Chronic Illness: a Workplace Epidemic

by CompareHRIS on July 1, 2012

The health of the average American worker is a problem, with 133 million (50 percent of ALL workers) individuals suffering from at least one chronic illness. The Center for Disease Control calls this a “health epidemic of unparallelled proportion,” as chronic diseases are responsible for seven out of every 10 deaths among Americans.

Heart disease, cancer, and stroke account for 50 percent of all deaths every year, according to the National Vital Statistics Reports.

Health care is at the center of our national spotlight. The issue continues to evolve, as we now must not only question who should be entitled to government subsidies, but what procedures will be covered and to what ends the sick will be provided with support.

In a perfect world, our government would be able to provide unlimited care to its entire population, but with over 30 million previously uninsured citizens soon to be given coverage, this could pose a significant difficulty.

Doctors’ jobs are going to get a lot harder, and will likely be less rewarding. Seeing that we are also trillions of dollars in debt, one also wonders where the money will come from to cover this exponential growth in demand for resources.

Stay up to date on the recent changes in healthcare reform.

Our number one priority should be treating the root of America’s health problems: our incorrigible diet of fat-laden, sodium drenched garbage and indolent refusal to exercise.

There is a proven correlation between our current obesity plague and many of these health problems.

Furthermore, with childhood diabetes on the rise, things are just going to keep getting worse. Our failure as a nation to proactively combat chronic illness is slowly killing us.

We need to wake up and smell the roses – by eating healthy and being physically active. That’s the only cure.

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Easy Advertising: Cheap and Effective

by CompareHRIS on June 28, 2012

Advertising doesn’t have to be hard or expensive.

Pareto’s Law (also known as Pareto Distribution) states that 80% of the outputs, in pretty much any given situation, result from 20% of the inputs. Alternatively: 80% of the results come from 20% of the effort and time; 80% of company profits come from 20% of the products and customers.

This idea was first presented to me in a book authored by Timothy Ferriss, titled The 4-Hour Workweek. Ferriss discusses this principle and others in this fantastic book.

This concept underlies the cardinal rule of advertising with a limited budget: restrict your target audience to the 10 – 20 percent of consumers that generate the most revenue.

PEOcompare has written an article with tips on how to correctly advertise to your target audience.

Perhaps the best way to get your name out there is social media. This tool is also, conveniently, free! Social networking has taken the world by storm. Everyone is always plugged-in somehow: whether they are surfing through tweets, updating their status on Facebook, or crafting their professional image on LinkedIn.

Effectively managing your social media is a skill. Today’s cyber world can be crazy, but this article might be able to help you manage your social media.

Don’t take the in-your-face approach to advertising. This is the type of overexposure to product (in this case candidates) that is rampant during election time. Yeah, the campaigns get their message across, but spend hundreds of millions of dollars to make this happen. Unless you represent Coca Cola or BMW, you probably don’t have that kind of money to spend on advertising.

I couldn’t find any data to verify this conclusion, but I would bet that 80% of a candidate’s votes (or more) come from 20% of his or her constituency.

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Sleep and Exercise: Five Truths Revealed

by CompareHRIS on June 24, 2012

 

There is one thing that everyone can agree upon: sleep is important.

But how much? And in what conditions?

There is a great deal of debate surrounding the question of how to get a good night’s sleep. I myself have googled my way around the web at times, trying to answer this question.

What are the good and bad times to exercise? Is there a link between lack of sleep and physical or mental performance? Should we nap?

1) “I don’t have time to work out in the morning or afternoon, and I have heard that late-night exercise keeps you awake.”

WRONG.

According to the results of a study conducted at the University of South Carolina’s department of exercise science, nightly exercise doesn’t push back your bedtime. After taking a random survey, researchers found that more people actually reported sleeping BETTER after hitting the gym shortly before going to bed.

Shawn Youngstedt, PhD, an associate professor in the department noted the role of adrenaline in this process. Although often associated as an excitatory hormone, adrenaline can actually have a calming effect between 20 minutes and two hours after exertion. Pumping iron at the gym also raises your core temperature and activates cooling mechanisms in your body, which are linked to sleep.

2) “What is the best time of day to exercise?”

Truth is, the best time to work out is whenever is most convenient for you. As discussed above, before bed has its notable benefits. But what about the morning and afternoon?

Morning – seems to lower blood pressure, allow you to sleep longer, and maintain regular sleep patterns

Afternoon – muscle strength at peak, muscles warmest from high internal temperature, lung function improved, pain tolerance at peak

3) “Should I nap?”

If you want to.

The advantages of taking a nap vary from person to person; but according to the National Sleep Foundation, a 20 – 30 minute nap will likely improve your mood, alertness and performance.

4) “Can exercise help me sleep?”

Most definitely!

Multiple studies have been able to connect aerobic exercise with falling asleep quicker and staying in the deep, REM cycle for longer periods of time. People who exercise regularly report better sleep quality, fewer depressive symptoms, less daytime sleepiness, and increased vitality. Anxiety, which is diminished by aerobic exercise, is the leading cause of insomnia.

5) “How much of an effect does a lack of sleep have on physical performance?”

Not at all.

That’s right folks, up to 60 hours without sleeping does not appear to have any effect on physical response or endurance strength.

Mentally, however, your psyche would be in shambles.

“You may be able to physically run the same distance or lift the same amount of weight, but the moodiness, anxiety, and irritability that accompany your sleep debt will make your workout feel like a challenge. The more the sleep debt, the harder the workout feels. You might still be able to do the same workout but it feels tougher. And in that regard, your overall performance might be harmed because you’ll reach your point of exhaustion faster,” Michael Breus, PhD, and author of The Sleep Doctors Diet Plan, said.

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Summer Cleaning: The Joys of Taking out the Computer Trash

by CompareHRIS on June 22, 2012

With the start of summer only a month away, perhaps it is time to introduce “Summer Cleaning.” While Spring Cleaning is famous for the reorganization of the house, Summer Cleaning is meant to “declutter” and organize the office space, particularly through removing antiquated computer systems and software. Obviously, this needs to be done with great care for both the environment (computers need to be taken to recycling centers or donated to local libraries) and the security of the company (failing to properly clear all of the data on an HR computer can be fatal). What happens after saying goodbye to old computers and old software? Say hello to new software. HRIS systems can either be in-house or cloud based and both are advantageous (for a discussion on the differences between hosted versus non-hosted solutions, read Human Resource Information Systems: In-House Solutions vs. SaaS). For example, a cloud-based or hosted solution involves the use of an involved third party vendor. They are able to provide superior hardware, software, and technical expertise necessary to properly utilize the software systems. Human Resource Information Systems, specifically hosted HRIS solutions, provide adaptability, security, and affordability as the article The Joys of Taking out the Trash details.

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Congratulations on Graduating! Now Go Get a Job…

by Stephen Ross on June 7, 2012

Pile of binders It’s an exciting time: graduation. Students are escaping the confines of school and moving out into the real world. Whether it be a Masters, Bachelors, or even a High School Diploma or GED, another graduation means another batch of eager workers ready to apply their new skills to the workplace. However, as the economy slowly pulls itself out of a deep hole, that once-revered degree does not carry as much as weight as it once did. With the unemployment rate at about 8%, many students are graduating with high debt and forced into jobs that don’t fully utilize their skills. But, no fear graduates! Here are a few ways to make sure that you are realizing your full occupational potential.

• Fix your resume: Many people graduate with some form of a resume, whether it be from the career center or for a home economics class. However, there are a few simple changes that can boost your chances of being recognized in a sea of applicants. For example, instead of writing a job objective, focus on what you can contribute to the company, such as a positive attitude or the ability to work in a team. Check this article out for more helpful tips. http://www.ajc.com/business/resumes-for-new-graduates-1427730.html

• Owning the interview: Sweet! You scored an interview! Now it’s time to make it your own. Make sure to come to the interview in proper attire (professionalism is a must) as well as bringing necessary materials. Bring a few copies of your cover letter and resume, as well as some questions that you have about the company. By asking questions, this demonstrates that you have done your homework and that you are willing to go the extra mile to stand out.

• Follow up the interview: Just because you secured the much-coveted interview and you owned it, does not mean that the job is yours. After completing the interview and thanking the interviewer for his or her time, go home and write a thank you card for them. This can score major brownie points in a HR representative’s book, which may be just enough to secure your dream job!

Even though the labor market may seem like a daunting and scary place, always make sure to be yourself. If you want some insider tips about how recruiters look for employees, check out CompareHRIS’s resources in our library. For example, take a look at The Five Best Hiring Tips for Employers, which is full of information about what recruiters search for in potential candidates.

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Future Doctor Reaches New Low

by CompareHRIS on June 5, 2012

Drinking alcohol and practicing medicine now have the same age of legality. Sho Yano, a student at the University of Chicago, is apparently about to become the youngest M.D. in history, by graduating from the Pritzker School of Medicine at the ripe old age of 21.

This kid can barely have a beer legally, yet he is about to obtain his license to hold other peoples’ lives in his hands. Oh, and he’s graduating with a Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology too, just for kicks and giggles.

Read the full article here.

Yano started early, of course, learning to read at the age of two, starting to write by three, and compose by five. Like most preteens do, he also began college at age nine.

Mrs. Yano never had to worry about becoming a stereotypical soccer mom, because her son was much too busy studying for the MCATs.

This story brightened my day. Rather often I feel as though kids are becoming less academically inclined and more hedonistic and undisciplined. Things like this help me look much more positively towards the future.

Yano has put partying on the back burner to pursue a specialization in pediatric neurology.

Yeah, big people brains aren’t complicated enough for Sho, he’s got to play around with the smaller, less developed, and more fragile versions.

How is he so driven, you ask?

Yano explains the motivation for his achievements as his way of alleviating boredom.

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Effectively Managing Your Emails

by CompareHRIS on June 4, 2012

I don’t know about you, but I’ll do anything to avoid addressing my inbox.

Some people are very responsible at keeping their email accounts neat and tidy, but I have an unfortunate habit of putting this business on the back burner of my daily priority list. I usually wait until it boils over, forcing me to grit my teeth and read and reply to some of what I find inside.

The bad part isn’t even handling the important matters, but rather sorting through the other nonsense that conveniently occupies 90% of all of the content.

You know what I’m talking about – the “clever”, “hilarious”, or “touching” chain emails that everyone around the office deems necessary to forward, the AARP or Viagra ads that are always sure to brighten your day, or even those ostensibly legitimate first-prize-in-some-contest-you-never-entered messages, which beseech you to click on a mysterious link that may very well bring you to some questionable site operating under a web domain hailing from the boreal forests of Yugoslavia.

Alas friends, worry not, there is a better way.

Consider the following paradox: you can trick your brain into tricking you. One way of doing so is providing yourself with mini if-then scenarios, that are not up for discussion. For example, you might say that ‘if it is 7 a.m., then I will go to the gym. Do not waver in this timing, and your brain will force you to adhere to your decision when the time comes.

This method is very useful in scheduling email-checking sessions. The best way to force yourself to undertake this oftentimes excruciating task is give yourself specific times throughout the day to do so. To account for limited attention spans, I would recommend four, separate 15 minute periods each day.

Assuming I check my email every day, it usually takes me an hour to organize everything nicely. If it takes you longer, adjust the time periods accordingly.

To optimize efficiency and minimize monotony, do the following five things in each session:

1) Compose and send mail that you are already planning on sending. Not only is this usually your most important task when checking your account, it will allow you to promptly respond should your recipient reply to your email before your 15 minute session has expired.

2) Clean out the pipes. Delete any undesirable, unimportant or unnecessary items from your inbox.

3) Respond. I have found that the best way to do this is to start at the top and move down the list. Prioritizing is a waste of time. Putting somebody first isn’t going to change the content of your response.

4) File what’s left in your inbox. This is where you address anything that has not required your immediate attention. Here’s where you can read longer articles, follow interesting links, or put things aside to come back to in the future. Try not to leave anything in your inbox. Anything important should have a special place in a separate file.

5) Move on. When the 15 minutes has expired, stop where you are and start doing something else. You can pick up where you left off at the start of your next session.

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Crafting Emails: How to Secure a Reply

by CompareHRIS on June 1, 2012

Responding to someone’s email is a common courtesy. Unfortunately, other people don’t always acknowledge what they find in their inbox.

We’ve all been there – working on a project that requires another person’s input – where he or she doesn’t respond to your emails.

Hours turn into days, and eventually you have to make that uncomfortable phone call. Assuming your message didn’t end up in a spam folder, it is very possible that you were being ignored (or at least disregarded) by your email’s recipient the whole time.

Ideally, we would like to avoid this. But perhaps the first step is realizing that you have a problem in how you construct your emails.

Below are five tips to help you get your emails read:

1) Identify a single, specific recipient. Everybody likes to feel special. But seriously, addressing the message to 10 people makes it either look like spam or unimportant. It also takes away the sense of urgency, because involving multiple people diffuses responsibility. If you want to include a bunch of people, use the CC line.

2) Get to the point. This isn’t school, so you’re not being forced to adhere to an inflated word count. Concisely say what you need to say.

3) Format effectively. People are more likely to read short blocks of text than long paragraphs. Perhaps bold or italicize important words to draw attention to parts of your message that you want to emphasize.

4) Make it easy on the reader. Make sure you are very clear on what you need, when you need it, and who should provide it. If you are directing him or her to an outside source, you might even want to provide a link!

5) Be polite. This should go without saying, but in an email the following old phrase rings true: it’s not what you say, but how you say it.

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The Excitement of Up-dating your HR System

by admin on May 22, 2012

Below is a question I came across from one of our site visitors and it inspired me to write an article defining my answer.

“I’ve been tasked with determining the best resolution to our HRIS problems. Our company decided to invest in a strategy that kept all the human resource functions within our four walls. Bluntly, the system which includes the computers, the program and the IT support group has been, shall we say, “less than effective.”  Not only is the company unable to access vital information but we are also unable to handle routine requests from our employees.  It is, without a doubt, a lawsuit waiting to happen.”

My question is, “How are larger companies, who have a ten times the number of employees as my company, handling this?”  Please don’t tell me, it’s a matter of money, as that answer will not fly with my superiors.

Read our response article here, The Joys of Taking out the Trash…

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Get S.M.A.R.T.

by admin on May 18, 2012

A company’s workforce is like a car; it is made up of many different parts that work together to run smoothly and efficiently to get you from “Point A” to “Point B”.  However, this is only possible if the car is kept in tip-top shape.  Oil changes, tire rotations, even replacing the washer fluid-nothing should be overlooked if you want your car to run like a Lamborghini instead of a Ford Pinto.  Think of HRMS performance software as a pit-stop for the workforce-they help manage employees and keep the focus on “Point B”: achieving your goals.

In order to be successful, a business owner must set S.M.A.R.T goals; that is, the goals must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and fit a Timetable.  With clear direction, employees will be more focused and productive. In addition, a business owner must be smart in to process of setting the goals. By including the entire team and their opinions while creating goals, the business owner removes the “worker-drone” mentality in the employee and replaces it with a “team member” mentality.  Also, by giving frequent performance reviews and feedback to the employees, they will become aware of their strengths and weaknesses and adjust their efforts accordingly.

HRMS tools can also help the business owner streamline the process of reviewing and analyzing work performance by creating template questions, customized questions for specific departments and positions, and profiles of individual employees’ work at the company.  This 360 degree system in conducting performance reviews gives the business owner insight into company performance from bottom to top: employees and managers alike provide input about the company’s performance.  Using HRMS tools simplifies this process to the click of a button. For more details, take a look at our full article, HR System Can Help You Optimize Workforce Performance.

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