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The OperationsInc Navigator
March 16, 2010

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:

enewsletter@operationsinc.com

In This Week's Edition...
  • Directing you to HR Solutions
  • Some Had to Relocate to Find New Employment in 2009
  • Memorable Suggestion Box Requests Revealed by Hiring Managers
  • What's on Your Mind?
  • Searching for Inspiration? A Few Words of Wisdom...
  • Ask Yourself...
  • Legal Disclaimer

  • Some Had to Relocate to Find New Employment in 2009
    packed

    According to a report, as many as 15% of mid-to- senior-level job seekers who found new employment in 2009 had to relocate.The percentage of US candidates who relocated in 2009 by location were as follows:

    • Pacific (10%)
    • Northeast (12%)
    • Midwest (13%)
    • Mid-Atlantic (13%)
    • Southern (20%)


    Memorable Suggestion Box Requests Revealed by Hiring Managers
    box

    According to a recent survey, hiring managers recently revealed the most memorable requests or recommendations they have received in the office suggestion box. Responses included the following:

    • Request to allow people to change clothes in their cubicles
    • Request to add tanning bed to the break room
    • Request to put beer in the vending machine
    • Request that jail time be covered under family medical leave
    • Request that the HR person wear nicer shoes
    • Request to only be required to work during daylight hours because employee is scared of the dark


    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 enewsletter@operationsinc.com. 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:
    -What factors should be considered when determining an employee's raise?

    --- Marketing Executive, Manufacturing

    Answer:
    The key determining factors include how the employee has performed against your expectations for them, in addition to how they measure up against others in the organization. Next you need to focus on your collective budget to determine what limits exist. Lastly a view of their present compensation in comparison with others at their level, with those above them, with yours and overall with what the market is bearing is all critical.


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


    "What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail?"

    - Robert Schuller


    Ask Yourself...
    OI

    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
    - Discuss a setback you have experienced in the last 12 months. Have you overcome it? How?

    GAUGING THEIR RESPONSE ---
    In concert with our desire to find out what we can about how prospective new hires deal with adversity, this question will give you a pretty solid window into what you may expect. Two traps to avoid: 1. Don't accept that the candidate cannot recall one, instead pressing them and giving them time to think of a situation, even one that you see as minimal. 2. Don't help them with the response. Sitting quietly and making them figure out what to discuss is key. Overall probe at the responses to ensure you find out how they overcame the issue.

    HR Best Practices Tips

    --Flexible work practices
    Over the course of the past few years the issues with long commutes, gas prices and even lack of available talent has forced companies into flexible scheduling for their employees. What has resulted is a rapid recognition that flexible work practices work. When properly implemented they are a way to retain talent, reduce stress levels, increase performance and output. One key bit of advice - be sure to think the entire relationship and plan through completely, anticipating all logical possible issues and outcomes.

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