Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Things to Consider for an Office Holiday Celebration

News and Views - Good advice from your friends at HRSentry

If your organization is bringing its employees together to celebrate the holidays, here are some things to think about prior to your celebration to help make your party a success. Whether your celebration is hosted off-site or as an in-house pot luck, planning ahead will help you and your employees enjoy the celebration.

• If celebrating off-site, choose a week night to help with your budget.

• Provide plenty of food, plenty of non-alcoholic beverages, and entertainment.

• Remind employees that the same behavioral policies and rules at the office apply at the party.

• If you choose to offer alcoholic beverages, take a few minutes to review your insurance policies for alcohol-related events.

• If serving alcohol, limit consumption by providing a limited number of drink tickets to employees of legal drinking age. Stop serving alcohol before the party officially ends.

• Provide cab fare or have available a list of cab numbers for the ride home. Let employees know if discounted hotel accommodations are available nearby should they want to stay overnight following the party.

• Ask members of your organization to assist with overseeing the party to make sure everyone has a safe and fun evening.

• If company business presentations are made, keep them short. Remember this is a company party, not a full-blown business meeting.

• If honoring years of service of employees, acknowledge staff as one group. Remember to keep the speeches to a minimum.

• If your budget allows, give out raffle tickets for a few door prizes. The prizes don't have to be expensive.

• Do have your management team mingle and introduce themselves to employees. It only takes a second to shake someone's hand and everyone likes being acknowledged.

• Remember to thank the employees who pulled all the pieces together to make it a great celebration.

A well thought out party can be a lot of fun and help build relationships in your organization. Decide in advance what your expectations are for your gathering and enjoy your time together.

You might also consider forgoing a party and bringing your employees together to participate in a volunteer project in your community. It's a great way to help others while building employee camaraderie.

From HRSentry Guarding and Guiding the Administration of Human Resources

Check out the Champlain College Online Human Resource Management Workshops - Register today for HR Basics session beginning January 10! . 100% online.  You can receive 32 PHR, SPHR or GPHR recertification credits from the HR Certification Institute.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Becoming a Computer Forensic Examiner…Are You Ready for the Challenge of CCE BootCamp®?

The Champlain College Workforce Development Center receives many calls from individuals interested in becoming a Computer Forensic Examiner. Is Champlain College’s online CCE BootCamp® a fast-track to a new and exciting career?

The good news is that there are no “official” prerequisites or certifications needed to participate in CCE BootCamp®. However, the most successful attendees are currently working in the computer forensics field, have had training in the field, or possess extremely strong computer skills. Despite the word "BootCamp," it is not a training course as much as it is an exam preparation course. The hands-on skills are outlined at http://www.certified-computer-examiner.com/skill.htm

Next, take a look at the agenda to see if the topics are familiar to you. Also, take a look at the International Society of Forensic Computer Examiners (ISFCE) website to see if you fit the criteria for CCE Certification & take the practice test. You don’t need to know all the answers, but if the majority of the terminology is unfamiliar, then attending CCE BootCamp® would be arduous.

ISFCE Official Links:
Home Page
Sample Practical Exercise
Sample Examination Test

If you are you are ready for the challenge of CCE BootCamp®…Great! Sign up today. Our next 15 week online CCE BootCamp® begins on January 10, 2011.

If you are not yet ready for CCE BootCamp®, don’t despair. Consider enrolling in a computer forensics online course, certification or degree program to first obtain the background skills. You will be on your way to being successful in this hot career field with a credential employers will respect sooner than you think!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Why Do Your Best Employees Quit?

I’ve been thinking about the Champlain College Workforce Development Center’s Online Human Resources Workshop “Finding and Keeping the Best People” beginning in a few weeks and wondering why good employees leave seemingly good positions and move on. Is there one overarching theme, or a wide variety of reasons? So, as a good librarian, I did some research. What I found left me with more questions than answers along with some skepticism.

Posts from consultant’s web sites lean heavily on bad management behavior as the top reason employees leave. That may be true, but when the next sentence proposes their management coaching program as a solution, I begin to question the research.

Posts that rely on information gathered from exit interviews also leave me wondering. Are most people really honest with human resources during an exit interview? We have all had it drilled into us to “never burn bridges” that I seriously doubt any valid conclusions can be gained during an exit interview.

Also, I’m not convinced that people are really, truly honest with themselves about why they quit. It is a lot easier and safer to say “another company offered me more money or a promotion” than admitting a personal or organizational failure to yourself, family, and friends.

Obviously, there is more than one answer to this question, but one thing is certain. Keeping the best people first requires finding the best people; this means making sure there is a good match between the job and the applicant. The position must make the best use of an individual’s skills and abilities.

Ask yourself these questions?

Hiring managers – Are you truly honest with yourself and the applicant about the position, expectations and organizational culture?

Applicants – Are you truly listening to the hiring manager to determine if the position is a good fit for you, or are you just focusing on “winning the job”?

What are your thoughts on “Finding and Keeping the Right People: HR Best Practices”? Tell us what you think and join our online conversation by enrolling in this workshop beginning November 1. For more information and secure online registration, visit http://www.go.champlain.edu/hrsentry.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Don't let your HR Certification Lapse!

Earn 20+ Re-Certification Credits with Champlain College's Online HR Workshops

Managing the human resources function of a business or organization can be a real challenge.  Ensuring that your workplace is a safe and welcoming place for all employees, keeping the right people and managing them for optimal performance, these are all best practices that need to be supported.

Using best HR practices protects your organization from risk and creates an environment that promotes retention, productivity, inclusion and fairness.  Champlain College has teamed up with nationally-known human resource expert HRSentry to bring you 4 instructor-led training opportunities.

These workshops, which are pre-approved by the HR Certification Institute for PHR, SPHR, or GPHR re-certification, are facilitated by human resource experts.  They are offered entirely online, 24/7, so you can attend the sessions whenever it's most convenient for you.

Coming Soon!  Register Now.

September 27, 2010:
301 - Motivating Employees for Optimal Performance
20 PHR, SPHR & GPHR re-certification credits
5-week series

November 1, 2010:
401 - Finding and Keeping the Right People
20 PHR, SPHR & GPHR re-certification credits
5-week series

Best Value! Save 25% by enrolling in all 4 workshops

go.champlain.edu/hrsentry
call toll-free 866-531-9666 or email wdc@champlain.edu

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Champlain College Management Excellence Seminar Series begins Sept. 17

The Management Excellence Seminar Series delivers the high-level skills that all managers need to be successful. Real workplace scenarios are used in each session to equip participants with tools and strategic concepts they can integrate into their personal management practices for immediate results.

Topics include:
  • Managing and developing people
  • Leading teams
  • Effective delegation
  • Making great decisions
  • Resolving conflicts
  • Coaching for performance.
The seminar's format is interactive and spreads over a five-week period allowing participants to incorporate sessions into their schedules without requiring them to be away from the workplace for an extended block of time. The integration of management concepts with real workplace scenarios ensures an immediate impact. Managers ranging from new to experienced have found this series to be extremely useful!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Become a Certified Computer Examiner - Official CCE BootCamp 100% online

The Certified Computer Examiner (CCE) designation is one of the premier professional certifications in the computer forensics industry and is an impressive credential to have on a resume.

Champlain College has joined with the International Society of Forensic Computer Examiners (ISFCE) to offer an official Certified Computer Examiner BootCamp, 100% online and 100% interactive.  The perfect way to prepare for your CCE designation.

Who should attend? Professionals from a wide variety of industries and organizations who are engaged in detecting fraud including:
  • Law firms
  • Insurance companies
  • Accounting firms
  • Law enforcement
  • Military
Register today!

Monday, April 26, 2010

Digital Photocopiers Loaded With Secrets - CBSNews

This year marks the 50th anniversary of a workhorse product found in many homes and virtually every office: the copy machine. But advanced technology has opened a dangerous hole in data security. Read this story on CBS News

Friday, February 19, 2010

What if HR is just "part" of your job responsibility?

While large organizations typically have a staff of experienced PHR, SPHR or GPHR human resource professionals, many times small to mid-sized organizations delegate this responsibility to office managers, or finance people. Needless to say, keeping up with current HR rules, laws and regulations is critical. Lack of knowlege can be costly for a large organization, but for a small organization it can be lethal. Champlain College's Workforce Development Center has teamed up with HRSentry, a web-based provider of federal and state employment laws, HR forms, policies and procedures to offer a series of Online Human Human Resource Management Workshops . For more information http://go.champlain.edu/hrsentry

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Management Excellence - It takes training

It is extremely rare for anyone promoted into a management position to suddenly become manager extraordinaire as soon as the new title is bestowed. A good management training class is critical for success by providing a so-called management toolkit, which enables a new manager to build sound management practices and create high functioning teams. As this video demonstrates, managers have a lot to think about. If you have been promoted into a management position on the basis of your technical expertise and performance, a management training class is essential - insist on getting the training you need for success!