Is it the Right Time to Outsource Your Human Resources?
by Toddi Gutner, Entrepreneur
July 1, 2011

"Most small-business owners know the frustration of spending more time than they want or should on non-revenue-generating activities. From payroll and human resource management to benefits and compensation, entrepreneurs can spend up to 40 percent of their precious day engaged in these necessary but time-sucking tasks." Here is a way to know when it is time to outsource your human resources.

Find out how Tandem HR can be your HR solution.

Are your managers ready for the questions employees' lawyers will ask during litigation?
by Devora Lindeman, Human Resources IQ
June 29,2011

"No one wants their former employees’ harassment or discrimination claim to move forward to litigation. When it does, chances are your managers are not prepared.  I don’t mean that they won’t be prepared for their depositions.  I’m sure that your company’s employment lawyers will spend hours with them role-playing so the managers become familiar with the process, etc.  No-- I mean that they (or your company) will not have taken the actions that should have been taken when the employee was still employed (or before) to set up defenses and avoid the 'gotchas.'  Here are some classic questions former employees’ lawyers will ask your managers"

Tandem HR Makes Crain's Fast Fifty
by Christina Dreher, Crain's Chicago Business
June 27, 2011

Tandem HR is proud to announce that they have yet again made Chicago Crain's Fast Fifty. Tandem continues to grow as businesses small and large look to cut costs by offloading HR operations, benefits management and payroll to outside consultants. Click the link above to find out more.

Should you take a look at your compensation practices?
by Fred Crandall, Eastwood Group Partners
May 25, 2011

While we all know that competitive salaries act to attract and retain good people, owners and managers of closely held companies and small businesses frequently are skeptical of using the methods to manage compensation that the “big companies” use.
 

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Welcoming Employees into your Organization
May 11, 2011

Many companies host farewell parties for exiting employees. This topic, however, discusses what your company does to welcome employees. After all, it seems more important to spend time, energy and resources on an incoming employee, doesn’t it?

At Tandem HR, new employees are greeted at their new desks with a welcome basket based by a company logoed Frisbee that contains snacks and beverages. All employees are notified of the new employee’s start date through the intranet and encouraged to stop by on their first day to introduce themselves. The new employee enjoys a company sponsored lunch with their new department to get to know one another better outside the office environment. When possible, the company also tries to have business cards waiting for the employee on the first day.

How does your company welcome new employees to your organization?
 

Best Places to Work
May 4, 2011

This April we were notified that Tandem HR made Chicago Crain’s Best Places to Work 2010 list and we were ecstatic. After all, Tandem HR is supposed to be working with clients to create the optimal workplace for their employees – it’s only fitting that we achieve that status ourselves.

A variety of criteria was assessed when choosing between the 200 companies that applied for this award. Some of the company favorites are the employee appreciation activities sponsored by Tandem HR and sister companies (Benefits Solutions Group and Alliance Workplace Solutions). Tandem goes beyond promoting philanthropic activities through paid time off to volunteer and matching donations, a wide array of employee benefits, and an open-door policy to create an atmosphere that fosters a team building environment where all players are recognized and appreciated.

About three years ago, upper management extended the monthly appreciation budget to allow for a full month of employee appreciation activities. We plan these events throughout August (a relatively calm time in the HR world) to give employees special recognition and make them feel appreciated and a part of the big picture of our company’s mission. This includes activities like paper plate awards, movies or Wii games played over lunch, chair massages, catered lunches, late arrival and early dismissals, a bags tournament, office Olympics, a watermelon eating contest, a bowling outing, a happy hour where employees invite their significant others and much more.

This may not be the main reason that Tandem HR made the list, but it sure adds to our company culture. Does your company host employee appreciation events? We’re always looking for cost-effective ways to show our employees we care. I’d love to hear your ideas!

March Madness In the Workplace
March 14, 2011

Yes, it’s that time of the year again. The time when everyone in the office starts spending more time worrying about whether Duke or North Carolina will advance to the “sweet sixteen” instead of the ever-increasing piles of papers on their desks. For many employers, March can be seen as a nightmare of a month because of the strong potential for decreased productivity. Let’s be honest, it’s very easy to get distracted when every single game can be live streamed from each employees computer.

With that being said, March Madness does have its perks. Despite the fact that people will be spending some time discussing crazy “bracketology”, like whether or not Illinois will have a shot at Kansas if they find a way to squeak by UNLV, there is an employee morale value to it all. You will see improved comraderie and more interactions between them. It’s a great way to get involved with your employees and show them that you take a real interest in the internal activities of the company. President of Tandem HR, Bruce Leon, takes the initiative to not only allow his employees to coordinate a pool; but he also takes it to the next level by actively participating in discussions over the brackets and encouraging other managers to do the same. All of this is done while adhering to the internal company code.

Our advice to you is simple. If you do decide to let them play, make sure you setup rules and guidelines for the tournament participation. This will help regulate what people can and can’t do during work hours for the purposes of efficiency while still letting them participate in the fun that is March Madness.
 

Insurance Brokers Seminars - Solving Your PEO Concerns
February 28, 2011

Insurance Brokers-

Sick and tired of PEO‘s stealing away your clients? Trying to find a competitive advantage over PEO’s, yet struggling? Finding yourself overwhelmed trying to please your current clients needs? Want to find a way to keep your current clients while adding a new service?

Attend this complimentary Brokers seminar to find out more information on how Tandem HR can help you.
 

Making Sure Your HR Company Is Properly Accredited
February 22, 2011

There are a lot of different factors and values that separate all of the PEO’s (professional employer organization) around the country. Some may be more appealing than others depending on what the specific back-end needs of your company are.

A way to help narrow down your search for PEO’s is by understanding how qualified they are. The ESAC Accreditation program does just that.

View an ESAC video on the importance of financial security from your PEO.