John Mulhern

Read this insightful Q&A with Janet Huber, director of diversity and inclusion at BOK Financial, as she shares the many benefits of creating a culture of courage and authenticity in the workplace: https://ow.ly/p2JW30sEUb6

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For the owners of many small companies, personal and business life can be closely connected – especially in the initial years. Learn why building business credit is essential.

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Where will you be next Wednesday? The 5th Annual HR Miami Conference is taking place! Of course we want to see you there! Register at hrmiami.org . #hrmiami #hrmiamiconference2024 #hrhorizons24

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Did you know qualified first-time homebuyers can withdraw up to $10,000 from their IRA without penalty? Read more about IRA and 401(k) withdrawal rules, including other scenarios in which you can make an early withdrawal without penalty

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It’s been almost 1 year since I started my current job as SVP, Director of HR for KS Bank.     I chose to accept this position because it provided an opportunity to take the next step in my career journey with new responsibilities that were not available in my previous role. I chose this position knowing my commute would be almost 35 miles each way, with an expectation that I would be in the office most days, giving up a 7 miles commute with a more hybrid schedule. (In full disclosure, my preference is to be in office, so giving up a more hybrid schedule was not a big deal.) My drive takes 55-60 minutes each way, depending on the day, time of day, etc.   However, it’s against the primary flow of traffic as I travel to a more rural setting. I get to pass through farmland and countryside on my trip, which I personally find to be more peaceful, and I’m generally moving throughout the trip, not sitting in gridlock. During my first week on the job, as I was meeting people, I would mention where I lived. That would typically lead to a response of “wow, that’s a long commute, how’s that drive?”  Personally, I didn’t think it was too bad. On about my third or fourth day, I was talking to one of our Executives when he asked that question.  I responded, “I didn’t think it was that bad, but with everyone asking me, I’m starting to reconsider”.  With that response, he smiled, then made a gesture of “zipping his lips” to indicate he wouldn’t ask that question again. I’ve shared that story on several occasions to illustrate a point that resonated with me after that exchange. Isn’t it amazing how our perception of things can be impacted by the message we hear from others?  I didn’t think the drive was that bad, but the more I heard it from others, it really did make me think more about it and whether or not I’d made the right decision with such a long drive. Our messaging and communication can have a profound impact on others, either positively or negatively.  If we say things like “I know you’re capable, you’ve got this, you’ll do great learning this new task”, that can have a very different impact than “this task is tough to learn and it may be overwhelming to you at first”.  That may seem like a very innocent and honest statement, but what perception are you creating in that individual’s mind. Consider your messaging and communication, how is it impacting others and how can you change it to better benefit them? And, for the record, almost 1 year in, I have no regrets with this career move. It’s been everything I’ve wanted and more. 

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Potentially good news for interest rates! BLS Jobs Report for April 2024 missed estimates, as there were 175K new jobs created versus the 243K that were expected. Revisions to the data for February and March also shaved 22K jobs from those months combined while the unemployment rate rose to 3.9%. Overall, the data suggests softening in the labor sector, which could pressure the Fed to cut rates if this trend continues.

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For the owners of many small companies, personal and business life can be closely connected – especially in the initial years. Learn why building business credit is essential.

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For the 42nd straight month, U.S. employers added jobs! And while that sounds good, the headline hides the potential softness in the U.S. labor market. June’s employment report, released today, was mixed — positive jobs growth but unemployment rate ticked higher — and the report followed weeks of mixed labor market data. On the softer side, ISM services employment unexpectedly declined to the third weakest level since the pandemic, ISM manufacturing employment fell by the most since October, initial jobless claims and continuing claims worsened during the NFP survey period, and ADP payrolls disappointed, coming at 150,000 versus the 165,000 estimate. Supporting the view of a stronger job market, the Conference Board’s labor differential index rose — the first increase since the beginning of the year, 15% of small firms said they plan to create new jobs in the next three months — that’s up 3 percentage points, and data this week showed that job openings unexpectedly rose in May, interrupting a months-long downtrend that pointed to a labor market slowdown. Traders believe this weakness will bring rate cuts and are once again betting that Federal Reserve officials will lower interest rates twice in 2024. As a result, U.S. Treasury yields closed the day lower, with those on two- to five-year notes down as much as 10 basis points. Have a great weekend!

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New grads, this is for you! Student loan repayments returned last fall, but since then, millions of Americans have missed a payment. It is understandably tough making room for another bill, but ignoring payments can have some damaging long-term effects as well. If you’re one of the borrowers finding it challenging to add this bill to your budget, know that you have options. This article offers a helpful place to start.

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Have you ever found yourself in the position where your current employer gives you a counteroffer? While most counteroffers involve a pay raise, there are several factors to consider when deciding to accept or decline. Below is our #WisdomWednesday advice to keep top of mind when presented with a counteroffer. #jobhunting #careeradvice https://ow.ly/84an50RsOGG

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Have you ever found yourself in the position where your current employer gives you a counteroffer? While most counteroffers involve a pay raise, there are several factors to consider when deciding to accept or decline. Below is our #WisdomWednesday advice to keep top of mind when presented with a counteroffer. #jobhunting #careeradvice https://ow.ly/aua250RsJug

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Have you ever found yourself in the position where your current employer gives you a counteroffer? While most counteroffers involve a pay raise, there are several factors to consider when deciding to accept or decline. Below is our #WisdomWednesday advice to keep top of mind when presented with a counteroffer. #jobhunting #careeradvice https://ow.ly/BNNh50RsMI2

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Healthcare continues to lead the nation in job growth, adding 56,000 new jobs in April. Retail trade also continues to trend up, adding 20,000 jobs. Construction employment growth slowed to 9,000, which is lower than the 40,000 jobs added in the prior month and lower than the average of 22,000 jobs added in the last 12 months. #economy #jobs

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Determining how much cash reserves to have is a common question. While the answer will vary depending on your financial situation and current market conditions, there is a general rule of thumb to follow.

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Amy P. Kelly, GPHR, SPHR, SHRM-SCP was our key speaker at CCSHRM conference- this book is going to be a great resource for HR professionals and those who are managers- preorder yours today!

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