Fostering Company Culture in a Remote Environment It has been a challenging year for all of us, to say the least. Many businesses were forced to make the move to a remote environment, while others have maintained in-person operations with serious restrictions on gatherings. While business as we know it has changed significantly since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, there is one thing that has not: the human need for social interaction. No matter where your company is in this process, here are some ideas to re-build team engagement while working remotely. Host a Virtual Game Virtual games might feel overdone at this point but there are still plenty of ways to make them feel fresh! If you plan to host the game yourself, take advantage of the features available to you within the virtual meeting software you are using. For example, we’ve found that there is an increase…

The start of January brings with it the start of a brand-new year, with endless opportunities to be and do better than years past. Often, we consider what goals we would like to set for ourselves personally rather than professionally. Why not set goals for both? Here are a few New Year’s resolutions that will help set you and your team up for a prosperous 2020. Re-evaluate your HR Tools What’s one function of your job you wish could be automated? Chances are, there is software out there that can manage those tedious tasks that seem to consume all your time. Research different options available to you. If it doesn’t seem like there is a software capable of managing that function, consider outsourcing it. If you already have HR software in place, go to market and make sure that it is still the best option for you and fits into…

Let’s talk about I-9s. You probably filled them out for each employee, filed them away and never thought about them again, right? This can be problematic as there are several common mistakes made on the I-9 form. An audit can be a very costly experience if your forms aren’t all in order. Let’s review some of the most common (honest) mistakes that are made on the I-9 form. Section 1. Employee Information and Attestation Section 1 of the I-9 must be completed by the employee on the first day of employment. In this section, employees often don’t realize they need to check off the Preparer and/or Translator Certification box. If the employee did not use a preparer or translator, the box below should be left blank. Section 2: Employer or Authorized Representative Review and Verification This section must be completed by the employer within three days of the employee’s first…

The concept of diversity is often presented to employees only in the negative – employees are told not to discriminate, or not to harass. But diversity is much more than that – when embraced and fostered, it promotes creative, engaged, happy workplaces. Beginning the diversity discussion with your workforce can be difficult, but there are several important terms to know that can be excellent ways to open a dialogue with your managers and other employees. This is not an all-encompassing list of terms, but it is a good place to start. Once you understand these concepts, it will put you in a better place to begin to have these conversations within your workplace.   Diversity Diversity is synonymous with variety, but in this context, it is much more than that. Diversity is the acceptance and understanding that we are all unique individuals coming from different backgrounds. It means respecting people…

There are so many things that are essential to the employee handbook that it can be tough to know where to even start. We’ve got you covered. Below are 9 key components that every good employee handbook should include. 1. Introductory Statement This statement introduces the handbook, describes the purpose of it, and includes the At-Will Disclaimer and General Disclaimer. The At-Will Disclaimer should describe what it means to be an at-will employee. The General Disclaimer should address the intentions of the handbook, the ability of the company to interpret it at its own discretion and the handbook’s compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws. It should also state that it is not a contractual document. 2. Equal Employment Opportunity Policy (EEOP) Federally, this means different things for different types of employers, but most employers are prohibited from discriminating against an employee, a job applicant, a former employee…

The employee handbook is an important communication resource for your employees that also limits your company's legal liability. It can be tough to decide what does and does not belong in the employee handbook, but these tips can help you along the way.   Read the full article, here.