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Dear David: Fostering Employee Feedback

Question: How can we help our employees feel more comfortable providing feedback about their managers? Answer: Employees are often uncomfortable providing feedback about their managers because they fear workplace tension or retaliation, they aren’t sure what to say, or they don’t believe anything will change. The following practices can help address these concerns:  Advice provided

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QWERTY: Why Your Keyboard Looks Like It Does

Introduction  Have you ever wondered why the letters on the keyboard of your computer or phone are laid out like they are? We have a trio of inventors to thank for that. On June 23rd of 1868 (a day now widely celebrated as International Typewriter Day), Christopher Sholes, Carlos Glidden, and J.W. Soule were issued

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Dear David: Hard Copy or Electronic Posters?

Question: We have remote and on-site employees. Do we have to post hard copies of required labor posters in the workplace, or can we provide only electronic ones on our internal web page for all employees to see? Answer: As you have remote and on-site employees, we recommend doing both. In December 2020, the Department

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Carbon Emissions and Your Sustainability Strategy

Introduction  Print service providers (PSPs) have been looking closely at electricity, natural gas, and any other fuels used in their operations as a step toward diminishing their use of carbon-based fuels. Many have also moved toward:  These are all important steps, but they overlook one key point in regard to carbon footprint: We are all

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Top Seven Reasons to Join an Association

Did you know joining a professional association can help you save time and money?   If so, you’re not alone. There are over 90,000 trade, industry, and professional associations in the US with millions of members — all gaining the financial and networking benefits of membership.   Here are seven of the most powerful to consider.  In

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Selling Over the Quoted Price 

A consultant wrote, “a client advise implemented a meaningful Commission bump for selling over the target price.” At first brush, that sounds like an obvious plan, but it causes us to think more carefully as it implies that the dollars over the target price are more valuable than the dollars at the target price or

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Dear David: When Do We Pay for Training Time?

Question: When are we required to pay for trainings?  Answer: In general, time spent in job-related training is counted as time worked and must be paid. However, not every lecture, class, training program, or similar activity would qualify. If all four of the following criteria are met, you don’t need to pay the employee for

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Dear David: Is Dress Code Enforceable?

Question: Our previous HR director was lax about policy enforcement, particularly around tardiness and dress code. What’s the best way to start enforcing these policies consistently?  Answer: If possible, we recommend meeting with employees to inform them that, going forward, these policies will be uniformly enforced. If meetings aren’t a viable option, a company-wide announcement

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