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For many small to medium organizations (and even large ones) human resources seems to be the “after-thought” or an “I’ll focus on it, now that there’s a crisis.” Companies will invest in lovely furniture, a great building, information technology, a financial system, and yet they neglect the HR infrastructure. Why is that?  

Companies exist for a purpose. (We can debate if that is only for profit or not – I like to think that organizations exist for more than just profit including making the world a better place). This purpose is a powerful vision of where the company is going and why. Companies hopefully plan for the future. The plan lets everyone know how they are going to get there. Yet organizations often forget about the people who are essential in getting a company where they want to be. Purpose + Plan + People = Profits. That’s The Royce Formula. Without dedicated and engaged people, a company will not be as efficient or as profitable as it can be. Research shows that the higher the employee engagement score, the happier the employees, the happier the customers, and the higher the profits! So why don’t companies take action and invest in people to invest in success?

I’ve heard owners and managers say they don’t know how to “get” engaged workers. They ask, “How do I get people to work hard and stay late to meet deadlines, with a smile on their face?” To find out, why not ask? You can learn much by being accessible and taking the time to chat with people. Employee engagement surveys can be implemented in a cost effective manner and can reveal meaningful data for an organization’s quest to improve engagement, increase productivity, and increase profit. I’ve heard comments like, “Do I have to share the results with employees.” That statement seems to indicate they might already suspect something is not right. It takes a brave owner and/or management team, to ask people what they are doing right and what needs to be improved, and to share that information with employees. Yet that is what all top 100 employers do on a regular basis. They ask their employees through surveys and focus groups, they share the information with their employees, and they take action!

Click here to contact us to find out how to increase profits through engaged and dedicated people! Next week, I’ll discuss why all organizations need an HR system to succeed.

With kind regards,  Joanne

Joanne Royce is the Founder of Royce & Associates, a Human Resources, Recruiting, and Training Solutions company. Joanne believes in The Royce Formula (Purpose + Plan + People = Profits) to help organizations create happy, healthy and productive workplaces.

I’ve been watching the odd “Dancing with the Stars” show. There’s something about Donny Osmond that makes him stand out.   We can learn a few things for the workplace by observing his actions on “Dancing with the Stars!”

1. You can teach an “oldish” dog new tricks. Donny’s a singer, he’s part of the half a century club, and he’s dancing up a storm. 
2. Do something out of your comfort zone. Donny’s “Adam Ant” reincarnation with garish hair, makeup, and costume, certainly wasn’t the clean cut image we all know. He did it with gusto and verve.
3. Laugh at yourself. You can be embarrassed, (and as Donny mentioned, his kids would probably be embarrassed too), but why not laugh at yourself. Much better than being laughed at, don’t you think!
4. A little healthy competition is good for you. Donny’s desire to “out dance” his sister Marie is evident every time the show is about to reveal which star is going home! He is working hard to beat his sister or he’ll “never hear the end of it.”
5. Practice makes perfect. Work hard and the steps become easier and automatic. Keep at it even when it seems like it you might not get it.
6. Never give up. When you almost fall flat on your face with dancing missed steps, a broken toe, or end up in the bottom two, pick your self up, shake your self off, and start all over again (or continue where you left off).
7. Be nice. I don’t think Donny has ever uttered a bad thing about anyone. If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.
8. Keep smiling and remain positive. It doesn’t matter if Donny Osmond wins  on ”Dancing with the Stars,” he will always be a success because there is something about him -  a positive attitude radiants from him! This positive attitude appeals to all ages – young and old.  It isn’t something that can be faked or borrowed.

So there you have it. There’s definitely something about Donny. He has the Power of Attitude. Now take that “something” and apply it to the workplace (and your life) every day!

Keep on dancing,  Joanne

Joanne Royce is the Founder of Royce & Associates, a Human Resources and Training Solutions consulting company. She helps organizations create happy, healthy and productive workplaces.

I said I wasn’t going to talk any more about the H1N1 virus. But I’ve been sick with some flu or the other for the past 1 1/2 weeks that has moved into pneumonia. While there is no way to confirm if I have H1N1, my family doctor said this is the problem with “Hinnie” (“Hi-knee” as one of her patients called it – made me chuckle with that one); it moves into complications and that is why people with weakened system have such a hard time with it. One of the symptoms is extreme tiredness / fatigue. I can vouch for that.

So definitely rest, drinking lots of water, taking supplements and medication if prescribed will make for a speedy recovery. This “flu” apparently lasts from three to five weeks! Apparently it isn’t contagious 24 to 48 hours after the initial fever subsides.

Which brings me back to the workplace. How do you support your employees during this time? Do you expect them to come in to work, which perhaps will prolong their sickness and most definitely will infect others? How productive will they be if they do come in with extreme fatigue? Do you pay for their sick days to encourage them to stay home? Do you have a policy that allows them to do some work from home? Do you have a policy that allows for shortened work days?

All organizations will be impacted by this flu. My family doctor says that the flu season (H1N1) will be prolonged this year. Longer than the regular flu season. I’d be curious to hear how your organization has been impacted and how you are coping?   Please feel free to share.

Keep well,   Joanne

Joanne Royce is the Founder of Royce & Associates, a Human Resources and Training Solutions consulting company. She helps organizations create happy, healthy and productive workplaces.

Are you getting the H1N1 vaccination? What are you going to do? Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment. I have to admit that I’m a bit confused about whether to get it or not. I was thinking that if you are healthy there would be no need to get the vaccine, but with media coverage lately, the fear is out there.

In Canada, there is no mandatory H1N1 vaccine. Some places, such as retirement residences, hospitals, and long term care facilities, have a culture of vaccination and a strong moral code about getting it. This week, I heard about a contract nurse who got the H1N1 vaccine. Unfortunately, she had a severe reaction, ended up in emergency, and hasn’t been able to work her shifts. As a contract nurse, she only gets paid when she works. So what should your H1N1 policy include? In this case, when a vaccine is not mandated, but “encouraged,” should the organization pay for lost wages? Your policy should include “what if” scenarios to cover possible contingencies.

There are plenty of pro and con debates going on about whether to get the vaccination. Apparently something called adjuvant is being used in the vaccine to boost the immune reaction of the body. I read about this in Scientific American, which states its a good thing. Read with caution as both authors are connected to a pharmaceutical company. Click here to read an article posted by the Vaccination Risk Awareness Network (VRAN). I don’t know enough about the ingredients or the statements made by the VRAN, but they sure don’t sound very good. Some claim that vaccines cause autism, but I read elsewhere that this claim was debunked due to fraudulant data. The Canadian government website on H1N1 has a good document entitled Considering the Options which attempts to outline the pros and risks of the vaccine. An article in the Ottawa Citizen reports the lack of testing of the H1N1 vaccine in Canada. Holistic practitioners, such as Dr. Russell Blaylock (click on “swine flu data”) advocate natural ways to support a healthy body and strongly advise against getting the vaccination. Our family doctor’s office has been inundated with phone calls and they blame the media for stirring up the anxiety and fear factor. They suggested visiting a Halton website on H1N1 for more information about when to visit to the doctor’s office, clinic, or emergency. I found the flow charts (high risk and low risk) to be particular good. Confused yet?

Kelly Kerr, an Oakville, Ontario based R.N.C.P. (Registered Nutritional Consultant Practitioner) says,

Everyone keeps asking me whether I think they should get the vaccine and this is a question that I cannot answer for other people.  I can only give you my opinion, as there is just not enough validated information to make a truly informed decision.  I can, however, share with you my feeling, as it relates to my own family.  I keep my family’s immune system as strong as possible using herbs, supplementation, nutritious and healthy foods.  We avoid fast food, too much sugar and other immune suppressors, especially during flu season.  We have also been rinsing our nasal passages with salt water and using the nettie pot. We are all strong and do not fall into the high risk category so we are choosing not to get the vaccination.  High risk individuals need to assess differently. 

Richard Schabas, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health from 1987 to 1997 and Neil Rau,an infectious diseases specialist and medical microbiologist in private practice in Oakville, Ont., and a University of Toronto lecturer, express their view point in an article that “healthy people have little to fear from H1N1.” Dr. Catherine D’Amico in an article for the Ottawa Citizen states that she and her family would be getting the vaccines. So who is right?

We are a very trusting society. We often don’t ask enough questions and blindly go where everyone is going. That’s how thalidomine babies happened; that’s how the Challenger fiasco happened; that’s how Enron happened; and that’s how ponzi schemes happen. Imagine how institutions or organizations with a “culture” that encouraged questions, might have changed those outcomes. The Canadian government (or we taxpayers) have bought $400-million worth of the vaccine from Glaxo Smith Kline yet they aren’t talking about the type of protection they gave to GSK in the event that problems occur with the vaccine. The Ottawa Citizen has a good Q & A page that you might like to review by clicking here. 

So should we get the H1N1 vaccine or not? We should do some research. We should look at the “source” or “authors” of that information to gain a better perspective. We should discuss with our doctor and health and wellness practitioners. We should ask many questions. We should use logic and reason in addition to our gut instinct. We should make an informed decision. 

Last week, in my “sneeze into your sleeve” blog, I gave you a Canadian website for information on H1N1. That website, plus the links in this blog should help you on your quest for more information and a more informed decision. 

Remember, asking questions never hurt anyone. And that’s about enough on this subject as I’m sick and tired with the flu. Literally. Is it seasonal or H1N1?  Who knows!

Keep well,  Joanne

P.S.  When my husband came home and heard my voice (laryngitis) he gleefully exclaimed “SWEEET … no more questions.  I’m going to text our son and tell him to call you now!”  I wonder, what did he mean by that?

Joanne Royce is the Founder of Royce & Associates, a Human Resources and Training Solutions consulting company. She helps organizations create happy, healthy and productive workplaces.