Resources Archives - Somers HR Solutions

How Employers Can Ensure Inclusive Hiring In a Tough Labor Market

In our currently “frozen” labor market, employers need to be creative in sourcing quality candiates. An overlooked population are those with disabilities. Here are some thoughts on how to tap into this underserved market. Not all suggestions will be attractive to every employer but I think you’ll find some nuggets ion the following. Employers play…

Health Care Benefits for Small and Medium Employers – Which Approach is Right for You?

Over the last few days, I posted some entries about alternative approaches to health care benefits for small and medium-sized employers. This post is to provide an overview of the two key options and their respective pros and cons. If you’re a small to mid-sized business owner, you’ve probably realized that traditional group health insurance…

What is a QSEHRA and Why Should My Small Business Consider It as an Alternative to Traditional Health Insurance?

Whether you’re a local coffee shop in Groton or a growing tech firm in Stamford, providing health insurance in Connecticut can be a daunting financial hurdle. Traditional group plans often come with high premiums and rigid structures that don’t fit every small business’ needs or budget. This is where the Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement…

Employment Law Changes Taking Effect in Q1 2026 — What Employers Need to Know, 2026

As we close out 2025 and move into the first quarter of 2026, employers operating across multiple Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states are facing a significant wave of employment law updates that will impact compliance, payroll, benefits administration, and workplace policies. From minimum wage increases to paid leave expansions and pay transparency obligations, this post breaks…

“Mise en Place”: What HR Can Learn from the Culinary World

Applying a Chef’s Discipline to Elevate Human Resources If your home is anything like mine, cooking shows have become a staple of mindless entertainment. To my amazement, I actually picked up a concept from the shows that I now seek to apply to my work with clients. In professional kitchens around the world, chefs rely…

Why Local Business Associations Might Be the Best Thing You’re Ignoring

Why Local Business Associations Might Be the BestThing You’re IgnoringIf you’ve been building a business and haven’t tapped into your local business association,you’re probably missing out on some of the best tools for growth hiding in plain sight. It’seasy to think of these groups as old-school or just networking mixers with bad coffee andforced smiles.…

Many of my blogs are triggered by someone asking a question. That’s the case with this one, as well. In this situation, a friend is adjusting to some leadership changes in her organization. My short answer to the question “How Do I Manage Up”? is DON’T. That is the wrong question. The better question is…

How Do I: Onboard a Remote New Colleague?

A former colleague recently asked me for some advice on this topic. There are literally millions of answers out there on the web. In fact, a simple Google search yielded more than 18 million hits – and that was with a properly formatted Boolean search! The rest of this post will reflect my own personal…

This is the latest in my “How Do I” series of blogs. Readers are encouraged to provide feedback and suggest additional topics for this series. See my contact information at the end of this post. =================================================================================== Recently, a former colleague reached out to talk about how to handle a new assignment. He has never led…

We all know that COVID is not going away any time soon. Many people managers are evaluating performance remotely for the first time in their careers. This blog post is intended to offer some practical suggestions to help managers address the challenge of managing difficult performance situations remotely. Are the Basics in Place Assure that…

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