Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Beware of Office Lottery Pool Sharks: Powerball Jackpot Is $500 Million

Article by:  Mark Vanderhoof, The Louisville Courier-Journal  USAToday

November 28, 2012 - LOUISVILLE — Linda Sebastian enjoys her job , but she knows exactly what would happen if the members of her office lottery pool hit their numbers and won Wednesday's record $500 million Powerball jackpot.

"My group, we'd wipe our whole floor out," she laughed. "There'd be nobody left in the office."
Even her boss is a member of the pool. "I tease him all the time," she said. "I say, 'I'll meet you at the lottery headquarters.'"

But if you join an office lottery pool, you may want to consult a lawyer first. Some workers who had thought they struck it rich have wound up in bitter litigation over who was really in the pool and who wasn't.

Lawsuits involving lottery pool winnings have been common enough to create a new set of case law, said Russ Weaver, a University of Louisville law professor. A cursory Google search shows some "Lotto lawyers" across the country who specialize in such disputes.

Read full article here:  http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/28/office-lottery-pool-dangers/1731263/






Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Free Webinar Today: Ask the Career Management and HR Coaches

Webinar: Ask the Career Management and HR Coaches
Learn from our panel of human resources and career coaching experts how to solve your most challenging HR problems.
In this 60-minute webinar, you'll have control over what our panel of experts discuss. Topics could include:
  • Coaching employees: how to improve performance reviews and get management more engaged with employees and their career goals.
  • Succession planning: where do you begin when creating a succession planning strategy?
  • Employee retention: how do you keep your employees from being poached? .
  • Talent management technology: what should a company consider when looking for technical solutions to drive their talent management strategy?
Title: Talent Management: Ask the Career Management and HR Coaches
Date: Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Time: 12:00 p.m.1:00 p.m Central
Learn more: http://www.talentguard.com/upcoming-webcasts
Be sure to reserve your spot today, as attendance is limited.
Can't attend? Simply register for the event and a link will be sent to you for the on-demand version after the webinar has concluded.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Cyber Monday: More Firms Say Its OK to Shop at Work

  

Cyber Monday, the busiest online shopping day of the year, is likely to lure many workers to go online in search of Cyber Monday deals. This year, only a third of companies are blocking access to online shopping sites, according to a recent survey.

By Schuyler Velasco, Staff writer / November 24, 2012
 

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Bargain Shopping for HR Books

Need PHR, SPHR, of GPHR study material or HR reference books for the office? BookByte.com offers used books and CengageBrain.com rents books.

BookByte is offering Mathis/Jackson's Human Resource Management 12th Edition for $2.78!







CengageBrain is offering a 60-day rental for $77.49 as an alternative to buying the Human Resource Management 13th Edition for $221.49.


 
 
  • 

Friday, November 23, 2012

HR Roundtable on Dec. 11 Goes Holiday

Holiday Roundtable Network Meeting in Houston, benefitting Star of Hope.
Mark your calendars for the Holiday Roundtable Network Meeting in Houston on Tuesday, December 11, 2012, benefitting Star of Hope

AGENDA:
 
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM – Networking, Coffee & Holiday Treats

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM – Program.



Festive holiday attire is encouraged!

Guest Presenter, Cheryl Smith Bryan
“Avoiding Potholes on the Road to Career Success”

Are you on track to reach your objectives?
Do you want to eliminate roadblocks to career success?

Many people have habits that keep them from reaching their career goals.

This interactive discussion of overcoming potential obstacles to career success explores:
• Defining your career objectives
• Habits that hold you back
• How to correct your course

Cheryl Smith Bryan, President of Coaching for Career Success and an ICF certified coach, is experienced in assessing and advising high potential employees and teams, and coaching leaders for career success. Cheryl's clients appreciate her laser focus on leveraging strengths and addressing development areas in order to deliver measurable results.

Previously, Cheryl was Managing Director in the Houston office of Boyden Global Executive Search, led the firm’s Human Resources Practice and was a member of the Industrial Practice. She conducted board and executive level searches for global corporations as well as start-ups and mid-cap companies in energy, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Cheryl began her career in the corporate human resources function in energy and financial services.

The Roundtable Network Meeting will be at the LHH west Houston office, 11200 Westheimer near Wilcrest, in the 2nd floor training room.

There is a $10 cover charge to attend, but in the spirit of the season, all monies will be donated to Star of Hope.

Active LHH candidates should register via their CRN, and while there is no charge for their attendance, donations for our charity will be welcomed.


ABOUT STAR OF HOPE: Star of Hope is a Christ-centered community dedicated to meeting the needs of homeless men, women and their children. Positive life changes are encouraged through structured programs which focus on spiritual growth, education, employment, life management and recovery from substance abuse.




 

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Payroll Specialist Scholarships

If you have office employees who want to cross train in payroll or know of someone wanting to enter the world of payroll, please ask them to attend this scholarship informational meeting. 
Date: Tuesday, November 27
Time: 1:00 PM
Campus: SAN JACINTO COLLEGE –CENTRAL  8060 Spencer Highway, Pasadena 77505
Location: C-1.109  BUILDING 1, ROOM 109, INTERACTIVE LEARNING CENTER
RSVP to Laura below to receive a training informational flyer, registration paperwork, and campus map.

To apply the day of the meeting, students must bring their 2011 IRS Transcript and W2s
 
Contact:
Laura Martinez
Skills Training Coordinator
San Jacinto College Central
Continuing and Professional Development

Monday, November 19, 2012

8th Annual Value-Based Benefits & Wellness Forum

8th Annual Value-Based Benefits & Wellness Forum and Vendor Fair
 
TBGH/DFWBGH 8th Annual Value-Based Benefits & Wellness Forum and Vendor Fair
November 29, 2012 at 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
The Westin Galleria Dallas, Dallas
This event requires registration: http://dfwbgh.org/wellness2012/index.htm
 
Please join us on November 29th for our 8th Annual Value-Based Benefits & Wellness Forum and Vendor Fair, where you will learn the secrets of high performance benefits and wellness programs that actually improve employee health and performance, save money, and deliver measurable returns on investment.
 
The Wellness Forum provides a broad range of critical topics and nationally recognized experts in benefits and wellness design strategies. Nearly 400 business and healthcare executives are expected to attend, including corporate benefits and wellness executives from large and mid-size Texas employers, health and benefits service providers and healthcare professionals.
 
Event Organizer: Marc Chappell (Deputy Director at SouthWest Benefits Association)

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Need HRCI Credits? G-Squared Has a Promotion

competency_certification
G-Squared Business Management Services
Harnessing the power of human potential.

Dear Colleague:

I'm pleased to officially announce that my Strategic HR and Corporate Strategy curricula are now a part of the University of Texas-Austin Professional Development Center!

This means a significant change in the way that my workshops and seminars are delivered--primarily, it means that this is the last opportunity to take advantage of the rates I offer under my professional practice!

If you are in need of HRCI credits, or have not yet attended my workshop, I encourage you to make plans to attend. Register at: www.g-squaredbms.com/workshops.html

November 29-30, 2012 (Dallas/FW)
December 6-7, 2012 (Houston)

Since this is my final workshop offering under the G-Squared BMS banner, I'm offering some great discounts!

One-Day Discount: $75 off (code STRAT75) | Two-Day Discount: $150 off (code STRAT150)

Even if you can't take advantage of this opportunity, let someone else know!

Much success,


Olive GatlingConsultant and FuturistG-Squared Business Management Services
www.g-squaredbms.com

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Rejuvenate Your HR Skills at Career Spa's Upcoming Complimentary Webinars


Welcome to a refreshing opportunity to join a monthly live broadcast with industry experts!
 
With ever-increasing pressure to provide exceptional human resource services for your employees while providing an efficient, competitive value for your employer, it's very easy to neglect taking personal time to gain additional wisdom and encouragement for yourself.
 
The Rejuvenate Webinar Series is an intimate, high-quality collection of ongoing events designed to inform and inspire you, the Human Resources industry professional, on a variety of relevant topics -
  • Outplacement Trends
  • Cost Per Hire Research
  • Tips for Elevating Your HR Career
  • Building Quality Leadership in Your Organization
  • And more

As our gift to you, these events are provided FREE courtesy of Talent Connections® and Career Spa™!
 
Space is limited. Please  review and register for any of the following upcoming events:
 
Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 12:00-1:00 PM EST.
TOPIC: Current Trends and Opportunities in Non-Profit Management
Learn More and Register
 
Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 12:00-1:00 PM EST.
TOPIC: Courageous Leadership: Using Courage to Transform the Workplace
Learn More and Register

Past Events:

Wednesday, July 18, 2012
TOPIC: Trend in Outplacement - Give Employees a Choice of Provider
Watch the Recording
Wednesday, Aug 22, 2012
TOPIC: Mystery Solved! SHRM Unveils New Research on Cost Per Hire
Watch the Recording
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
TOPIC: Four Ways to Elevate your HR Career
Watch the Recording
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
TOPIC: Succession Planning: Impact of the Sandwich Generation
Watch the Recording
Provided by
Talent ConnectionsCareer Spa

Thank a Veteran at Work Materials from the History Channel

 

Thank a Veteran
HISTORY invites you to participate in Thank a Veteran at Work. This program encourages businesses and organizations large and small to take time out of the day to thank the veterans in our workplaces. Veterans come from all walks of life and all backgrounds, and through their service they have made an enormous contribution to our nation. Thank a Veteran at Work serves as a meaningful reminder to all Americans about the importance of supporting those who have served, from the greatest generation of WWII vets to the newly returning veterans coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

HISTORY is honored that First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, actor Bradley Cooper, and athlete Johnny Damon have joined us in thanking veterans through public service announcements. HISTORY is also proud to be working with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to reach communities nationwide through Thank a Veteran at Work.

HISTORY has developed a list of simple ways employers and employees can say thank you to veterans in their companies and organizations. View our "How To" guide for ideas about how you can organize an event to honor veterans on or around Veterans Day, celebrated each year on November 11th. Whether it is “thank you” email to all veterans or a company-wide celebration,

Thank a Veteran at Work offers a great way to learn more about the contributions veterans have made through their service. HISTORY has created colorful "Thank You Veterans" stickers and posters for distribution to veterans and all employees. Interested in getting your business or organization involved in this program?

Email us at veterans@aetn.com with your address and information and we'll send you 100 stickers to distribute and a poster to display in your workplace.

Thank a Veteran at Work "How-To" Guide (584K)
Thank You Veteran poster 1 (118K)
Thank You Veteran poster 2 (202K)

Friday, November 9, 2012

Texas HR Pros Is Now on Pinterest



The holiday festivities are around the corner, and many of us are attending more functions together.  Why not snap a photo of Texas HR Pros at work, school, training, or having some productive networking fun and post it on Pinterest? 

We just started our profile on Pinterest-  http://pinterest.com/texashrpros/, so please mail your photos to SocialMedia@TexasHRPros.com with a one sentence description and we will post the pic on our events site! 

Below is a helpful article on how to use Pinterest for recruitment--

How to Recruit Using Pinterest [Top 3 Tips]
Read full article by The Undercover Recruiter here:  http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/how-to-recruit-pinterest/


The CV is now a very old fashioned way of understanding what personality and talents a candidate has – nowadays it’s all about Twitter feeds, Instagram photos and Pinterest boards. Pinterest boasts over 12 million users and (according to RJMetrics) is retaining and engaging users as much as 2 to 3 times as efficiently as Twitter was at a similar time in its history. The site is also responsible for sending more referral traffic to websites and blogs than Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn all combined – so could be a great source for initially attracting talent to your job spots.

New Position? New Board!

Pinterest users can create boards to organise their photos into different themes and events, so when you have a new job to fill – create a new board! Fill it up with ‘pins’ (which can be photos or videos) that explain your job in interesting ways – a good example is when Work Club were looking for a new Creative Director:
They used images and graphics from popular films (such as Jaws and Saving Private Ryan) as well as some of their own branding to tell a story of the job, instead of just one simple graphic full of words. You want a user to stumble across the board and have a something to follow – something that is interesting, amusing and trendy (trendy is what Pinterest is all about).

However, boards don’t have to just be used for jobs. You could create boards that show the perfect elements of an employee at your company (or the perfect elements that you want to see from a candidate), or a board that gives a photographic tour of your office, introduces the members of your team (or recruitment team – especially if people are going to be engaging with them during the process) – the possibilities are endless! Why not promote your company’s culture and values through Pinterest?

Read full article by The Undercover Recruiter here: http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/how-to-recruit-pinterest/

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Drawing Donations for the Mixer by Texas HR Pros - Dallas





Friday, at the Texas HR Pros' mixer at The Glass Cactus in Grapevine, attendees will receive a chance to win an assessment compliments of Personalysis. Angela Stauder, a VP of Personalysis, has donated two assessments with consultation meetings which will enlighten you how to best work with and engage teams by better knowing your communication preferences and genuine style.

The winner will love his/her session...because the report is all about you! I took the assessment and was coached by Stauder, who is also a Texas HR Pros leader, and I discovered how to use my strengths to my advantage and how to influence teams. The coaching session also can give you insight to manage your personal relationships as well.

Personalysis is a proprietary personality assessment tool that provides you with insights into how people think, feel, deal with others, and cope under stress. Today’s corporate environment requires you to work closely with others to achieve organizational goals, yet the shortened time frames and greater geographical distances no longer allow you the luxury of “hit or miss” relationship building. This creates road blocks to productivity by making it difficult to understand and accommodate personality differences within the workplace.
Employment Screening with Precise Hire
PreciseHire is also donating a background check service for the drawing.  Precise Hire was founded by a top management team with expertise in Human Resources, Staffing, General Administration, Employment Screening, Telecommunication and Internet industries. Our staff is highly experienced and knowledgeable. Precise Hire has over 25 years of combined experience in the Employment Screening, Human Resource and Internet businesses. Therefore, our services provide the due diligence and security your company will need to ensure success for your employment screening needs.
Sadd 100% FCRA Compliant
sbar Same Day Hiring Decisions
sbar Fastest Turnaround Times in the Industry
sbar Building Partner Relationships
sbar Best-in-Class Customer Service













Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Texas HR Pros Dallas Will See a Lone Star Christmas on Friday at the Networking Event

Will Texas HR Pros-Dallas break another attendance record at the Glass Cactus this coming Friday, on November 9?

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The fun concert venue at the Glass Cactus alone draws about 200 Texas HR Pros to the event.  The year-end event will be on a Friday instead of a Thursday, so more attendees can enjoy themselves at the Klock's concert and stop by the Gaylord Texan hotel to see the glorious Lone Star Christmas presented by Kodak.  Yes, check out one-and-a-half million twinkling lights, an amazing 52-foot-tall rotating Christmas tree, a life-sized gingerbread house, and exclusive holiday events and attractions with your HR pals.

Look for Texas HR Pros' leaders Liz, Foster, and Di Ann at the Glass Cactus.  Bring your business cards and enter for the drawings from PreciseHire and Personalysis

Take plenty of festive pictures too!

Gaylord Texan Hotel & Convention Center
1501 Gaylord Trail
Grapevine, Texas 76051


Did you know that the Gaylord Texan is also the official hotel of the Dallas Cowboys?



 

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Benefits After the Election Seminar in Sugar Land on 11/7

Educational Seminar
After the Election...What to Expect?
November 7, 2012
6:00pm-8:00pm
Marriott Town Center
15958 City Walk
Sugar Land, TX 77479 (
Directions)Register Now

We would like to invite you to visit our new offices and join us for food and drinks being catered by several local restaurants in Sugar Land Town Center. We are also featuring a nationally renowned speaker, Michael Jones*, at the Sugar Land Marriott Town Center from 6-8pm to discuss "What to Expect...Now that the Election is Over." Mr. Jones is Chairman and Chief Investment Officer with River Front Investment Group in Richmond, Virginia, and a regular guest on the financial news channels (CNBC, Bloomberg) and frequently quoted in the financial press.


 

null              


Food Sponsors include:



*The Noble Group and Raymond James are independent entities.
*Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC
*The opinions and services of Michael Jones and the Riverfront Investment Group are independent of Raymond James.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Support Local: Small Business Saturday is November 24

Get Down to Business

The 3rd annual Small Business Saturday is November 24.  Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses nationwide. Last year, over one hundred million people* came together to Shop Small® in their communities on Small Business Saturday®.

Welcome to Constant Contact's Small Business Saturday Resource Center

American Express created this special day as a way to encourage people to do their holiday shopping at local businesses. And now, Constant Contact is helping small businesses make the most of it with our FREE Small Business Saturday Toolkit. If you're one of our customers, you'll also get access to three bonus email templates

Free Toolkit


We've created step-by-step Small Business Saturday Toolkit1 to help you build buzz and momentum leading up to the big day. And it's free, even if you're not a customer.
Download Toolkit1
BONUS: Have a Facebook Page for your business? Great. Download these shareable Facebook images2 that your fans and customers can post in their status updates. Download our signage3 and hang it in your store to let customers know that you are participating in Small Business Saturday.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Eric and Marvin Start Off November with a Full Day of Giving

Houston Networking Mixer 11/1/12
Founder Eric Griesel and our Houston Manager Marvin Martin had a full day of serving the Houston community on the first day of the month of ThanksGIVING.

Professionals In-Transition Training-  Every Thursday morning, Eric and Marvin instruct job seekers from all professions about strategic job search planning from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Second Baptist Church.

LinkedIn 201-  From 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM, Marvin and Eric co-hosted a social media training with Career Connections.  The training was presented by Susan Kubiak, Sr. Consultant with Performance Search Group, a Division of Career Partners International – Houston.
Texas HR Pros 11/1/12

Networking Mixer featuring a Pop-Up Photo Studio -  Eric and Marvin re-energized and hosted our Houston year-end mixer from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.  Houston leader, Angela Stauder of Personalysis, also attended.  About 125 attended throughout the evening, and we had several HR professionals sign up for Trish Strangmeyer's Pop-Up Photo Studio to look their best on their social media platforms.

We thank them for their expertise and Servant Leadership to Houston and Texas.




Thursday, November 1, 2012

Houston HR Roundtable on Tuesday, Nov. 13

LinkedIn Groups

  • Group: HR Roundtable Network
  • Subject: RSVPs and questions for our panel needed for next Roundtable Network in Houston
The next Roundtable Network Meeting in Houston will be on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 .

The agenda is 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM - Networking & Coffee;
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM - Program.

Our topic is “Ask A Recruiter!”

Thousands of jobs are filled through recruiters, so you should consider using them as part of your search strategy. But the business is unregulated. To avoid disreputable firms or individuals, check the firm's reputation through third parties. Due diligence can help you evaluate a recruiter's ethics and the firm's practices.

At our November meeting, a panel of highly-respected recruiters will be on hand to answer questions from the audience. Included on the panel will be:

Bob Rule - B&R Partners
Kathy Rapp - hrQ
Ken Bohan - The Liberty Group
Mike Kahn - Lucas Group

To reserve your seat for this lively discussion, please send an email to Joey.Edwards@LHH.com.

We are also asking that you submit your questions for the recruiters along with your RSVP so we may prepare in advance of the event.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the search process!

The Roundtable Network Meeting will be at the Lee Hecht Harrison west Houston office, 11200 Westheimer near Wilcrest, in the 2nd floor training room. There is a $10 cover charge for the public to attend, and there is free parking in the garage behind the building. Active LHH candidates should submit questions to Joey’s email, but register via their CRN and identify themselves at the door to avoid the cover charge.

Looking forward to receiving your questions and seeing you soon!