Latest posts six columns

As we celebrate 25 years in business, I find myself reflecting not just on the milestones we’ve reached, but on the people whose love, sacrifice, and guidance helped shape this journey. Chief among them is my mother Freda. Though she is no longer with us, her influence is woven into the very fabric of this...

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of recognizing employees — not just for the work they do, but for the many roles they balance every day. This time of year is a perfect reminder that a simple “thank you” or a small gesture of appreciation can...

By Erika Rahman   8 Ways To Connect New Employees To Company Culture   To uncover the best practices for making employees feel connected to company culture during onboarding, we asked eight top executives and HR professionals to share their strategies. From implementing a buddy system and group activities to creating an interactive onboarding experience,...

Did the stork just deliver a big HR problem to you? Oh, I had a client the other day, the poor thing. They had an employee who they were having issues with discipline. They didn’t take any action, and I always say, hire slow, fire fast. They did not take any action and now the...

An employee handbook serves as a guiding document that outlines company policies, expectations, and workplace culture. It benefits both the employer and employees by providing clarity, consistency, and legal protection.   Key Purposes of an Employee Handbook   Communicates Company Policies & Expectations 📜 Clearly defines workplace rules, employee rights, and responsibilities. Sets expectations for...

When a client first shared their employee handbook with me, it felt less like reading workplace policies and more like studying for the bar exam! Every page was packed with heavy legal terms and complex language that could make even the most diligent employee’s eyes glaze over.   While the handbook technically checked all the...

By Erika Rahman   8 Ways To Connect New Employees To Company Culture   To uncover the best practices for making employees feel connected to company culture during onboarding, we asked eight top executives and HR professionals to share their strategies. From implementing a buddy system and group activities to creating an interactive onboarding experience,...

What you don’t know about HR can cost you your business. I’ve had clients who call me and have 10, 15 employees. Some have 50, a hundred employees. When should they outsource HR? The rule of thumb is if you have a hundred or more employees, that’s when you really wanna have someone in-house who’s...

A job description should be clear, professional, and legally compliant while avoiding unnecessary or problematic details. Here are key things to avoid:   Discriminatory Language Avoid age, gender, race, or other biases (e.g., “Looking for a young, energetic candidate” or “Must be a native English speaker”). Instead, focus on skills and qualifications (e.g., “Strong communication...

At People First, we believe that behind every business challenge is a person trying their best to do right by their team—and that’s where we come in.   When Sarah, a first-time franchise owner, opened her senior care business, she was full of heart and determination—but quickly found herself buried under the weight of compliance...

By Erika Rahman   8 Ways To Connect New Employees To Company Culture   To uncover the best practices for making employees feel connected to company culture during onboarding, we asked eight top executives and HR professionals to share their strategies. From implementing a buddy system and group activities to creating an interactive onboarding experience,...

Do you have an attitude for gratitude? I am now celebrating 20 years with one of my clients, and they’ve come to me recently and asked “How can we recognize our employees for either a good job that they’ve performed or that they’ve been with me, they’ve been loyal, they’ve been dedicated.” Now you obviously...

A job description should be detailed enough to provide clarity but concise enough to remain engaging. Here’s a breakdown of the ideal level of detail:   Essential Responsibilities (Clear but Not Overwhelming) Focus on the core duties (5-10 key responsibilities). Avoid overly granular details that may change frequently. Use action-oriented language (e.g., “Manage customer inquiries...

In January 2025, I received a call from my client asking what they could do with an employee who they felt was not performing up to company standards.  The Company wanted to give this individual an opportunity to improve their performance before they terminated employment.   The Company initiated a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) for...

By Erika Rahman   8 Ways To Connect New Employees To Company Culture   To uncover the best practices for making employees feel connected to company culture during onboarding, we asked eight top executives and HR professionals to share their strategies. From implementing a buddy system and group activities to creating an interactive onboarding experience,...

Buddy, it ain’t over till the paperwork’s done. I just spoke to a new client. We, they just joined us and it’s funny, the first thing they said was, well, we know we we’re gonna ask them for their IDs. And we’re like, no, no, no. That’s not what you do first. You don’t ask...

Creating a job description template ensures consistency across roles and makes it easier to define responsibilities, qualifications, and expectations. Here’s a structured template you can use:   [Job Title] Department: [Department Name] Reports To: [Supervisor’s Title] FLSA Status: [Exempt/Non-Exempt] Location: [Remote/In-Office/Hybrid] Job Summary: [Provide a brief overview of the position’s purpose, key objectives, and how...

I got a call from one of our client’s employees. We administer benefits for this client and the employee called because they were not getting anywhere with their insurance carrier. They were hemorrhaging severely, and the carrier gave them a list of specialists that were in the network. When the employee called the providers, none...