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Why Practicing Delegation Makes For A Stronger Company
Entrusting members of your team with big responsibilities creates an atmosphere of high pressure but even higher reward. When people feel that they are building something worthwhile, especially while shoulder-to-shoulder with their peers, it instills them with a deep, powerful sense of belonging and validation. These kinds of exercises will go far beyond what typical team-building workshops could toward building a legitimate foundation for an integrated workforce capable o...
Read MoreThe Innovative Forces Shaping The Payroll Industry In 2019 And Beyond
As 2019 comes to a close and we reflect back on this past year in HR, one word that aptly describes the current state of the industry it is transformation. Every year seems to bring its fair share of game-changing advancements; as the fabric of our economy takes shape in the wake of these new technologies, the way we conduct our daily business is changing on an elemental level, at all ends of the industrial spectrum, and payroll is certainly no exception. As can be seen i...
Read MoreIt's Better To Cultivate Talent Than Search For It In The Wild
Plucking the perfect employee tailored to your company's particular needs fresh out of the talent pool is hard work, and takes a little luck, good timing, science and experience. Cultivating talent from your existing workforce will always be a more cost-effective option. Chances are that your employees are primed with the desire to expand their professional knowledge already, as most people view their jobs as a springboard for progression along a certain career path. Here ...
Read MoreThe Soft Skills That Companies Value And Look For The Most In Their Employees Today
Equally important to education and work experience today are what are referred to as 'soft skills.' These are the kind of skills you acquire while earning that job and academic experience, and they include things like work ethic, leadership skills, critical thinking, and the ability to work well with others. They can be thought of as life skills or human skills, and they are, at least from a professional standpoint, the defining attributes that make up a person's overall q...
Read MoreTrouble Tracking Down Talent? It Might Be Time To Launch an Employee Referral Program
If you've been having trouble finding that elusive all-star job candidate, it may be time to buff up your recruitment process. And by, buff up your recruitment process, what we really mean is have you launched an employee referral program? Implement an employee referral program. One of the best resources for finding star hires is right in front of you- the stars you have working for you already! It's not hard to understand why this method for finding quality talent is qu...
Read MoreWriting Work Emails That Get The Job Done
There are countless kinds of messages that are best conveyed with an email, but to be the most effective, an email should have one topic. If you need to discuss two major topics, you should be sending two emails. Writing long emails with multiple topics is one of the biggest mistakes most people make. Regardless of tone or subject, your email should always be checked for grammar. With all of the tools and browser extensions available these days, there's no excuse for anyt...
Read MoreBuilding A Stronger Brand Through Your Workforce
Traditionally, a brand ambassador is a celebrity, company executive, or some other identifiable figure who is entrusted with the task of spreading the company's message to the masses. This term has expanded in recent times to include anyone who shows continued support of and spreads awareness of a company's public image and idealistic focus. When your employees are brand ambassadors, it shows the public that they believe in the company, are committed to the company's produ...
Read MoreExpansion Brings the Need to Recruit and Hire
In a strong economy, employers may struggle to attract the key talent they require to keep growing. Texas, and specifically Austin, has low unemployment and the demand for workers is strong. If you're an Austin employer, how do you better compete for talent and find the employees you need as your business expands? The easiest place to start is by picking off the low-hanging fruit. Most companies don't have useful metrics or tracking around their application pro...
Read MoreSummer Slow-down? Time to Get Busy!
With the bulk of their customer base on summer vacation, many businesses record a downswing in their numbers during the months of June and July. Here are some ways in which businesses can make the most of the slow-down: Revisit company goals. Summer is the perfect time to make sure you are on track to meet your year-end goals. It might also be the ideal moment to perform employee evaluations, provide feedback, perform a pulse survey or implement additional training ...
Read MoreDallas and Austin Sick Leave Ordinances Have Uncertain Future
On April 24th, the Dallas City Council issued an ordinance that would force those in the private sector to provide paid sick leave benefits to eligible employees in certain medical and safety-related situations. Whether the ordinance will come in effect remains to be seen. At the end of 2018, a Texas court of appeal ruled that a similar sick leave ordinance issued in Austin violated the Texas Minimum Wage Act and the Texas Constitution, making it unenforceable by law. Tha...
Read MoreAge and Mentoring in the Workplace
One of the basic principles ingrained in us from an early age is that one should always respect one's elders. In the professional world, however, it is quite common for someone of a younger age to be in a position where they are expected to mentor someone older. While many workplaces don't have official mentoring programs in place, training is often handed down to a younger employee, and given the social implications, this may not come as naturally as it might with a cowor...
Read MoreThe Role of Emerging Technologies in the Recruitment Process
As our computing systems continue to evolve, we continue to evolve with them. As a result, a growing list of programs and applications is available, each of which is designed to simplify and ease the tedium of the workload, granting us time and energy to focus on more pertinent tasks. Whichever corner of the professional world you currently focus on, there's a chance that the next shiny new piece of technology to be introduced carries with it an opportunity to streaml...
Read MoreVisa confirms plans for Austin offices
Visa confirms plans for Austin offices Visa Inc. confirmed Tuesday that it will build a global information technology center in Austin. The company told the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce that it will move forward with the project proposed for 12301 Research Blvd., the former headquarters of Emerson Process Management, which relocated to Round Rock. This is another great corporate citizen and world-renowned company that has selected Austin. Visa won quick pa...
Read MoreAustin-Based Four Hands Partners with Fuse Home
Austin-Based Four Hands Partners with Fuse Home ABOUT FOUR HANDS Based in Austin, Texas, Four Hands is a leading designer and global importer of trendsetting lifestyle home furnishings. They have earned a reputation for expertly blending styles, materials, and textures from diverse corners of the world to create distinct pieces for the home. Austin-based Four Hands, a designer and global importer of trendsetting lifestyle home furnishings, announced a str...
Read MoreApple reveals secretive Austin lab where iPhones are recycled
Apple reveals secretive Austin lab where iPhones are recycled Hidden not far from downtown Austin, Texas, a research lab is working to change the way we recycle electronics. And it's being run by Apple. There are no signs. The parking lot is almost empty. There's an unremarkable door at the bottom of a set of generic cement stairs. It looks like the back entrance to a rundown mall. But inside is a 9,000-square-foot warehouse where, just a stone's throw from ...
Read MoreAT&T announces 5G rollout in Austin
Austin may be taking a tentative step toward 5G connectivity. AT&T Inc. announced the launch of limited 5G mobile service in Austin — along with Los Angeles, Nashville, Orlando, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose, California. But Austinites shouldn't rejoice just yet: the company isn't sharing details on pricing, accessibility or the extent of the rollout. It remains unclear what Austin residents can expect after AT&T's announcement. A company ...
Read More3 Steps to Better Communication
Is your communication consistent, clear, timely, simple and purposeful? This is how attendees at the 2019 Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Talent Conference and Exposition described "effective communication" to speaker Jennifer Currence, SHRM-SCP, a consultant based in Tampa, Fla. Effective, transparent communication is important. "In the absence of truth, people make stuff up," she said. Currence, a certified professional coach, SHRM book author and thought l...
Read MoreHow to Develop an Attitude of Gratitude Towards Employees
Many companies plan to boost employee engagement in 2019. With benefits for both employees and employers, the strategy is easy to understand. What’s more, a strong employee recognition program can set your company apart in a tight job market. At Indeed, we find that demonstrating pride in our employees leads them to take pride in our company. A human-centric approach creates a company culture that puts workers first. Employees are more likely to trust (and feel trus...
Read MoreWatch out for some of Austin’s new businesses
Watch out for some of Austin’s new businesses Senseye founder David Zakariaie, age 21, won Capital Factory's first $100,000 challenge at age 19. His work with Senseye is being used by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. And he was one of Austin Inno's 25 Under 25 in 2018. Senseye was founded with the vision of shaping the future of computing, and that is exactly what they are doing. Inspired by the words President John F. Kennedy spoke in September 1962, when ...
Read MoreWhy Austin Is the Rockstar of Small-Business Cities
Why Austin Is the Rockstar of Small-Business Cities Small is getting big in Austin. The Texas capital was named the #1 place in America to start a business the top city for “small-business vitality”, and the top city for launching a technology startup. How did Austin climb to the upper echelons of the small-business and startup landscape? The reason may surprise entrepreneurs. In the heart of a state associated with cowboy cap...
Read More5 New startups hitting the Austin tech scene
5 New startups hitting the Austin tech scene Another month means another roundup of freshly launched Austin startups. This month’s announcements include a diverse collection of companies ranging from data privacy plugins to restaurants with augmented reality baseball games. Check out who is new to the scene. Subvrsive Have you ever shopped online for furniture and wondered what a piece would look like in your home? Wonder no more. Subvrsive, an Austin-based...
Read MoreAmplify Austin launches annual day of giving
Amplify Austin launches annual day of giving at 6 p.m. The Austin-based Andy Roddick Foundation, which provides after-school and summer learning programs for children, used to depend on its annual gala for its go-to fundraising. But since 2014, it has embraced a new way to reach donors — raising thousands of dollars in just a 24-hour period. “You can only fit so many people into a gala,” said Heather Arnos, the foundation’s de...
Read MoreAustin software maker Rabbet raises $8 million
Rabbet, an Austin-based software company that services the construction finance industry, said that it had raised $8 million in a round led by investment firm QED Investors. Rabbet executives said the funding would be used to hire engineering and sales teams’ members, invest in the company’s technology and expand its services. The startup employs about 12 workers at its office in North Austin. Rabbet CEO and co-founder Will Mitchell said in a writte...
Read MoreFounder Institute Austin Graduates Six Startups
Founder Institute Austin Graduates Six Startups The Founder Institute opened in Austin a little over a year ago and has already graduated three classes and helped dozens of entrepreneurs. Martin Martinez, managing director, joined with fellow directors Elisa Sepulveda and Paul O’Brien to launch Founder Institute Austin. They thought Austin needed more founders and they wanted to provide them with a jumpstart on their entrepreneurial journey. The program, wh...
Read MoreAustin financial tech startup Dosh lands $40 million to expand
Austin financial tech startup Dosh lands $40 million to expand Financial tech startup Dosh has closed on $40 million in new funding to expand its app for finding cash and deals. Founded in 2016, the Austin company has developed a free app and digital platform that gives consumers cash back on debit and credit card purchases when they shop, eat and travel. Dosh executives say they want to enable millions of consumers to receive billions in cash rebates...
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