Human Resources Archives - Uno Deuce Multimedia

Guest Post: 10 Ways to Increase Empathy in the Workplace

Empathy is the ability to understand the feelings and vulnerabilities of those around you. Having a strong standing team that is able to notice when someone may need help, or have a good sense of direction when navigating a tough conversation is key. As your small business starts to expand and more team members start joining your team, exercising this skill is crucial.

Whether you are putting your time and energy towards building a more positive working environment this year, or you’re wanting to grow your client list, empathy is a great place to start. Research shows that over 60% of employees would take a pay decrease to work on an empathetic team—proving that investing in your employee’s well-being should be a top priority for industry leaders.

On the flip side of this, showing empathy for your employees doesn’t just happen overnight. There are a few small changes to be made for a long term impact on your team.

Different Types of Empathy

Empathy has various different pros and cons when it comes to a work environment. There is such a thing as being too empathic, or not showing enough empathy. Educating your team about the different types of empathy and which to portray is a great starting point.

1.Cognitive Empathy

Also known as “perspective-taking,” this type of empathy focuses heavily on understanding one’s emotional state. This empathy type provides a comfortable and flexible company environment to help build your team’s ability, goals, and aspirations for growth.

2. Emotional Empathy

This type of empathy is also known as “effective” or “primitive” empathy as it triggers an emotional feeling on a deeper level, affecting one personally. For instance, if someone got in trouble for a project gone wrong, you might develop fear over losing your job or making the same mistake.

3. Compassionate Empathy

Compassionate empathy is the most actionable of all three. This involves seeing someone go through pain, experiencing it emotionally yourself, resulting in an instant desire to help. For instance, say an account executive isn’t meeting their goals that month and have been put on a performance plan. Compassionate workers will do everything in their power to help direct prospects to that team member, schedule additional educational meetings, or give sales directly to them.

Increasing empathy on your team can have a positive impact on your team’s productivity, in turn, optimize your initial salary investment on your employees. Show your team you care this year with Fundera’s roadmap to practicing proper empathy in your workplace.

Meredith Wood Vice President and Founding Editor at Fundera, Meredith Wood is the founding editor of the Fundera Ledger and a vice president at Fundera. She launched the Fundera Ledger in 2014 and has specialized in financial advice for small business owners for almost a decade. Meredith is frequently sought out for her expertise in small business lending. She is a monthly columnist for AllBusiness, and her advice has appeared in the SBA, SCORE, Yahoo, Amex OPEN Forum, Fox Business, American Banker, Small Business Trends, MyCorporation, Small Biz Daily, StartupNation, and more. Email: meredith@fundera.com.

Guest Post: How HR department can improve your business

Many small business owners spend countless hours developing human resource (HR) policies and procedures, especially those lacking an HR department. If this statement defines you, as an entrepreneur, you’d probably instead focus on other elements of your business such as your clients and customer service.

Human resources consulting firms take on the challenges you face as an employer, and in these days of recruiting, hiring and retention, HR support is a necessary must! Still, many businesses fear the costs of consultants when in reality the benefits outweigh the expense.

Not depending on the business industry and its employers’ numbers you have an HR consultant or department can help in some of the following ways:

Recruiting – The entire recruiting and hiring process can be harsh and lengthy. One must be savvy in assessing, interviewing, the legalities of pre-employment screening and background checks and compensation packages. HR experts can handle this entire process to improve employee retention and satisfaction.
Policies & Procedures – If you don’t have a set of HR policies, you will be in for a tough time when it comes to labor disputes, employee warnings, and terminations and general company rules. HR specialists can develop your policies based on your needs with your input and also ensure they follow federal and state guidelines.
Forms – Do you know if your job application, written warning forms, and required employee posters are legal and current? HR consultants will ensure they are.
Voice of the Employee – By utilizing employee engagement surveys, HR professionals can gauge the likes, dislikes, and needs of your employees and tell you how to use their feedback to increase motivation and productivity.
Training – Employees want training; they want to be able to advance in their careers. Human resources consulting firms can create training programs and help you implement them onsite or off.

Safety – OSHA requires every employer to ensure a safe workplace environment. It comes with specific policies and procedures, safety meetings and employee awareness. HR experts are versed in these policies and can provide a plan suitable for your needs.
Benefit Packages – These can be complicated and expensive, but HR consultants can help you design benefit packages within your budget. Today’s workforce seeks companies that offer benefit plans to cover health, employee assistance programs (EAPs) and retirement benefits.
Performance Reviews – Along with training, offering annual performance reviews is second in line when it comes to employee desires. They want to know if they’re improving and where they’re strong and weak areas lie. HR professionals can also help you create performance reviews designed for your industry and help you implement employee guidance plans—even mentoring programs.

These are just a few of the ways an HR consulting firm can improve your business—and the employer/employee relationship. Small business owners are knowledgeable about their product and services and know what their target markets are. They also know their customer’s wants and needs but many lack knowledge in the employment arena.

Perhaps the most significant contribution HR advisors can offer taking care of the “human” management side of your company. Employees are not just numbers, and HR experts are educated professionals that can provide a range of services to choose from or take care of all your HR needs.

So, doesn’t matter what kind or size of business you have, for any company it’s essential to have the HR specialist or department. With the help of their correct work, you will gain only impressive results for your company as increasing of the KPI, productivity, and quality of all staff job and growing of your business.

About the Author: Carol James is a writer and senior editor at writing service, so you can order essay template on any topic from EssayLab. She has MA degree in social sciences and writes articles, reviews on the different actual subjects. So, if you have any questions regarding the writing, feel free to ask her.

Guest Post: 4 HR Factors Your New Company Must Plan for

Human resources professionals work hard to keep workplaces productive and safe. They organize training, create hiring procedures, and coordinate employee benefits. These many responsibilities provide challenges that HR managers must plan to overcome.

Here are four ways HR departments can make positive contributions to their organizations.

Creating a Friendly Environment

Taking proactive steps to build a positive environment can save human resources personnel a lot of headaches. When miscommunications result in tension and blame, HR often must find a way to get things running smoothly again. If the environment becomes toxic, HR managers often become referees.

HR managers can foster a positive environment by properly handling disputes, encouraging positive employee interactions, and training bosses in leadership skills.

Another surprisingly effective technique HR managers favor is creating a warm and comfortable atmosphere through office decoration. Fresh flowers, appealing colors, and artwork make employees feel at home, resulting in a happier, more productive workforce.

How to Handle Disputes

Chandler notes that no matter how positive an office environment may be, occasional disputes are bound to occur. Having a process in place to handle serious disputes allows them to get resolved. The last thing anyone wants is for problems to fester.

HR managers have success with processes that allow employees to talk to higher-ups without fear of retaliation. Simply expressing a confidential opinion should never result in negative consequences. When issues are identified, they can then be appropriately addressed.

Leadership Skills Training

When managers show leadership styles that are positive and productive, a professional, cohesive tone pervades the work environment. When bosses behave in counterproductive ways and display negative leadership qualities, employees become demoralized and disgruntled.

Training is crucial because, despite the best intentions, some bosses simply fail to grasp how they can help create a productive atmosphere. Management training should always emphasize leadership skills, such as giving constructive feedback, setting expectations, and teambuilding.

Safety Training Classes

HR departments must always consider their safety training program. Without proper instruction, employees are likely to neglect safety procedures. They may also engage in dangerous practices without realizing it. Safety training provides them with the knowledge they need to perform their jobs with the contentiousness employers have the right to expect.

Many organizations find that the best method of training employees is through a professional training organization. For example, Advanced Heavy Vehicle Driver Training Centre provides extensive training in the operation of heavy vehicles, such as trucks, forklifts, and construction equipment. Third-party training courses offer the advantages of professional instruction and documentation of the company’s compliance with all regulations.

HR departments play a vital role in keeping workplaces functional and safe. By fostering positive work environments and properly training employees, HR managers provide immense value.

Anica is a professional content and copywriter from San Francisco, California. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she’s used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty. You can connect with Anica here.