those claws!)

Webcast: Becoming A Talent Organization: Your Roadmap Based on the Toyota Culture
Source: Select International

Join Mike Hoseus, executive director for the Center for Quality People & Organizations, and Kevin Klinvex, co-founder of Select International, in a discussion of the 12 keys to becoming a talent organization using Toyota as a case study. Learn to avoid the "death moves" - basics so fundamentally wrong that an organization cannot recover.

Podcast: Converting Boring Job Descriptions Into Great Jobs
Source: Lou Adler

Lou Adler discusses the importance of ditching traditional job descriptions to find top people. Instead, learn how to convert that job description into a great job.

HR 180: How To Defend Yourself Against Verbal Assaults
Source: Martha Beck

Cutting remarks, "helpful" suggestions, subtle (or not-so-subtle) stabs -how to handle these verbal ambushes? You can slink away, lose your cool ... or employ Martha Beck's cleverly adapted martial arts techniques to turn your attackers' words against them. Hiiiiii-yaa!

What's New? The Latest in HR Software and Services

Recruitment & Staffing:

CSIdentity SAFE is a Web-based pre-screening application that allows employers to quickly and easily verify and authenticate an applicants' true identity, determine if their names or dates of birth have been altered, and if they have criminal or sex offender backgrounds under alternate names or aliases. Additionally, CSIdentity SAFE offers ongoing monitoring of the identity as long as the person is employed. This process allows businesses to conduct thorough background searches based on more complete and verified data. Additional screenings available include drug testing, employment and education verification services, and department of motor vehicle records searches. Most components of this process provide results to the human resources or other designated manager within an hour. For more information click here.

Compensation & Benefits:

LifeCare, a provider of cost-saving benefits that help companies reduce their most pervasive absenteeism and productivity drains (including child and elder care support services) is offering companies a free Web site that helps workers address a broad spectrum of financial challenges. Organizations interested in offering the Financial Resource Center to their employees can complete a brief form that is available online at http://www.lifecare.com/freeoffer. The site helps employees learn about managing credit and debt, budgeting and saving, bankruptcy, wills, estates and trusts; calculate loan rates, savings rates, investment yields, present and future values and much more with dozens of financial calculators; listen to money management podcasts; save money by shopping online via LifeCare's Discount Center; and learn stress management techniques.

Talent Management:

TempWorks Software announced the unveiling of major updates to its DocCenter and WebCenter products. DocCenter allows applicants to electronically complete and sign documents at a kiosk, shortening the on-boarding process, eliminating paper, and saving recruiters valuable time. WebCenter allows electronic access to W2s, saving several dollars per employee on year-end expenses. Get more information here.

Training & Development:

Impact Achievement Group has introduced Supervisory Basics, helping new supervisors/managers accelerate their personal success as they move from an individual contributor to a managerial position. Promotions can become the starting point for company conflicts when managers don't establish good habits that build their credibility and effectiveness. Supervisory Basics helps beginning managers avoid common new manager traps. These traps - lack of clarity in expectations, ineffective communications, not establishing personal power, and failing to move from "doer" to leader - often cause challenges for first-time managers. Supervisory Basics is split into 12 individual yet linked two-hour modules with a robust facilitator guide and supporting materials. Further information can be requested by e-mail at info (at) impactachievement.com or download at www.impactachievement.com.