Katie Shpak

Probationary Period: Definition, Purpose, and Best Practices

Katie Shpak | September 6, 2023

What Is a Probationary Period? A probationary period is a set time frame dedicated to training and assimilating a new hire. This period typically...

Direct Reports: What Are They and Why Are They Important?

Katie Shpak | August 21, 2023

What Is a Direct Report? A direct report is an employee who works directly below a leader within the company who is above them in the organizational...

Role Ambiguity: How It Impacts Employee Retention and How to Avoid It

Katie Shpak | August 18, 2023

What Is Role Ambiguity? Role ambiguity occurs when an employee is not given a clear job description; there aren’t defined objectives for the role and...

Should HR Provide Birthday Cakes for Employees?

Katie Shpak | August 11, 2023

Have you experienced the Pandora’s box of complaints and chaos that occurs around birthday party celebrations at the office? It begins with a few...

Should Organizations Encourage Employees to Donate to Charity?

Katie Shpak | July 24, 2023

It’s common for organizations to encourage employees to support a particular charity. Your organization may have a charity that it supports, or...

How to Calculate Overtime Pay: A Complete Guide

Katie Shpak | July 5, 2023

Do you have hourly employees working beyond the standard 40-hour workweek? If so, understanding how to calculate overtime pay is crucial for...

When Do Deductibles Reset?

Katie Shpak | June 6, 2023

Some organizations renew health plans mid-year, which could cause worry among employees regarding their deductible timeline. There could be concern...

What Is a CP-575 Letter and Do I Need One?

Katie Shpak | May 30, 2023

If you’re running a business, especially one with employees, you’ve probably encountered the term CP 575 letter or CP 575 form. But what exactly is...

Gross Misconduct: Meaning, Examples, and How to Manage It

Katie Shpak | May 25, 2023

As an HR professional, situations involving gross misconduct can arise and demand immediate attention. But what exactly does gross misconduct mean,...

What Is a Recruitment Video and Why Should You Have One?

Katie Shpak | May 10, 2023

Envision a time when you were applying for jobs. You’d browse Indeed, LinkedIn, company pages—you name it—for hours on end. It was monotonous and...