http://jmwoosterinc.com/ News and update from JM Wooster Inc. Sun, 5 Sep 2010 11:46:31 EST en-ca Copyright 2010 JM Wooster Inc. http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/bill168-the-what-the-why--but-where-s-the-how.html http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/bill168-the-what-the-why--but-where-s-the-how.html Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EST Lately, it seems we're drowning in templates, sample policies, checklists, legal opinions and numerous information sessions related to Bill 168, an amendment to Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act that came into effect on June 15, 2010. But what will it really take to achieve not only an acceptable level of compliance, but also a truly meaningful standard of conduct and prevention, and how do we get there? http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/atthe-centre-of-your-light.html http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/atthe-centre-of-your-light.html Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST How powerful would it be if we could always work in the centre of our light? What does working at the centre of your light mean for you? Tips for finding your light and staying in the centre of it ... http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/idrather-ask-for-forgiveness-than-ask-for-permission.html http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/idrather-ask-for-forgiveness-than-ask-for-permission.html Wed, 4 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST Brace yourself, because my patience has really run out on this one. What a sorry excuse for the inability to collaborate, communicate, acknowledge the validity of other people, and understand that there is a larger organization beyond your own little fifedom. This is a very popular approach being taken by people who lack the ability to see anything other than what's important to them. http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/isit-ok-for-hr-to-view-employees-facebook-pages.html http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/isit-ok-for-hr-to-view-employees-facebook-pages.html Mon, 9 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST I recently came across this blog post http://www.knowhr.com/blog/about-2/
Although I completely agree that it's wrong to cruise the facebook pages of employees for what can only be the purpose of catching them doing something you don't approve of, I'm quite fascinated by the highly confrontational tone used by the author. http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/thepower-of-the-strategic-no.html http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/thepower-of-the-strategic-no.html Mon, 2 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST In most organizations there is an expectation that you will say "yes" more often than "no" if you're a person who wants to have impact. That’s how things get done - at least that's always been my experience. Hard enough to say no if you’re in a corporate environment, but when you’re working in a highly mission driven organization it just isn’t done. How can you say “no” when lives are at stake? http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/new-page-2010-8-4-0802.html http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/new-page-2010-8-4-0802.html Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST Let’s keep the conversation going about how intrusive HR should be in relation to information employees choose to publish on social media sites. Bearing in mind, they are doing this on their own time, using their own equipment, and not representing their comments as those of their employer. We’ve already discussed facebook in a previous blog, but what about information that is available in an open forum? http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/new-page-2010-8-4-2128.html http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/new-page-2010-8-4-2128.html Thu, 5 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST About 15-20 years ago everybody started jumping on the well-intentioned “values” bandwagon. Not surprising when you consider that identifying an organization’s values was meant to create a foundation for defining how work is performed, how people were to conduct themselves, what qualities and behaviours best reflect organizational practice and culture, etc. And a lot of HR people, like me, put in a lot of time facilitating focus groups, aligning values with performance indicators, building them into our employer branding, and demonstrating how values would enhance the organization’s strategic direction. Now, 15-20 years down the road, where are we really? http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/organizationalculture.html http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/organizationalculture.html Fri, 6 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST When writing my recent blog on corporate values, I spoke of the connection between values and culture. A symbiotic relationship if ever there was one. But, what does it really mean to have a culture? Some shared interests and preferences, sure, but an actual culture? http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/workplacestress.html http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/workplacestress.html Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST If you’re in HR you’re definitely familiar with the effects of stress in the workplace. We see the outcomes consistently in lost time at work, increased illness and medical costs, employee turnover, inability to attract the best staff, and in some really unfortunate and extreme instances, it can break out as violence.

So I’m always interested when I come across articles and resources suggesting they can help to reduce stress in the workplace. But lately, I’m beginning to see an imbalance between employer and employee responsibility. The trend seems to be moving away from assisting the employer to be aware of their role in reducing unnecessary stress in the workplace, and placing responsibility for managing what I can only assume is now the accepted inevitability of increasingly stressful workplaces squarely on the employee. http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/thebig-slide-to-freedom.html http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/thebig-slide-to-freedom.html Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST Steven Slater just quit his job as a flight attendant with JetBlue by losing his cool with a passenger, chewing everyone out over the intercom, grabbing a beer, and deploying the emergency slide. I’ve had days when I felt like that, and if there had been a big slide to freedom available I might just have taken it.

To some, Steven is a hero and to others he’s a felon. But whatever your position on what he did, the real issue here is what lead up to his actions. http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/customerservice.html http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/customerservice.html Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST I’ve been blogging recently on workplace stress. A very emotional topic to be sure, but what about Customer Stress? Especially when I’m the customer! http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/cobwebsand-cleaning-ladies.html http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/cobwebsand-cleaning-ladies.html Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST I’ve recently reached that time in my life when I treat myself to a cleaning lady every two weeks. Of course I still keep things tidy, but I feel I’ve put in my time and so I’ve given those skills an early retirement package and happily declared myself redundant in the housework department.

That is until this week. I suppose every relationship has its honeymoon period. Small indiscretions are overlooked because the bigger picture seems so rosey, but inevitably the rot sets in. For me, it was the cobwebs that did it. http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/thesalary-dance.html http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/thesalary-dance.html Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST “Please forward your resume, along with salary requirements, to .....”

Let the games begin. Being asked the salary question in a job ad is a bit like going to the senior prom with your cousin ... unwelcome, contrived and just plain uncomfortable. For both of you. So why do employers do it? http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/asa-recruiter-what-do-you-value-more---education-or-experience.html http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/asa-recruiter-what-do-you-value-more---education-or-experience.html Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST Today, it is a rare job advertisement that doesn’t ask for a college diploma or university degree. I’ve even seen positions at not much more than minimum wage stating that a degree is a job requirement. Hmmm, I wonder what their turnover rate is like?!?

But in the final analysis, is it education or experience that clinches the hiring decision? http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/theethics-of-job-interviews-who-owns-presentations-made-by-job-candidates.html http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/theethics-of-job-interviews-who-owns-presentations-made-by-job-candidates.html Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST This one hits close to home as the result of an experience my son had a couple of years ago.

He was invited in to interview for a marketing position with a very well known company. A great opportunity for someone not long out of college and looking to move to the next level. After the requisite screening by HR, he was invited in to meet with the Marketing Director and one or two other members of the team. Part of the interview was to include a presentation on a marketing concept he had developed based on very general criteria given by the employer. http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/The-Departure-Lounge.html http://jmwoosterinc.com/pub/The-Departure-Lounge.html Thu, 2 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST The worst has happened – for whatever reason you’ve just been terminated. Face to face with this difficult reality there is the first rush of emotions – fear, embarrassment, confusion - which may then quickly morph to indignation and anger - then to concern about how you will tell your family - and for those tortured few who felt it coming for a while, there may also be a sense of welcome relief.

And then the inevitable question – what do I do now?