Although there could be debate about this, the founder of modern human resources management is often said to be John H. Patterson, founder and president of the National Cash Register Company.  In 1901, he formed a personnel department to manage the grievances of employees after a bitter union strike.
As a human resources professional, part of your job […]

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E. B. White was a journalist, essayist, author and poet, among many other things.  He is perhaps best known for his three children’s books, Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little, The Trumpet of the Swan, as well as being a contributor to the New Yorker for six decades.
We all have trouble planning the day.  Apparently, E. B. White […]

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I shouldn’t let Earth Day (April 22) pass without any mention at all.  As discussed on this blog previously, the green movement is being embraced by an increasing number of employers, which inevitably involves folks in human resources.
The person usually credited with beginning Earth Day is the late environmentalist and politician, Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin.  He […]

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When one hears the name “John Paul,” the person who immediately comes to mind is Pope John Paul II, who served as the head of the Roman Catholic Church for more than 25 years.  His name implies there was another John Paul–John Paul I–John Paul II’s immediate predecessor.  Few remember John Paul I, and his […]

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At an early age,  most of us were told that our outlook on life makes a big difference.  It’s sort of the glass half full, half empty thing.
Charles Simic, who was named the 15th Poet Laureate to the Library of Congress in 2007, defines a poem in a way that underscores the importance of our point of […]

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I’ve done a number of posts on sports stuff, trying to draw various employment lessons from the athletic arena.  I don’t think, however, I’ve ever used a quote from an athlete.  And when you think of quotes and athletes, you think Yogi Berra.  One of Yogi’s malapropisms nails what’s missing from many workplaces, particularly those […]

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In light of the presidential campaign, I’ve done some extra posting about race and gender issues.  I thought it might be interesting to find a quote from an African-American woman.  Although there are a lot of women from whom to choose, I decided to go back a ways to Sojourner Truth, whose real name was Isabella Baumfree.
Born […]

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George Washington Carver was a botanical researcher and agronomy educator at the Tuskegee Institute.  In addition to creating about 100 industrial products from the peanut, he was a poet and painter.  Not only was he smart and inventive, he had a good handle on human nature.  He once said something that’s applicable to the workplace […]

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Although capable of being as high brow as the best of high brows, our fourth president, James Madison, was known for possessing a high degree of common sense.  He’s often called the “Father of the Constitution” and the “Father of the Bill of Rights.”  He also provided some advice that’s much needed in today’s workplace.
By […]

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Although often in the shadow of her husband, Eleanor Roosevelt made a name for herself, not only as First Lady, but as a thinker and advocate.  She spoke out on civil rights for all citizens before there was a movement.  She was ahead of her time on a lot of issues. 
She was known for speaking […]

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