Why I Like Employee Relations!

 
There are so many different specialties within the “Human Resources Umbrella” some examples are Compensation, Benefits Administration, Training & Development, Labor Relations, and Employee Relations just to name a few.

I have many years experience in the Human Resources profession as a Director of Human Resources which requires you to know about all the different functions necessary to run the day-to-day operations of the Human Resources Department.  Most Directors of Human Resources have a strong Generalist background and they may have held the position at some point in their career prior to becoming a Director.

Human Resources have many areas in the field ranging from the technical/analytical area to Conflict Resolution/Employee Relations.  You have Human Resources professionals who are numbers driven and like to come up with strategies that will provide resolution to many complex analytical problems. 

There are other Human Resources professionals who really like interacting with people and they usually are attracted to Employee Relations or Recruitment & Retention.

My favorite specialty is Employee Relations I thrive on interacting with people.  I would not do well in a setting that did not interact with people.  If I had an analytical or HRIS position it would make me crazy, one because I am not a numbers person and two I would not do well without being able to interact with people.  More than likely I would end up resigning from that position. 

I enjoy the challenge of being presented with difficult issues/incidents and being able to resolve the conflict and deliver positive outcomes.

Employee Relations does not just involve conflict resolution but ensuring that employees are in a positive work environment that makes them feel they are an important part of the organization.  The employees need to know what is and be a part of the organization’s mission and vision.  

You can easily develop an environment that shows the employees that senior management not only recognizes them, but listens and hears what they have to say. Take to heart when employees make suggestions, if they make sense and are cost effective then implement them.  I have had many employees in the past make suggestions to save money and these were always implemented.

I find Employee Relations to be very rewarding. Things are constantly happening so there is variety and it’s never boring.  Just the way I like it.

How do you feel about Employee Relations?  I would love for you to share your thoughts!

Thanks for stopping by.

Rhonda

Do Your Employees Know How You Feel About Them?

Do you think your employees are able to determine whether or not you are invested in them or not?

I have been a Human Resources professional for almost thirty years and have worked for organizations that have invested in their employees and those who have not.  It is easy to tell the difference.  All you have to do is see the morale and environment of the employees in the organization. 

Employees know whether or not their employer is interested in their well being and the contribution that they make to the organization.  An organization that is invested in their employees makes positive contributions to retain these employees and that doesn’t necessarily mean that the contributions are of a monetary nature.  Offering a competitive compensation and benefits package (Medical, Dental, Vision & Life) with an Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) is good package. 

You will find that organizations not invested in their employees offer minimal benefit packages, sometimes the compensation package are below industry standards. There are little or no open lines of communication going on between management and the employees.  The employees are workers who are just there to complete their eight hour shift and go home.  More often than not they don’t even know the mission and vision of the organization.  There definitely is no visible connection between the organization and the employees.

An organization that cares for their employees lets them know.  It starts at the top with senior management and Human Resources delivering the company’s mission and vision to the employees.  Your employees are the voice of your organization they need to be a part of the mission and vision. 

It is key that the employees know that they matter, they need to be heard (They need to know you are not just listening but that you hear what they are saying.) and shown that you take to heart their issues, concerns, and suggestions.  By the CEO conducting Employee Forums or Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner with the CEO and senior management it gives the employees the opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions.  This promotes ongoing open lines of communication. 

Employers who have a positive work environment = happy employees.  Happy employees are productive employees who feel they belong and make a difference to the organization.  You sense the team work present in both the employees and management.  Compare the bottom line of an employer who cares about their employees vs. one that doesn’t  it shows.     

You can immediately detect the employer that shows no interest in their employees.  The environment is tense, you sense a lot of negativity, and no team-work is present.  Unhappy employees = a non-productive work place setting and I bet you the bottom line in suffering too.

Working as a Human Resources professional for an employer who is not invested in their employees proves to be quite the challenge.  You have limited resources and they expect you to work miracles with no support or the necessary tools to needed to even try and make an impact.

I am happy to work for an employer who is invested in their employees.  You can make a positive impact, work in a team environment and are provided with the resources and tools needed to move forward.  The mission and vision are not only known by both the employees and management but they promote it together.  

Everyone wins!

What kind of employer do you work for?  Please share your thoughts I’d love to hear from you.

Rhonda

                                                                                                                                                                                    

Happy International Women's Day

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  Happy International Women's Day To All The Beautiful & Special Women!

Volunteering To Be A Mentor!

Not everyone has what it takes to be a mentor.  Some individuals don't have the patience to be a mentor and train someone else.  It takes a special talent to be able to teach others.  You have to want to help people excel and enjoy teaching.

There are all types of mentors.  People volunteer their time at the library to help children learn to read. Schools may have developed programs where the high school students may mentor middle and elementary school students who are having difficulties in reading, math, science or any other subjects they may need help in.

Many organizations have Internship/Mentor programs and senior and/or middle management will mentor these interns in their area of expertise.  You will also find that there are individuals out there in many different areas of expertise who will independently mentor an individual in order for them to learn a trade or profession.

There are people out there who really do care.  I would have never made half of the accomplishments I have if there were not these wonderful people out there who took a chance and shared their skills, knowledge, and expertise with me.

I have mentored individuals independently on numerous occasions and I can say it was a great experience.  I have done mentoring in Human Resources.  I have been able to witness many positive outcomes from individuals I have mentored.  Some have started off at entry level positions and now hold positions as Directors, Recruiters, and Regional Directors.  It is very rewarding to know you helped make a difference in someones life.  What really makes it sweet is when the individual comes back to thank you and share their accomplishments with you.

Offering to mentor someone is a great gift.  I would recommend to any professional who has a desire to teach, train, and share their expertise to do so by mentoring.  If you don't know anyone looking for a mentor check the schools or technical schools that cater to your area of expertise and offer your services.  You may also check out community centers in your area or your local churches.

Not only will you enjoy mentoring but you will be doing a great service to someone else in need of assistance.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject!

Rhonda

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Would You Consider Being An HR Consultant Who Works From Home?

If you work for an organization what would make you consider working from home?

Have you ever thought of taking your special skills and talent and working for yourself vs. for an organization?  People are either very happy working for someone else and would never consider working on their own or they have thought about it and considered working on their own and worry about not having the security of a bi-weekly paycheck.

Those individuals who work at home love it and would never consider going back to work for an organization.  

I have done both, I worked for organizations for almost thirty years.  One day I had a life changing event that  caused me to make numerous changes in my life and Consulting from home was one of them. 

I am  one of those individuals who thought about working from home but hadn't taken that plunge because I feared not having the security of a paycheck.  But since I had this life changing event the decision was made for me and now I fit in to the working from home classification.

This is not an easy transition, if I had been able to plan it out things may have been a lot easier.  It has been a rough and rocky road and still is, but I know it will all come together with time, determination, and hard work.

Don't ever be afraid to ask others for help if you don't know something.  There are people out there who will help.  The biggest mistake you can make is being afraid to admit that you don't know it all.

Find your niche that will set you apart from others, target that niche market, make the services you offer unique.  Make sure you set up your website, twitter, facebook, Linked in, and Google + accounts in order for you to market yourself.  

Have faith in yourself, don't give up, stay focused, follow-up and be consistent.  You can make it work you just have to want it bad enough!

Just my thoughts!  Please feel free to share your thoughts with me.

Rhonda

humanresourcer1: New Experiences In Human Resources

humanresourcer1: New Experiences In Human Resources: Being a seasoned Human Resources professional I still face new experiences on a daily basis.  I have learned that there is always somethin...

New Experiences In Human Resources

Being a seasoned Human Resources professional I still face new experiences on a daily basis.  I have learned that there is always something new going on that I know nothing about. 

It is a wonderful experience to find out there is a new tool out there to learn that will make your life easier.  Maybe it's information you needed to be updated on, or you make a new connection with someone, the best one is you could locate that long lost friend or co-worker you lost touch with.  No matter what it is, the world of Human Resources always shares ongoing opportunities to embrace new experiences.

So my suggestion is to welcome any new experiences with an open mind and ENJOY!

Thank you for stopping by.

Regards, Rhonda