Bruce Fox Blog

Estimated Read Time: 9 Minutes

Did you know that Years of Service is the number one type of recognition organizations have in place?

Yet, employees are no longer staying at companies for 30 plus years. Gone are the days of our forefathers when employees would get one job and stay there for their entire careers.

Now, employees regularly change jobs due to poor management, better benefits, more pay, flexible hours, and other personal or career opportunities. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average person holds 12 to 15 jobs in their lifetime and that number is only projected to grow.

And with the demand for qualified employees thriving, who can blame them?

Estimated Read Time: 16 Minutes

When you buy products for your employees, how do you decide what to get?

Price? That’s typical but shouldn’t be the sole factor.

Because you like it? What you like might not represent the majority of the recipients.

Because it’s useful? Useful to whom? A retiree most likely won’t need dishware or a blender; they will just give it away, likely to a child or grandchild. My mother would not appreciate some modern tech gift because she wouldn’t know how to use it, but my brother would.  

The point is, when was the last time you looked at how your recipients see your gift? Does it mean anything to them? Or does your gift come off as a slap in the face?

That’s a nightmare situation to say the least.

Estimated Read Time: 8 Minutes

The holidays are finally here (and over for some of us).

The eggnog was bought, the halls were decorated, and the endless holiday parties were (mostly) attended.

With all that running around, from setting up your out of office to wrapping up any last-minute projects, I want to take a moment to discuss one of the most thought-about subjects this season – presents.

Yes, you heard me.

Estimated Read Time: 10 Minutes

What does Thanksgiving mean to you? Having too much turkey and pumpkin pie? Spending time with your friends and family? Rushing from house to house, trying to make all the different get-togethers while wondering why you do this to yourself? Or is Thanksgiving just the day before Black Friday?

Thanksgiving means something different for many people; however, it did not start as all of those things. Thanksgiving started as the most basic definition – giving thanks.

Being thankful and celebrating what you have by giving thanks for it.

That’s the definition I want to remind everyone about – be thankful for what you have; whether that’s your friends, your family, your health, a roof over your head, or even your employees. Everyone has something to be thankful for.

Estimated Read Time: 16 Minutes

There is plenty out there to make any HR professional lose sleep, from laws that are bouncing around Parliament to the latest misconduct occurrence.  However, some rather important issues get lost under the stacks of paperwork. Countless hours get swallowed by the latest project or another situation that’s on fire.

Everyone has the fear that they’re missing something important because they are so busy. Unfortunately, it’s highly likely that you’re passing over important connections by just moving on to the next item on the checklist.

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We can all use some insider tips, right? So I’ve compiled a list that my 30 years here has taught me.

Take my advice. You can thank me later.

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…we were a species of storytellers.

 Prior to the development of written language, telling stories was the only way to reflect and pass knowledge and history from generation to generation. Stories were used to explain events and natural occurrences like fire, storms, and thunder. They related myths, legends, and gods in a way that bound people to common beliefs and cultures. Stories, in essence, were much of what made us human.

 And until not so long ago, we were pretty good at telling stories. Bedtime stories, ghost stories, war stories, jokes—all served a purpose to share and connect with other human beings.

 Heck, an endless parade of theme songs from TV shows are introductory stories—The Jeffersons, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Flintstones, Cheers, The Addams Family. In fact, think about the first lines in the lyrics for The Brady Bunch, The Beverly Hillbillies, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

“Here's a story, of a lovely lady…”

“Come and listen to my story about a man named Jed…”

“Now this is a story all about how…”

 Yep…stories—literally.  I’ll give you a minute to finish singing.

Estimated Read Time: 18 Minutes

Sales, production, management, and customer service – those 4 are some of the most important factors of a company.

We all know that these can grow or destroy a company. But did you notice an underlying factor? Your people – your people define your company. They are your lifeblood – they interact with your customers, they set the pace of how efficient and profitable you are, they are your brand ambassadors, they define your quality and overall product, and so much more – your employees are your company.

Estimated Read Time: 9 Minutes

Companies are fighting for valuable and competent employees. The race to get the best has been going on for some time now but has only heightened the last few years.

Especially since employees and prospects have the advantage of comparing and choosing employers so easily now. In this modern day and age, it’s more than pay and insurance that prospective employees are comparing. No, those swaying factors are benefits. I’m not talking about just how many vacation days (though that is a popular factor). I’m talking about remote days, flexible working time, company luxuries, company culture, and other factors.

Estimated Read Time: 19 Minutes

Whether through online chatter or by casual conversation, I have noticed an uptick in people asking a rather important question.

How do I track my promotional product campaigns?