Linda Pophal

Apprenticeships have been a straightforward model of entry-level training since they were established centuries ago. Pay a young person just starting out (in money or in-kind) to learn skills while performing needed tasks. After a prescribed period, recognize the apprentice’s experience gained with a credential so that they can pursue their livelihood.

There are some great potential uses for generative AI via tools such as ChatGPT, Bard, and Jasper. But there’s peril as well. These tools have made stuff up, much to the chagrin and detriment of their users. Some New York lawyers, for instance, have been sanctioned for their use of ChatGPT—not the actual use of the tool, but their failure to fact-check the content generated, which included false citations. Without appropriate due diligence, using those tools can result in impacts ranging from extreme to minor embarrassment, depending on the purpose of their use.

Managing Remote Staff: Capitalize on Work-from-Home Productivity offers small businesses -- and managers in businesses of any size -- practical advice, strategies and case studies for managing employees who are out of sight, but NOT out of mind. Managing remote workers is nothing new, but its prevalence has been impacted significantly by COVID-19. Many small businesses and managers are struggling to adapt to the new challenges they face while maintaining productivity, staff engagement, customer satisfaction and a healthy bottom line. This book addresses the myths, misconceptions, pros and cons of remote work for both employers and employees and offers guidance on the attributes of successful remote workers, establishing policies and procedures for remote work, training (employees and managers) and effective management practices with an emphasis on communication.

Hashtags allow marketers to tag their content to attract the attention of users who may be interested in a certain topic; additionally, users are able to follow hashtags related to their personal areas of interest. They can be generic terms such as #love, brand-specific terms such as #CocaCola, or ambiguous terms (which social media users really need to click on to determine their specific meaning) such as #smilingfood. Hashtags are common on a number of social media sites, most notably Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

The HR department has been around since early 1900s, and it’s changed a lot—from managing payroll, to enforcing equality laws, to the modern strategic business partner it is today.

Successful programs designed to employ neurodiverse candidates raise awareness among employees of the effort and make important alterations to the recruiting and onboarding processes as well as adaptations to communications and management approaches.​

The investment is worth it as companies benefit from the achievements, skills, experiences, and unique perspectives of individuals they might otherwise overlook. Because when organizations fail to see what individuals have to offer – through misconceptions, bias, or some other factor – it is a missed opportunity.

"The robots are taking our jobs!" is by now a not-unfamiliar lament in many workplaces. And in truth, we've all been exposed to situations where technology is taking the place of people—self-checkout lines in grocery stores, chatbots that ask and answer questions on various websites, software that does the job of some accountants and tax preparers, and the list could go on.

But is technology replacing employees, or is it helping them?

When writing an article, looking for podcast guests, conducting research, or doing any activities that require expert input and insights, Google is an obvious starting point. However, in a digital environment, it’s easy for literally anyone to establish a presence as an authority on something. A well-designed website does not an expert make. What does? In this column, I take a look at some best practices that researchers can use when determining whether someone who claims to be an expert really is one.

Consumer trust is on the wane across a variety of organizations—from the media to government organizations, to large corporations. While many feel confident in saying trust is on the decline, Edelman has been researching trust in organizations since the turn of the century and has proof in their 22nd report: the 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer. 

There are some rays of light in this year’s report that represent potential opportunity for employers. Even though corporations have broadly been losing ground in terms of the trust consumers place in them, among their own employees they hold an admirable position.

Most companies today—especially during what is being called the “great resignation” would likely tell you that one of their most valuable assets is their employee base—the people who work for them. And yet, despite the fact that so many companies espouse this sentiment, how often does the head HR professional in the organization sit at the senior leadership table or participate in board meetings on a regular basis? How often are “people reports” given the same priority as “financial reports?”