September 20, 2018 In PC Pointer By Cindy Fassler

Employee Burn Out

If you notice any of your employees becoming disengaged, missing deadlines, becoming forgetful or irritable, they may be experiencing employee burnout. A recent Gallup study discovered that 23% of employees felt burned out at work “often” or “always”, and 44% felt burned out “occasionally”. Employee burnout can be costly to your organization. An employee experiencing burnout is 63% more likely to take a sick day and 2.6 times more likely to seek new employment. A crucial factor in whether or not employees hit burnout is based on how they are treated and managed. How can you recognize the signs of employee burnout and what can you do to prevent it?

Read further for 4 tips to avoiding employee burnout:READ MORE

September 18, 2018 In Candidate, PC Pointer: Candidate Edition By Cindy Fassler

Counter Offers: Why They Can Be Risky

Seeking employment elsewhere opens a new door with new opportunities. However, once you give notice to your employer, you may find yourself navigating the tricky process of counter offers. You’ll want to be prepared for the powerful, persuasive tactics your current employer can use to convince you to stay. They could promise a new job title, a promotion, or a better benefits package. Most of the time you will be offered a higher salary to stay. Accepting the counter offer may be quite appealing, however, statistics from the National Employment Association show that 80% of employees who accepted counter offers still parted ways form their employer within 6 months.

Read further for reasons why accepting a counter offer might not be the best decision:READ MORE

September 13, 2018 In PC Pointer By Cindy Fassler

Are you stressed? Micromanaging makes it worse!

Have you ever found yourself continuously anxious at work – feeling like you constantly ask your team members for progress updates, have the need to be a part of every meeting and every email, or feel you need to do everything yourself for fear it won’t be done correctly? You probably think it is because you are a control freak or an extremely hands-on leader. However, in reality, you could be experiencing work-related stress resulting in micromanaging your employees. While you are responsible for your staff, you have a well-chosen group of employees for good reason – to help you and to assist in making sure your organization runs smoothly. While it may be hard to admit, over-controlling the process is most likely limiting the growth of your team and yourself. What can you do to limit stress and step back from micromanaging?

Read further to see how micromanaging is impacting your team and how you can alleviate some of the stress:READ MORE

August 30, 2018 In PC Pointer By Cindy Fassler

Flexible Hours: The New Must Have!

Millennials are now making up most of today’s workforce and are projected to reach up to 46% of it by 2020. It is crucial for companies and organizations to understand what motivates them as employees in order to retain workers. Millennials seem to think of the traditional Mon.-Fri. 9a-5p schedule as a thing of the past. Furthermore, having a flexible work schedule is no longer just a trend, but a new fundamental factor in retaining top talent and attracting new employees. Compared to five years ago, 40% more companies in the US offer a flexible work option. It is widely documented that a happier work place results in higher productivity among staff. Shifting a healthy focus onto employee wellbeing and allowing companies to incorporate options for flexible hours and telecommuting days just might be the missing link to higher productivity and an overall positive company culture. How can you stay with the latest workforce trends and develop and implement a flex work option at your company?

Read more for benefits of flexible work schedules and how you can implement them at your company:READ MORE

August 23, 2018 In PC Pointer By Cindy Fassler

How to Manage Counter Offers

You have worked hard to create and maintain a cohesive team of successful, strong, and smart employees with a company culture to match. Each team member is a valuable asset and the last thing you want is to lose top talent. If one of your valued employees approaches you to let you know they have received a job offer from another company with higher pay, you may find yourself confronting the tricky process of counter offering. How can you manage counter offers to keep your employees happy and retain top talent?

Read further for tips on managing and presenting counter offers:READ MORE

August 17, 2018 In Candidate, PC Pointer: Candidate Edition By Cindy Fassler

How to Keep Learning Without Going Back to School

Have you ever found yourself sitting at your desk wondering how you could better yourself in your career and as a person? You’ve gone through training at work and you tend to devour new ideas and concepts, but you’re still craving more! Learning current and emerging skills will help progress you at work as well as in life. Fortunately, with our growing digital world, there is a plethora of resources for you to dive into and expand your knowledge in your downtime.

Read further for tips on how to keep learning in your downtime:READ MORE

August 16, 2018 In PC Pointer By Cindy Fassler

Summer Team Building Activities

Summer might be coming to an end, but there is still time for some fun, summer time team building activities! See below for a few ideas to keep the summer office vibes going just a tad longer!
  • Popsicle making contest, provide employees with popsicle trays and leave the rest up to them!
  • Sand castle contest with fake sand to build in office
  • Ice cream sundae bar, with dairy free options, of course (you may want to pass on any nut based toppings based on employee allergies)
  • Hawaiian shirt contest, let employees bring their best tropical attire into the office
  • Team happy hour for alcoholic or nonalcoholic drinks, leave work an hour early and one drink is on the boss! (goes great with Hawaiian shirt contest day)

 

Contest winners can receive anything from gift cards to a PTO day. End the summer months on a high note leaving your employees excited for next year’s office activities

August 9, 2018 In PC Pointer By Cindy Fassler

Feeling Isolated at Work?

The modern day workplace has introduced a plethora of social platforms changing the way employees and managers interact and communicate with each other. It would come as no surprise that employees, or even yourself, can go an entire day without engaging with a colleague in person. Even in a bustling open office environment, overwhelmed employees can inadvertently shut down and withdraw from genuine connection. This can have a negative impact on company culture, causing employees to feel isolated and lonely. According to a University of Pennsylvania study, “employee loneliness led to poorer task, team role, and relational performance.” This loneliness can trigger an employee to be emotionally withdrawn and detached from their work and their peers. With a surplus of personalities in the office, it may be challenging to create an environment where each employee feels welcomed, appreciated, and a part of the team. How can you create a more cohesive work environment and disrupt potential isolation?

Read further for 4 tips on how you can disrupt isolation in the workplace:READ MORE

August 2, 2018 In PC Pointer By Cindy Fassler

Addressing Employee Gossip without Getting Sucked-In!

Allowing gossip to enter the workplace can negatively impact company culture by bringing down employee engagement and productivity. Office gossip can take many forms: company changes, employee salaries and promotions, personal affairs, and managerial problems. According to a study by Equisys, a business communications company, the average employees spends 65 hours a year gossiping at the office. When employees, especially managers get caught up in gossip, problems are less likely to be addressed, diminishing relationships and trust amongst co-workers. As managers it is our job to coach our teams and provide the best possible working environment we can. How can you avoid alienation and negativity among team members?

Read further for tips to avoid office gossip and how to kick it to the curb. READ MORE

July 26, 2018 In PC Pointer By Cindy Fassler

Are You Guilty of Poor Communication?

Communicating with your staff members is pivotal to achieve company goals, deliver direction, and boost company culture and team morale. It is the job of management to be able to create an environment where employees feel comfortable, inspired, and ready to hit the ground running. However, more often than not, managers need their own coaching in their roles as mentors. Without it, employees are potentially left feeling neglected, lost, or unappreciated. This can lead to high turnover rates and unmotivated staff members. Cultivating a workplace where employees feel appreciated and motivated can stem from the verbal communication that happens within the office.

Read further for 4 things you should never say to employees:READ MORE