this is article 5 of 5 in the dmaic problem-solving method series

Dress code policies are an age-old topic within the business world. Should you continue to require your employees to wear suits or buy into the casual jeans-and-t-shirt look all the Millennials are craving? This really all depends on who you are as an organization and what your culture is. For some organizations, it seems as if you have to choose between buttoned-up or laid-back but those aren’t the only options.

Just like in any profession, there are plenty of fads, “hot topics”, and trends that come and go in the world of human resources. But which of these workplace practices are really here to stay and which are just a flash in the pan? Here at ERC we are taking a dive into the data from our most comprehensive survey of the year, the recently published 2017/2018 ERC Policies & Benefits Survey, to find out!

Absence management comes in many different shapes and sizes. Oftentimes issues arise in the workplace regarding absence management or FMLA and the intricate compliance laws and requirements may make handling the issue more complicated than expected. ERC’s Help Desk compiled a list of frequently asked questions we receive from our local members and with the help of CareWorks, here’s the answers to those questions:

Weapons in the workplace: a growing concern

In a clear sign of the times, ERC’s research has seen “workplace safety” rise to the surface as an area of concern and action for many employers. Setting aside the high profile news stories about workplace violence over the past several years, even here in Northeast Ohio employers have experienced comparatively more incidences of violence in their workplaces firsthand in recent years.

1. Require Disclosure

Even if you are opting for a more relaxed dating policy within your organization, require that the two involved employees disclose their relationship. Have the involved parties sign a contract that states their relationship is mutually consensual, they are both free to end the relationship at any point in time without an impact on work, that they will not let the relationship effect their performance, and that they understand the company’s sexual harassment policy.

According to ERC’s 2016 Workplace Practices Survey, the biggest challenge organizations are facing today is the hiring and retention of talent. An organization’s ability to attract and retain top talent is strongly influenced by its culture.

Life is full of surprises, ones that sometimes lead to employees calling off work unexpectedly. Whether it is a last-minute cancellation by a childcare provider, a case of food poisoning, or another more “creative” reason, absenteeism is a pervasive and costly issues faced by organizations across the board. The four steps outlined below can serve as a basic guide on improving your absence management practices this year.