I’ve heard many horror stories from employees who have notified their supervisors that they are resigning from their jobs:
When I handed in my resignation letter, my boss stopped talking to me.
I thought he liked me, but when I told him I was resigning from my job, he made my life a hell on earth.
Everything seemed to be going well in my job but when I told him that I was leaving, he fired me.
Do any of these stories resonate with you?
Some managers have difficulty with accepting the fact that an employee chooses to leave. For some, an employee’s decision to end their employment seems to represent some type of a hidden message or indictment on their effectiveness as a manager.
Employees leave for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s for career advancement. Sometimes it’s to make more money. Some employees leave their jobs to go back to school full time.
Sometimes, employees leave because they have issues with their supervisor, or the company.
That’s why exit interviews can be an invaluable tool that can help you to understand why your employee decided to leave their job and, help you to assess what their experience was like while working with your company.
When meeting with your employee, be open and receptive to their feedback, whether you agree with what they are saying or not. Use your employee’s exit to learn more about what has worked well in terms of their actual job and what things were detrimental to doing his or her best work. Learn about their perspective about the company; everything from their thoughts about company benefits to policies and procedures.
Remember that not everyone will feel comfortable answering your questions. Get their permission to meet with you for an exit interview in advance, and let the employee know that their response is voluntary. Be sure that they are aware that the goal is to learn what you can do differently or better.
No matter what the reason is for your employee’s resignation, it’s incumbent upon you as a supervisor to separate your emotional response from the reality of the situation. Use an employee’s resignation as an opportunity to learn what you can do to make any necessary changes that will only enhance the experience for all of your staff.
Dianne Shaddock is the Founder of ESBHR.com, a website which provides “Quick and Simple Human Resources Strategies for Small Businesses, Non Profits, and Entrepreneurs. Go to http://EasySmallBusinessHR.com for more tips on how to hire and manage your staff more effectively. Easy Small Business HR, Your Personal HR Consultant!
Filed under Health Insurance by on Sep 8th, 2010. Comment. 
life insurance for dummies question?
i want to get a life insurance policy on my father. Is that possible? Also i want to get the no health exam policy but i’m not sure how this works. what is the average cost per month. i know mine would vary i just want to know if it’s hundreds or under a hundred. Also how does life insurance work. do you buy a policy and then when they person dies they just mail you a check or can the policy just lapse. is there a policy to cover his whole life and which is better term or permanent. i have no idea so can someone explain this to me as if i were 5.
Hi REM
It is possible to get life insurance on your father if he consents to it.
A no health exam policy should be available. But there will still be some basic medical questions (that could increase rates or lead to a decline in coverage). And if he is over 80 there will be less companies willing to offer coverage. I can’t comment on rates as there is too much I don’t know about the situation.
When you have a life insurance policy on someone and that person dies, the beneficiary has to send a death certificate along with a claim form to the insurance company. In most cases a cheque will be prepared within a couple of weeks. In some cases the insurer might investigate the situation to see if there was any fraud in the application (especially if the person dies weeks after buying the policy).
Permanent insurance generally covers his whole life. One version of permanent insurance is whole life insurance.
I would recommend that you call a local insurance broker who can sit down with you and explain it to you.
Filed under Health Insurance by on Aug 29th, 2010. Comment.
The problem of obesity in the United States has grown to the point where it has received national attention. In 2001, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a call to action to prevent, and decrease overweight and obesity. A year later, Congress mandated that the Institute of Medicine develop an action plan to reduce the number of obese youth in the U.S. More recently, the Childhood Overweight and Obesity Prevention Initiative was launched in 2007 at the National Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Summit. Yet, according to the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity, the problem is still increasing nationwide.
Texas Programs Have Focused on Obesity for a Decade
During the past decade, the Paso del Norte Health Foundation has provided extensive funding for obesity prevention programs. The Coordinated Approach To Childhood Health (CATCH) in El Paso is an evidence-based health program for elementary and middle school students. Walk El Paso promotes walking as a fun and safe way to exercise, and media advertisements promote nutrition, and physical activity in the El Paso region.
The Foundation fights childhood obesity by uniting community partners at all levels to promote healthy weights and strong bodies, and studies support the effectiveness of this approach. Two research studies have confirmed that the CATCH program reduced childhood obesity in elementary school, but the rate of child obesity in all Texas counties is still greater than the targeted national health goal.
In the U.S., 16.3 percent of children between the ages of two and 19 are obese, so more resources are needed to implement effective programs at both local and state levels.
El Paso Region Excels in Obesity Prevention Efforts
Obesity prevention efforts in the El Paso region of Texas have been cited as the most effective in Texas for decreasing obesity among children. Researchers at The University of Texas School of Public Health at Austin Regional Campus reported a 13-percent decrease in obesity among El Paso’s fourth graders.
Following the implementation of statewide programs, researchers looked at regional changes in child obesity across Texas. El Paso has offered the first indication that obesity prevention efforts will work on a broad public scale.
The El Paso effort is important because the National Institutes of Health reported that childhood obesity doubled during the past 20 to 30 years among all age, gender, and race groups. Research has also pointed out that obesity has put children as young as seven at risk of future heart disease and stroke, even in the absence of high blood pressure. This increased risk of life-threatening health problems is insidious because the children studied were entirely healthy except for obesity.
Lack of Texas Health Insurance Adds to Obesity-related Problems
Type 2 diabetes, which was formerly known as adult-onset diabetes, now afflicts obese children as well. Childhood obesity also increases the risk of other health problems, such as asthma, liver disease, orthopedic problems, and sleep apnea. This form of interrupted breathing during sleep is one of the most severe problems facing obese children, but an overwhelming array of problems may follow obese children into adulthood. Overweight adolescents are estimated to have a 70 percent chance of being overweight or obese as adults.
Despite the need for Health Insurance for Texas children who face obesity-related health issues, the state has a low percentage of healthcare coverage through Texas Health Insurance Plans. In 2008, Texas dropped to 46th place among 50 states in the United Health Foundation’s ranking of healthcare statistics.
The Obama administration proposed greater oversight to regulate Health Insurance In Texas. In states like Texas, regulators don’t routinely review health insurance premium increases. The president’s proposal would add an additional layer of protection for consumers purchasing Texas Health Insurance.
By Wiley Long – President, eTXHealthinsurance.com – Texas’s best online health insurance agency specializing in Texas Individual Health Insurance plans. We have personal advisors to help you with your Texas Health Insurance needs. Get online Texas Health Insurance quotes, compare plans, get personal assistance, apply online, and Save!
Filed under Health Insurance by on Aug 25th, 2010. Comment.