Di has been a writer for more than half her life. Most of her writing so far has been fiction, and she’s gotten short stories published in online magazines Kzine and Silver Blade, as well as a flash fiction piece in the Bookends review. Di graduated from Mary Baldwin College (now University) with a degree in Psychology and Sociology.
Posts by Di Doherty:
How To Write A Job Description (With Examples)
A guide on how to write an effective job description that accurately reflects the responsibilities and requirements of a job position.
How To Help Your Team Find Their Work Styles
Summary. Work styles are the way that employees prefer to work when left to their own devices. This includes both how they complete tasks and how they communicate with other members of their team, as well as management. There are many different ways to measure different work styles, as shown by the myriad of different […]
Best Accounting Software For Small Businesses
Summary. Accounting software is a way to keep track of your business’s accounting and bookkeeping needs, such as income, invoicing, payroll, and financial reports. It’ll take care of the tedious tracking functions needed to keep proper books, as well as help you stay in compliance with rules and regulations. Key Takeaways: Accounting software is a […]
8 Best Swag Bag Ideas For New Hires
Summary. Swag bags are a good way to welcome new employees to the organization. Gifts can make them feel welcome, allow them to treat themselves, and enforce your branding and culture. Key Takeaways: Swag bags are collections of free items that are usually emblazoned with a corporate logo. They’re often used for advertising or promoting […]
Summary. Company values, or core values, are the values that determine how a company operates and interacts with its customers and employees. These values are meant to be unifying, a window into the company’s culture, and a way to appeal to customers and potential employees. Most businesses have between five and ten core values. Many […]
Summary. Workplace safety is an important part of an effective workplace. It helps prevent accidents that can hurt employees, damage equipment, and even result in fines or punitive action from regulatory agencies. Following workplace safety tips are a good way to help prevent workplace accidents and make sure that supervisors and employees follow proper safety […]
How To Set Employee Performance Goals
Summary. Employee performance goals are a way to track employee performance. As a rule, employee performance goals have a short time frame and are achievable. They’re a way to make sure that employees are keeping up with the expectations of their job more than a way to push them to work harder. Performance goals should […]
Summary. Greenwashing is the practice of making a business, or its products look more environmentally friendly, sustainable, or natural than they actually are. Consumers are becoming more interested in products that are better for the planet and are willing to spend more money for that purpose. That means that all sorts of businesses are trying […]
Employer’s Reference Letter Template And Sample
Summary. A reference letter is a letter written recommending someone for a position. When a reference letter is written by an employer, it’s usually going to be for another job, but it can also be an academic reference for a higher education program or a character reference, which can be for a job, a volunteering […]
Summary. An employee ID is a code that identifies a particular employee. IDs are typically assigned during onboarding and are used to track the employee’s payroll and other sensitive information. Employees can also use them to access their employment information, as well as gain access to computers or other services owned by the company. Key […]
How Much Does A Billboard Cost?
Summary. Billboards cost anywhere from $250 to over $15,000 a month, depending on factors like location, size, and the design itself. Cost can also vary depending the type of billboard – such as whether it’s mobile, static, or digital. Billboards have been around as a way to advertise for a long time. They’re essentially giant […]
Pros And Cons Of Pets In The Office
Summary. Allowing pets in the office has several advantages, along with some disadvantages. Pets tend to improve morale, keep people calm and relaxed, and allow pet owners to spend more time at the office. However, they can be disruptive and messy, and not everyone is a pet person. Deciding whether or not to allow pets […]
Pronouns In The Workplace [Employer’s Guide]
Summary. Pronouns are words that are used in place of a noun. When talking about pronouns in the workplace, it’s a way to discuss and embrace gender and identity. Using the proper pronouns to refer to coworkers and clients is a way to show respect and promote inclusion. Encouraging employees to offer their own pronouns […]
What Is Full-Time Equivalent? (FTE – With Example Calculation)
Summary. Full-time equivalent is a way to keep track of your staff and workload. It’s primarily used to compare part-time hours to full-time hours to see how many “full time” employees you end up with. It can also be used to determine workload and how much staff you have, as you can include full-time employees […]
Best Fuel Cards For Small Businesses
Summary. Fuel cards are a way for businesses that purchase a lot of fuel during their operations to track their purchases, get savings, and help prevent fraud. They’re primarily useful for businesses that buy over 1,000 gallons of fuel per month. If a large part of your business model involves trucking goods or traveling, then […]
How To Implement A No Meeting Day
Summary. A no meeting day is a day of the week when no meetings can be scheduled. Having a policy that has no meeting days has the benefit of giving employees breaks from meetings, instead allowing them to focus fully on their tasks. It promotes focus and autonomy and limits burnout. Meetings can pull employees […]
PHR vs SHRM: What’s The Difference?
Summary: The main difference between PHR and SHRM is that the PHR is a certification, and SHRM is an organization. The PHR is offered by HRCI. SHRM offers a similar certification called the SHRM-CP. Both are professional certifications for those who work in HR. Key Takeaways: PHR SHRM Stands for Professional in Human Resources. Stands […]
Summary. Unions are organizations that represent a class of workers to their employers. A union’s purpose is to bargain with employers on behalf of their workers for better pay, benefits, and working conditions. Labor unions are primarily associated with industrialization, as that’s when labor began to organize in the United States as a way to […]
How To Give An Employee Warning (With Template)
Summary. An employee warning is an official way for an organization to inform an employee that their conduct is not up to the organization’s standards. This can be either in regard to low performance or to other behavior that violates the code of conduct, such as altercations with other employees or excessive absenteeism. Warnings are […]
Responsibilities Of Middle Management
Summary: Middle management is a very broad category that covers a lot of management positions. Generally, it’s defined as a manager that primarily manages managers but reports to a higher-level manager. The larger the organization, the more middle managers it’s likely to have. Many businesses have been shifting away from middle management, instead prioritizing agility […]
How To Make A Workplace Flexible
Summary: Flexibility in the workplace can have several important benefits. Most employees rate higher satisfaction with their jobs if they’re flexible, as well as having higher productivity. Talent acquisition and retention are also positively affected by allowing flexible schedules. Having employees that are willing to be flexible as well can have a positive effect on […]
What Is Strategic Staffing? (And How To Develop A Staffing Plan)
Summary: Strategic staffing is treating talent acquisition in the same way that most other resources are – as something that needs to be proactively sought out. If you’re using strategic staffing, then not only are you looking at your current staffing needs but your future ones. While many businesses will order supplies or raw materials […]
Team Building Activities For New Employees
Summary: Team building activities are a way to get new employees to become part of the team. They focus on teamwork, communication, and finding joint solutions. This is especially the case if it’s a brand new team and you want to help them get to know one another better quickly. Most team-building exercises are focused […]
Best Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS)
Summary: Human resources information systems help with organizing, processing, and accessing employee information. In this regard, they’re useful to both the HR staff, who can use them to enter and store employee information, and to employees who have quick access to their benefits and employment information. Having some sort of human resources information system is […]
Office Layout Ideas With Examples
Summary: Office layouts have a big impact on the way that employees work with one another. It also influences how much they’ll want to come to the office and how motivated they’ll be once they get there. That makes it an important decision that could affect productivity and the quality of the work product. Your […]
How To Write A Vision Statement (With Real Examples)
Summary: A vision statement is a one-sentence statement that describes your organization’s aspirations. They give employees a joint long-term goal, as well as help define your organization’s core values and purpose. Vision statements are generally much more removed from the day-to-day aspects of the business than a mission statement is. While they tie into what […]
How To Make A Professional Development Plan For Employees
Summary: A professional development plan is a roadmap for an employee’s career. They often include short-term and long-term goals in terms of professional betterment and promotions. Ideally, they’ll coincide with both the employee’s goals and the organization’s goals. Creating individualized professional development plans for your employees can have numerous positive effects on your employees. In […]
How To Create An Employee Reward Program
Summary: An employee reward program is a way to acknowledge and reward hard work on the part of employees. If it’s a program, it will likely have rules and goals to hit to get a reward and will give an idea of what the rewards will be. Employee reward programs are an excellent way to […]
What Is Volunteer Time Off (VTO)?
Summary: Volunteer time off is a type of paid time off. In this case, it means that employees will be paid to volunteer for a nonprofit organization. It encourages engagement in the community, bolsters a business’s brand, and shows that giving back to the community isn’t just rhetoric. While the idea of VTO is getting […]
How To Respond To Negative Feedback from Employees
Summary: Responding properly to negative feedback from your employees is an important leadership skill. Feedback is an extremely valuable tool as it helps you to determine what’s working and what isn’t. It’s important to listen and make changes as needed after receiving negative feedback. Many people say that feedback is a gift. While it may […]
How To Hire A Temporary Employee
Summary: Temporary employees are employees that work for your business for a set period of time, so long as it’s less than one year. Generally speaking, temporary workers are hired to either fill a gap or to compensate for a period where a lot of work needs to get done quickly. Temporary employees can serve […]
How To Hire International Employees
Summary: International employees are employees that aren’t American citizens. In this context, it can refer to someone who works at a satellite office in a different country, someone who works remotely from a different country, or someone who ends up relocating to the United States. International employees can be preferable in a number of circumstances. […]
The Key To High-Performing Teams
Summary: A high-performing team is a team that outperforms teams with similar composition. That would mean that they are consistently hitting — or exceeding – goals and deadlines, even if other teams aren’t. Having high-performing teams in an organization’s staff leads to higher productivity, more cohesion and limits delays. Every manager wants to manage a […]
How To Write A Press Release (With Template)
Summary: A press release is a communication with journalists, stakeholders, customers, and the public. As press releases have been around for a long time, there’s a standard format that they should follow. They serve as a tool for both public relations and marketing. Press releases go back to the man who is considered the father […]
What Is Business Sustainability? (And Why You Should Embrace It)
Summary: Sustainably is the practice of making sure that a process can be ongoing. In the case of business, this means that organizations make sure that the materials they use to run their business can be renewed, that they have a good relationship with the community, and that their model makes enough revenue to turn […]
How To Change Your Organizational Culture
Summary. Organizational culture has risen in prominence in recent years. What the culture of an organization or business is like has become an important factor in whether workers choose to take a job – or stay with an organization. With the pool of workers shrinking, organizations have to compete for talent, and that shines a […]
How To Create A Communication Strategy
Summary. A communication strategy is a plan centered on how to communicate desired information to a desired audience. It requires selecting a goal – what needs to be communicated – then a target audience, and then the best way to deliver that message. Such plans also make sure that communications across the company are consistent, […]
How To Create A Vacation Policy For Your Employees
Summary. A vacation policy covers how time off is handled in the workplace. It also covers how employees are expected to request time off. Depending on the policy, it can be more regimented, splitting the time into vacation days and sick days. Other businesses will have a more flexible policy, just letting employees take time […]
Why Employee Retention Is Important (And How To Improve)
Summary. Employee retention is the measure of how many of a business’s employees remain with them over a period of time. In most cases, it’s expressed as a percentage, such as having an 85% retention rate. Sometimes the opposite side will be expressed instead. That would be called the turnover rate. Turnover has to do […]
Culture Fit Questions To Ask In An Interview (With Examples)
Summary. With there being more competition for skilled workers, the issue of company culture has come to the forefront. Culture isn’t just imposed from the top, but something that everyone who works at a company is a part of. That means that bringing in new talent that clashes with the current culture can be disruptive, […]
How To Find Qualified Employees In 2023
Summary. A qualified employee is someone who has all the hard skills needed for the job in question. Depending on how specialized the job is or how competitive the market is, it may be difficult to find someone with that set of skills. If that’s the case, or even if it isn’t, the definition of […]
Firing an employee isn’t an easy thing to do. However, sometimes an employee ends up being a determinant to the organization and needs to be let go. There can be various reasons for this, from unethical behavior, illegal actions, or just not being able to meet the expectations of the job. Key Takeaways: Termination is […]
Good Feedback Examples For Employees
Being able to give good feedback to employees is an important skill for a manager. A manager’s main job is to bring out the full potential of their employees and make sure they have what they need to do their jobs. That means that being able to encourage them, point them in the right direction, […]
Best hiring practices are the generally accepted best way to go about hiring new employees. There are several different techniques, tricks, and methods that are considered best practices, and it’s best to incorporate several of them into your hiring process. Most of these practices involve trying to see the candidate as an entire individual and […]
Skills Assessment Test For Employees
Summary. Skill assessment tests are a way for employers to determine an employee’s skill set before hiring them. They are also sometimes used to see how effective a training program is in terms of learning and knowledge retention. They can be either a written exam, a series of questions asked during an interview, or a […]
How To Make A Remote Work Policy
There was a major transition to remote work during the pandemic, and many workers are reluctant to go back. That means that it’s up to employers to come up with a policy that works for both employees and employers. A remote work policy sets out rules and guidelines for remote work, allowing remote workers to […]
What Are Employee Evaluations?
Employee evaluations are formal reviews done by a manager on an employee’s performance. In most cases, they’re done on a yearly basis; however, some organizations do them more frequently. There should be a form to fill out when you do a review that allows the employee to see how well they’re meeting expectations, where they […]
How To Outsource Human Resources
Outsourcing your human resources (HR) functions means that you hire a separate company to perform these services for your business. These would include hiring, onboarding, compliance with labor laws, as well as pay and benefits. Small businesses are typically the ones who will outsource HR, as hiring an HR department is a much bigger percentage […]
Diversity vs Inclusion: What’s The Difference?
Diversity and inclusion are often put together as a single entity. While it’s true that they often go hand in hand, and each one benefits from the other, they aren’t the same thing. The concept behind each one is different. Diversity is how many different kinds of people are in an organization. Does it have […]
Creating A Profit And Loss Statement For A Small Business
A profit and loss statement is a document that businesses generate to track their revenue and expenses over a period of time. This time period is most often either quarterly or a fiscal year. The document will be a breakdown of the business’s revenue and a breakdown of expenses, subtracting the expenses from the revenue […]
Open Door Policy In The Workplace
Summary. Open door policies foster communication, trust, and openness, with the goal of leading towards more collaboration, idea sharing, and fewer conflicts. While the name comes from the idea that the manager’s door is always open, that doesn’t have to literally be the case. There are also hybrid styles between open door and closed door […]
What Is A Gatekeeper In Business?
Summary. A gatekeeper’s role is to control access to a particular service, product, or important person. That means that someone in the role of an executive assistant or secretary often ends up largely functioning as a gatekeeper. Those aren’t the only professions that involve gatekeeping as an important aspect. Gatekeepers serve an important purpose in […]
What Constitutes A Hostile Work Environment?
Summary. A hostile work environment is any workplace that makes an employee dread coming in. Of course, it isn’t that simple – it has to be created by the behavior of the other workers or supervisors. And even in that case, it only becomes one if the behavior is pervasive and consistent. If your business […]
How Does Bereavement Leave Work And How To Make A Bereavement Policy
Each person deals with loss and grief differently. It can entirely disrupt your life. Most people will need some time off work for funeral planning, dealing with estates, and healing. Offering leave tailored to that purpose can help with the process that keeps the office running smoothly while they take the time they need. Key […]
An Employer Guide To Remuneration
The main reason that an individual will decide to work for a particular employer is remuneration. The better the compensation for their work, the more tempting the offer is and the more likely it is that they’ll stay with the company. That means that deciding what to offer your employees for remuneration is an extremely […]
Required Government Documents For Day One For New Hires
You’ve finally managed to get the right person to hire for your open position. Now you just need to get the paperwork out of the way. There are several documents that are required for every new hire. The majority of them have to do with taxes and making sure that the new employee’s tax information […]
Key Performance Indicators (KPI) In The Workplace (With Examples)
Every business has goals and objectives that they want to achieve. KPIs are a way to put these down on paper and measure progress toward them. It can also be used to assess employee performance and the performance of the company in general. In short, KPIs are a way to track improvements, changes, and progress […]
Workplace Posters: Mandatory And Optional
Summary. While it may seem antiquated to post posters on the wall of your workplace, it’s a way for the Department of Labor to be sure that employees have access to the information that’s required by law. Most of the posters are sparse and draw attention to themselves as a way to be sure that […]
How To Choose A Payroll Provider For Your Business
Summary. Deciding to outsource part of your business can be a daunting decision. If you’ve been running your business by yourself, it can be difficult to release some of the control. However, if you find yourself making errors due to overwork or if you’re spending too much time on payroll and not enough on your […]
Guide To Workers’ Compensation Insurance For Small Business
Workers’ compensation insurance covers the medical bills for workplace injuries. It’s mandated in almost the entirety of the United States for business with employees, meaning that it’s likely that your small business will need it. It has other benefits as well, such as preventing small businesses from going bankrupt due to a workplace injury and […]
How To Write An Employee Handbook For A Small Business
While writing an employee handbook isn’t at the top of most small business owners’ lists, it’s an important step. Employee handbooks can be used to help new employees assimilate, answer questions, and deal with disputes. It can also protect the company from potential legal problems in the future, so long as it lays out the […]
EIN And Tax Requirements For Small Businesses
Running a business means that there will be more complex taxes than if you work for one. This involves taxes that businesses pay on behalf of their employees, as well as various taxes related to running a business. Different goods and services can require other types of taxes, and different states have different requirements. Key […]
The 8 Best Pre-Screening Interview Questions
A pre-screening interview is done before a regular interview to determine whether to pursue a further relationship with a candidate. The interview process is often done by an outside agency as a way to whittle out any unqualified or dishonest candidates. In some circumstances, the business will also do them themselves. Key Takeaways: Pre-screening interviews […]
Employer’s Guide To Drug Testing
Many employers in the United States have drug testing programs, which may make you wonder whether it’s something you should implement at your workplace as well. In some businesses, there are government requirements that drug testing has to take place in order to ensure safety. However, in the majority of workplaces, this isn’t a major […]
Job Offer Letter Format (With Examples)
Summary. A job offer letter is a formal invitation for a candidate to come work for your company. This is not a contract and should be a document that shows your interest in hiring the candidate. Your letter should note your acceptance in the first line of the letter. The letter include the offered salary, […]
How To Conduct An In-Person Interview [Employer Guide]
Interviews are one of the last steps in the hiring process. An interview is used to find out more about the candidate’s personality and work style. Talking to them about their work experience and how they address problems can give an interviewer insight into the kind of person they’re likely to be at work, and […]
While writing a job description is the first step in the process of looking for candidates, it’s only one piece. It won’t matter how good your job description is if no one has the opportunity to read it. Promoting your job posting can help draw in a larger number of applications, and a widely distributed […]
Comprehensive Benefits Packages [Employer Guide]
The two primary tools to attract and keep talent are salary and benefits. The benefits package is what makes an employee likely to stay with a company as it adds additional security and gives them considerable savings. It’s important to be aware of the popular benefits, especially among whichever group you try to attract. This […]
Managers are responsible for keeping the business running. They facilitate cooperation between different departments and make sure that inventory, scheduling, and projects get done properly. Hiring one can be a difficult process, as you need to find someone who can take care of your business’s unique needs. Thankfully, there’s a process to help you get […]
Severance Packages [Employer Guide]
The practice of offering severance packages is uncommon in the United States due to most positions being at will. Severance agreements are a way to ensure that employees stay financially healthy even after they no longer work for the company. It’s a way to show goodwill and maintain a positive relationship with former employees. Key […]
How To Include Required Education Level In A Job Description [Employer Guide]
Take the Guesswork Out of Job Descriptions Download Your Job Description Template By clicking Download, you agree to Zippia’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Knowing what level of education to require for a position isn’t as open and shut as most would like. While, generally speaking, more education is better, it also comes with […]
How to Define Job Requirements
Job requirements are generally the first thing potential applicants look at – beyond the job title. It’s what lets them know whether or not they should even apply for a position. If they don’t meet the requirements, then they likely won’t be hired, and the effort expended to submit an application would be wasted. This […]
6 Latest Recruitment Trends to Implement
Technology has revolutionized the way the world interracts and operates, and businesses are no exception to this! This post discusses the technology trends that will help in improving your business’s recruiting process.
5 Reasons Why Employee Happiness Is a Reflection of Employer Competence
Happy employees make for more successful companies, and competent employers have a direct impact on employee happiness. There are several ways this plays out, and we’ve put together a list of five of them for this article. Key Takeaways Competent employers create a positive work environment for their employees by making good hires and treating […]
How To Write A Business Plan (With Template)
Business plans can serve several purposes. They can be a way to keep the business on track, a description of a way to pivot in a new direction, or a way for a startup to appeal to investors. Oftentimes they’re a combination of these things. Every business should have a business plan. Planning out what […]
New Hire Orientation (7-Step Guide)
A work orientation can make a big difference in how a recently hired employee feels about their new workplace. Doing an orientation shows that the management is committed to helping new hires find their feet in their new positions and that they pay attention to their employees. It’s doubly a good thing if other members […]
Talent sourcing is the process of identifying, researching, and networking with job seekers in order to hire the best new employees possible. It’s an important part of finding good personnel. Most of the time spent sourcing is looking for ideal candidates and crafting a company brand that people want to be a part of. It’s […]
Probation Period At Work [Explained]
Probation is defined as “[the] subjection of an individual to a period of testing and trial to ascertain fitness (as for a job or school).” The word has been in use since the 15th century, the meaning “[a] critical examination and evaluation or subjection to such examination and evaluation,” which likely led to its employment […]
Job interviews are stressful for everyone involved. You have to worry about making a good impression, seeing if you click with the person and whether you can really make a reasonable determination in that amount of time. There are many good standard interview questions out there, but throwing a curveball can tell you something about […]
How To Rescind A Job Offer (With Examples)
There are various reasons why an offer of employment may be rescinded. There may be miscommunication between departments, a discrepancy in salary, or a change in leadership. Any of these reasons can cause a job offer to become obsolete. A potential employee may also fail to meet the requirements to get hired. Whatever the reason, […]
How To Write A Letter of Recommendation For An Employee (With Examples)
A letter of recommendation is known by many different names, such as a recommendation letter, a letter of reference, a reference letter, or even just a reference. As this is a letter specifically for an employee, it will likely be for another job, which would mean it could also be called an employment reference or […]
What Is Talent Acquisition? (And How To Do It)
Every company has some manner of talent acquisition. Everyone hires, seeks out talent, and tries to hold onto the employees they already have. This is just a part of doing business and staying competitive. Talent acquisition, however, focuses on trying to get the absolute best people for your positions. Key Takeaways Talent acquisition is the […]
Company Mission Statement Examples (And How To Write)
Every major company in the United States has a mission statement. It’s used as a way to communicate with the public, personnel, customers, and potential employees. A mission statement is often short, giving a condensed insight into the company’s purpose, culture, and focus. Such statements can vary in length from just a handful of words […]
At-will employment is the predominant system in the United States for employee-employer relationships. In short, at-will employment means that both the employee and employer can end the relationship at any time for any reason – save for illegal discrimination. At-will employment is a controversial system with both defenders and detractors. The main aspect of it […]
Nonexempt employee is a categorization under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). A nonexempt employee is usually what would be considered a blue-collar worker. Due to the nature of how nonexempt employee positions are structured, they tend to be repetitive and have a measurable goal. They’re also typically not as well paid as exempt positions. […]
A federal employee is someone who works for the federal government. This doesn’t mean that you have to work in Washington D.C., though many federal positions are there. The federal government is a huge bureaucracy with many different departments and arms, meaning that there is a lot of variety in federal positions. There are federal […]
Making Working Vacations Work for Your Company [Infographic]
Working hard is often viewed as the best path to achieving success, but often we find we don’t even allow ourselves to relax and decompress when on vacation. In this infographic, our author explains how some workplace cultures are creating cultures and policies to support a flexible approach when taking a break.
8 Ways You Can Overcome Being a Biased Recruiter
While we would all like to think that we are impartial and screen candidates without an iota of bias, truth is that unconscious bias is a reality and there is no denying that. Here are 8 ways to overcome biases in your recruitment process.
Internal vs External Recruitment: Weighing up the Pros and Cons
Are you looking for your next employee? Sometimes the process can seem endless, can’t it? For every two or three great candidates you interview in the final stages, you can recall the scores of resumes and cover letters that you’ve dropped into shredders. Some of those candidates missed your shortlist only marginally. Others possessed none […]
4 Employee Recognition Tips That Don’t Involve a Paybump
Here are 4 of the most powerful rewards for keeping your employees happy and engaged at work that don't involve a pay rise.
5 Text Messaging Tips For Recruiters
Here are some helpful tips to optimize your next mobile outreach campaign to find the most qualified candidates.