Interesting take on this from Simon Jones. Ariadne Associates. You may have missed it, but the New York Times published an “exposé” of the culture and working practices at online retailer Amazon at the weekend. If you did miss it, then you can find it here. It’s caused quite a furore, with lots of condemnation of Amazon, and company founder and CEO Jeff Bezos having to issue a formal statement in response. I don’t know anything at all about Amazon’s working conditions and culture. View original post 328 more words. MORE

Trying to fulfill professional, family, and personal responsibilities is a constant struggle for everyone. In Beyond Happy, author Beth Cabrera outlines reasons why women should forget trying to find work-life balance. Instead, she makes a case for boosting well-being. Click here to read full version MORE

The heartbreaking news that One Direction might be taking a sabbatical is one full of lessons for organisations. Within any system there are recognisable patterns and phases that emerge in commonality with other systems. The recent decision by Google to split the organisation into separate identities (under the umbrella of Alphabet) is the most immediate parallel for One Direction, another illustration that the component parts of a system need space to realise their own potential. The other one is probably Google Glass or something… How many are there? Google Plus? Thanks, David. MORE

Editor's Note:  The practice of performance management is evolving quickly.  We are pleased to feature this announcement from Gerry Ledford, one of our profession's leading scholars, introducing a new academic study focused on leading edge performance management practices. . I am leading a major study on cutting edge performance management at the Center for Effective Organizations, working with Ed Lawler and George Benson.  WorldatWork is funding the project.  We are studying companies that are using one or more of three practices: . Ratingless appraisal. Continuous (e.g. Adobe, Microsoft, G.E., MORE

We’ve written about notice periods and final paychecks before on HR Bartender. You can find those posts here , here and here. Today’s reader question puts the two of them together in an interesting twist. An employee gave notice on a weekday advising us that their last day would be four (4) workdays later. The employee gave notice to quit and the company expedited their final day. Thank you. MORE

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Employee has mildly profane decal in the car she uses for work. recently hired a new employee who is great — very engaging with customers, asks lots of good questions, and her personality clicks with the other team members. The position she was hired for requires the use of a personal vehicle to show homes to clients (clients follow in their own vehicle, not get in hers). Her vehicle, as I noticed today in the parking lot, has a very large window decal on the back window with a profane statement. How should I handle this? Can you do that?” MORE

This past week the Browne household went through a massive change !! We dropped our son, and second child, off at college. He is now blazing his own path at my alma mater Ohio University. I am geeked that he’s a Bobcat now. In fact, he even chose to live in my old dorm and dorm room !! Note: He did this all on his own without suggestions from his Dad who bleeds green and white.). MORE