HR Tip of The Week

HR Tip of the Week: 7 Tips to survive the busy season at work!

Everyone can relate to the month of the year when it seems like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. No coming up for air. No chance to take a breather for a minute. Here’s 7 tips to help survive this difficult time!

•Delegate
Use this opportunity to include others. It’s a relief for you and a development opportunity for them. And be sure to cut them some slack. They may not do it just like you, but at least progress is made, and some of them may surprise you.
•Change Your Perspective
Typically, we tend to get more and more stressed because we have our focus on our own situations. You can change your energy and stress by changing your perspective. Shift your day-to-day away from stress and direct it toward how you can help team members achieve what’s meaningful to them. The word passion is not about enthusiasm, it’s about what we do or sacrifice for another. Be passionate about helping your people succeed, and they will help your company succeed.

•Schedule A Break
Walk around the building, find a quiet spot to listen to calming music or do some deep breathing. Leave at 5 p.m. and hit the gym. Working without breaks and for long hours will make it difficult for you to focus and be as sharp. It will end up being counterproductive.

•Set Proper Expectations
When your busy season hits, it’s essential that expectations are set properly with your customers and employees. If production delays are likely, be sure you inform anyone who is expecting your products or services is aware of the new timetable. It may mean that something you can usually do in a few hours may take a few days to complete. Missed deadlines are often one of the most common ways to create customer dissatisfaction. But with proper communication, it’s also avoidable.

•Reserve Work Time
Reserve a minimum of one full day in the office to work on projects and catch up on items. During the busy time, try to minimize how many meetings you’re scheduling or attending each day. This way, you have more time to complete projects or assist your employees. Plan ahead and prioritize work with clients as much as possible to avoid last minute demands and rushed projects.

•It’s Not You, It’s Me…
Don’t be the person who adds more stress to the season. Don’t let anyone else’s temperament or negativity drag you down. Try to keep your thoughts and conversations positive and calm.

•Don’t Over Commit & Under Deliver
Don’t overfill your schedule. It is okay to move or remove items/objectives based upon urgency and timeline for completion.

HR Tip of The Week

HR Tip of the Week

HR Tip of the Week

HR Tip of The Week

HR Tip of the Week: Tips for staying cool in hot weather work environments!

•Keeping cool at work – switch on any fans or air conditioners to keep workplaces comfortable and use blinds or curtains to block out sunlight. Staff working outside should wear appropriate clothes and use sunscreen to protect from sunburn.

•Stay hydrated – employers must provide staff with suitable drinking water in the workplace. Workers should drink plenty of water throughout the day to prevent dehydration and not wait until they are thirsty.

•Dress code – employers are not under any obligation to relax their uniform or dress code requirements during hot weather but where possible it may be advisable to for employers to relax the rules for wearing ties or suits.

•Vulnerable workers – some workers may be more adversely affected by the hot weather such as the elderly, pregnant women or those on medication. Employers may wish to give them more frequent rest breaks and ensure ventilation is adequate by providing fans or portable air cooling units.

•Getting into work – if public transport gets adversely affected by the hot weather, this could affect staff attendance and their ability to get into work on time. Staff should check timetables in advance.

HR Tip of The Week

HR Tip of the Week

HR Tip of the Week: 7 Tips when you’re wanting a raise at work

• Know the number.
  • Once you do the research, figure out what you think is a fair amount of money to ask for. Have that number in your head when you ask for a raise.
• Schedule a meeting.
  • Find a time that works best for you and your boss. Give your boss a head’s up that you want to chat about your career growth so that you both have ample time.
• Practice salary negotiations.
  • This can be a difficult or awkward conversation. Practice with a friend who can be a tough negotiator.

• Tell them you know that the company isn’t handing out raises.
  • Make the case of why you should be an exception to this policy. This will need to focus on the results you have achieved for the company.
• State your case, and then pause.
  • Listen to what your manager has to say. Give it your best case for why you should get a raise. Never use idle threats or mislead an employer to think you have an outside offer. Make your case based on your research and the results of your work. The worst they can say is no. Depending on the response, gauge how much detail you now need and how much back up support you require.
• Bring your personal kudos file.
  • Bring a list of your key achievements, and focus specifically on the areas of accomplishment that are important to your manager. Bring up your strengths and talents, your accomplishments, your desire to do even more, and your ideas and plans for the future in your role at the organization.
• Be patient.
  • Remember, your manager may need a few days to think it over and get back to you, so don’t be disheartened if you don’t get an instant “yes”. There’s also a chance your boss isn’t the one to make the decision. He or she might have to go to the higher-ups with your request.

HR Tip of The Week

HR Tip of The Week: 3 Tips on how to attract the best summer talent for your company

• Reach the right candidates
  • A recruiter is going to have the best understanding of the candidates who are currently on the market and can share relevant openings with candidates they’re already working with. Additionally, recruiters can help identify specific job boards, such as ZipRecruiter, Indeed, and Monster, that cater specifically to workers seeking seasonal employment.
• Offer competitive perks
  • Another way to attract top talent is to offer competitive perks. While there may be a perception that company perks apply only to full-time workers, that’s certainly not the case. Spend some time thinking critically about what candidates want out of their summer employment and how your organization can appeal to that.
• Don’t underestimate the candidate experience
  • By creating a great experience, seasonal hires will be motivated to produce their best work and can also serve as a great talent pool for future, long-term positions. Finding, attracting, and securing seasonal talent is no easy task, but narrowing down the candidate pool in a strategic way, thinking about what motivates them, and creating a positive interview experience will almost certainly land you a great candidate.