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Workplace Incident Report: Steps to Take After an Injury

The moment an employee injury occurs, it initiates a sequence of events that can last for weeks or even months. But no matter how prolonged the recovery period, the first 24 hours after an injury are the most crucial. To respond effectively to an incident, the majority of the action items should occur within 24 hours.

Topics: Construction Transportation Safety / Compliance Manufacturing

A Risk Manager’s Perspective on Ebola

MIKE NATALIZIO
HNI CEO

Have you seen CNN lately? Coverage of the Ebola outbreak is getting crazy. Every day, there’s a new article with a new angle on this disease.

Topics: Construction Transportation Leadership / Strategy Manufacturing

4 Insights to Jump-Start Your Social Media Recruitment Strategy

ANDREA TARRELL
HNI Marketing Director

In the world of human resources, recruiting is a form of marketing — marketing of the opportunities to work for your firm. Your employer brand tells job seekers what it feels like to be on your team. Like it or not, your company expresses its value to would-be team members through the hiring process, and your social media recruitment strategy is a part of how this message gets out.

Topics: Construction Transportation Manufacturing

The Safety G A P: Is Anything Falling Through the Cracks?

CHAD TISONIK
HNI Wisconsin President

We all know safety is important, but mounting regulations make it increasingly difficult to run a safe and compliant business. With this constant change, it’s getting harder and harder to keep up.

Topics: Construction Transportation Safety / Compliance Manufacturing

Your Company's 5-Point Plan of Attack for Total Risk Management

JODI MATHY
HNI Senior Claims Consultant

Many business leaders think about insurance and total risk management in two contexts: when they're paying insurance premiums and when they're dealing with claims.

Topics: Construction Transportation Leadership / Strategy Manufacturing

Workplace Accident Report News: OSHA Updates Requirements

ERIC KRIEGER
Risk Control Advisor

OSHA recently announced new requirements for reporting severe injuries and updated the list of industries exempt from record-keeping requirements. These new workplace accident report rules are effective in federal OSHA states Jan. 1, 2015.

Topics: Construction Transportation Safety / Compliance Manufacturing

How to Tell if Your Cyber Liability Policy is Coming Up Short

JIM DALY
HNI Minnesota President

Cyber security and privacy breaches are making more and more big headlines. Just think of The Home Depot's recent revelations about compromised credit card data and the Target debacle earlier this year.

Topics: Construction Transportation Manufacturing

5 Essential Tips for Creating and Signing Contracts

BARB RAND
Compliance Advisor 

Being capable and confident in the process of creating and signing contracts is essential for all business owners. You know a lot about your business, but you may feel intimidated by the ins and outs of a legal agreement.

Relax (well, not too much, because there is a lot at stake!) mastering contracts is within your grasp! The following tips will put you and your company on solid ground with every contract that comes across your desk:

1.) Get Each and Every Contract in Writing

This almost goes without saying… almost. While verbal agreements technically are legally binding, you don’t want to put yourself in a situation where the future of your company is riding on a “he-said-she-said” legal dispute.

Legal battles are costly and time-consuming — and they get even more expensive in the absence of a formal contract. Once you have a strong contract created, you can use it as a template for future agreements and cut down on the time this process takes. 

2.) Call in the Big Guns if Necessary

If your contract is very large in scope or has significant risks associated with it, get a lawyer to help navigate the fine print. For important transactions, consider the potential consequences and whether it is worth making the investment in outside help. (Heck, it could be worth your peace of mind!)

3.) KISS: Keep It Simple, Stupid

Legalese is rarely necessary. Drawing up contracts in plain English that you and your business partners and customers understand will make the process less stressful for everyone. And it will make it easier to catch any gaps in the arrangement.

This commitment to open and clear communication goes a long way toward improving relationships. Transparency, in the form of simple language, builds trust.

4.) Have an Escape Plan

While it’s not fun to think about when you’re in the “honeymoon” stage of signing a new client or deal, there is always the possibility that agreements won’t go as planned. (There's a good chance they're thinking about this, too, so don't feel too bad.)

When a deal sours, you'll be looking for a way to legally exit the relationship with minimal pain and expense. In customer agreements, you also should consider including a clause on alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to keep disputes out of court.

On the flip side, if the deal turns out better than expected and you want to extend it, it's smart to include renewal options, price guarantees, and other such protection language in the original document.

5.) Do Your Homework

The process of creating and signing contracts can be intimidating. It is important to continually educate yourself about what to do and what to look for in your arrangements.

Build a contract cheat sheet of legal terms. Lean on a trusted legal advisor who can cut through jargon. Review the sort of deals you regularly make and develop boilerplate contracts. Pay attention to legal disputes and decisions in your industry. These tactics are empowering and will save you headaches in the future!

What's your favorite contract tip? Have any "wish I would have known" stories to share? Please sound off in comments!

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Topics: Construction Transportation Manufacturing

Set a New Pattern for Organizational Cultural Change

DILLON MORAN
HNI Relationship Manager

Organizational cultural change — the sort of long-term change that sets a company's vision and mission — begins with one crucial step: full buy-in and ownership.

Topics: Construction Transportation Manufacturing HR / Employee Benefits

Why HR Can't Afford to Ignore Employer Branding

THERESA DEW
HNI HR Manager

Branding and HR aren’t something we often think of as going together. But as the war for talent rages on, we believe that focusing on employer branding will become more important than ever before.

Topics: Construction Transportation Manufacturing HR / Employee Benefits