Managing Your Remote Employees—Now & After COVID-19

Managing Your Remote Employees—Now & After COVID-19

Adjusting to a remote workplace is challenging for leaders and employees alike. While close to 25% of the American labor force works from home at least part of the time, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, we’ve never been so separated from each other before. From productivity concerns to family demands, there is no shortage of things to worry about during this time. Even if you love working…

Read More

Updating Your Workplace Policies & Procedures During COVID-19

Updating Your Workplace Policies & Procedures During COVID-19

From hospitality to education, the coronavirus has impacted every industry. Also known as COVID-19, the pandemic has led to more than 100,000 deaths worldwide, and we’re self-isolating for an indefinite period of time to prevent the spread of infection as much as possible. I don’t doubt that COVID-19 has affected your business, and it will continue to do so for at least the near future. It can feel scary not…

Read More

Empathetic Listening: Honoring, Understanding, and Listening to Employees

Empathetic Listening: Honoring, Understanding, and Listening to Employees

Hi! My name is Katherine Hartvickson of Quantum Ascendance, an HR Consulting & Leadership Development company. We help you develop your People and create sustainable Processes so that you enjoy a Profitable and Winning Culture. This is the third tip in my video series on business communication. (You’ll find the other two videos in the resources section below.) When employees don’t feel heard, it can lead to poor productivity, lack…

Read More

Active Listening: Essential Guidelines to Improve Your Conversation Skills and Learn Effective Communication Techniques

Active Listening: Essential Guidelines to Improve Your Conversation Skills and Learn Effective Communication Techniques

Hi! My name is Katherine Hartvickson of Quantum Ascendance, an HR Consulting & Leadership Development company. We help you develop your People and create sustainable Processes so that you enjoy a Profitable and Winning Culture. This is the second tip in my video series on business communication.  If you missed the first tip, watch it here. Effective listening is essential to clear communication and management success. Choosing the right words,…

Read More

Embracing Workplace Appreciation: Empowering Organizations by Recognizing Employees

Embracing Workplace Appreciation: Empowering Organizations by Recognizing Employees

Is your business suffering from communication breakdowns? My name is Katherine Hartvickson of Quantum Ascendance, an HR Consulting & Leadership Development company. We help you develop your People and create sustainable Processes so that you enjoy a Profitable and Winning Culture. Today’s business world is filled with an overwhelming amount of social media, texts and emails, yet I’ve found there is still a lack of clear and compelling communicating happening.…

Read More

How to Maintain Employee Engagement & Productivity During COVID-19

How to Maintain Employee Engagement & Productivity During COVID-19

As we collectively navigate our way through the COVID-19  pandemic, how you manage your small business and maintain your employees’ engagement and productivity during this crisis is changing daily. Unfortunately, many companies are laying off employees in numbers most of us haven’t seen in our lifetime. Unemployment offices are inundated with new claims each week. Organizations have had to quickly create coronavirus crisis management plans. This has left employment during…

Read More

How Diversity & Inclusion Strengthens Your Business

Diversity-Inclusion-strengthens-business

A strong diversity and inclusion strategy isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s also an important strategic business move. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that organizations that are more diverse and inclusive drive innovative results and attract top talent. First of all, let’s define what these terms mean. Diversity is comprised of the things that differentiate us. It encompasses the characteristics that make one person or group different from others. Things…

Read More

3 Important U.S. Employment Law Changes in 2020

It wouldn’t be a new year without several U.S. employment law changes! In 2020, employers are going to need to stay on top of more than a dozen federal and state laws that came into effect on January 1, 2020. While we can’t cover all dozen-plus new labor laws and regulations in one article, let’s look at three that could have a big impact on your business. 1. A new…

Read More

Looking Ahead at 5 HR Trends for 2020

Looking Ahead at 5 HR Trends for 2020

At the end of each year, I like to look back at what I’ve accomplished: what went well and what didn’t. There are valuable lessons in understanding this before you start planning the next year. It’s also important to look forward—no matter what field you’re in—at what you’d like to focus on in the upcoming year. For me, it’s to launch my new HR training program for small business owners…

Read More

How to Throw an HR-Friendly Employee Holiday Party

As the end of 2019 quickly approaches, many employers are planning employee holiday parties to celebrate the season and show their appreciation. According to an OfficeTeam survey of more than 2,800 senior managers, 93% said their companies would be having holiday festivities this year. As fun as employee holiday parties can be, they can also strike fear in the heart of HR professionals, who must limit employer liability and staff…

Read More