Posted on October 28, 2011 by Marylee Abrams

Employees Use Social Media To Quit Their Jobs

Just when I thought I had seen everything, and I didn’t think there were any more new surprises with employees and technology, then BAMMMMM!! I am proven wrong. Employees are now scripting and filming themselves quitting jobs they apparently hate. The YouTube video “Joey Quits,” was recently featured on the Today Show. Joey had worked for several years at a hotel and apparently did not like his job very well. He wrote out his resignation and then got a group of friends with band instruments to go to the hotel to confront his boss. The band played a rousing march tune, while Joey literally threw the resignation notice at his boss. The boss stood there with a deer in the headlights look, as the band played, and Joey marched out of the hotel. 

The NBC reporter mentioned Joey already had a new job when he quit at the hotel, but no one mentioned the short-sightedness of his actions in the eyes of future employers. My grandmother warned me against burning your bridges behind you, but apparently Joey didn’t get the same sage advice. Social media should be viewed as carved in stone, and future employers can no doubt search and will find Joey’s little film on the Internet. The video is clear evidence of his lack of maturity, lack of conflict resolution skills, and his complete self-absorption. Unfortunately, Joey is not the only employee to quit a job and then post it on the Internet for the world to see. What’s next with employees and social media? I can’t wait to see.

 

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Posted on October 27, 2011 by Tiffany Schmidt

Dressing Appropriate For Work

There is no one-size fits all dress code for a workplace. What is appropriate attire for employees in a workplace varies drastically according to the work being performed, the physical requirements of the job, and exposure to the elements. It is important however for employees to always dress appropriately for the position they are in. Earlier this year, I blogged about the importance of reminding employees about a business’s dress code policy, especially when the seasons start to change.

MSN Careers website had a great article today on the 10 Commandments of Workplace Dress. I completely agree with the ten tips author, Beth Braccio Hering identified in the article. Most of these tips probably seem like common sense, but believe it or not, employees often need to be reminded of these rules. An Employee Handbook is the perfect place for employers to outline a dress code/appearance policy and place employees on notice of the employer’s expectations. By having a dress code/appearance policy in an employee handbook, employers can avoid some of the awkward conversations with employees when they show up for work in sweats and football jerseys.

If you are an employer and you don’t have a dress code/appearance policy or you haven’t reviewed the one you have in awhile, take a moment and do so now. First impressions are important and you want to make sure your employees are leaving the right impression about your business.

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Posted on October 6, 2011 by Marylee Abrams

NLRB Delays November Posting Requirement For Employers Until January 31, 2012

The National Labor Relations Board postponed implementation for its new notice-posting rule until January 31, 2010. The NLRB reported the postponement was due to “allow for enhanced education and outreach to employers, particularly those who operate small and medium sized businesses. “

The NLRB went on to explain the extension followed many queries from businesses and trade organizations indicating uncertainty on whether they fall under the Board’s jurisdiction. Since the posting relies on voluntary compliance of the 11x17 notice, the additional time will help employers to determine if they are covered by the new posting requirement.

Most private sector employers will be required to post the 11-by-17-inch notice. The posting on employee rights is available at no cost from the NLRB through its website, either by downloading and printing or ordering a print by mail. Last time I checked, it was not yet available for download. 

For further information about jurisdiction and posting requirements, the NLRB has a Frequently Asked Questions section which is helpful. 
 

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Posted on October 6, 2011 by Tiffany Schmidt

Does Your Business Use Checklists?

Checklists are a simple and useful tool businesses can employ to make sure steps are not forgotten or overlooked. This week a Florida diving company, RJ Diving Ventures, took a group of tourists out in the open ocean to scuba dive and left two of the tourists behind three miles from shore. The two tourists surfaced to find the charter boat gone, and ended up clinging to a fishing buoy for two hours before being rescued by a passing yacht. RJ Diving Ventures is lucky nothing serious happened to the stranded scuba divers.

Back in 2009, the New England Journal of Medicine published an article outlining the benefits from having a surgical safety checklist implemented in hospitals. The article was based on a one year study occurring in eight hospitals in eight cities throughout the world. The general conclusions were the use of a checklist/cheat sheet reduced patient complications and death.

Many other industries also use checklists including airlines, property management, and manufacturing companies. The use of checklists isn’t just necessary for safety reasons, but can also make work more efficient, because the steps which need to be followed are clearly outlined.

The stranding of two tourist scuba divers should have never happened and was easily preventable. All the crew on the charter boat needed was a simple checklist to review, outlining the necessary steps to take before departing any location, specifically confirming all passengers and equipment are safely on board. All businesses should review their work processes, and determine if having a checklist will ensure important steps are not missed.

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