After taking the summer off we are ready to resume weekly blogging! Let’s talk about personal mobile device use in the office. The world’s first mobile phone call was made on April 3, 1973 but it would take approximately another 20 years before they became commonplace for the everyday person. Today, our cell phones do more than just make calls. Our mobile devices are mini-computers in our pockets. Everything is at our fingertips…social media, texts, the internet, shopping, b

Many business owners are endorsing a more casual dress code than they had as recently as five years ago. Members of every generation - from Traditionalists to Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, and up & coming Centennials/Gen Zers - have voiced their preference to say goodbye to formal attire in the workplace. Progressive businesses listened to their employees and have been adapting their policies accordingly. This is due in part by today’s competitive job market. At

Let’s talk business etiquette for a moment. Not standard etiquette, but three of the more subtle behaviors that demonstrate professionalism in the Information Age (aka Digital Age, Computer Age, New Media Age). By now, everyone knows not to email or text IN ALL CAPS, but some of us may not realize we’re giving the perception of committing other faux pas. With a little bit of proactive explanation, we can correct that misperception. When on a voice or video call, we may ne

It’s time for business owners and executive managers to stop using the term “family” when referring to their workforce. While it’s admirable to promote a culture of trust, inclusiveness, and other “family-like” values, it’s time for this metaphor to go away for good. Why? For several reasons, and here’s a few: Even though personal and professional relationships exist in the workplace, they are not as “permanent” as the quintessential family relationship. The days of spen

Tomorrow is April Fools’ Day. How it started no one really knows, as historians have linked April Fools’ Day to several different origins. For example, April Fools’ Day has been linked to ancient festivals such as Hilaria, a religious festival celebrated in Rome on the March equinox, during which people dressed up in disguises to celebrate. Others who believed it was tied to the vernal equinox speculate that it was Mother Nature, fooling people with her changing and unpre

If you saw our tweet (@denovohrc) then you know that yesterday was National Puppy Day! Here’s a fun fact: everyone who works for De Novo HRC has two dogs. Companion dogs have been found to lower stress in the workplace. So sometimes, if we’re very lucky, we’ll arrive at work in the morning to discover that someone has brought their pups into the office for the day. In fact, the International Journal of Workplace Health Management published its findings on “the effect of

As a recruiter, I recently interviewed a seemingly highly competent candidate for an open position. One who had skills aligned with the position, who had ample and relevant experience, who was engaging during the interview and answered questions directly, whose references checked out. But what the candidate didn’t have was clean social media. The individual’s candidacy was terminated. Which was extremely disappointing because it could have been avoided. Why does it matte

The Healthy Eating Plate, created at Harvard School of Public Health, serves as a guide to help us consume healthy, balanced meals. The focus is on portion percentages, portion control, and quality of diet. Portion Percentages: The recommended plate balance is: Fill ½ your plate with fruits & veggies. The more colorful, the better, because different colors indicate different nutrient profiles. Fill ¼ of your plate with whole & intact grains, such as oats, barley, & brown