Blog

New year, new pay? Your employees may be hoping so. If you haven’t already noticed an increase in raise requests, you may soon, as they have increased from just two years ago.  In a sign of economic recovery, the wages of job holders – not new hires – have become the prime contributor to wage … more »

It’s a new year and an opportunity to turn over a new leaf. Most of us have made various personal New Year’s resolutions throughout the years; maybe to be healthier and exercise more or to spend more time with family. However, have you considered making a work-related resolution? It is common for us to be … more »

It is that time of year when most of us use the greeting “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Holidays,” or “Season’s Greetings.” Some ask, which one is politically correct in my work environment?  The answer depends completely upon the cultural or religious diversity in your work environment.  However, with that being said, employers must be cautious about … more »

New Focus HR Consultants frequently receive calls from employers asking the question, “Do I need to pay nonexempt employees for travel time?”  The answer is confusing to most as it is “maybe?”  The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) travel-time regulations include a provision that has confused employers, leading them to mistakenly think that they … more »

Does your company have a well written employee handbook?  Most organizations do have one, however, it is generally not well written.  Other organizations may not have one.  Is that a good choice?  Some employers argue that they are not required by law to have an employee handbook, which is true in most states. I will … more »

It’s the time of year for holiday party planning. The tough question that arises is how to make your employees enthusiastic about attending your company party? Here are some tips to help throw a better company party. First, it’s always good to ask for your employee’s opinions and suggestions on how they’d like to celebrate … more »

Before asking if your company has an employee value proposition (EVP), it may be more appropriate to ask if your company has a vision and mission. A vision describes what the company wants to become and it drives the direction of the organization. The mission is a description of what the company does, or its … more »

It is that time of year when companies and their employees are planning for the second largest commercial holiday in the United States, Halloween. Before employers automatically plan on supporting Halloween activities in their workplace, they need to think through the pros and cons of doing so.  Here are some ideas to consider prior to … more »

Terminate. This word is frequently used by owners and managers in business. Most however, don’t really understand what it means to terminate an employee.  Educating decision makers on items to consider prior to termination and the different types of terminations is sometimes challenging. First of all, there are different types of terminations and not all of them … more »

We’ve all been a part of a team a time or two; whether it was in school or later on in life. The team experience for some can be a nightmare, but it doesn’t have to be. In the workplace, building an effective team is an art built on much more than just bringing coworkers … more »