Unemployment is at record lows, and there are more jobs available than there are people to fill them. Given this scenario, it’s no surprise that the most pressing concern for business owners and managers nationwide right now is how to find the new hires they need and keep the good people they have. So, how can forward-thinking employers successfully compete... read more
Although departing employees often will tell you they’re leaving for “more money,” research studies repeatedly confirm the No. 1 reason great employees leave is because of their managers. In HR circles, there’s even a saying for it: “People join companies and leave managers.” This does not mean, however, that managers who lose good people are hopelessly inept. On the contrary,... read more
Managers who hire tough know exactly who they’re looking for and refuse to lower their standards. They cover all the bases—from A to Z—and create a win/win situation for the new hire and employer alike. Here’s what they do. Attitude. Hire for attitude, train for skills. The main reason clients leave is an indifferent attitude on the part of an... read more
In the March 2016 Editor’s Note, Editor Marisa Palmieri highlighted an approach LM columnist Mel Kleiman recommends for recruiting new employees: the recruiting card. Potential employees are all around you, he says. Owners and managers struggling to find good workers should create these cards and hand them out whenever they receive good service. Recruiting cards are the same size as... read more
As I researched and reported on our cover story about the labor shortage in the landscape industry—and all service industries, really—I put in a call to our resident HR expert, our quarterly Business Basics: People columnist, Mel Kleiman. He’s known for his practical advice on recruiting and retaining frontline associates, and he helps employers all over the country address these... read more
Employers added 271,000 jobs in October, far exceeding economists’ forecasts. The unemployment rate slipped a tenth of a point to 5 percent and average hourly earnings moved up 0.4 percent, doubling economists’ expectations. So, how are you ensuring your best team members don’t jump ship? Employee retention efforts don’t have to be elaborate. You just have to do a good... read more
