Utilizing e-Learning solutions could save businesses a bundle
Surveys have found that many human resources departments are focusing on increasing their talent pools in expectation that the job market will open over the next few months. However, while this is all well and good, it doesn't leave a lot of money left over for training. When the budget is low, what's an HR rep to do? Why, turn to e-Learning.
According to Workforce Management, many businesses are turning to virtual learning resources as a way to train their workforce without breaking the bank. e-Learning solutions can be utilized as an efficient training method that is also cost effective. As such, large and successful corporations such as Deloitte Services have completely revised their training to run virtually, reports the media outlet.
"We still had plenty of money for training, but our budget was cut year over year. That forced us to rethink our strategy around delivery," Bill Pelster, Deloitte's managing principal for talent development, told the news source.
Virtually training that utilizes e-Learning solutions have proven so useful that even the army has begun adopting them, according to the Leavenworth Times.
Social media policies are an important HR tool
Human resources representatives need to make sure that their companies are up-to-date with the latest technology and the issues that come along with it. In the rapidly changing corporate world, it can be important to always have a policy that outlines appropriate guidelines and behavior for both employees and management.
According to a recent study conducted by Proskauer Rose, many businesses across a variety of different industries are experiencing complications related to the use of social media. Of the 120 corporations that participated in the study, close to one-third stated that they had recently disciplined an employee for unacceptable social media-related behavior. However, nearly 50 percent revealed that they had experienced issues related to networking sites over the past year and did not have a policy in place to deal with it.
There have been a rash of stories in the news recently about employees behaving badly and using Facebook or Twitter to lash out at their employers or air grievances about their work situations. As the internet and social media can be treacherous terrain to navigate for businesses, it is important that human resources representatives establish clear acceptable-use policies for their companies. Individuals may find it helpful to utilize e-Learning solutions to update their workers on current corporate doctrine.
Take a nap - you deserve it!
HR reps, there is no need to feel guilty about taking a little rest in the afternoon. According to a recent study, power naps can actually improve productivity and work ethic, and are an important part of a well-rounded employment strategy.
Research conducted by Dr. Alon Avidan, a neurology professor at the University of California in Los Angeles, points to an increase in performance as a result of a short nap. Avidan's findings were recently published in HealthDay News and have become a hot topic of conversation for many human resources representatives that are interested in improving worker productivity and creating a better corporate work culture.
According to the data, a typical person will experience a dip in energy and alertness between 3 and 4 p.m. as result of the slowing of circadian rhythm in the afternoon. While many individuals deal with this decrease in productivity by heading to the closest Starbucks, Avidan has asserted that a nap is better choice.
Avidan recommends that employers allow workers to take a 15-20 minute rest each afternoon in order to ensure greater productivity later in the day. Human resources representatives may wish to utilize e-Learning solutions to introduce this possible policy change to upper management.
Utilizing new tablet technology can help communication in the office
HR reps - ever have one of those days when you feel like you just can't get a hold of anyone? Bringing new technology into the office may help.
As individuals who deal with people on a daily basis, human resources representatives may be interested in increasing and improving the level of communication that takes place in the workplace. According to a recent article on United Communications Strategies, getting your office on board with new tablet technology may make a positive difference.
The media outlet reports that many companies are hesitant to utilize tablet computer due to the misperception that they are simply less useful computers. However, in reality, this mobile technology can serve as an amalgam of cell phone, social media device and laptop. One can utilize tablets to access their email, texts and voicemail, as well as connect to their company's intranet and database.
HR professionals who wish to bring tablet technology into their offices as a means of improving communication and relations between employees and management should take this opportunity to use e-Learning solutions. Using this strategy, HR reps can introduce their company's to the new technology as well as teach employees how to use it.
Like you need another excuse to hit the snooze button
Next time an employee behaves badly, ask him if he got his full eight hours last night. Strangely, sleep patterns - or lack thereof - may be responsible for his reproachable actions.
According to a recent study conducted at U.S. business schools by the University of Arizona and of North Carolina, a lack of sleep influences unethical behavior. Students and nurses who participated in the research were found to be more likely to forget their morals when making sleep-deprived decisions.
A recent article on BNET discussed this phenomenon, citing the reduction of glucose in the brain after a prolonged period without sleep as a major reason for the studies results. When individuals go 24 hours without sleeping, the amount of glucose in the area of their brains responsible for processing and critical thinking drops between 12 and 14 percent. As a result, they may be unable to tell the difference between a good idea and a bad one.
Human resources (HR) reps can help their employees refrain from unethical behavior by ensuring that they get an appropriate amount of sleep each night. Utilizing e-Learning solutions to educate workers on the importance of adequate rest may be useful in combating the sleep deprivation problem.
Human resources reps should tell their employees to de-tag
There used to be a time when you could embarrass yourself on the weekend without anyone - well, except those who were there - being the wiser. However, in the digital age, you never know when a less than flattering photo of you is going to pop out of the woodwork - and prevent you from gaining a job opportunity.
According to MacWorld, more than half of employers search for job applicants on Facebook and Twitter. An additional 12 percent polled stated that they plan to use social networking sites as a means of checking up on their already hired employees in the future. So what is a person to do, besides become a hermit and/or stop making poor decisions? Well, there is actually an easy solution - make your Facebook private.
HR reps may wish to utilize e-Learning solutions to impart this piece of wisdom to their employees. They may also want to take a moment to de-tag their own possibly unfortunate pictures. Individuals should be careful what they write on Facebook and Twitter, in light of the recent rash of firings that were due to inappropriate uses of social media.
Technology provides improvements AND headaches for HR reps
Human resources representatives may want to consider employing e-Learning solutions to train and educate their employees about their company's current acceptable use policy regarding smartphones and other handheld technology in the office.
According to HR Morning, more and more people are using smartphones and tablets, such as the iPad, at work. Many also utilize these social media tools outside of the office for personal use. As these devices can be clever procrastination tools, employee productivity can suffer when they are allowed in the workplace. Security problems can also arise when individuals access company documents from mobile technology.
In order to deal with the headache that smartphones can cause, it is important to develop a corporate policy regarding appropriate use and convey the guidelines clearly to employees. Issues that should be dealt with in the plan include virus protection, consent to access, and prevention of idea and document theft on the part of a terminated employee. As it typically falls on HR to fill the office in on policy changes, it may be smart to utilize e-Learning solutions to limit the headache this issue could turn into.
Run for your lives! The narcissism epidemic is coming for you!
Right at this very moment a disease is sweeping through our nation and hitting offices everywhere. It's called the narcissism epidemic and human resources professionals - solving this one is on you.
According to an article in Management Issues, studies have shown that narcissism is on the rise. This condition, which essentially makes individuals believe that they are the be-all and end-all, has increased in prevalence by more than 30 percent in the past few decades. Narcissism is especially rampant in corporate offices, which can result in a breakdown of collaboration and teamwork between employees. Group work with narcissists tends to be unproductive, as they often believe that - based on their self-assigned status as the most important person - they deserve special treatment.
Jessica Stillman, a columnist for BNET, recently wrote an article on how human resources (HR) professionals can help neutralize narcissists in their offices by engaging in employee training. E-Learning solutions can be utilized in these cases to give presentations on the importance of teamwork in an office setting. Employees can also take an e-Learning course on how to deal with difficult personalities, such as narcissists, by playing up their strengths.
Can e-Learning solutions cut down on time-wasters?
Time-wasters. Every business has them, and every HR representative has to deal with them. According to a recent article on BNET, there are seven classic time wasters that are guaranteed to lower your productivity, increase your work load and generally just drive you up a wall. There are ways to deal with these people though, and e-Learning solutions can help.
The seven classic time-wasters include your "self-important, perpetually late to meetings" executive, the news source reports. This guy thinks that his time is more important than yours and cannot effectively run a staff meeting. HR reps, here's your chance to bust out your employee training materials and give a little presentation on how to streamline conferences and show respect for other employees.
Another time-waster is the "never cut to the chase" person, according to the media outlet . She sends out convoluted memos, replies all to emails without adding anything constructive and keeps you on the phone for 45 minutes without actually saying anything. An e-Learning course on the dos and don'ts of corporate communication may help to get this one in line.
Other examples of time-wasters are the "constantly whiny employee", the "while I've got you here" guy and the "verbose boss," according to the news provider. Good luck with those.
HR reps should take drug testing procedures seriously
Human resources representatives may want to step up their random drug testing policy after hearing about this close call.
Fontella Wilson, a Duplin County, North Carolina school bus driver was recently terminated due to allegations of drunk driving while on the job. According to school officials, Wilson was allegedly seen ingesting alcoholic beverages before arriving for work at the E.E. Smith Middle School. The accused was apprehended in the middle of her bus route after she pulled over and reported feeling unwell. Responders to the scene reported that her blood alcohol level was 0.09. All 50 students on Wilson's bus at the time were unharmed.
Austin Obasohan, the superintendent of the Duplin County School System, has said that he believes that similar incidents can be prevented in the future by performing more frequent drug tests.
Human resources professionals who wish to avoid embarrassing and dangerous incidences, such as workers drunk on the job, may wish to implement stricter drug testing policies as well as educate their employees on proper workplace behavior using e-Learning solutions.
