The OperationsInc Navigator
October 27, 2009

Greetings!

The Navigator is published every other week and is filled with the latest HR related news, practical tips, answers to our reader's questions and a whole lot more! We welcome your participation in the makeup of this periodical. Send your feedback, ideas and input to:

[email protected]

In This Week's Edition...
  • Directing you to HR Solutions
  • More Companies Turn To Financial
    Rewards To Tackle Soaring Employee
    Healthcare Costs
  • Four in Ten Employees Have Gained
    Weight At Current Job
  • What's on Your Mind?
  • Searching for Inspiration? A Few Words of Wisdom...
  • Ask Yourself...
  • Legal Disclaimer

  • More Companies Turn To Financial
    Rewards To Tackle Soaring Employee
    Healthcare Costs
    Medical

    A new survey revealed that 89% of employees said financial rewards (e.g., cash, healthcare premium discounts) are important motivators for participating in wellness programs. When asked what workplace wellness programs they were likely to participate in if offered by their employer, 70% of respondents indicated they were "very likely" to participate in programs designed to increase daily physical activity.


    Four in Ten Employees Have Gained
    Weight At Current Job
    Scale

    A recent survey revealed that 43% of employees say they have gained weight in their current jobs. 25% of employees report having gained more than 10 pounds and 12% say they gained more than 20 pounds while at their present positions. Women (48%) are more likely than men (39%) to say they gained weight at their current jobs.


    What's on Your Mind?

    Because we want to best serve our readers, we feature a segment of our Newsletter where you can submit questions directly to our OperationsInc professionals. Do you have a question related to the management of the Human Resources function? Email it along to [email protected]. The best ones will make it into a future newsletter, along with the answer... and those that don't get published will still receive a response.

    This week's question:
    -How do I choose the proper assessment tool?

    --- HR Manager, Public Services

    Answer:
    The web gives you a ton to work with here. One of the best ways to gauge the fit for your firm is to have some of your employees take the testing first and see how they score. This will set the benchmark for candidates, as well as tell you if the test is covering the areas key and critical for your business. Take into account ease of accessibility, the time it takes to complete and the way the results are delivered as well. You want something that provides an easy to follow yet comprehensive view on the results.


    Searching for Inspiration? A Few Words of Wisdom...
    compass


    "Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week."

    - Spanish Proverb


    Ask Yourself...

    How Strong Is Your HR Backbone?


    Legal Disclaimer

    Information provided in The OperationsInc Navigator is researched and reviewed by the HR experts at OperationsInc. The information in every issue of The OperationsInc Navigator is in part gathered via information available in the public domain, as well as in part the original, copyrighted work of OperationsInc and is protected under U.S. copyright laws. As such, you may not reprint or publish in any format any article or portion of article The OperationsInc Navigator without the express permission of OperationsInc.

    OperationsInc provides the information in this e- newsletter for general guidance only. The information provided herein should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional human resources, legal, or other competent advisers. Before making any decision or taking any action, you should consult a professional adviser who has been provided with all pertinent facts relevant to your particular situation.

    We encourage you to pass along any issue of The OperationsInc Navigator by forwarding it to friends and colleagues.


    Directing you to HR Solutions
    Direction

    INTERVIEW QUESTION OF THE WEEK

    Each Newsletter we will publish an interview question which hiring managers can utilize to better qualify candidates for hire, along with our analysis of the answers you may receive and their meaning.

    This Week's Question
    - Give me an example of a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get the job done. What did you do?

    GAUGING THEIR RESPONSE ---
    What is "above and beyond"? To each candidate the answer is different. The key is to find out where they set that bar, what they view as more than what would be considered "normal" and how that matches up to your expectations. Listen carefully to how they position their heroic efforts, how unique this may be in comparison with their usual responsibilities and then as always probe on all levels to get your answers.

    HR Best Practices Tips

    --Preparing for Open Enrollment
    According to a survey we did in the past few years more than 70% of you are preparing for Open Enrollment tied to a 1/1 renewal date for your employee benefit plans. This is one of the most imperfect processes businesses have to handle, and yet one that really should be given such care and focus. To successfully pull this crazy chain of events off you need to have a plan, focus on multiple means of communication to your employees, rely on your carriers and brokers for their input and participation, and lastly have a calendar with realistic timelines. The structure will make it far easier to navigate the challenges.

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