Author Archives: Ben

30+ Ideas for SHRM Chapter Leaders

These ideas for SHRM chapter leaders are a part of the SHRM Chapter Leadership Guide.

I often hear from other HR pros who are members of a local SHRM chapter that stinks. Depending on your chapter leadership, you could be having an amazing experience or a horrible one. Whichever you may be in, it wouldn’t hurt to pass this link on to someone at your local chapter. And if you are in a leadership position, explore the list. I don’t have all the answers (admitting that up front!), but I do love coming up with ideas that could really be beneficial for the average HR professional.

Here are a few ideas to make things more interesting and engaging for your members. Continue reading →

Supervisor Training Programs-Missing the Mark? (Video)

Check out the short video below. I had the chance to go through a supervisor training session in recent weeks, and although I enjoyed myself and learned a few lessons, I felt like there was something missing…

(Subscribers may have to click through to view)

So, what do you think? Does a training program that focuses solely on the minimum “don’t do these things” really get people in the right mindset to lead well?

Lessons from One Year in HR (Video)

Check out the short video below to find out more about the lessons I’ve learned after my first year as an HR pro. The transcript is below the video if you’re the reading type and want to skip my Southern accent of awesomeness. :-)

(Subscribers may have to click through)

Things I\’ve Learned in the Past Year Continue reading →

Dress for the Job You Want (Blogging)

AKA Why You Should Read Blogs

Remember back when I talked about the SHRM chapter mentor program? It’s made up of a group of very smart people.Â Christine Beldner is one of those people, and she made a comment recently that I just had to write about. Continue reading →

Blacklisting, Heather Huhman, and The Ex Recruiter Show

What do you do when someone asks you to be on a radio show that you haven’t prepared for? You do it, of course! I was surprised recently when I received an email from both Paul Paris and Heather Huhman asking if I wanted to help out with an episode of the Ex Recruiter Show on blacklisting.

A Little Back Story

Heather is an entrepreneur. She hires her own employees, and she had a bad experience with one candidate who she ended up blacklisting. The whole experience was reported in an interview about blacklisting in the Wall Street Journal. Continue reading →

Netflix, Culture, and Responsibility (Slideshare)

Check out the fantastic Slideshare presentation I found the other day. It deals with culture, a high performance work environment, and the company that revolutionized movie rentals. (Subscribers may need to click through to view.)

The ideas in the presentation are refreshing and inspiring. They reinforce my core beliefs about HR. The “keeper test” on slide 29 is killer, and the reason for for such an emphasis on a high performance workforce (slide 35) is brilliant.

So, which part do you like? Would you enjoy working somewhere like Netflix?

(Click here to see the original presentation on Slideshare.)

Six Signs You have an HR Pirate

We really need to be careful. With all the laws Congress is passing these days, people have completely glossed over one of the most serious legislative uproars to ever cross the Senate floor. Starting next month, a person’s “pirate status” will become a protected class under EEOC regulations.

The Public Responds

There are all kinds of reactions to this change. Stephen Geraghty-Harrison, a staunch supporter of all things pirate, replied, “Arrrr, it’s about time.”

However, Chris Ferdinandi, more of a traditionalist when it comes to pirate culture, said, “We don’t need someone to give us a special day,” he reached over to polish his cutlass, “If we wanted one, we’d just take it.”

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