That’s Not My Job!

I recently participated in a water fitness class at a city indoor pool and we were delayed starting because the new instructor had to get a lifeguard to tighten the tether ropes. The fitness instructor’s explanation of why she couldn’t perform this task (even though most instructors do) was “That’s not my job”. It reminded …

Stampede – The Good, The Bad & The Unemployed

For many Calgary-based businesses, the first ten days of July each summer are synonymous with a slowdown of business, empty offices and packed beer gardens. Viewed by some as the least productive time of year – “no one works during Stampede” – a strong case can be made for exactly the opposite. In fact, if …

Managing Disabilities in the Workplace

You say you want a diverse workplace. But what does that really mean? Will you employ a receptionist in a wheelchair? Promote to management someone with a speech impediment? Modify job duties for an individual with limited mobility? Canadian employers are now, more than ever, focused on attracting and retaining a diverse workforce. So, begs …

The Evolution of HR

In recent years, Human Resources has gained increasingly more involvement at the strategic level. We have seen the introduction of new titles (VP and Director of HR), representation at the Board level, and the concept of competitive advantage through incorporating HR into the strategic plan. So. What does this mean? This is drastically different to …

What Does Human Resources Do?

Beyond providing onboarding orientation, issuing weekly paycheques and knowing all your employee’s personal info, what exactly does the Human Resources department do? How do they add value to your organization? Listed below is an overview of a few key Human Resources functions and how they bring value to your company. Performance Management – Formalized and …

7 Steps to Successful Interviewing

For many hiring managers, conducting interviews can be an extremely stressful experience. Not only are you responsible for selecting the right person for the position, but you are also managing candidate nerves while trying to best present your organization and opportunity. Successful interviewing requires preparation and structure to ensure that you are collecting relevant candidate …

HR Metrics – What to measure?

Measuring the success of business plans, processes and programs is essential within every department of an organization. However, metrics for Human Resources are often less tangible and therefore more difficult to measure. This can make it challenging to illustrate and prove the department’s value and can also lead some people to believe that measuring HR …

The Basics of Phone Screening

It’s about the 4 Cs: consistency, customization, communication and compliance A thorough recruitment process is key to attracting top talent, but it can also be very time and resource consuming. Any opportunity for efficiency is greatly appreciated by managers and candidates alike and will help accomplish a successful hire faster. The phone screen is an …

2015 Employer Wish List

What do your employees want from you in 2015? Which of their needs are satisfied and which are lacking? These are questions all managers should be consistently asking. Knowing the answers to these is part of incorporating Strategic HR into your organizational goals and vision for the coming year. We, at Salopek & Associates, took …