upstartHR

Making HR better. One HR pro at a time.

  • How Public Health Can Benefit from Mobile Technology

    One of the main functions of public health officials is to notify the general public if there are any products that have been contaminated, pandemics that are spreading quickly or actually any risks or potential health risks which they may be facing. Because they are tasked with informing the public if there are any risks…

  • How to Get a Job in HR When You’re Not Working in HR

    Over the last week I’ve received more than half a dozen emails from people looking for their first foray back into the HR realm after making a move to a new city, taking time off for childcare/maternity leave, and other similar stories. It’s a challenge, but this is easier than breaking into HR in the…

  • The Many Faceted Roles of HR within an Organization

    There is a perception of HR that is so outdated that in many cases it is almost laughable. Most people see HR as simply that department that does the hiring, firing and training. After all, there is the accounting department to see to payroll so what is it that is so important about HR and…

  • Measuring the ROI of HR Programs is Critical: Here’s How Patagonia Does It

    When I am teaching a class to prepare students for the PHR/SPHR exams, one of the things I repeatedly highlight is the need to tie HR practices back to business objectives. If we only see ourselves and our actions within the “bubble” of HR, then we severely limit the impact and value we can deliver…

  • Check Out My New Show, We’re Only Human, a New Podcast on the HR Happy Hour Network

    Subscribers click here to listen and check out the show I’m just a little bit excited today. I am part of a set of new hosts joining the HR Happy Hour Podcast Network with a new show, We’re Only Human. It’s a play on words and gives multiple meanings, because for starters, despite the pressure…

  • What if Practice Doesn’t Make You Better?

    We’ve probably all heard the axiom that 10,000 hours of practice is what it takes to be world-class at something (speaking, skiing, dancing, etc.) But what if that has been misquoted all these years? A new book called Peak is out, and it’s a look at what it takes to get to a world-class performance…

  • The Difference Between the PHR and SPHR Exams

    The winter testing window is coming up with HRCI (the Human Resources Certification Institute, for you newbies), and you might be wondering what the difference is between the PHR and SPHR exams. With both of the exam pass rates hovering around 50% (54% PHR, 53%  SPHR), it’s critical to make sure you understand the requirements…

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