Do You Have a "Vanilla" Company Culture? How to Turn it Around

A company’s culture plays a huge factor in attracting and retaining talent, which in turn has a massive impact on a company’s productivity and profitability.  A company with a “vanilla” culture will often find itself struggling to attract top talent and to pull ahead of the pack among its fiercest competitors. …

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Should You Fire "That" Employee?

Firing happens. Every hiring and HR manager will eventually face the decision: should this employee be retained, or let go?  But while knowing the decision is inevitable is one thing, acting on it in the best interest of your company is another – especially when the “keep or fire” decision is a close call. Because …

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Back Up the Bus: EEOC Scrutiny and New Local Ordinances Create New Liability for Employers’ Use of Background Checks

Most employers routinely use criminal background checks as part of their employee vetting process. In its ongoing work to prevent discrimination in hiring, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has taken significant steps to limit these checks, due to a concern that they may unfairly eliminate a disproportionate number of minority candidates. In fact, the …

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Hiring Picks Up in Portland – What This Means for Your Recruiting

The Portland job market has seen an upswing in hiring in recent months, as hiring trends rise – particularly in industries that require some degree of technical skill or a specialized license, such as a commercial driver’s license (CDL). With more job opportunities on the market, candidates have a greater range of options from which …

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5 Keys to Getting The Truth on Your Next Reference Check

The need for reference checks isn’t exactly news for most hiring managers.  Nearly all HR professionals know that they should use reference checks and that such checks can uncover valuable information that may not appear in the candidate’s resume or interviews – for better or worse. However, although most hiring managers know reference checks can …

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Are You Helping – or Hindering – Your Staffing Partner?

Companies that work with a staffing partner create an opportunity to maximize the quality of their candidates, decrease the time they spend hiring, and gain a competitive advantage within their respective industries.  However, merely creating the opportunity isn’t enough.  Companies must also seize this opportunity. …

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Managing Conflict in the Workplace

When multiple individuals work as a team, conflict is inevitable – but it doesn’t have to be negative.  When managed constructively, conflict can spur productivity, generate new ideas, and break through creative blocks.  When conflict is allowed to fester, however, it can greatly decrease employee morale and productivity. …

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Will Hiring Help You Gain a Competitive Advantage?

In a challenging economy, companies continually seek a competitive advantage that will give them an “edge” over the competition.  A key place to start this search is with hiring.  The skills, experience, and values your employees hold can give your organization the edge it’s looking for — if you know how to use them. Maintaining …

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