By: Joel Harrison

Watch the free training video below where Joel discusses a few strategies to contain healthcare costs in light of healthcare reform. Enjoy the free training! 

Our Team's {Monday Motivator} today was on the topic of time management, which is relevant to both individuals and businesses. In life or business, if we don't manage our time well, we find ourselves stressed, stretched too thin, and unorganized. Some tips shared with the team were to try to do phone meetings rather than in-person, so you avoid 'down' drive time. Also, be respectful of your own schedule. But first, you must prioritize and schedule your time accordingly. 

By: Kandi Mensing, SPHR, MBA
A new year is time for new strategies. You should continually strive to improve your business. Whether that means keeping up with changing market trends, trying a new promotion, or rethinking the best way to serve your customers, your business needs to be open to change.
Mensing Consulting Solutions is changing our name! In January 2014, we will become Elite HR Team. Stay tuned for a new website and a new logo! 

By: Dan Cozzi

There were once two painters who were each hired to paint exterior walls of a two-story building with the exact same dimensions. The first painter was motivated and energetic with a “get it done” attitude. He jumped into painting right away using the agility and ease of a ladder. Grabbing his paint can and his brush, he started the job on the ground and began painting the building, climbing up each rung and reaching out to the sides as far as he could safely reach.

The second painter sat down in his office and thought out how he could best accomplish the job. He knew the wall was wider than he could reach, and he identified that he would have to paint the trim separately from the main coat of paint. He realized he’d have to be able to move both vertically and laterally to allow areas of paint to dry while he returned to previous areas to mask and paint the trim. He decided to construct scaffolding that would allow him the freedom of movement needed to cross the surface of the wall laterally and vertically at the same time. He began to construct his scaffolding.

Meanwhile the first painter made his way quickly about halfway up the ladder and came to the bottom of his paint can. He needed to refill his can, and he now needed to climb back down, but returning down the ladder was much more difficult than going up the ladder. He couldn’t look where he was going and he had to reach for each rung with his foot rather than look where he was going.

The second painter finished his scaffolding and placed his supplies at the center of the structure so he could access them while accomplishing the job. He started painting the wall covering just enough area to ensure where he started was dry enough to return and do the trim work.

Each time the first painter reached the top of his ladder, needed to move to the area at his side, or was ready to do his trim work, he had to descend the ladder, move it over and climb back up, a tedious and time-consuming process.

Although the second painter got started later, he finished the job sooner due to his forethought, and he was much safer while painting because he could see where he was going and could more easily maneuver across the full area of his exterior wall.  

Just like these painters, leaders who take the time to think, plan, and invest strategically will develop organizations that transition more smoothly between life-cycle stages, develop engaged workforces, and improve their business's "health" by developing and implementing processes that result in the right people and tools at the right places and times. They essentially build themselves scaffolding instead of using a ladder.  

Which painter are you running your business like? 

By: Bill O'Hara
A fast approaching compliance deadline is approaching - December 1, 2013

Key compliance facts:

The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) is a globally standardized approach to label elements and safety data sheets. The basis of GHS encompasses practices utilized by major existing systems around the world, including OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard and the chemical classification and labeling systems of other U.S. and international agencies.

Employers must provide the appropriate Hazard Communication GHS compliance training  prior to the compliance effective date.  Employers are required to be in compliance with either the existing HCS or the revised HCS, or both.  OSHA understands that there will be a period of time where labels and SDSs under both standards will be present in the workplace. This will be considered acceptable, and employers are not required to maintain two sets of labels and SDSs for compliance purposes.

The bottom line for meeting compliance standards for the December 1, 2013 deadline is that employers must train employees on the new label elements, which include pictograms, hazard statements, precautionary statements, signal words and the new SDS format. This training must take place prior to the effective date. Contact Bill O’Hara for further information.

The table below identifies compliance dates for meeting GHS requirements. 

Official Memos from the Obama administration have been identified to admit that it's not just a problem with the website, but that...

"The website memo describes filling out paper applications as basically an effort to buy time. The paper applications allow people to feel like they're moving forward, but we're all stuck in the same queue." 

By: Kandi Mensing, SPHR, MBA
In my career as a professional recruiter, I’ve interviewed thousands of candidates, and hired hundreds! It seems like most applicants don’t put much time into their resume. The typos, the inconsistent formatting, the grammatical and punctuation errors all reflect negatively. In fact, when I’m looking at applicant resumes, I circle these items with a red pen. The point of your resume is to get the interview, not necessarily to get the job. It is the interview that determines whether you get the job. Today, we share with you 5 resume tips to get the interview. 

Consistency. Lack of consistency is the number one reason resumes get kicked out of consideration. Some people don’t get chosen for an interview simply due to lack of consistency on their resume, especially if the job requires strong grammatical skills, attention to detail, or handling company correspondence internally or externally. Ensure your information is all formatted in the same way. If you have your job title first, then your company, format it the same for every job. Same with dates. Too often I see some jobs only have years, and some have months. Be consistent

Objective. An ‘Objective’ is often listed as one of the first things on a resume. Why? What is the point of the objective? Did you google “resume objective” and then choose the best sounding one? Yeah, so did everyone else. We see the same objectives all the time! Stop using objectives. If you insist on an ‘intro’ use a summary or a skills section instead. Objectives are not serving you. 

Your name. Make sure your name is large, and obvious. When a recruiter is looking at your resume, your name should make impression in their mind. All too often I see resumes that have the candidate’s name seemingly hidden in the text. This is YOUR resume; own it! 

Education. If you have a degree from a higher education institute, make sure it is listed first on your resume. The fact of the matter is that only 30.4% of the US population over the age of 25 holds a bachelor’s degree or higher (source: New York Times). The second component is to use the word “Acquired” next to your degree. If you just put dates, for example 1996-2000, that doesn't necessarily tell the recruiter that you obtained your degree, but rather that you attended that school for those years. Don’t short sell yourself. Make sure they know you have that degree. And, you don’t necessarily need to put the year you acquired the degree as much as you just need to make sure they know you have the degree. You will fill in the year on their application. Remember, the resume is intended to get you the interview. 

References. Stop using the phrase “references available upon request” on your resume. We all assume you’re going to give us references if we ask. Substitute that phrase for a quick “thank you” to the recruiter. You could say something like “Thank you for reviewing my resume. I look forward to interviewing with you” or anything that is friendly, thanks them, and speaks of you personally and the way you would talk with them. Let your personality come through. Another thing, don’t take up valuable space on your resume listing the references. Wait until we ask for them.

A local business with 5 non-owner staff called us in a frantic state.  They desperately needed organization in their employment process, but didn't know where to start. They felt they could be more effective and that ownership & their staff would be happier with  clear expectations and organization in  their employment process.

They engaged us in creating a handbook for them as well as implementing an  organized HR (human resources) function. Lastly, they wanted us to train the business owner how to maintain a legally compliant HR function to protect them from lawsuits & fines.

We first finalized a handbook for their employees, outlining processes as well as expectations and standards and held a meeting to introduce the handbook. We surveyed the employees and provided ownership with feedback from these surveys to better their processes. We expanded their benefit package, at no cost to the employer. One of the owners enrolled in our Elite HR Business School in which they were trained on HR compliance & we conducted a personnel file audit to correct non-compliance.  They are now happy & protected.

The US Department of Labor has passed laws that prohibit discrimination when it comes to a company’s hiring practices. Most companies know that it’s illegal to ask about or make decisions about employment based on protected classes. Some of these classes include age, gender, disabilities, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, and of course, race. 

Not only does such discrimination show that a company is prejudiced and stuck in a former century, but it can cost that company in exorbitant lawsuits or fines. 

M.C. Dean, Inc., is learning that lesson the hard way. The US-based multinational contractor will pay $875,000 to settle discrimination claims involving hundreds of African American, Hispanic, and Asian American job applicants. The 381 applicants claim that M.C. Dean failed to provide equal employment opportunity. After an investigation, the Department of Labor concluded that the contractor “used a set of selection procedures, including invalid tests, which unfairly kept qualified minority candidates from securing jobs as apprentices and electricians." 

The company has agreed to review its hiring processes. Meanwhile, the former applicants will receive back wages, and some may be given job offers, as the M.C. Dean will extend 39 job offers to the class members as opportunities become available. The company has also agreed to go through self-monitoring procedures and personnel training to ensure its employment practices are compliant. Because M.C. Dean has held more than $600 million in contracts with federal agencies, they must comply with Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating in employment on the basis of race, color or national origin.

When you go through the hiring processes, all questions should be aimed at determining if candidates are qualified for the position. If you are asking personal questions that reveal family, religious, or racial information, you may want to rethink your hiring practices before it’s too late!
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