Workplace Violence: Murdered when asked for a raise...

Anyone interested in one of the roomates to the left? Of course not - none of us want to end up there. This can be a quick consequence to workplace violence...

I blinked and almost missed this article on CNN but was obviously shocked by it. The article I ran across is titled, "Police: Boss kills workers who asked for raise".

As fellow HR Professionals, we would all agree that workplace violence is something that we never want to see at our company. We do our best to coach managers and employees on the best way to work and interact with each other - confrontation and difficult conversations is just about the biggest area that needs improvement. We can make recommendations, give examples, and even role play with each other but sometimes our advice is ignored and either party can be found guilty of reacting in a way where the immediate and future consequences of that reaction is the last thing on their mind.

In the story on CNN we aren't really given a lot of information - just told that the employees weren't happy about their pay and they had asked their boss on numerous occasions about an increase. Their boss just snapped and killed them both. This is obviously the worst possible scenario and outcome...

Here are some resources I found on-line that can be very helpful...

I found some information on Workforce that linked to a couple great pdf's from the FBI and ASIS International. If you're wondering what ASIS is, check out this link.

OSHA has some great resources available. Check out this bit of information from the OSHA website...Its most extreme form, homicide, is the fourth-leading cause of fatal occupational injury in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), there were 564 workplace homicides in 2005 in the United States...

For a great post from a Workplace Violence/Anger Management perspective check out this post from The HR Capitalist...

Drugs & Alcohol On The Job and Random Drug Testing: Astronauts & The Office

OK - so we've all heard or read from the news today about the astronauts that few the space shuttle while drunk...

This is obviously something we didn't want to hear but we do know that NASA is acting quickly to address the problem.

I found a couple articles on CNN - here and here...

Here's is a report that gives some findings from the NASA Astronaut Health Care System Review Committee. It includes data from findings done from February 2007 to June 2007...

Hopefully, going forward, we'll start to hear fewer and fewer examples of stories like these involving astronauts - we still want our kids to continue to dream of becoming an astronaut one day. This also means that we need more and more astronauts being painted in a positive light as a good role model and someone to look up to.

But, since I'm a huge fan of "The Office", I couldn't help but think back to the episode when a joint is found in the parking lot of Dunder Mifflin. Dwight decides to question all of his co-workers and we get to see Michael as he takes an opportunity to speak to all of his employees about drugs - we also learn his definition of random drug testing...

Enjoy.

Negative Unemployment?

I was listening to the radio today (Rick & Bubba) while driving home from work and I heard the term negative unemployment. New to you? It certainly was to me. My simple definition would be a situation that exists when you have more jobs available than qualified workers...

From what I heard from the interview, jobs are on their way to Huntsville (Alabama) but, at this time, there aren't enough people to fill them. Who wouldn't want to work at the home of the United States Space & Rocket Center?

Check out this website that will tell you all about it...

Here's a quote from the site that sums it up pretty well - Huntsville Alabama is home to the Army’s Aviation and Missile expertise and to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. It is soon to be the home of the Army Material Command and the Missile Defense Agency. There is already a shortage of professional people including engineers, scientists, program managers, acquisition and logistics experts and there are several thousand vacant positions coming between now and 2011.

Here's an article from the Huntsville Times that gives much more detailed information about this opportunity and predicament that Huntsville has found themselves in...

I did some research on-line and found Huntsville's unemployment rate as of May 2007 to be 2.4% - that's ranked 14th compared to other metropolitan areas in the US. My metropolitan area of Birmingham, AL has a current unemployment rate of 2.7% and is ranked 28th.

And you thought you had it hard? How would you like to be presented with this challenge and how do you think you would do?

Here are my first two initial suggestions.
1. You must offer incentives for qualified workers to come to Huntsville - be creative!
2. You must make sure the city - from tourism and government are all working together in a way to encourage and attract those workers.

Good Luck!

Tattoo? And You Want To Work Here?

So, who really cares if I have a tattoo or not - especially if I'm a hardworking and dedicated employee? The answer is - it depends...

HERE'S THE MAIN QUESTION TO CONSIDER (IF YOU ARE AN EMPLOYEE) - does the fact that you have a tattoo represent the image that your employer wants to portray to it's customers and clients - and especially their potential customers and clients? When $$ and profits are concerned your employer will always care. Since you already work there you're probably safe today.

HERE'S THE SECOND QUESTION TO CONSIDER (IF YOU ARE A CANDIDATE) - will the fact that I have a tattoo hinder me from getting the job that I'd like to have, make the money I need to make, and progress in my career like I want to?

I began thinking about this topic when I saw this video on CNN's website titled "Tattoos in the workplace" - CNN's Stephanie Elam reported on the prevalence of tattoos at the office and how some companies are responding. The video reported that approximately 25% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 50 have a tattoo and approximately 35% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 have a tattoo. If you're thinking like me those percentages sound a little high...

Here's an example to think about based upon the above stats... Let's say that in your company 200 employees fall between the ages of 18 and 50. If this is the case then there's a pretty good chance that about 50 of them have a tattoo. Now I'll bet you are pretty surprised - and I am too.

Now, let's go back to my MAIN QUESTION from the top. In my question I'm making the assumption that you are employed today and you're asking this question because you fall in one of these two following categories:

1. You have a small discrete tattoo today and you are thinking about your second tattoo or the upgrade that may be larger and less discrete.

2. You're thinking about getting your first tattoo.

If this is you then you've got to think about how this move is going to impact your current employment and future promotional opportunities. If this is your first tattoo and you've already decided that it's going to be small and discrete (and in a location that probably no one will see) I'd say your pretty safe. But, maybe you fall in the first question - this will obviously be a bigger decision and will take more thought from you as to the size and location - both of these will determine your future...But, maybe you don't care at all - then this may be your chance to rage against the machine and just accept how the chips fall...

Now, let's got back to my SECOND QUESTION from the top. You don't have a job or are very early in your career and have started to send out resumes and interview with prospective employers. How is your tattoo going to impact your ability to find work or has it already impacted your ability to find work?

Because of the size and location of your tattoo do you need to start looking into tattoo removal? If your curious about the idea, check out this video on CNN's website titled "Tattoo removal a big business". The doctor they interviewed says that it can cost up to $4,000 to get a tattoo removed and approximately 80% of his patients are women.

I found this article on Fox News titled "Body Art and Tattoos in the Workplace" and it gives a great example of a librarian at the University of Kentucky that desipite her tattoos has been pretty successful gaining and keeping employment.

Here's a quote from the article...The 27-year-old — who has multiple masters degrees and a job at the University of Kentucky's research library — feels no pressure to cover up. "It's not really possible at this point, unless I wore gloves," Harris said, adding that she thinks academia has been more accepting of her body art than the corporate world would be. "I think my qualifications should speak for themselves."

This other quote from the article reminds us that there are companies that are accepting of tattoos and body art...For some companies, allowing body art can be a boon - it attracts young workers that may not feel welcome in more conservative environments, said Paul Forster, CEO of the job search Web site Indeed.com (which shows that postings for tattoo artist have surged in the past year). Forster allows body art in the office, and about a quarter of his 25 employees have it.

Now the decision is up to you - it's completely your call on how you want to tackle this decision...

If you are still after more here are some links to more articles and policies on this topic.
Check out this post from George's Employment Blawg
Here's a quick take from Workforce
Here's an article from MaineToday
Check out this policy from the Army

Enjoy!

P.S. Here's a place where tattoos are not only exposed but also encouraged - Miami Ink or check out LA Ink where Kat (pictured above) has a new show and place to work.

The Latest Carnival of HR Is Up!

All - It's here...the latest Carnival of HR is up and running!

Special thanks to Ask A Manager for this edition...

Enjoy!

When A Reservation Really Isn't A Reservation - Seinfeld And Workplace Ethics...

How many of you out there have ever experienced one of these scenarios?

Scenario 1: You've been an employee of a company and been asked to somewhat "mislead" the public regarding the "fine print" that no one ever reads. How long did you stay working there after an experience like this one with Jerry? Did you feel guilty and confront management or just find another job and move on?

Scenario 2: You've been a consumer and had an experience like what Jerry went through. What did you do? Write or e-mail the company regarding these misleading/unethical tactics or just move on to the next rental car agency?

Just something to think about...enjoy the clip!

Also, If you have an example of either of of these scenarios please share by commenting...I'm sure we'd all like to read...

Job Opportunities At The Beach?

Anyone want to be a Lifeguard?

I'm in Florida all week long and I've been thinking about those tourists that come down here and start to seriously think about moving the family down here. No, not just a long vacation but really relocating the family.

If that is you let me make a list for you of some employment locations,opportunities, and occupations...

Seaside - they even have a "careers" page...
Beach Chair Rental...
Banker - at Regions Bank
How about Hilton Head?
Find a resort job - here...
Ever consider South Beach or Miami Beach?
Yacht crew?
How about buying a shrimp boat?
Are you a pilot? You could pull an airplane banner
You skilled enough to make surfboards?
Interested in Walt Disney World?

These are just some of the ones that I could think of and I know there are hundreds more out there...

As you can see, if you are really serious about the idea there are definitely some available careers for you.

Enjoy!

Marine Biologist: George Costanza's Second Career

Hopefully you've read my below post and have thought about your "second career"...

Here's some humor from George Costanza...Enjoy!

A Second Career - Is Now The Time?

I've been reading a lot about "career switching" and "second careers" and I've found some great resources and articles in BusinessWeek.

The first article I found was this one by Emily Keller titled, "Real Life Career-Changers". It gives a couple of great examples of how Eric Green, a Navy veteran, and Karen Tuttle, a retired 2nd grade school teacher, make this transition.

Here is a great quote from Eric Green as he talks about his transition from a Navy vet to co-managing a $50 million hedge fund. Although many of his skills carried over, Green says it has been difficult learning "how to filter the signal from the noise" when it comes to using market data to develop business strategies and pinpoint opportunities for growth. "I don't know if I will ever overcome this problem," says Green, who combats the obstacle by focusing on value-investing news rather than popular business information sources. "Most of my time is trying to hone the investment process, rather than worry about the hot headline."

The second resource I found was this great took kit that BusinessWeek put together - a Special Report on "second careers" and included are many resources, articles, and tips on how to take the jump into this new phase and chapter in your life. Take a deep dive into the links and information included there and you'll find youself bettere educated and prepared when thinking about all the factors that you will need to consider when making this change.

Here are some factors I'd recommend you consider before taking this leap...

1. Can you afford it? This may be an obvious question but you'll need to look at your financial situation and where you want to be when you "officially retire". If you've done your homework and prepared over the years you may already be there. If you are not where you need to be take how ever much time is needed to get you there. This may take some time, sacrifice and commitment but if you really want to transition out of what you are doing and into something you truly have a passion for, you've got to do it.

2. Find something your passionate about. You've been in your current career for a while and have had plenty of time to think about what you wish you would have done. You've also had experiences and learning opportunities in your life that have introduced you to ideas and careers that you had never would of dreamed of back when you were 18 and trying to choose your major in college.

3. Find something that gives you the work/life balance you want and need. You will need to select a career that gives you the work/life balance you want at this stage in your life. You may have a passion and always dreamed of becoming a jet pilot or a wilderness guide in the Amazon - but are these really going to give you the work/life balance you need? Probably not. But, there may be something you can do locally that is closely related to these passions that will still give you the satisfaction you are looking for.

These questions and factors are a great starting point for this new chapter in your life so continue to plan, set goals, and make that transition well into that new career.

David Beckham = New Compensation Strategy

For those of you out there who aren't soccer fans, you may have overheard on the news (TV, radio, internet) that David Beckham is coming to the states to play soccer. If you you don't know who David Beckham is, he's married to Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham. If this clue doesn't help just follow my links...

He'll be playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy and making about $250 million over the next 5 years - this will come from sponsors, merchandise sales, and a % of club profits. If you're a hardcore fan you can go to the Galaxy site and see a countdown to David Beckham's arrival in LA!

I just read this article in Time by Gary Andrew Poole titled, "The Beckham Circus Comes To Town" where he talks about the circus (Beckham family) that will be coming...

I immediately put my HR/Compensation hat on when I read in the article about the "Beckham Rule". This is otherwise known as the designated player rule (but named after David Beckham) and allows a team to sign one player that is not counted or considered in that teams salary cap for the year.

For you HR and Comp Pros out there can you imagine your company creating a compensation rule, strategy, or exception just for that "high performer" on the market? Before today, I had never even considered the idea.

It's quite an interesting strategy and only time will tell if it pays off for the Galaxy and other teams who have and will take advantage of it...

Enjoy!

Our Safety vs Open Positions: Department Of Homeland Security

I just ran across this article at The Washington Post by Spencer S. Hsu titled, "Job Vacancies At DHS Said To Hurt U.S. Preparadness", and of course it really caught my attention.

As an HR Professional and American I wanted to hear how open positions, job satisfaction, and turnover at the Department of Homeland Security could impact or affect how prepared we are for a terrorist or other attack.

Below are some quotes from the article that sum up the three main areas of concern that any HR pro and American should have...

Open Positions:
"The Bush administration has failed to fill roughly a quarter of the top leadership posts at the Department of Homeland Security, creating a "gaping hole" in the nation's preparedness for a terrorist attack or other threat, according to a congressional report to be released today.

As of May 1, Homeland Security had 138 vacancies among its top 575 positions, with the greatest voids reported in its policy, legal and intelligence sections, as well as in immigration agencies, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Coast Guard. The vacant slots include presidential, senior executive and other high-level appointments, according to the report by the majority staff of the House Homeland Security Committee."

Job Satisfaction:
"Homeland Security employees reported the lowest job satisfaction among 36 federal agencies in a January survey by the OPM. The average tenure of the Secret Service director has dropped from 10 years during the past century to less than three years since 1992, and the agency has had three directors since it was moved into the DHS."

Turnover:
"The department faces high turnover because top officials are in demand in a private sector willing to pay lucrative salaries. It is heavily dependent on contractors, yet its staff to manage them is overstretched. Partisan political combat over homeland security issues has also made jobs less attractive."

I won't get political but will have to say that after reading this article I am somewhat concerned. I know there are a lot of "agendas" driving some of the "facts" that were presented in this article but we should all due our homework regarding this and other related articles and stories about the Department of Homeland Security and our safety.

I know that I'll be keeping a close eye to this story and I hope you will as well...

Enjoy the post and be sure to dig through the links...

"The Office" Pranks with Dwight - Thanks to Pam and Jim

Here are my last two clips from "The Office" for a little while - I found these and couldn't resist...

Enjoy "CIA Mission" and "Future Dwight"

Pepper Spray At Work - Good Idea or Bad Idea?

Cube Etiquette - How Bad Can It Reallly Be?

I've been hearing and reading a lot recently about "cube etiquette" and often wondered if it was really as bad as claimed. But then I remember that we have all been there - you either sit in a cube today, you did in a previous job, or you have friends that work in a cube...

Now, you may be wondering - who really cares about "cube etiquette"? It Looks like CNN & The NY Times does and they have done some legwork and felt this topic was print worthy.

The NY Times article, "Turning Down The Volume In The Next Cube", was published on June 17, 2007 by Eilene Zimmerman and includes some great Q & A's from "readers" presenting various scenarios and how various situations can best be handled.

The CNN article, "Your biggest cubicle complaints...solved", was published on July 2, 2007 by Robert Half International and address some complaints with some great "what not to do" / "what to do" scenarios.

Here's my favorite scenario...

Complaint: "Things keep disappearing off my desk."

What not to do: If you see your stapler is missing, quickly swipe someone else's to replace it.

What to do: It's hard to monitor your belongings when you're away from your workspace, but you can help crack the problem when you are there. The next time someone reaches over your cubicle wall to "borrow" a sticky note or stapler, politely direct the person to the supply room. If the issue persists or goes beyond company-supplied items, you may want to talk to your manager. In the meantime, reduce the temptation for others to swipe your stuff by placing anything of value, like a favorite book or MP3 player, in a bag or purse that you take home with you each evening.

Now some humor - at least your "stuff" doesn't end up in a vending machine...