We traditionally think about the winter holidays as the “season of giving.” Each November, as we give thanks for what we have, we are reminded to share with others through food drives, volunteering in the community, and making year-end donations.

But here’s the thing. Those who are in need have needs throughout the year. And the organizations who support them need your donations of time and money during the summer as much as during the winter. Giving is a year-round opportunity.

If you are moved to “give back” in some way over the next few months, here are a couple of organizations I work with that are making a significant difference for the people they serve.

Youth Science Institute (YSI) is a local nonprofit whose mission is “to inspire enthusiasm for science and a love for learning.” Did you know that in Santa Clara County, 32% of 5th grade students are failing science? In high poverty neighborhoods, the failure rate is as high as 90%. YSI addresses this issue by providing supplemental science education – life, physical, earth and social science – to nearly 30,000 pre-K to 6th grade students annually. Without supplemental science education from out-of-school providers like YSI, many students in Santa Clara County would not have a complete grade-level science curriculum. Math and science education are very important to keep the U.S. competitive in the global market. If you are interested in supporting science education, click here.

Puente is a nonprofit Community Resource Center serving the San Mateo County South Coast communities of Pescadero, La Honda, Loma Mar, and San Gregorio. Puente works with local communities to leverage resources that “foster economic prosperity and security, and that promote individual and community health and wellness.” In addition to advocacy and community resources, Puente provides adult education and youth leadership development.

Puente is currently holding a drive to collect backpacks and school supplies for students in the district from preschool to high school. A full backpack with supplies can cost as much as $100, a figure that is out of reach for many of the families Puente serves. You can help by making a donation or purchasing specific supplies from their online “wish list.” Puente has made it very simple to contribute.

You can help by:
1. Doing a drive among your circle of friends and family collecting what it is on their list.
2. Buying some school supplies directly from the drive site on Roonga where you can choose directly what you want to give from a box of pencils to 100 erasers.
3. Making a contribution online that Puente will use directly to buy school supplies from their list.
Thank you for your support!

In my last blog I talked about the components of effective job descriptions. Once you get them written, be sure you are using them effectively in all aspects of employee management – from hiring to termination. Here’s how.

Recruiting and hiring. Create your job posts with the essential elements of the job description. Make the posts detailed enough to attract the right applicants yet discourage applicants who are not qualified for the position. Use the job description to develop relevant interview questions and to provide candidates with information about the role.

New employee onboarding. New employees need to understand early on the specific requirements of their role, how they fit into the organization, and the skills and competencies that will help them succeed. Having these items clearly defined in the job description and sharing it with the new employee as part of their orientation will get them off to a good start.

Performance management. It’s easier – and more defensible – to review and rate an employee when the responsibilities and expectations are clearly defined in an effective job description. Faulting someone for not meeting an expectation they didn’t know about doesn’t hold weight.

Goal setting. Job descriptions should state how the position fits into the organization. This can be a useful tool when establishing employee goals that tie to the overall goals of the organization.

Employee development. Job descriptions should be dynamic documents. As the needs of the organization change, job requirements often change. Keeping job descriptions up to date can point up areas where employees have opportunities for development.

Compensation. Effective job descriptions are helpful in compensation research and in establishing a compensation program with minimum and maximum levels for each job.

Legal compliance. A detailed job description not only protects you when you terminate an employee for non-performance, it also ensures you comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other legal requirements.

Hello Everyone,

I want to pass along the latest information about Workers’ Compensation requirements for California employers. The regulation becomes effective on October 8, 2010.

EMPLOYER ACTION REQUIRED

As a result of updated regulations, California employers are required to take the following actions:

» Post a new ”Notice to Employees – Injuries Caused by Work” in a conspicuous location frequented by employees; and

» Distribute the new “Your Rights to Workers’ Compensation Benefits” brochure to new hires.