News Bites
Information of
interest from other publications and organizations
related to people and quality
Networking Survey Results
Released
A national survey reveals
that successful networking requires an attitude of
service. The Nierenberg Group, in conjunction with
New York University’s Management Institute,
conducted the survey, which asked working
professionals to share the best tactic someone used
while networking with them.
Participants across the United States answered the
question: “What is the best tactic someone used
while networking with you?” The majority of the
participants provided one of these four answers:
- Became a resource by providing new clients,
referrals, or jobs.
- Listened, focused, and paid attention.
- Was straightforward, genuine, and honest.
- Followed up and showed appreciation.
More? See http://www.selfmarketing.com/release19.html
Temporary Staffing Trend Continues to
Increase
The Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS) affirms that the United States will
gain 15% more jobs in the next 10 years. Trends in
staffing such as temporary and direct hire,
outsourcing, and Internet recruiting are changing how
companies manage the process of acquiring workers
from entry level to executives. Outpacing the growth
of all other forms of employment is the proliferation
of temporary, project-based, and contract
staffing.
Temporary workers are no longer brought in solely
as replacements for vacationing employees. Today,
they are effectively utilized for planned projects or
as consultants whenever a particular skill is needed
short term. Employers can contract hourly for almost
any needed skill. As human resources professionals
embrace these alternative staffing approaches, their
organizations become better able to source human
capital and gain a competitive advantage in the
ever-changing global economy.
More? See http://www.legalcareers.com
Third Party Can Investigate Workplace
Misconduct
A little-noticed recent
change in federal law may reap significant benefits
for employers faced with the otherwise unpleasant
task of investigating claims of workplace harassment.
The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003
(FACTA), which took effect March 31, 2004, provides
employers significant new leeway in using third-party
investigators to ferret out the truth behind
harassment accusations.
It has been the de facto position of the FTC that
employment of outside investigators (including law
firms acting as investigators) subjected employers to
the intrusive requirements of the Fair Credit
Reporting Act, including disclosure of the
investigation to the target; a requirement the
employer obtain the target’s consent to conduct
an investigation; and disclosure of the investigation
report to the target, including all sources of
information, before taking any adverse action.
Under FACTA, employers need not make advance
disclosure of communications made to an employer in
connection with an investigation that concerns
suspected misconduct relating to employment or
compliance with federal, state, or local laws and
regulations, or any preexisting written policies of
the employer. If the employer does take adverse
action against the employee based in whole or in part
on the report provided, however, FACTA does require
that the employer provide the employee with a summary
of the report after taking that adverse action.
More? See http://www.wallerlaw.com/articles.cfm?currkey=616
Appreciate Diversity Month
Announced
Diversity pioneers Karen
Stinson and Myrna Marofsky announced the launch of
Appreciate Diversity Month, a new national observance
that celebrates all the diversity in workplaces,
schools, and communities. Appreciate Diversity Month
(ADM) will be recognized from August 15 through
September 15 each year.
“While throughout the year there are a wide
range of admirable diversity observances that
acknowledge the contributions and unique traditions
of certain segments of the
population—African-Americans, Hispanics,
Asians, Native Americans, women, gays and lesbians,
and those who are disabled, among others—until
now, there has been no specific time designated to
celebrate the wide range of diversity that not only
includes these groups, but goes beyond them and
reaches out to everyone,” said Stinson. By
creating an all-inclusive national observance, the
pair hopes to change the mindsets of many who believe
“Diversity doesn’t apply to
me.”
ADM will focus on opening dialogues that foster an
appreciation of the differences that separate us as
well as the similarities that unite us.
More? See http://www.appreciatediversitymonth.org
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