🌸 Spring Into Updates: What the Changing Seasons Can Teach Us About the Workplace🌸 Spring has officially arrived, and with it comes longer days, warmer breezes, and a general sense of possibility. Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and we’re all emerging from the slower pace of winter into something that feels… lighter. For many of us, spring brings a renewed energy and a desire to hit “refresh.” We deep-clean our homes, reset our routines, and start dreaming again. But what if we brought that same seasonal mindset into our workplaces ? At Purciarele Group , we believe the natural rhythms of the seasons have a lot to teach us about how we lead, manage, and support our teams. And spring? Spring is the ultimate season of growth, clarity, and renewal —all things every business needs from time to time. So let’s take a look at what spring can inspire in your HR strategy and company culture. 🌱 1. Growth Happens When You Make Space for It You wouldn’t expect a garden to...
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Real Cases, Real Costs: What Small Business Owners Can Learn from Recent DOL Fines You don’t have to be a massive corporation to end up in the Department of Labor’s spotlight. Just this year, multiple small- and mid-sized businesses—including landscapers, healthcare providers, and contractors—were hit with massive fines for labor violations. Could these situations have been prevented? Maybe not entirely—after all, anyone can sue for any reason—but with the right HR systems in place, the risk could’ve been drastically reduced. 🚨 3 Real HR Legal Fails (And How to Avoid Them) 1. Misclassification of Independent Contractors – $319K in Back Wages 📍 Case: A Louisiana landscaping company misclassified 49 workers as independent contractors, denying them overtime pay. The Department of Labor recovered $319,065 in back wages. ✅ What Could Have Helped: Reviewing job duties vs. classification under FLSA Using contractor agreements that align with DOL & IRS rules Perf...
Leadership & Manager Development in the New Workplace: Preparing for 2025 and Beyond Why Leadership Development is a Top Priority As organizations navigate rapid changes in workforce expectations, digital transformation, and economic uncertainty, the role of leaders and managers has never been more critical. According to a 2025 Gartner Global Survey , leadership and manager development is the #1 HR priority heading into the next year. Companies are shifting their focus from traditional leadership training to modern, adaptable strategies that help managers lead effectively in a changing workplace. From hybrid workforces to increasing employee engagement challenges, today’s leaders must be equipped with the skills to drive productivity, foster a positive culture, and retain top talent. But how can companies ensure their leadership training remains effective? The Shift in Leadership Training: What’s Changing? Traditional leadership training often focused on rigid manage...
Parallel Parking & HR: Why Avoidance is Costing You More Than You Think For years, I have avoided parallel parking . I’d either have someone else park for me or drive in circles, hoping another, easier spot would open up. Sound familiar? Now, let’s be honest—parallel parking isn’t impossible , but it’s intimidating. It requires precision, a bit of patience, and the willingness to just go for it . And that’s exactly where HR comes in. Are you avoiding your HR concerns the same way I avoided parallel parking? Hoping the problem will solve itself, delegating it to someone else, or waiting for the “perfect” scenario that never comes? If so, you’re not alone. But just like parallel parking, HR is something that gets easier when you learn the right techniques and stop avoiding the challenge. Avoidance Creates Bigger Problems Avoiding parallel parking doesn’t eliminate the need to park —it just makes things harder and wastes time. The same goes for HR. 🚗 What happens when you keep circ...
Performance Reviews Don’t Have to Suck: How to Make Them Work for Your Business Performance reviews have long been dreaded by both employees and managers alike. Often viewed as time-consuming, stressful, and unproductive, they can feel like an obligatory check-the-box exercise rather than a valuable tool for growth. But it doesn’t have to be this way! When done right, performance reviews can drive employee engagement, improve productivity, and strengthen workplace culture. So, how do you transform the traditional performance review into something meaningful? Here’s a step-by-step guide to making performance reviews actually work for your business. 1. Shift the Mindset: From Annual Chore to Continuous Development One of the biggest mistakes companies make is treating performance reviews as a once-a-year obligation. Instead of a standalone event, feedback should be ongoing. Employees shouldn’t have to wait 12 months to hear how they’re doing. How to fix it: Implement a culture of continu...
Why Employee Retention Should Be Your 2025 Business Goal Employee retention has always been a key focus for successful businesses, but as we enter 2025, it’s more critical than ever. The labor market remains competitive, employee expectations are evolving, and the cost of turnover continues to rise. If retention hasn’t been a priority for your business, now is the time to make it one. Here’s why keeping your best employees should be a top goal—and how your business can achieve it. The High Cost of Employee Turnover Losing an employee doesn’t just impact morale—it can have significant financial and operational consequences for your business. Consider these factors: Recruitment Costs – Replacing an employee can cost anywhere from 50% to 200% of their annual salary, depending on their role and experience. Lost Productivity – New employees take time to ramp up. It can take months for a replacement to reach full productivity. Training Expenses – Onboarding and training new hires re...
HR Myths That Are Costing Your Business Thousands (And How to Fix Them)
HR Myths That Are Costing Your Business Thousands (And How to Fix Them) Think HR is just hiring and firing? Think again. Many small business owners don’t think about HR until something goes wrong—an employee dispute, a compliance fine, or an unexpected resignation. And by then? It’s already costing time, money, and energy. The truth is, strong HR isn’t a “big business” luxury—it’s a small business necessity. When done right, it keeps your team running smoothly, protects your company from legal trouble, and creates a workplace where employees actually want to stay. But if you’re holding onto outdated HR myths, you might be setting your business up for hidden (and expensive) risks. Let’s break down the biggest HR myths and what you should be doing instead. 🚫 Myth #1: "We’re too small to need HR." Reality: No business is too small for HR—just too small to afford HR mistakes. If you have employees, you have HR responsibilities. And when something goes wrong in a small business...