May HR Notes Monday, May 5, 2008 HR Notes is brought to you by: The HR Group, a leader and innovator in employee benefits, human resource management and outsourcing. 615.244.8484 -- www.hrgrp.com

Planning for Tomorrow's Talent
By Steve Hayes, Sr., partner & founder, The Human Capital Group, Inc.

Retention of great employees (human capital) tops the list of crucial challenges faced by business leaders. Loss of great employees is a financial, logistical and emotional drain on the resources and sustainability of any company or organization.

Great leaders keep great talent by creating a positive, respect-based work environment. Read more about five leadership practices that are essential to creating this atmosphere in the workplace.


'Digital Dirt' Hurts Candidates
From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists.
800-227-3566 or www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc.

According to the executive recruiter Execunet, a large majority of recruiters used search engines in 2007 to "uncover information about candidates." In fact, the number is a whopping 83.2 percent -- an increase of 11.4 percent over the number of recruiters using the Internet in 2005. Recruiters are using this online information to supplement candidates' resumes.

Moreover, here is the real news: 43 percent said they eliminated candidates based on this "digital dirt" -- before even making the first phone calls. That percentage has increased by a full 17 percent over the 2005 number (26 percent).

Click here for the full article, including three suggestions for online reputation management.


Turning Every Day into Earth Day
Current, potential employees want organizations
to be more environmentally friendly
Gurchiek, K, (April 2008), "Turning 'Earth Day' into Earth 'Every Day'". SHRM. Web site.

Fifty-nine percent of U.S. workers think their companies should do more to lessen their carbon footprints, but only about one-third (31 percent) are willing to sacrifice a portion of their salaries to work for an environmentally friendly company, according to an Adecco USA Workplace Insights online survey conducted in March and April 2008. In addition, two-thirds of U.S. workers think most organizations are not as environmentally friendly as they claim.

The following actions are cited as ways to create an environmentally friendly workplace:

Create an internal "green team" to help develop and promote initiatives throughout the organization.

Place recycle bins in high-traffic areas, such as copy and lunch rooms, to promote recycling of paper, plastics, bottles and cans.

Optimize energy settings on all company computers, and encourage employees to turn off computers and office lights when they leave work.

Encourage alternative methods of transportation, such as public transit and riding bikes, organizing carpools and investing in technology that enables telecommuting.

Track initiatives and join an association or online community that generates ideas and ways to measure green efforts. Promote your initiatives on your web site.

Click here to read the full article on shrm.org.


Just When You Thought You Had Mastered the FMLA ...
They Change the Rules on Us!
HR Building Blocks Workshop Series (Part 4 of 4)

Join us for an interactive workshop and get prepared to "re-master" the FMLA. Topics will include:

• New FMLA leave to care for injured military service members
• New FMLA leave for "qualifying exigencies" in connection with a call to active military duty
• New DOL forms for employee eligibility, designation of FMLA leave and medical certification
• New employer notice requirements
• New clarifications of old questions such as "What qualifies as a chronic serious health condition?"
• New guidelines for direct contact with health care providers
• New rules for fitness for duty certifications

Presented by Kim Vance of Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC

When:
Thursday, May 15
2:30-5 p.m.
AT&T Building, first-floor auditorium

Cost:
Chamber or MT|SHRM Member - $20
Future Member - $40

Register today!

Series Presenting Sponsor:


Associate Sponsor:



Inaugural InternNashville Networking Event successful

The Chamber's inaugural InternNashville Networking Event was held April 15. With 250 attendees representing 10 colleges and universities, and more than 50 local employers, this event was a successful kickoff to the new program. Thank you to all who attended; click here to see pictures from the 2008 event. This networking event will occur annually, with the next slated for spring 2009.



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