Industry and HR trends to help your business grow.

In 2008, I was interviewing for an HR position and was asked by the VP of HR, “What are your thoughts on the Keith Hammonds article, Why We Hate HR?”. Read more …

How can you help your team members manage what they consider to be a heavy workload? With people feeling stressed from the pandemic and companies struggling to hire workers, it’s likely that at least some of your employees are feeling burned out. Read more …

A recent book club meeting led to a discussion on the term “vulnerability” and what it means within the workplace. The Merriam Webster definition of the word vulnerable is 1: capable of being physically or emotionally wounded; 2: open to attack or damage. Read more …

Effective internal communication is essential to the success of any organization. Effective communication builds a resilient company culture and cultivates employee morale. Communication gets more complicated when you add remote work and different time zones into the mix. Read more …

Does it feel like you are navigating a minefield when it comes to ensuring you are fulfilling all of your wage and hour obligations? It is no easy feat to comply with federal, state, district, county and local requirements. Read more …

It feels like the world of benefits has been in flux since the roll out of The Affordable Care Act (ACA) in March of 2010 – it is over 10 years old! Companies have struggled to keep pace with the cost of coverage and types of plans and programs to offer. Read more …

It is hard to believe that it has been almost a full year since COVID-19 appeared on the horizon. While COVID has affected almost everyone in some way, there has been a detrimental impact on women in the workplace, especially women of color and senior-level women. Read more …

The workplace is fast paced with shifting priorities. Most days, there are simply not enough hours in the day. Read more …

Although Human Resources Professionals have come a long way by providing Managers and Executives the proper tools and trainings to manage their own employees, there seems to remain an unspoken belief that HR is still needed to enforce a necessary outcome. Read more …

According to an April 2020 poll conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 45% of adults are reporting that anxiety and stress related to COVID-19 has had a negative impact on their mental health. Read more …

Have you ever started a job only to find out that it wasn’t quite what you were expecting? This happens more than you might think. If your employees are quitting shortly after they’re hired, you might want to assess how realistic your job postings are and think about what you’re telling candidates during interviews. Read more …

Every company has its challenges, but the hallmarks of a truly toxic environment include persistent infighting, etc.  It’s vital to eliminate this kind of toxicity in your work environment for the following reasons.   Read more …

The secret behind many successful life science companies is an excellent HR team that uses scarce resources for maximum effect. They can - champion a positive culture, provide coaching and guidance to management,  and develop new initiatives that align to the future needs of the business.  Read more …

Are you aware that the Department of Labor issued a final overtime rule in September of 2019? Among other things, it means that starting in 2020, the salary threshold for white-collar employee exemptions increases from $455 to $684 per week. Read more …

A company holiday party is a perfect opportunity to build camaraderie and reward your employees for a great year. Prevent a holiday headache for your HR department and review some party dos and don’ts to keep in mind this season. Read more …

In HR, it’s important to look ahead to the future and help your company stay prepared. As you wrap up a calendar year, review your year-end checklist. Have you accomplished everything on this annual housekeeping checklist? Read more …

When I tell people my company does Talent Acquisition and Human Resources Consulting, I get asked 2 things: Can you get me the right talent and can you create a great culture for me? Read more …

There's no one-size-fits-all answer to the question; when is the best time to outsource HR? Here are our top ten scenarios we believe indicate it's time to outsource HR. Read more …

I always tell my son - always do a good job in everything you do – someone is always watching! Read more …

Today we are considering the impact of love on an organization. Loving your job can also be described as engaged or having high employee engagement. Employee engagement is usually described as being connected to the organization, giving your best, and feeling committed to the company’s values and goals. Read more …

While studying workforce trends and working with our clients, we are watching the employee landscape when it comes to culture, retention and engagement. According to a recent Gallup Survey of The American Workforce, 67% of employees are not engaged at work. Read more …

Beginning on January 1, 2018, New York state will have one of the most comprehensive paid family leave laws in the country. The New York Paid Family Lave Benefits Law (PFL) applies to all private-sector employers regardless of size – even if you have just one employee working from home in New York. Read more …

Tis the season for employees to eat, drink, and act inappropriately at holiday parties. Holiday parties can help motivate employees and serve as a thank you for their hard work all year; however, we often see bad behavior by employees. Read more …

Recent sexual harassment scandals involving Hollywood and media figures, as well as members of Capital Hill, are focusing new attention on the topic. These very public allegations have set off a ripple effect, empowering people who say they also were victims, to come forward with stories of abuse by people in power. Read more …

According to a recent study by The Conference Board, the top challenge for CEOs worldwide is Human Capital (read – hiring talent and effectively managing it). Yet firm leaders frequently say Human Resources is not adding the value needed for their company to achieve its goals. Read more …

On August 29, 2017, the White House blocked the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s requirement for employers with over 100 employees to include W-2 income and employee hours when filing the 2017 EEO-1 Report. Read more …

We are happy to share with you another update to assist with your HR compliance. With many changes in legislation over the past year there are numerous areas in your Employee Handbook that should be reviewed. Here are a few that you should review today. Read more …

On Monday, January 23rd Philadelphia became the first city in the nation to bar employers from uthosking potential hires to provide their salary history. Mayor Jim Kenney signed the measure into law and said he’s confident the bill can withstand legal challenges. Read more …

Effective January 22, 2017, employers are required to use the NEW revised Form I-9. You can follow this link to access both an electronic form as well as a downloadable pdf. Read more …

As 2016 draws to a close, we want to be sure that you are up to date on the many regulatory and legislative changes that have happened in the US this year. If you have any questions about how these changes apply to your organization, please feel free to contact us. Read more …

Does your office have a few new faces running around the halls this summer? We hope so! Summertime is the most popular time for students to participate in internship programs. Internship programs, if run correctly, can be a GREAT partnership for both the student and the employer. Read more …

In a world of ever changing rules and regulations, it is important to keep up-to-date with the latest legislations impacting the Human Resource industry, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! This month, two major changes were put in to play that could ultimately impact you and your workplace. Read more …

It’s FINALLY springtime and graduation season is in full swing! As the tassel is moved from one side to the other, many college graduates are are busy making plans for their future. Some may have jobs lined up, while others are busy interviewing – and some, perhaps, have yet to begin the process. Read more …

In today’s challenging market, it’s imperative to ensure you’re attracting, recruiting, and retaining the most talented individuals in your industry. Your talent management strategy will be influential in paving the way for future success and setting your team up for tomorrow’s challenges. Read more …

There is a lot happening on the HR compliance front at the moment including ACA filing extensions, updated government forms, and changes to who employers must pay for overtime. Read more …

Alas, the holidays are upon us! The season of giving, the season of cheer, the season of crowded stores and hard-to-find parking spaces. Year-end proves to be one of the busiest times of the year for everyone and especially in the working world. Read more …

I can’t help but notice lately that so many headlines in our world today are revolving around negativity. Whether seen on TV, newspapers, or our social media newsfeeds, we have suddenly become numb to the violence and sadness that takes place every day. Read more …

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US! The O’Connor Group celebrated our 8th anniversary during the month of September, and we are celebrating! As with anything, milestones often make us reflect on what has happened and predict what will happen in the future. Read more …

Students across the country have said goodbye to summer, sharpened their pencils, stuffed their backpacks and settled back in to the classroom. Cheers from parents all around! This only means one thing for employers looking for fresh talent to fill their pipeline – CAMPUS RECRUITING! Woo hoo! Read more …

Welcome to The Coffee Connection, The O’Connor Group monthly newsletter. Over the years, I’ve made some of my best connections over a hot cup of coffee so what better way to continue the conversation? We’ll provide you with helpful tips, industry news some great coffee tidbits! Read more …