HR Maverick
Wendy N. Kelly, MSHRM, PHR, SHRM-CP
Wendy is an HR professional with over 10 years of HR experience in education and health care, both in the private and non-profit sector. She is the owner of KHRServices, a full service HR management agency. She is also SHRM and HRCI certified, serves as a HRCI Ambassador, and voted 2021 Most Inclusive HR Influencer.
What words of advice and encouragement would you give to someone just starting out in HR?
Be sure to network with other HR professional, we are at the ready to assist. It can be tough at first; however, don’t give up, keep pushing you got this.
HR Encyclopedia articles written by Wendy N. Kelly, MSHRM, PHR, SHRM-CP:
Future of Work
How do you make sure you adapt to the constant changes in the workplace to keep your company competitive and your employees satisfied? The "future of work" is the proactive study of how work will shift in the next decade due to changes in society and technology.
Human Resources (Intro to HR)
Ever wonder how and when human resources started? Look no further. Read on to learn more about the field of human resources, how it evolved, its history, how it is changing and more.
Golden Handcuffs
Maybe you’ve heard the term golden parachute, but have you heard of the term golden handcuffs? Let’s explore what golden handcuffs are, the pros and cons of implementing such a strategy and how to create one.
Life Insurance Policy Benefit
Many organizations offer employee benefits such as medical, dental, and vision. However, have you considered offering life insurance as a benefit? In this article, we will explore what life insurance is and whether or not your organization should offer it.
Hurricanes
No one likes to consider the possibility of natural disasters, but we know preparation is key. If your company is located in hurricane territory, you need to plan ahead. Read further to learn why it is important for your organization to prepare for a major storm such as a hurricane and the steps to take to do so.
Revenue per Employee
Do you ever wonder if your organization is utilizing your employees efficiently? Are you unsure if or how to measure it? Let's explore the Revenue Per Employee metric and how your organization can apply it to increase the bottom line.
DEI
The summer of 2020 sparked the conversation around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). DEI became a buzzword of the year, and organizations ramped up DEI efforts. As an HR professional, it's your responsibility to lead the charge on this issue. If you are intimidated by it, you are not alone. To learn how you can make a difference, continue reading.
Racism in the Workplace
Many believe that racism does not exist within the workplace but it is alive and well. How is this possible when there has been much progress to combat racism? Read further to learn more.
Diversity Workplace Events
There are many studies that show teams are more efficient and productive when they are diverse. Improve your organization’s productivity, engagement, and awareness with workplace diversity events.
TV Recruiting
As the fight for talent looms, you may want to consider an unconventional way to recruit: television (TV) recruitment. Continue reading to learn what TV recruitment is and how it can benefit your organization.
FICA Tax
FICA. Do you flinch with uncertainty when you hear the term? Let us help you get comfortable with what this tax is all about and how to calculate, report, and pay it.
Step-Rate Compensation Structure
Looking for a sustainable pay system? Step-rate compensation may be a step in the right direction—no pun intended. Read on to learn what step-rate compensations are, their pros and cons, and things you should consider prior to implementing.
Seasonal Onboarding
Scrambling year after year during your seasonal onboarding? Continue reading to learn why a successful seasonal onboarding process is important, how to streamline your process and how to have successful seasonal onboarding every season.
H1-B Visa
We have all heard the term war on talent, meaning that your best candidates are hard to find. Positions are becoming more difficult to fill. Have you considered hiring outside of the US? If so, then an H-1B visa may be right for you. Continue reading to learn more about the H-1B visa program.
E-Verify
Is your organization using the E-Verify program? If not, you should be. Read further to learn what E-Verify is and why it may be beneficial for your organization.
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) is a federal law that governs employee benefit plans. Does ERISA apply to your organization? If you want to know the ins and outs of the act and its key components, read along.
Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Enacted in 2010, the Affordable Care Act continues to be a challenge for many employers. Continue reading to learn more about ACA, its impact on both the employer and employee and what your organization should be doing.
Counteroffer
We have all heard the term “war on talent,” which refers to the competitive challenge of attracting and retaining talent. A counteroffer may be part of your organization’s answer to this challenge. Read on to learn more.
Gross Up
As the war for talent continues, many potential candidates are on the move. To combat the cost of relocation, a gross-up might be your solution. Continue reading to learn more about what gross-ups are, how to calculate them and why they’re important.
New Hire Reporting
When you hear “new hire reporting,” you may immediately think of the new hire census, how many new hires you've onboarded and what positions were filled. But new hire reporting is more than that; it is a federal requirement. Keep reading to learn more about new hire reporting, what it is, why it's important and when to complete it.
Employee Self-Service (ESS)
Are you losing time every day due to employee interruptions and mundane data entry? An employee self-service system can help. Read on to learn how you can reclaim hours a day.
Employee Disengagement
Employee disengagement is as critical to an organization as employee engagement. Organizations must understand employee disengagement and its impact. Read on to learn more about employee disengagement and what it means for your organization.
Payroll Liabilities
For many organizations, payroll is the largest line item, and the task of processing it can be daunting. Learn what payroll liabilities are and best practices to mitigate risks.
Referral Bonus
What better way to attract more business than by word of mouth? Could the same be said about attracting talent? Let's take a closer look at referral bonuses and why they may benefit your organization.
USERRA
Does your organization employ service members? If so, then the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, commonly known as USERRA, applies to you. Read on to learn about USERRA and how it impacts you.
Lump-Sum PTO Policy
Are you facing challenges administering all the different kinds of paid time off: sick, vacation, holidays, flex time, and more? Lump-sum PTO can streamline administration and improve employee morale.
Form 940
Payroll can be complex. There are tons of forms to complete and federal taxes to be paid, such as FUTA. To pay your FUTA tax, you must first complete Form 940. To learn more about this form, keep reading.
Form 941
If you pay wages, chances are you’ll need to complete Form 941. In this article, you’ll learn more about Form 941, who should file it, and why.
Blind Resumes
We know that increasing diversity in our organizations is important. Have you considered using blind resumes as a tool to make your hiring process less biased?
Payroll Reporting
Your organization's payroll reports provide a wealth of information that can help you understand and control labor costs, provide accurate reporting, and mitigate financial risks. Read on to learn more about payroll reports and their impact.
Section 125 Cafeteria Plan
Section 125 Cafeteria Plan is a way in which your organization can offer employees a choice between taxable and nontaxable, without the choice being taxable. In this content we will discuss what a Section 125 plan is, and how your organization could benefit.
Employee Retention
You spend a lot of time and effort to recruit and hire the right people for the right job—only to have them leave after a couple of months. Or perhaps you lose long-term employees who take great skills and knowledge with them. Either way, turnover is expensive and frustrating.
There are many reasons employees contemplate leaving an organization, including lack of work-life balance, professional development or accountability; inadequate pay; and the feeling of being undervalued.
Let's explore what employee retention is, why it is important, how to measure it, and how to start an employee retention program.
There are many reasons employees contemplate leaving an organization, including lack of work-life balance, professional development or accountability; inadequate pay; and the feeling of being undervalued.
Let's explore what employee retention is, why it is important, how to measure it, and how to start an employee retention program.
Benefit Enrollment Form
Paperwork: nobody likes it, but it's a necessary evil. Well-designed forms get you the information you need in a way that is easy for your employees to complete. Enrollment managed improperly can mean a host of problems for both the employee and your organization. Let's look at what to include and how to make things as easy as possible for everyone.
Workplace Tour
Outreach is a constant but rarely recognized part of HR work. You need to reach out to future potential employees and to the community you are a part of. Hosting a workplace tour is one way to accomplish both of those goals. Let's look at how to plan and facilitate a great tour of your company's facilities.
Employee Wellbeing
As an HR person, you are responsible for organization-wide functions—but you are also an employee. You have first-hand experience of wellness, or the lack of wellness, at work, and how it impacts your productivity and satisfaction with your job. Research confirms that the wellness of your employees directly relates to the success of your company. Read on to learn how you can implement an effective wellness program.
Illegal Question
The hiring process can be challenging. The process of advertising a job posting and filtering resumes is lengthy. When it comes time to interview, you need to ask the right questions to determine if the candidate is qualified, but you also must be wary of asking the wrong questions. Let's explore the dos and don’ts of interview questions.
Signing Bonus
As the fight for talent continues, more employers are offering sign-on bonuses to get employees through the door — even those companies that traditionally didn’t before. Signing bonuses are a way to help your organization incentivize against competing offers to a candidate. Let’s explore why a signing bonus may work for your organization.
Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA)
The future is unpredictable, but what we know for certain is that prices on housing, services and goods are likely to increase. Employers often account for inflation through Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA). Let’s explore what a COLA is, when you might consider making one, and how to make that decision.
Salary Basis Test
Federal law states that all employees are considered eligible for overtime pay unless they meet certain requirements for exemption. Continue reading to learn more about the qualifications and requirements for exemption.
Employee Burnout
Have you ever felt burned out at work? If so, you know the difficulty of performing well while feeling that exhaustion. Employee burnout is a problem that can affect anyone in any role at any company. Being able to spot the early warning signs of employee burnout can help you prevent negative impacts for both your employee and your company. Don’t fall into the trap of misinterpreting your employees' burnout as something else.
Salary Budget
Ever wonder how your company handles payroll planning? An employee’s salary is a large part of your organization's compensation package and budget. In this article you will learn why your organization’s salary budget is important and how to create a salary budget.
Reverse Recruiting
It is easy for your organization to get left behind when you’re not keeping pace with the latest approaches to attracting talent. That is why you should consider reverse recruiting. Read more to learn what reverse recruiting is, it’s benefits and more.
HR Maverick
Wendy N. Kelly, MSHRM, PHR, SHRM-CP
Wendy is an HR professional with over 10 years of HR experience in education and health care, both in the private and non-profit sector. She is the owner of KHRServices, a full service HR management agency. She is also SHRM and HRCI certified, serves as a HRCI Ambassador, and voted 2021 Most Inclusive HR Influencer.
What words of advice and encouragement would you give to someone just starting out in HR?
Be sure to network with other HR professional, we are at the ready to assist. It can be tough at first; however, don’t give up, keep pushing you got this.
HR Encyclopedia articles written by Wendy N. Kelly, MSHRM, PHR, SHRM-CP:
Future of Work
How do you make sure you adapt to the constant changes in the workplace to keep your company competitive and your employees satisfied? The "future of work" is the proactive study of how work will shift in the next decade due to changes in society and technology.
Human Resources (Intro to HR)
Ever wonder how and when human resources started? Look no further. Read on to learn more about the field of human resources, how it evolved, its history, how it is changing and more.
Golden Handcuffs
Maybe you’ve heard the term golden parachute, but have you heard of the term golden handcuffs? Let’s explore what golden handcuffs are, the pros and cons of implementing such a strategy and how to create one.
Life Insurance Policy Benefit
Many organizations offer employee benefits such as medical, dental, and vision. However, have you considered offering life insurance as a benefit? In this article, we will explore what life insurance is and whether or not your organization should offer it.
Hurricanes
No one likes to consider the possibility of natural disasters, but we know preparation is key. If your company is located in hurricane territory, you need to plan ahead. Read further to learn why it is important for your organization to prepare for a major storm such as a hurricane and the steps to take to do so.
Revenue per Employee
Do you ever wonder if your organization is utilizing your employees efficiently? Are you unsure if or how to measure it? Let's explore the Revenue Per Employee metric and how your organization can apply it to increase the bottom line.
DEI
The summer of 2020 sparked the conversation around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). DEI became a buzzword of the year, and organizations ramped up DEI efforts. As an HR professional, it's your responsibility to lead the charge on this issue. If you are intimidated by it, you are not alone. To learn how you can make a difference, continue reading.
Racism in the Workplace
Many believe that racism does not exist within the workplace but it is alive and well. How is this possible when there has been much progress to combat racism? Read further to learn more.
Diversity Workplace Events
There are many studies that show teams are more efficient and productive when they are diverse. Improve your organization’s productivity, engagement, and awareness with workplace diversity events.
TV Recruiting
As the fight for talent looms, you may want to consider an unconventional way to recruit: television (TV) recruitment. Continue reading to learn what TV recruitment is and how it can benefit your organization.
FICA Tax
FICA. Do you flinch with uncertainty when you hear the term? Let us help you get comfortable with what this tax is all about and how to calculate, report, and pay it.
Step-Rate Compensation Structure
Looking for a sustainable pay system? Step-rate compensation may be a step in the right direction—no pun intended. Read on to learn what step-rate compensations are, their pros and cons, and things you should consider prior to implementing.
Seasonal Onboarding
Scrambling year after year during your seasonal onboarding? Continue reading to learn why a successful seasonal onboarding process is important, how to streamline your process and how to have successful seasonal onboarding every season.
H1-B Visa
We have all heard the term war on talent, meaning that your best candidates are hard to find. Positions are becoming more difficult to fill. Have you considered hiring outside of the US? If so, then an H-1B visa may be right for you. Continue reading to learn more about the H-1B visa program.
E-Verify
Is your organization using the E-Verify program? If not, you should be. Read further to learn what E-Verify is and why it may be beneficial for your organization.
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) is a federal law that governs employee benefit plans. Does ERISA apply to your organization? If you want to know the ins and outs of the act and its key components, read along.
Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Enacted in 2010, the Affordable Care Act continues to be a challenge for many employers. Continue reading to learn more about ACA, its impact on both the employer and employee and what your organization should be doing.
Counteroffer
We have all heard the term “war on talent,” which refers to the competitive challenge of attracting and retaining talent. A counteroffer may be part of your organization’s answer to this challenge. Read on to learn more.
Gross Up
As the war for talent continues, many potential candidates are on the move. To combat the cost of relocation, a gross-up might be your solution. Continue reading to learn more about what gross-ups are, how to calculate them and why they’re important.
New Hire Reporting
When you hear “new hire reporting,” you may immediately think of the new hire census, how many new hires you've onboarded and what positions were filled. But new hire reporting is more than that; it is a federal requirement. Keep reading to learn more about new hire reporting, what it is, why it's important and when to complete it.
Employee Self-Service (ESS)
Are you losing time every day due to employee interruptions and mundane data entry? An employee self-service system can help. Read on to learn how you can reclaim hours a day.
Employee Disengagement
Employee disengagement is as critical to an organization as employee engagement. Organizations must understand employee disengagement and its impact. Read on to learn more about employee disengagement and what it means for your organization.
Payroll Liabilities
For many organizations, payroll is the largest line item, and the task of processing it can be daunting. Learn what payroll liabilities are and best practices to mitigate risks.
Referral Bonus
What better way to attract more business than by word of mouth? Could the same be said about attracting talent? Let's take a closer look at referral bonuses and why they may benefit your organization.
USERRA
Does your organization employ service members? If so, then the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, commonly known as USERRA, applies to you. Read on to learn about USERRA and how it impacts you.
Lump-Sum PTO Policy
Are you facing challenges administering all the different kinds of paid time off: sick, vacation, holidays, flex time, and more? Lump-sum PTO can streamline administration and improve employee morale.
Form 940
Payroll can be complex. There are tons of forms to complete and federal taxes to be paid, such as FUTA. To pay your FUTA tax, you must first complete Form 940. To learn more about this form, keep reading.
Form 941
If you pay wages, chances are you’ll need to complete Form 941. In this article, you’ll learn more about Form 941, who should file it, and why.
Blind Resumes
We know that increasing diversity in our organizations is important. Have you considered using blind resumes as a tool to make your hiring process less biased?
Payroll Reporting
Your organization's payroll reports provide a wealth of information that can help you understand and control labor costs, provide accurate reporting, and mitigate financial risks. Read on to learn more about payroll reports and their impact.
Section 125 Cafeteria Plan
Section 125 Cafeteria Plan is a way in which your organization can offer employees a choice between taxable and nontaxable, without the choice being taxable. In this content we will discuss what a Section 125 plan is, and how your organization could benefit.
Employee Retention
You spend a lot of time and effort to recruit and hire the right people for the right job—only to have them leave after a couple of months. Or perhaps you lose long-term employees who take great skills and knowledge with them. Either way, turnover is expensive and frustrating.
There are many reasons employees contemplate leaving an organization, including lack of work-life balance, professional development or accountability; inadequate pay; and the feeling of being undervalued.
Let's explore what employee retention is, why it is important, how to measure it, and how to start an employee retention program.
There are many reasons employees contemplate leaving an organization, including lack of work-life balance, professional development or accountability; inadequate pay; and the feeling of being undervalued.
Let's explore what employee retention is, why it is important, how to measure it, and how to start an employee retention program.
Benefit Enrollment Form
Paperwork: nobody likes it, but it's a necessary evil. Well-designed forms get you the information you need in a way that is easy for your employees to complete. Enrollment managed improperly can mean a host of problems for both the employee and your organization. Let's look at what to include and how to make things as easy as possible for everyone.
Workplace Tour
Outreach is a constant but rarely recognized part of HR work. You need to reach out to future potential employees and to the community you are a part of. Hosting a workplace tour is one way to accomplish both of those goals. Let's look at how to plan and facilitate a great tour of your company's facilities.
Employee Wellbeing
As an HR person, you are responsible for organization-wide functions—but you are also an employee. You have first-hand experience of wellness, or the lack of wellness, at work, and how it impacts your productivity and satisfaction with your job. Research confirms that the wellness of your employees directly relates to the success of your company. Read on to learn how you can implement an effective wellness program.
Illegal Question
The hiring process can be challenging. The process of advertising a job posting and filtering resumes is lengthy. When it comes time to interview, you need to ask the right questions to determine if the candidate is qualified, but you also must be wary of asking the wrong questions. Let's explore the dos and don’ts of interview questions.
Signing Bonus
As the fight for talent continues, more employers are offering sign-on bonuses to get employees through the door — even those companies that traditionally didn’t before. Signing bonuses are a way to help your organization incentivize against competing offers to a candidate. Let’s explore why a signing bonus may work for your organization.
Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA)
The future is unpredictable, but what we know for certain is that prices on housing, services and goods are likely to increase. Employers often account for inflation through Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA). Let’s explore what a COLA is, when you might consider making one, and how to make that decision.
Salary Basis Test
Federal law states that all employees are considered eligible for overtime pay unless they meet certain requirements for exemption. Continue reading to learn more about the qualifications and requirements for exemption.
Employee Burnout
Have you ever felt burned out at work? If so, you know the difficulty of performing well while feeling that exhaustion. Employee burnout is a problem that can affect anyone in any role at any company. Being able to spot the early warning signs of employee burnout can help you prevent negative impacts for both your employee and your company. Don’t fall into the trap of misinterpreting your employees' burnout as something else.
Salary Budget
Ever wonder how your company handles payroll planning? An employee’s salary is a large part of your organization's compensation package and budget. In this article you will learn why your organization’s salary budget is important and how to create a salary budget.
Reverse Recruiting
It is easy for your organization to get left behind when you’re not keeping pace with the latest approaches to attracting talent. That is why you should consider reverse recruiting. Read more to learn what reverse recruiting is, it’s benefits and more.
