HR is playing games with you! Believe it or not, in a growing trend, businesses are using gaming in a variety of human resources (HR) functions including hiring, leadership development, and employee recognition. Gamification is a combination of behavioral science and technology that provides companies with great tools for employee development, assessment of candidates, feedback, recognition, and collaboration.

Understanding UFOs and How They Impact Your Business I had the opportunity to attend SHRM's Employment Law and Legislative Conference this past week and learned additional insights about UFOs, or Union Front Organizations. Union penetration into the private sector has fallen from 35% of employment Americans during the 1950s to just below 7% today. In the face of greater regulation and less interest from workers, unions are developing new tactics and going after new segments of the working public. It’s more important for business owners to be knowledgeable about trends in union efforts to help protect your business interests and your rights.

Did you know there are five generations in today's modern workforce? Now, if we could just get everyone to all work together! Let's take a quick review of each generation and their traits before we delve into the common problems we see our clients face...

With the rising cost of healthcare, employers have never been more aware of the connection between employee health and the company bottom line. A recent study showed that 75% of healthcare costs in the US stem from chronic illnesses like heart disease and obesity that can be addressed through wellness initiatives.

At Helios, we have had a number of clients implement Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) policies. This approach to leave is a growing trend for innovative companies working in all industries. Numerous companies are utilizing unlimited PTO to encourage a culture of freedom and responsibility.

Finding the right leader for your organization can mean double digit profits or shutting your doors forever. While this is certainly an extreme example of what can happen, we all look for exceptional leaders that can lead our organizations to new and exceptional heights. During my time as a Business Partner for Helios HR, I have had the pleasure of working with both exceptional and mediocre leaders. Some of these exceptional leaders have embodied the following characteristics as described in Kouzes and Posner’s famous work “The Leadership Challenge”: