The AdVantige

College Internships: A Dynamic Recruiting Strategy

Leslie Carrington — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 13:57:00 GMT

Years ago, as a freshman in college, I had the opportunity to work for the water department in my hometown. My job was pretty much a gofer position, but I learned a lot about what our municipal employees did, and why their jobs were important. I decided this was not what I wanted to do as a career, but I learned many valuable lessons I still use today.

Salaries, Timekeeping and FLSA Overtime Regulations: Check Your Tech!

Timothy Carrington — Wed, 25 May 2016 11:00:00 GMT

Last week, the Federal Government announced changes to overtime regulations. Many employers must decide on how to comply with these changes. With the advent of TV commercials from law firms offering workers a chance to report wage and hour issues, FLSA overtime regulations must be followed closely.

I called one of our favorite clients to ensure they understood the overtime changes and implications to their business. They are a premier, dynamic IT Consultancy; once we covered the regulatory stuff, our chat shifted to technology changes that may be triggered by the regulatory change. We discussed timekeeping systems for a while; companies are figuring out the best way to handle impacted employees, and their timekeeping systems will (or should) have the data managers need to support decisions.

For example, salaries below the threshold ($47,476 effective December 1, 2016) don't have to be increased. You may decide to calculate the equivalent hourly rate that would pay the same dollar amount...with the same work schedule (including typical overtime hours). Having a history of hours worked would be invaluable in that analysis.

Anyway, consider the following functions of a great time keeping system.

Elevator Video Blog: Who Needs a Benefits Plan Document?

Timothy Carrington — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:00:00 GMT

Benefits Plan Documents

Too many employers offer employee benefits, but do not have the required plan documents. Without them, pre-tax deductions taken on behalf of the employees may not be legal! The plan description (formatted as required by the ACA) is not an acceptable substitute. Watch this elevator video blog for more information.

Personnel Files: What the Records Show (Elevator Video Blog)

Timothy Carrington — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 11:00:00 GMT

The Truth about Employee Records

Does your Company have a "personnel file?" By that, I mean one folder for keeping every important-looking piece of paper related to one of the employees. Hey - as long as all the papers are (pretty much) in one place and able to be found, that's OK...right?

Employee record keeping is a serious matter. Personnel files are to a seasoned HR Professional like a blood sample is to a Physician. Regardless of what the Manager (or Patient) says, you can get to the truth by checking the sample...assuming you know what to look for. Your employee records say a lot about your Company. As unimportant as they may seem to some Managers, those dusty papers will either save you or hang you.

Respect the records! Watch our Elevator Video Blog for a dose of truth re: personnel files.

Elevator Video Blog - Why Give Employees Performance Reviews?

Timothy Carrington — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 16:30:00 GMT

Performance Management and Feedback

Try playing Football with no yard lines, no end zone and no goal posts (this was actually a fun game I played as a kid; let's try another example!).

Better yet, try running your operation with no expectations, performance targets or feedback. Would you sign up to be accountable for that operation? Not if you want a good career.

Managers use a lot of reasons to not give performance reviews to their employees. I wonder how many of those reasons are actually good for the business overall.

Watch this short "elevator" video blog for reasons to give employees performance reviews! No cheesy performance review phrases here; just sound advice.

Hiring Strategy: What Everybody Ought to Know

Leslie Carrington — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 11:00:00 GMT

It used to be that guys had to bring their “A-game” to impress ladies who caught their eye. That meant a really cool outfit, fresh haircut, nice shoes, and fresh breath...just in case. Perhaps the most important part was having good friends who would tell the girl what a great person he was, how funny he was and how generous he was. Endorsements like those helped to seal the deal. Before he knew it, he would be celebrating his seven month anniversary (her idea) as a couple!

Six Reasons to Hire Mature Candidates

Leslie Carrington — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 11:00:00 GMT

We all know that vintage cars command a higher price, aged cheese is higher in calcium and aged wine taste better. If this is the case, why do we think that, when it comes to replacing an employee, younger is better?

Effective Communication in Business: You Own the Message

Timothy Carrington — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Communication seems like such an easy thing. You know exactly what you mean to say, and the message is crystal clear in your mind. So, what happens when that message gets into open air?

Where Did All the Employee Ideas Go?

Timothy Carrington — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:00:00 GMT

When I was a kid, I remember watching Quickdraw McGraw, a goofy cartoon character (a horse, I think) with a Donkey as a sidekick. Almost every episode, the sidekick would have an idea, or see a problem that QuickDraw had missed. When the sidekick tried to alert QuickDraw, he would reply with “I’ll do the thin(k)ing around here, and don’t you forget it!” Maybe you have heard (or worse yet, said) those words in a business environment. What a waste, and a dangerous situation. Managers who don’t require employee feedback (not just allow, tolerate or patronize it) are guilty of wasting company money in the worst way. There are many stories of employees on factory lines (doing repetitive tasks all day) developing innovations to benefit the overall operation. Wisdom is where you find it, and its value is not diminished based on where it comes from.

Self-Awareness: Don’t Be a Manager Without It

Timothy Carrington — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:00:00 GMT

I define self-awareness as the knowledge of one’s own strengths, weaknesses and impact others. Some management gurus take this concept to a mystical extreme. I don’t claim guru status, and I don’t think that mystical methods are necessary to develop leadership skills. I do, however, support self-awareness (my definition) as a key factor in a manager’s success and effectiveness.