The HR Toolkit: An Indispensable Resource for Being a Credible Activist

The HR Toolkit: An Indispensable Resource for Being a Credible Activist

by Denise Romano
Released April 2010
Publisher(s): McGraw-Hill
ISBN: 9780071701631

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Book description

Resolve any HR issue in a snap!

Solving office problems before they escalate marks the difference between success and failure for any HR professional. The HR Toolkit provides what you need to resolve every imaginable challenge— saving your company time and money.

With a handy indexed listing of the most common workplace conflicts and solutions, The HR Toolkit offers simple, actionable techniques you can start using right away. In no time, you’ll be an expert on every issue and situation you face, including:

  • Conflict resolution
  • Performance management
  • Job design
  • Employee selection
  • Workplace culture
  • Codes of ethics
  • Medical leave
  • Fair labor standards
  • Workplace Violence and Bullying
  • Competitive Corporate Governance

The HR Toolkit packs everything you need into one handy volume to help you increase both productivity and your company’s bottom line by solving problems with diplomacy and skill.

Praise for The HR Toolkit

"Dozens of sample memos, policies, training aids, exercises, checklists and more that readers can use immediately for a wide range of HR tasks. Author Denise A. Romano, an HR professional for more than 14 years, does more than offer sample documents and review laws relevant to HR. She urges HR professionals to be “credible activists” who are willing—and well-trained enough—to point out when their companies are violating laws or just handling things improperly through inadvertent errors. She also addresses HR professionals’ worries—including advising them on coping with workplaces that devalue HR. "
—SHRM/HR Magazine

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. The Hr Toolkit
  3. Copyright Page
  4. CONTENTS
  5. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  6. PROLOGUE
  7. INTRODUCTION
  8. PART ONE: FOUNDATIONAL ISSUES FOR HR CREDIBLE ACTIVISTS
    1. CHAPTER 1: WHY CREDIBLE ACTIVISM?
      1. HR TOOLS Sample Feedback Report to HR/OD (Suggestions and Requests for Intervention)
      2. Competitive Corporate Governance Implementation
    2. CHAPTER 2: THE IMPORTANCE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE CREDIBLE ACTIVIST
      1. HR TOOLS Sample Memo on Addressing Emotions in the Workplace
      2. Checklist of Behaviors
      3. Sample Interview Questions
      4. Company Assessment Tool: Conflict Resolution Climate, Dimensions, and Scope
      5. Sample Feedback Delivery Policy for the Management Team
      6. Sample Feedback Guidelines
      7. Sample Critical Thinking Quiz for HR/OD Professionals
    3. CHAPTER 3: THE CREDIBLE ACTIVIST AT WORK
      1. HR TOOLS Sample Outline of What HR Can Be: FOCUS of HR
      2. Checklist of Job Interview Questions for the Credible Activist to Ask the Company
      3. SHRM Code of Ethical and Professional Standards in HR Management (11/16/2007)
      4. Sample New Employee Assessment
      5. Recommended Approaches to Influence Leadership on HR Issues
      6. Checklist of Questions Credible Activists Ask Themselves
      7. Sample Team-Building Exercise
      8. Sample HR Flyer for New Staff, New HR, or Implementation of New HR Practices
      9. Sample Letter from Company Leadership Introducing New HR Leader
  9. PART TWO: LEGAL ISSUES
    1. CHAPTER 4: LEGAL ISSUES FOR CREDIBLE ACTIVISTS
      1. HR TOOLS Recognition of Employment-at-Will Exceptions, by State, as of October 1, 2000
      2. PACE Memo-Writing Formula
      3. Sample Memo Regarding EEO Compliance Concerns
      4. Sample EEO Training Aid
      5. Sample Memo Cautioning against Unlawful Retaliation
      6. Sample Memo Concerning OSHA’s Prohibition against Retaliation
      7. Sample Memo Concerning Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
      8. Sample Memo Concerning/Alleging Retaliation for Advocating for the ADA/ADAAA
      9. Sample Memo Addressing Workplace Safety Concerns
    2. CHAPTER 5: LEGAL ISSUES CONCERNING COMPENSATION, INSURANCE, LEAVE, AND OVERTIME
      1. HR TOOLS Sample WC Card
      2. Sample Letter to Medical Providers Who Erroneously Bill Employees or Company for Workers’ Compensation Bills
      3. Sample Memo: Leave Donation Policy
      4. Sample Memo Regarding FMLA Compliance Concerns
      5. Sample Memo Regarding FLSA Concerns
    3. CHAPTER 6: LEGAL ISSUES CONCERNING PUBLIC SAFETY AND FRAUD
      1. HR TOOLS Sample Memo Regarding Knowledge of Threats to Public Safety under CPSC
      2. Sample Memo Regarding Concerns about Retaliation against Employee for Raising Public/Product Safety Concerns
      3. Sample False Claims Act “Blowing the Whistle Internally” Fraud-Prevention Memo
      4. Sample Memo Asserting Retaliation for Having Raised Concerns about Fraud or Possible Fraud
    4. CHAPTER 7: DEALING WITH INCONSISTENT APPLICATION OF POLICIES AND DISPARATE TREATMENT
      1. HR TOOLS Sample Memo Addressing Inconsistent Policy Application
      2. Personal Protective Steps to Take at the First Sign of Retaliation
      3. Things You Can Do to Turn Being/Feeling Devalued as HR into a Learning Experience
      4. Nonviolent Communication Skills
    5. CHAPTER 8: CONCERNS ABOUT WORKPLACE VIOLENCE, BULLYING, AND ENVIRONMENTS THAT DAMAGE EMPLOYEE HEALTH, EFFICIENCY, AND PROFITS
      1. HR TOOLS Examples of Bullying
      2. Sample Memo Regarding Bullying and Workplace Violence
      3. Factors That Increase the Risk for Bullying Behavior
      4. How Bullying Affects People
      5. Sample Memo Defining Bullying
      6. Signs of Corporate and Institutional Bullying
      7. Checklist: Recommendations from HR to Leaders to Make Unions Irrelevant
      8. Sample Memo Regarding (Company)’s Compliance with the NLRA
      9. Reasons Some Companies Embrace Unions
      10. Sample Memo Regarding Concerns about Union Compliance with the NLRA
    6. CHAPTER 9: ROUNDUP OF ADDITIONAL LEGAL ISSUES, PROCEDURES, AND OBLIGATIONS
      1. HR TOOL Sample Memo Requesting (Company)-Sponsored SHRM Membership
    7. CHAPTER 10: CHECKLIST OF HEALTH INSURANCE TERMS HR PROFESSIONALS NEED TO KNOW
    8. CHAPTER 11: DIFFERENT LAWS IN DIFFERENT STATES
  10. PART THREE: REMAIN PERSONALLY CREDIBLE
    1. CHAPTER 12: MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM
      1. HR TOOLS Sample Memo to Influence Leadership about Shared Compliance Responsibilities
      2. Sample Memo to a Colleague about Shared Compliance Responsibilities
      3. Healing Humor Guidelines
      4. Sample Memo on Healthy Humor
      5. Sample Memo via E-Mail
    2. CHAPTER 13: CONFLICT RESOLUTION
      1. HR TOOLS Sample Memo Requesting Training for Yourself and Others
      2. Sample Ground Rules for a Facilitated Discussion
      3. Sample Monthly Theme: Conflict Resolution Month
      4. Economic Reality of Unresolved Conflict
      5. Alternative Dispute Resolution Fit within Organizational Development Dynamics
      6. Checklist for Self and Others’ Behavioral Assessment
      7. Sample Parameters of Autonomy for an HR Director for a Small Company
      8. Sample Protocol for Supervisor/Staff Issues
      9. Checklist: Precautions to Take When Preparing Anonymous Memos and Formal External Complaints
      10. Sample Letter (Nonanonymous Version): Formal External Complaints
      11. Checklist of Resources for Self-Development and Self-Examination
  11. PART FOUR: THE CREDIBLE ACTIVIST ADDS OD AND EI VALUE TO THE WORKPLACE
    1. CHAPTER 14: WHAT MATTERS? ACCURATELY DISCERNING MUSCLE FROM FAT
      1. HR TOOL Checklist of Safety Training Programs
    2. CHAPTER 15: FOSTERING FEEDBACK, TRAINING, AND IMPROVED PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
      1. HR TOOLS Sample Basic Management Training
      2. Sample Conflict Resolution Procedures
      3. Checklist of Characteristics of Great Managers
      4. Checklist of Conditions in a Workplace System that Support Excellent Employee Job Performance
      5. Sample Performance Management Procedures: Your Map for Coaching and Discipline
      6. Sample Training on Delegating, Directing Effectively, and NVC Problem Solving
      7. Checklist of Six Questions to Ask Yourself before Disciplining an Employee
      8. Sample Feedback Sheets
      9. Sample Managerial Record-Keeping for Employee Job Performance Tracking
      10. Sample Manager’s Self-Assessment Tool
      11. Checklist of 2008 General Mills Awards
    3. CHAPTER 16: JOB DESIGN, SELECTION, AND RECRUITMENT
      1. HR TOOLS Sample Form Required by HR for Position Vacancies or Newly Created Positions
      2. Sample Orientation Guide
      3. Sample Background Checking Company Research Table
      4. Sample Full-Time Employment Offer Letter
      5. Sample Postcard to Send to Applicants You Will Not Be Interviewing
      6. Sample “Dear Interviewee” Letter #1
      7. Sample “Dear Interviewee” Letter #2
  12. PART FIVE: ADDED VALUE
    1. CHAPTER 17: WORKPLACE IMPROVEMENTS
      1. HR TOOLS Sample Memo for Recommending a Suggestion Box
      2. Checklist School Information Gathering for Unpaid Internship Program
      3. Sample Memo Recommending Unpaid Internship Program
      4. Sample Internship/Seasonal Employee/Regular Employee Feedback Form
      5. Sample Anonymous Unpaid Internship Survey
      6. Sample Memo Regarding Rewarding Interns
      7. Sample (Company) Intern of the Month Nomination Form
      8. Sample Memo for Recommending a Reasonably Relaxed Dress Code for Most Days
      9. Sample Flex Time Memo
      10. Sample Comp Time Policy
      11. Sample Behavioral and Ethical Code of Conduct
      12. Sample Checklist for Greening Your Office
      13. Sample Checklist for Departmental Internal Customer Service
      14. Sample Memo Announcing EI Assessment and Training
      15. Sample List of Monthly Themes for Experiential Learning: Communication Skills
      16. Sample Intranet Posting: Calendar of Paid Holidays for Employees
    2. CHAPTER 18: ADDITIONAL FORMS AND LETTERS
      1. HR TOOLS Sample Letter: Accepting a Resignation Letter with Outgoing Separation Information Included
      2. Attendance/Incident Tracking Documentation Form
      3. Sample (Company) Internal EEO Complaint Form
      4. Sample Letter to EEOC in Washington, D.C
      5. Sample (Company) Internal EEO Complaint Log
      6. Sample Acknowledgement of Receipt of EEO/Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
      7. Sample Training Sign-In Sheet
      8. Sample (Company) Health Plan Benefits Comparison Chart
      9. Sample Benefits Form/List
  13. PART SIX: RESOURCES FOR HR PROFESSIONALS AT EVERY LEVEL
    1. CHAPTER 19: RESOURCES AND MISCELLANEOUS TIPS
      1. HR TOOLS Checklist of Recommended Reading for the Credible Activist
      2. Checklist of Sites to Which You’ll Want to Subscribe
      3. Sample HR Annual Calendar
  14. NOTES
  15. INDEX

Product information

  • Title: The HR Toolkit: An Indispensable Resource for Being a Credible Activist
  • Author(s): Denise Romano
  • Release date: April 2010
  • Publisher(s): McGraw-Hill
  • ISBN: 9780071701631