Entries by

Boundaries Are Bridges: Fostering a Thriving Workplace Culture

By Kimberly Kafafian Boundaries must be recognized as a vital component of a healthy workplace culture. In today’s fast-paced work environment, boundaries are not just a personal preference but a necessity. Employees need the time and space to recharge, maintain focus, and bring their best selves to work daily. Organizations that actively support setting and […]

The Advantages of an HR Audit

By Kimberly Kafafian You may be familiar with a financial audit, but what about an HR audit? Getting a pulse on your organization’s policies and procedures can be just as valuable as understanding your numbers. If you want your workforce and bottom line to thrive, it’s important to assess if your HR practices are running […]

The Unretirement Trend: A Golden Opportunity for Employers

By Kimberly Kafafian Even if you aren’t a football fan, chances are you’ve seen the Tom Brady “unretiring” commercial. The GOAT signed a 10-year contract with FOX to be an in-game NFL analyst. In the commercial that hypes up his debut in the broadcasting booth, Brady notes his football journey isn’t even close to done, […]

How Can AI Be Used in HR?

By Kimberly Kafafian   Grab a cup of coffee and get comfortable, because we’re diving deep into the world of HR and AI. From simplifying onboarding to boosting employee engagement, there’s a lot to explore—and you’ll want to stick around for every insight. Let’s get started! I am a huge proponent of AI. Why? AI […]

What Is an HR Investigation?

By Kimberly Kafafian   At Monarch, we understand the complexity of workplace challenges. Despite our best efforts to maintain a safe and fair work environment, incidents may occur.  Someone may claim harassment or discrimination. A worker may become injured because of a safety violation. Perhaps a bookkeeper helped themselves to some of the profits. Or […]

New Overtime Salary Rules Increased Threshold Effective 7-1-24

By Dan Darabaris Last month, millions of more workers became entitled to overtime pay as a result of a new rule from the Department of Labor (DOL). The update, which went into effect on July 1st, could have a substantial impact on your business, from decreased revenue to record keeping, as previously exempt employees may […]

Lack of Trust in the Workplace Can Impact the Bottom Line

By Kimberly Kafafian   You’ve heard the saying, “A business is only as good as its people.” While this usually connotes skills, it also relates to how well your employees work as a team, which requires trust among every member from the top down and bottom up. Lack of trust can negatively affect productivity, create […]

Ghosting Job Applicants is Bad for Business

By Kimberly Kafafian I am mindful that I sit on this side of the desk. We review hundreds of resumes each year, so we see firsthand how much work is involved in the pre-employment phase of the employee lifecycle. That being said, one of my loved ones is changing careers. Each time a recruiter connects […]

Employee Struggling with Mental Health:

How to Help By Kimberly Kafafian   You’ve picked up on the signs: showing up late to work, looking tired, missing deadlines, difficulty managing multiple tasks, easily frustrated, unable to accept feedback. Everything indicates that the employee may be struggling mentally and needs support. You want to help, but are unsure of what you should […]

Mental Health Activities in the Workplace

By Kimberly Kafafian   With January being Mental Wellness Month, it’s the perfect time to promote employee wellbeing with activities designed to reduce stress and foster a healthy mindset. While I encourage you to offer such activities throughout the year, highlighting them during this month is a great way to let your workforce know that […]