Tip of the Day: Eco-Friendly HR

Companies across the U.S. are going green, and that doesn't mean that the HR department needs to be an exception. Consulting firm CheckPoint HR says that the human resources department can easily shape up their eco-awareness with these five simple tips.

• Sign up for direct deposit and eliminate the printed pay stub and payroll reports.
• Enroll in an online training course and eliminate lengthy training guides. Online classes also provide flexibility to engage classes at the convenience of the employee.
• HR executives can provide employees the capability to view and update information electronically such as personal data, licenses and certifications, benefits changes and PTO, eliminating the paper trail.
• Employers can use a Web-based platform to alert employees of updated corporate policies, vacation schedules, new hires, birthdays and more.
• Upload all company specific documents, including your company handbook, W4 form, 1-9, and any internal documents for effortless employee accessibility.

News You Can (and Can't) Use: Encourage employees to 'go green' with vehicle rebates...plus, did you go to a green college?

We've heard ad nauseum rising gas prices, and quite frankly, we're sick of it. But enVista, an Indianapolis, In.-based company, isn't taking the situation lying down. They've introduced "enVista green," a program aimed at improving and protecting the environment.

As part of the program, employees who purchase a vehicle with an EPA fuel rating of 35 mpg or higher receive $2,000. Hybrids with a 35 mpg or lower EPA rating receive $1,000.

"The hybrid rebate program reflects enVista's continued commitment to the environment and offers our team members a way to make a difference while cutting down on their transportation costs," said Jim Barnes, President and CEO of enVista. "Just as our company helps clients eliminate waste and improve efficiencies across their enterprise, we value the importance of doing the same for our environment."

As part of the corporate-wide initiative, started earlier this year, the company also reimburses for using energy-efficient light bulbs and planting trees. Teleworking is a widely-used benefit, and break rooms are free of disposable products.

-------
And in (semi) related News You Can't (or maybe can) Use:

Where did enVista get the idea for such programs? We're not 100% positive, but perhaps they went to one of the top-ranked "green" schools in Kaplan's 2009 guide. They are (listed alphabetically):

• Arizona State University
• Bates College
• Berea College
• Bowdoin College
• Carleton College
• Carnegie Mellon University
• College of the Atlantic
• Dartmouth College
• Dickinson College
• Duke University
• Grand Valley State University
• Harvard University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Middlebury College
• Oberlin College
• Oregon State University
• Penn State University
• Santa Clara University
• Tufts University
• University of California
• University of New Hampshire
• University of North Carolina
• University of Vermont
• University of Washington
• Yale University, New Haven, CT

Along the same lines, if you're wondering if your career is eco-friendly, here are their top choices:

• Environmental conservation
• Environmental design
• Environmental engineering
• Environmental science
• Geothermal development
• Green interior design
• Hydrology
• Organic agriculture
• Solar energy engineering

  Transportation systems planning