Announcing the Launch of MyHrWebsite.com!

How many times have you asked a handful of people that you know for:

• Who’s a good vendor for a specific HR service?
• How to do something in Microsoft Office?
• Word of mouth referrals for a job opening?
• HR trends in others’ organizations?
• Sources for a story you’re working on?

The network that you reach out to is probably small, relatively speaking. And you may have a few people on LinkedIn, a few in an e-mail group, and another few people on Facebook – groups that don’t necessary interact with one another. As you know, the more people you reach out to with a question, the more valuable information you’ll receive.

Myhrwebsite.com gives you the power to reach out to thousands of individuals with the click of a button, without the hassle of having to remember to visit message boards or access listservs with targeted members.

How myhrwebsite.com works is when you have a question, you visit the website and complete a quick form to submit your question. Up to once a day, everyone in the community receives an e-mail with all the questions submitted by myhrwebsite.com members. You can answer the questions you have expertise in, and ignore those on topics that you’re not familiar with. The Astron team will pre-screen the questions before the e-mail goes out to prevent spam from getting to you. If there's no questions on a day, we won't send an e-mail.

Today we’re asking you for a minute of your time to please do two things:

• Sign up to join myhrwebsite.com’s community at www.myhrwebsite.com – we can’t do it for you because we’re not spammers – and

• Forward this invitation to individuals in your network whom you think would enjoy and benefit from this free service.

Please let us know your questions after reviewing myhrwebsite.com. We look forward to having you and your network join us, so that the next time you have a question, you can say “let me visit myhrwebsite for the answer!”

Astron’s 10th Anniversary Questionnaire

Now, without further adieu, our interview with Debra Ward, of Flexovit USA Inc:

Debra Ward, Human Resources Manager

- Which organization are you part of?

Flexovit USA Inc

- Tell us about what your organization does

Flexovit manufactures bonded abrasive cutting and grinding products for the industrial user. Our products are sold through industrial, welding and construction supply distribution markets.

- What type of growth has your organization seen this past decade?

Flexovit’s sales and market share have grown steadily over the past decade.

- When did you first work with Astron Solutions?

I first worked with Astron in 2002. I was not working at Flexovit when they initially contracted with Astron, and I was not familiar with Astron-supplied software programs for developing position descriptions and performance reviews. Jennifer Loftus visited our facility and taught me how the software worked. It was a great visit. Jennifer is very knowledge about compensation and the software. I learned quickly the benefits of our software package. Subsequent questions are always handled professionally and patiently by the staff at Astron.

- Why did you decide to first work with Astron instead of another consulting firm?

Flexovit decided to work with Astron back in 1999. Astron understood Flexovit’s needs and goals, helped Flexovit revise its Compensation Policy, and provided systems to support this policy and make it easy to administer. Other companies were simply not as responsive to the Company’s objectives.

- What was your first project with Astron?

My first project with Astron was a Competitive Market Analysis. Flexovit selects a different part of the organization each year and Astron conducts a Competitive Market Analysis of that segment to make certain our pay levels are competitive as compared to that particular market segment. I was, and continue to be, impressed by Astron’s thorough handling of the analysis and the efficiency with which Flexovit received its recommendations.

- Why did you continue to use Astron Solutions?

Flexovit continues to use Astron because it’s as if we have a compensation analyst on staff. Astron understands our compensation philosophy and tailors its recommendations to it. They are highly responsive; always getting back with an email or voice message the same day. You can tell that Mike and Jennifer go to great lengths to hire highly skilled people – it comes across. Everyone on staff is professional and knowledgeable in their particular area and able to communicate so that the layman can understand and implement.

The Astron Road Show

Soon after our presentations with BS&K finish up, Astron will attend the Human Resource Conference & Legislative Day hosted by The Business Council of New York State. For more information about the conference and how to register, please click here.

More events will be announced as we get more details. We hope to see you on the road!

Clear Up That Clutter!

Have you ever heard the phrase, “a cluttered desk is a sign of a genius”? To many, this expression describes their exact situation right now. To some, their messy desks are organized…they can pull any paper they need from their desk’s paper-mountain in a matter of seconds. Others go by the old adage, “A cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind” and thus, to avoid the appearance of a haphazard worker, they keep their desk as organized as possible. Whichever side of the desk organization spectrum you stand on, almost everybody can remove some of the clutter on their desk. Here are some tips from About.com’s Management Site for tackling this task in a quick and effective manner:

• Be motivated to want to improve your desk organization skills:
      o Simply put, if you don’t want to be organized, you’ll find excuses as to why you aren’t practicing organizational habits.

• Use three simple words: Keep, Toss, Move.
      o Keep three containers….The “Keep” container should include information you really need. The “Toss” container should have information that you don’t need. The “Move” container should include information you will arrange and file away soon.

• Start with the oldest information.
      o Start with the oldest information…it should be the easiest to sort since everything is old news.

• Evaluate each piece by piece.
      o The instant you have a paper in your hand decide right at that moment where it belongs. Once you place it there, do not remove it (unless it’s in the move pile).

• Ask if you really need it.
      o As you’re organizing, ask yourself, ‘Do I already have this information somewhere else?’ And most importantly, ‘Why do I need this?’ Answering these questions truthfully should assist in placing information in the right container.

• Be severe.
      o If you really don’t need it, toss it.

Once you’ve finally tamed the “desktop monster”, try to keep your desk clear with regular maintenance. Whenever any paperwork appears in your inbox quickly classify where the paper belongs. If it’s something that you have to take care of at a later or date, or later that day, keep the paperwork organized via an accordion file that has a pocket for each day of the week. Make sure to check and take care of the paperwork in this accordion file daily so that its contents don’t dated and get out of control.

Get Rid Of That E-Clutter!

A majority of people are not aware that most email programs provide users with tools to help organize their email. These tools, if used accurately, can help in systematizing that jungle of an inbox! For starters, most email programs include a filter or routing rules feature that will sort your e-mail for you. To utilize this tool, first take a few days to notice any e-mail patterns, such as those e-mails you don’t really read right away, what e-mail you consider spam, etc. Develop the routing rules based on your own experiences, or check online or talk to your organization’s IT consultant for information in regards to your e-mail program. Here are some features to look for:

• Filtering by key phrases and e-mail addresses,
• Classify and marking by bolding or coloring, and
• Create canned replies.

Feng Shui, Anyone?

For the spring cleaning enthusiast, why not consider including feng shui into your office space? On Mike Z. Wang’s The Spiritual Feng Shui website, Feng Shui is described as, “the idea or practice, if you will, of living in harmony with the natural world. Though the spaces that you live or work in differ, the principles of Feng Shui remain the same.” The literal translation of Feng Shui is, “’wind’ and ‘water.’ It is a traditional art of living based on a philosophy strongly rooted in spirituality. Here are some tips for those interested in arranging their work space for a more harmonious environment:

• Sit in a commanding position
      o Facing the entrance of your work area means that you are supported from the back and open from the front.

• Bring in the waterworks
      o Apparently water features will keep you in harmony with your desires and motivate you to meet your goals.

• Keep that Entrance Clear
      o Obstructions in your doorway will block the flow of positive energy.

• Arrange for Inspiration
      o Is clutter the first thing you see when you sit down to work? Try to arrange your office space so that unnecessary things are out of sight.

• Rearrange Often
      o Even though office space can be limited, rearranging your office space will promote alertness. Why not move your inbox every few months, or other small items in your possession?

• Showing off a Little Can Help
      o Depending on your space, placing an award or diploma in a familiar location will remind you of what you’ve become adept at and can bolster confidence to reach beyond.

• Balance is Key!
      o Use an equal amount of light and dark colors, hard and soft surfaces.

Looking for a top-notch presenter for your human resource organization's meeting? Both Jennifer Loftus and Michael Maciekowich present highly-rated sessions on a variety of compensation and employee retention issues. For more information, send an e-mail to info@astronsolutions.com.

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Copyright 2009, Astron Solutions, LLC

ISSN Number 1549-0467