May 2019
Under Fire
Workplace violence is on the rise, but a safety policy that addresses security, culture, and management can help mitigate the risk.
By Marta Chmielowicz
For Jill Geimer and many other HR executives, February 15, 2019 is a day that will be hard to forget. According to reports from The Washington Post, after being terminated from his position at Henry Pratt manufacturing company in Aurora, Ill., employee Gary Martin opened fire, killing five people and wounding six others. This hit particularly close to home for Geimer, whose company, Ecentria Group, houses a large inventory warehouse in the region.
2019 Baker’s Dozen Customer Satisfaction Ratings: MSP (Contingent Labor Resourcing and Management)
We rank the top providers based on customer satisfaction surveys.
By The Editors
HRO Today’s Baker’s Dozen Customer Satisfaction Ratings are based solely on feedback from buyers of the rated services; the ratings are not based on the opinion of the HRO Today staff. We collect feedback annually through an online survey which we distribute to buyers directly through our own mailing lists and indirectly through service providers. Once collected, response data for all providers with a statistically significant sample size are loaded into the HRO Today database for analysis.
Zero Tolerance
Organizations need to take a proactive approach to eliminate bullying and create a healthy culture.
By Chris Dyer
People do their best work when they’re supported socially, so the opposite must also be true: Interpersonal strife interferes with achievement. This is why the topic of bullying, whether in the academic or professional sphere, has come to the forefront in the past 30 years. It’s real and it’s really detrimental.
The Duty of Care
Five steps to ensure employee safety through location awareness and active shooter preparedness drills.
By Cara Antonacci
Executives, HR leaders, and security professionals have a “duty of care” to uphold to keep their people safe. Given the increased prevalence of workplace violence and active shooter situations, this responsibility has only been magnified. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 16,890 workers in the private industry experienced trauma from nonfatal workplace violence in 2016. To compound that issue, the workforce is becoming increasingly mobile and remote.
Mitigating Harassment
These strategies can prevent claims and promote a safe, inclusive workplace.
By Michele McDermott
Over the past three years, Google, Ford Motor Company, 21st Century Fox, Bank of America, and the New York Knicks are among an exhausted list of companies that have experienced employment practice liability (EPL) lawsuits due to sexual harassment claims. Companies of all sizes can experience harassment or employment practice-related claims. Employees at every level, as well as vendors and customers, can perpetrate a claim.
CEO’s Letter: I, Robot (NOT)
By Elliot H. Clark
With all due respect to Isaac Asimov, the continuing reliance on technology has yet to produce the predatory examples of “I, Robot,” or the scary dominance of machines of “Terminator” (which threatened to come back and kept on doing so in sequels, sadly), or the terrifyingly logical and murderous Hal of “2001: A Space Odyssey.” In truth, software robots, manufacturing robots, and even those Roomba vacuum cleaners are pretty boring (unless you see a YouTube video of a cat riding one). For HR, the questions are: What are robots? And what are they not?
Culture Isn’t Contingent
Even though some workers are temporary, organizations should strive to leave a permanent positive impression.
By Marta Chmielowicz
In a business world where 41.5 percent of the average enterprise’s overall workforce is composed of non-employee labor, according to Ardent Partners’ The State of Contingent Workforce Management 2018-2019 report, organizations are putting the role of contingent workers front and center. In fact, the growth of the gig economy is serving as the catalyst for a new world of work -one that is increasingly innovative, dynamic, and responsive to transformative market pressures and global challenges.
Rebooting Recruiting
Two organizations share how they made significant improvements to their candidate attraction and selection processes through technology.
By Debbie Bolla
Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) is in the business of providing memorable experiences to its guests, and it strives to do the same when it comes to candidates who are looking to grow their careers with the organization.
Get Onboard
Three best practices to engage and retain a changing workforce.
By Lilith Christiansen
The age of digital disruption driven by technologies like machine learning, automation, and artificial intelligence is here, and organizations are witnessing its impact on their talent. Is HR ready? Amid the uncertainty of how machines and humans will best work together, one thing is clear: Humans will be a necessary piece in realizing the benefits that new technologies bring.
Thinking Outside the Box
Creative solutions to HR challenges can help organizations stay relevant.
By Anthony Onesto
HR has long been viewed as a rule-oriented profession for those who excel at balancing regulatory, legal, and employee concerns while also helping companies recruit great talent. But recruiting talent today is not as straightforward as it once was -and neither is creating a company culture that retains employees.
Journey Makers
An eye on company values, leadership, mission, and brand can elevate the employee experience and deliver a competitive advantage.
By Sue Quackenbush
With the sharing economy in full swing, employees now have the power to broadcast their overall experience with an organization -the good, bad, and ugly -to a wide audience. Their reviews illustrate that in today’s competitive global market, pay isn’t the only criteria that attracts and retains good talent: Employee experience now displaces simple employee engagement as the number one focus for organizations.
Achieving Business Value
These five strategies can help organizations reap the full business benefits of their HR technology investments.
By Debora Card
From the dot com era to the mobile boom, embracing the latest technology has always been a key priority for companies looking to stay competitive in today’s digital world. In fact, according to Sierra-Cedar’s 2018-2019 HR Systems Survey, 45 percent of large companies and 51 percent of midsize companies are increasing their spending on HR tech. But the 2019 ISG Industry Trends in HR Technology and Service Delivery survey found that while more than 60 percent of respondents are achieving significant savings in the areas of IT/technology operations and HR administration, drawing ongoing business value from platform technology solutions is still a challenge.
On Time, On Budget
Implement these seven best practices to improve the quality and accuracy of the payroll process.
By Imran Sajid
It has always been important to pay employees in a timely and accurate manner. Being one day late or 99 percent accurate isn’t good enough. With the world more connected and impatient than ever before, it is critical for successful organizations to pay people accurately and on time. In the digital age, issues that previously stayed behind closed doors are visible for the entire world to read about, which can result in serious ramifications.
Editor’s Note: Putting Safety First
By Debbie Bolla
Do you feel safe at work? It’s a question that is getting harder and harder to answer. And the February shooting at the Henry Pratt manufacturing company that killed five people and wounded six others still feels very fresh for many HR leaders and workers. That includes Jill Geimer, managing director and head of HR for Ecentria Group, an online retailer with a large inventory warehouse in the region.
HRO Today Association Update: Thought Leadership -Unlock Your Potential
By D. Zachary MiskoThought leaders are the informed opinion leaders and the go-to people in their field of expertise. They are trusted sources who move and inspire people with innovative ideas; turn ideas into reality, and know and show how to replicate their success. We certainly have a great group of thought leaders and innovators involved in our association, as demonstrated by the outstanding group of HR executives, industry experts, and best-selling authors who speak at our Thought Leadership Councils (TLCs), as well as the people who attend them.