Last week, CareerBuilder released its annual survey on open enrollment that found that 15 percent of hiring managers estimate more than 10 percent of their employees miss annual open enrollment deadlines each year on average, which can have a significant impact on employees’ pocketbooks.

According to the survey, one third (34 percent) of human resource managers said missing open enrollment costs employees, on average, at least $500 in out-of-pocket expenses. Twenty percent reported that it costs employees more than $1,000 while 10 percent reported it costs employees more than $2,500.

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• Posted by: Mary Lorenz on October 20, 2009
• There are 2 Comments. Join the discussion.
• Categories: Economy, Employee Retention, Health Care, Survey Results

For the second of our two-part series on reader-submitted interview questions, take a look at the best of the rest…from the old standbys, to the brainteasers, to the somewhat bizarre.

Cult Classics
The following traditional interview questions received multiple mentions – in one form or another. Clearly, these oldie-but-goodies still do the trick for many of you: Continue Reading…

• Posted by: Mary Lorenz on October 19, 2009
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• Categories: Employee Engagement, Interviewing

Last week, we challenged you to give us the most effective, insightful interview questions you’ve either asked or been asked — and you didn’t disappoint. (I’m sure it helped only a little that we sweetened the deal.)

In the end, however, everyone came away a winner: Out of over 600 entries, we compiled for you a comprehensive list of the best of the best interview questions that readers swear by - from the old standbys, to some new classics, to the downright bizarre - in a two-part series. 

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• Posted by: Mary Lorenz on October 16, 2009
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• Categories: Contest, Employee Engagement, Interviewing

I recently talked with Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elster, co-authors of “Working for You Isn’t Working for Me: The Ultimate Guide to Managing Your Boss.” Katherine, a Harvard-trained psychotherapist, and Kathi, a management consultant, run K Squared Enterprises in NYC, running lectures and workshops and consulting with managers and executives about workplace relationships. “Working for You Isn’t Working for Me” serves as a handbook for employees struggling to deal with a difficult boss–but there is much that bosses can learn from this book, too.

During our conversation, we covered everything from boss attitudes in our current economy, to recognizing and understanding employee coping tactics, to the severe lack of communication in today’s workplace, to the one thing bosses need to do right now to become better employers–and more. Read on for interview Part I (of three):

• Posted by: Amy Chulik on October 14, 2009
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• Categories: Economy, Employee Engagement, Employee Retention, Employer Advice, Leadership Development

“It’s not us. It’s them.”

That – or at least some variation of it – was one of the most common responses to my previous posts about why recruiters and hiring managers don’t call job seekers back. 

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• Posted by: Mary Lorenz on October 9, 2009
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• Categories: Employee Attraction, Employee Engagement

We’ve been struggling through a recession, and over the past year, many things have changed. One thing, however, remains the same: Employees will call in sick, and they will sometimes not really be sick. Yes, I’m talking about that unspeakable action: They will lie. CareerBuilder has just released 2009’s survey about the most unusual excuses for missing work, which included more than 4,700 workers and 3,100 employers. Turns out nearly one-third of the workers surveyed have called in sick to work when they were well at least once.

As in 2008’s most unusual sick excuses, this year’s list is spotted with strange animal injuries, other bouts with nature or pedestrians, and questionable friendships, as well many head-shakers, like “I accidentally hit a nun with my motorcycle.” In a new twist, however, this year’s survey results are reflective of the effect of our tough economic climate, as 28 percent of employers think more employees have been absent with fake excuses due to increased stress and burnout due to the recession.

Here are 2009’s Most Unusual Excuses for Missing Work:

• Posted by: Amy Chulik on October 8, 2009
• There are 2 Comments. Join the discussion.
• Categories: Employee Engagement, Employee Retention, Survey Results