Which gets better business results?
Recently, I was speaking to a client about the concept of Emotional Intelligence. He is busy growing his team and developing leadership skills in his organization. In fact, he is in the midst of hiring a critical role and is using EI concepts to assess his candidates. I have always been passionate about ensuring that organizations get the right talent on their team. After all, its ultimately people who create success for a business. So I often use EI concepts Read the full article…
Written by Deanna Hunter
On the category of Human Resources
without paying a dime
My good friend and colleague, Shawn Baldwin, wrote the following post for my blog this month. Shawn is an entrepreneur, business owner and super star recruiter. Check out officejobs.com to find out what Shawn is up to. As a small business owner I recognize that cash flow is king. My business success or challenge in many ways is defined by economic climate and if I’m making an investment I am always focused on achieving the highest possible value Read the full article…
Written by Deanna Hunter
On the category of Human Resources + Recruitment Process + Talent Attraction
Answer: It Depends.
I was asked recently for my advice about whether to hire a contractor or an employee to fill a role required at a small business. I know the business owners were hoping I’d have a pat answer for them. I didn’t. I gave them an “it depends” answer instead. Several items should be considered before getting to an answer. First things first. You have to be clear on the difference between a contractor and an employee. Alberta Employment Read the full article…
Written by Deanna Hunter
On the category of HR Consulting + Human Resources
Choosing & Preparing a Successor Takes Time
The BDC says that 3 in 5 owners of small to medium-sized businesses in Canada are 50 or older and a good many of them have done no planning whatsoever for a business transition, let alone choosing and preparing a successor. The lack of planning is sometimes about not having the time to think about it. Its often about not knowing how or where to start. And of course for some its just that they Read the full article…
Written by Deanna Hunter
On the category of HR Consulting + Human Resources
Signs that your small business needs HR automation
I’ve been asked by small business owners about the right time to purchase an HR software system. In general, HR software systems help to centralize & automate work flows and manage employee information & history. Every small business needs to do this – whether with paper, spreadsheets and filing cabinets, or with software. In my mind there are two big signs that indicate it might be time to invest in an HR software system. The Read the full article…
Written by Deanna Hunter
On the category of HR Consulting + Human Resources
Its easier than you think!
The Diversity conversation is everywhere. Think ‘OscarsSoWhite’. Think Justin Trudeau and his gender-equal cabinet. Both stories created world-wide headlines. And there are many more. If you haven’t been paying attention you should. And not just because of the news. But because its been proven that diverse companies outperform those that aren’t. They outperform in financials, in innovation and many other performance measures. As a small business owner you might be thinking that diversity is about Read the full article…
Written by Deanna Hunter
On the category of Human Resources + Talent Attraction + Talent Retention
Getting your HR House in Order
Staying on top of the people related side of your business is critical. As a small business you can’t risk the cost of poor performers, compliance errors, turnover, or planning gaffs. Consider the possible implications of things going wrong: the hard dollar costs of fines, the impact of mandatory reinstatement of a terminated employee, paying back-pay or damages, forced sensitivity training, or the damaged reputation as an employer or service provider. I hear many so-called Read the full article…
Written by Deanna Hunter
On the category of HR Consulting + Human Resources
Getting your Ducks in a Row
Most managers take a lot of time and expend a lot of energy in ensuring that they have done their due diligence when deciding to terminate a poor performing employee. Important stuff for sure. Paying some attention to the actual termination meeting itself is also important but often overlooked. The goal should be to get through the meeting without anyone feeling tortured or beat up, and with all parties leaving with their dignity intact. Here Read the full article…
Written by Deanna Hunter
On the category of Human Resources + Performance Management
Complicated or what?
Over 40,000 Canadians are currently registered to use medical marihuana. It’s estimated that 500,000 will be using medical marihuana in some form by 2024. This is definitely something employers should start thinking about – at some point one of your employees may be using medical marihuana at work. It’s a complicated issue and seems to be growing more complicated by the day as new court cases are being fought in many jurisdictions in Canada and Read the full article…
Written by Deanna Hunter
On the category of Employment Law + Human Resources
It doesn't have to cost a lot but can make a big impact.
We all know that employee recognition should be personal, relevant and timely. The advantage for small business owners is that the boss knows everyone by name, knows who’s accomplished what, and knows (or should know) what would be meaningful for each person. With a little thought and some creativity it can be easy to provide an impactful and cost effective ‘thank you’ for a job well done. Here are a few simple and free (or almost Read the full article…
Written by Deanna Hunter
On the category of Human Resources + Talent Retention