Are My Recruitment Teams Going Through a March Slump

Are My Recruitment Teams Going Through a March Slump January has come and gone. Your stellar recruitment team had started the year on an energetic high, excited by a fresh year and decade. But, now that March has arrived, that energy has evaporated (maybe even your own has diminished slightly). How can you motivate your workforce during this March slump? Nimesh Shah from  Feel Good Contacts  offers some insights on how to reignite the motivation fire: Smile We all know that a miserable boss equals miserable employees who cope by going through the motions to get through the day. If you want your recruitment team to look forward to coming to work and to bring fresh ideas to the table, then you need to make simple changes. Spread positive vibes by smiling, laughing and from time to time participate in a conversation that’s not always work-related.   Try to build rapport with the staff that you worked so hard to recruit for your dream team. Go back to the 80s In amodern-dayoffice, so much of your work is dependent on using a screen (computer and phone). While it is impossible in this digital age to completely escape from using a screen, there are small changes you can make that are inspired by a 1980’s office environment which will make a difference to your wellbeing and that of your colleagues. Instead of firing off e-mails try picking up the phone and talking to your employees. It would be even better if you could walk across the office and have a face to face discussion. Try and keep open lines of communication, have an open-door policy and don’t get your PA to prevent all access to you. Deskercise You’ve heard the saying; a healthy body equals a healthy mind.    Our working world is designed so that we are sitting for eight hours a day. This is the most passive thing you can do which means that you’re not metabolizing sugars and fats. Research shows that long periods of sitting can have a detrimental impact on our health and wellbeing and cut years off our lives.   The World Health Organisation listed inactivity as the fourth biggest risk factor in global adult mortality.  Try  to encourage mood-boosting healthy habits.  Why not inject a bit of fun during a Friday post-lunch slump and do some  deskercise? Lead by example I believe that it’s vital to lead by example. If an ‘always on’ culture is prized in your organization then gradually make changes to banish it. If employees are expected to check their e-mails 24/7 to stay ahead of the  game,  then they won’t be coming to work feeling fresh and raring to start the day. Make a point of taking a proper lunch break and encourage your team to do the same.  This healthy habit will stop you and your colleagues from glaring at your computer screen. We’re well aware of how damaging  screen time  can be to your health and productivity. Get some fresh air and have your sandwiches on a park bench or patch of grass. If this is not possible then find a location in the office that is away from your computer screen and don’t look at your phone! Do this and you and your team will feel refueled and rested and you’ll all be much more productive in the afternoon. Leavism Leavism has been labeled as the new scourge of working life. This is where employees take their annual leave to catch up on their backlog of work and check emails to keep ahead of the game. The aim is to appear keen and competitive and to keep their job secure. As the boss, you should be encouraging your staff to take their annual leave to rest and enjoy their well-earned break. Whilst they are on annual leave you should not bother them with emails.   When they get back,  they’ll be invigorated. You need to emulate this behavior by taking your annual leave and staying away from your emails to show the team that you trust them to get on with the job. Trust Talking about trust, no one likes to be micromanaged and controlled. Let your staff own their work, this will improve engagement levels and in the long term, you’ll have self-sufficient teams. Communication is key You see a bright future for your company. To retain your employees, they need to see it too.Be transparent and communicate your company vision and goals. Your workforce will be driven if they can see how their actions can contribute towards the bigger picture. Listen Managers must listen to their workforce. By doing this, employee morale will be boosted as they know that their opinions matter. The business will also benefit, by expecting the best from your staff, you’ll get the best from them. Make your team feel valued There isn’t a one size fits all approach to dealing with low employee morale. To make staff feel valued, call them by their names, make  eye contact  when talking to them and personally say thank you.  Taking the time to show appreciation will help motivate your workforce. Your colleagues should also be encouraged to inform you of the achievements of their peers. Inspiring office environment Employees want to spend time in an office that looks good.   You don’t need to get the contractors in to overhaul the office.   Simple changes can help to boost their mood.   How about painting the walls a new color and rearranging the furniture? You could also introduce some new artwork to the walls. Motivational messages are good but don’t overdo it.   Mix it up with some interesting artwork. The addition of seasonal flowers and plants can help to soften the feel of an office environment plus it gives the office a lovely aroma. It’s important to keep the office feeling fresh, a warm stuffy office can make employees feel sleepy especially during the post-lunch period so from time to time open the windows for some fresh air.   Lighting Office lighting is also something you need to consider.  I appreciate that it’s a fine line between good lighting that provides enough illumination and bright lighting that borders on glare. Office workers need comfortable lighting to enable them to see all kinds of documents, but these must be ones that will not blind them. Also, the lighting should not be too dim as this will make employees feel sleepy and less productive. Conclusion If morale and motivation have taken a dip lately then don’t be rash and put your teams on a training or team building course to fix the problem. You simply need to review things internally and make the small changes I have recommended. By investing some time in your staff, your most important asset, they will be driven to come to work and do some amazing work. About the author:  Established in 2008 by qualified optometrists, UK based,  Feel Good Contacts.com  is one of the UK’s leading online suppliers of discounted  contact lenses  and eye care products. It is also the only UK company to offer this discounted service via a mobile app.

When Do Companies Require Drug Tests

When Do Companies Require Drug Tests Recent studies have shown that almost 70% of all illegal drug users are full or part time employees.  Which is why many companies may require a drug test in the workplace. The test determines whether or not their employee or job applicant is using illicit drugs or had a recent intake of alcohol. But when do companies usually conduct drug tests? There are a number of circumstances under which a company tests and below are the most common situations. Pre-employment testing Many organizations require job applicants, particularly those who reach the final stages of the selection process, to take a drug test. Applicants who fail to produce a negative test may not be hired. Pre-employment drug testing can help prevent hiring individuals who are using drugs illegally. After an on-the-job accident In most states, testing for drugs after an on-the-job accident has become a “standard” type of workplace drug testing for many companies. It helps determine whether or not illicit drugs were a factor to the personal injury or property damage.   Testing positive may include termination, losing unemployment benefits and rehabilitation. It is recommended to do urine or saliva drug testing within 12 hours of the on-the-job accident. Random drug testing These are unannounced tests to prevent drug use in the workplace. The selection is usually computer-generated to ensure that it is indeed random.  And everyone in the organization has an equal chance of getting selected for testing. This type of testing is said to be the most effective deterrent of workplace drug abuse because employees are scared of getting caught and losing their jobs. In turn, they keep themselves drug-free. Observed behavioral pattern People who use illicit drugs have behavioral patterns that are easily recognizable. Showing frequent absenteeism, constantly borrowing money from co-workers, and having great declines in productivity during working hours may be tell-tale signs of addiction. The employer must make sure to have consistent definitions of what behavior justifies drug and alcohol testing even early on in the employment. Reasonable suspicion of drugs Reasonable suspicion of drugs means that the employer has reason to believe, based on logic and fact, that his or her employee is or has been taking drugs. Examples of this are: Direct observation through behavior and physical symptoms like uncoordinated movements, slurred speech, and/or sleepiness during working hours. Abnormal conduct and interaction with co-workers. Evidence that an employee has tampered with his or her drug test results Unpredictable behavior while at work, as well as a decline in performance Proof that the employee has used, solicited, transferred and possessed drugs at work or during working hours. There are also other tests used by employers such as the follow up testing or the post-rehabilitation testing. There are also pre-promotion and return-to-work testing. Employers should bear in mind that drug testing in the workplace is a sensitive subject.  So they should be able provide employees a clear set of details, criteria, and good reasons as to why they want them to undertake such a process. Image credit Main

Simplexing Free Modern Resume Template

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