Categories
Compliance

New York Sick Leave Law 2020

Under New York State’s new sick leave law, employers must allow employers to begin accruing sick leave effective September 30, 2020. Employees, however, must wait until January 1, 2021, before they can use the time off. (New York City and Westchester County have their own Sick Leave laws). Employer Guidelines Employers with existing Paid Sick…Continue readingNew York Sick Leave Law 2020

Categories
Managing Employees

Is Your HR Running at 100%

I have never seen a company that is running at 100% effectiveness. Let me tell you why. A company, or any organization, is a complex integration of people and systems. Organizations start as dreams and plans, but are built in fits and starts, to address immediate problems and opportunities. Companies never look exactly as planned.…Continue readingIs Your HR Running at 100%

Categories
Managing Employees

A Simple Performance Review System

Performance reviews are dreaded by employees and managers alike, and are usually unproductive. Let’s change this to make it a productive growth experience instead of a mechanical and hollow process to get through. Back in the days when I was the Director of HR for a large service organization, we did a massive amount of…Continue readingA Simple Performance Review System

Categories
HR Policies

12 Must Have Policies for Your Employee Handbook

A typical employee handbook can have 90 or more policies.  But what are the 12 policies that you MUST have? Start with a statement of what your company is all about Policy #1:  This may seem surprising, as many assume that a handbook is focused on legal clauses. But the most important thing to communicate…Continue reading12 Must Have Policies for Your Employee Handbook

Categories
Hiring

A Simple Interviewing System That Works

Hiring new employees is one thing all companies have in common. Also common is the high number of decisions that go wrong – employees who disappoint the high hopes you had when you hired them. The problem is that many interviewers are not really prepared for their interviews. Because they do not have a plan, they…Continue readingA Simple Interviewing System That Works

Categories
Compliance

Is Your Employee an Employee?

“Freelancers” are now an established part of the workforce. Currently, there are 17 million independent contractors in the US, and 40 million if you count temporary workers, day laborers and part-time workers. And the number is growing. Freelancers can be a great solution for employers. Flexible “on demand” work Reduced payroll costs Reduced benefit costs…Continue readingIs Your Employee an Employee?

Categories
Compliance

How to Protect Your Business From Employee Lawsuits

Complying with complex employment laws and policies is confusing and time consuming.  Failure to do so can lead to lawsuits and other costly risks. Every company should conduct an annual compliance review of their handbook, general policies, procedures and documents.  Any questions that come up can be resolved and policies updated accordingly.  At Aspire, a…Continue readingHow to Protect Your Business From Employee Lawsuits

Categories
Managing Employees

Simple and Effective Onboarding Program

Hiring great employees is a major priority for most companies. The time, expense and effort that goes into the process makes it critical that you have a high success ratio when they walk in the door on the first day. But hopes are often dashed. Up to a third of new employees will quit within…Continue readingSimple and Effective Onboarding Program

Categories
HR Policies

13 Action Steps to Promote Diversity

Many companies are reviewing and revamping their efforts to promote a more diverse and inclusive work environment.  Here are some action steps you can take now: 1 – Understand the issues. 2 – Communicate to the entire organization how you are going to address it – focusing on your company’s culture and values and how important…Continue reading13 Action Steps to Promote Diversity

Categories
COVID-19 HR Policies

COVID-19 Return to Work Issues and How to Handle Them

With “return to work” happening for many, issues will arise, and we should be prepared to address them when bringing employees back to the office. Many employees are concerned for their health and safety.  Therefore, it would be a good practice to start gradually, by introducing small number of employees to the office.  Consider staggered…Continue readingCOVID-19 Return to Work Issues and How to Handle Them