As a manager, I’m sure you have brought on quite a few new hire employees. Some of these employees, when beginning employment, can “jump right in” and become a part of the team. However, others may take some time to adjust to the new culture. To assist in culture assimilation and the learning of company policies and procedures, I always recommend creating a mentor or buddy program for my client's new hires. They've already invested a lot of time and resources in finding the best candidates, so by instituting this as part of their onboarding program, they are ensuring a smooth transition and investing in their future success.

So here we are in mid-January and most likely your new benefits plan year began January 1st. This cartoon conjures up memories of the myriad of phone calls an HR department receives as soon as the new plan year begins. Questions such as “what is my co-pay?” and “do I need a referral for services other than preventive care?” And how about the dreaded call from an employee at the doctor’s office telling you that the carrier says he is not covered! Ugh! While these questions are not uncommon, there are things you can do (and must do in some instances) to ensure all bases are covered.

As a consultant, I am often asked by my clients, “How can I identify employee relations tension before it becomes a company-wide endemic?" Why am I asked this so often? Because employee relations are difficult to assess...

It’s that time of the year when most organizations begin thinking about their retirement plan responsibilities, whether it’s non-discrimination testing or preparing to file the Form 5500 with the IRS. This is usually a nerve-wracking time for employers, as there are often concerns about the outcome of the testing. Will we pass our tests? Will we be required to return hard-earned retirement monies to some of our employees? Will we have more serious issues?