Computer gifts - gift ideas for human resource computer gurus - Management of HR Systems

HR Magazine, Nov, 1993 by Sandra E. O'Connell

The staff Christmas party is coming up and you drew the name of the HR computer guru. What gift might you buy--other than a new 486 computer priced at $1,500 or more? I went shopping in a computer super store, searching for gifts that could be helpful and fun but within the price range for an office party. My favorite form of shopping, though, is using catalogs, so I selected some items that you can order by direct mail.

Gifts for under $20

My list starts with stocking-stuffer or grab bag gifts for under $10, which should be available in most computer stores. Diskette filing boxes with color dividers are an easy way to organize disks. For the person who carries computer files while traveling, a disk wallet will protect disks in a briefcase. Ergonomically sound wrist rests are widely available for under $10. I especially like the brightly colored wrist-rest pads from Puzzle that can be paired with interlocking mouse pads.

If the computer buff has a system at home, a company called Expert in Coral Gables, Fla., has a number of packages priced at $14.95 which I found for $9.95. For the gardner, Landscape places flowers, bushes--even lawn furniture--in a garden layout. Home Design contains a library of furniture shapes and can draw rooms to scale. Almost any hobby can be supported--tracing the family tree, playing the lottery or zooming to locations around the world with Maps. I planned a trip with Travel Planner and was pleased with the route and itinerary the system developed from my home (departure city) to my parents' home (destination city). For the healthy eater or dieter who also likes computing, Life Styles of San Diego, Calif., offers Health and Diet Pro. While in the low-priced software aisle, be on the lookout for bargain-priced games.

Browsing the bookshelves in a computer store is a reminder of the complexity of technology, yet there are several books under $15 that make good Christmas gifts. Among my favorites (and most often used in our office) are DOS for Dummies by Dan Goodkin and Computer User's Dictionary, both from Que Publishing. Another gem is Design Guidelines for Desktop Publishing by Roberta Mantos from Delmar Publishing. If you wish to spend a little more, I recommend a great-looking clipboard or matching looseleaf-binder made of recycled circuit boards (PaperDirect for $18.95 each). They are sure to entrance the techie on your list.

Gifts for the HR department

The year-end review shows a few hundred dollars in the budget. Is there anything worthwhile to buy for that amount? There is--software for $100 or less. If these packages suit your needs, it's a year-end bonus for everyone. The software will have either limited scope or functionality and is not likely to perform the way the higher-priced counterparts do. Should the departmental budget allow for a year-end gift to yourselves, here are some ideas for super software buys.

* For the company that wants to help departing employees, Looking for Work ($25) from InterDigital of Lebanon, N.J., helps the user through planning and networking as well as writing the resume and cover letter.

* Offer an extra boost for new hires or transfers into new positions. Software from Winsight of Princeton, N.J., called Succeeding in Your New Job ($49) can provide the needed assessment and advice.

* Accidents or lawsuits may demand that you calculate wages for back pay. A simple template for Lotus 1-2-3, which will consider annual salary, estimated pay increases, benefits, interim pay and interest, can save time. Yes, you could do it yourself, but for $55, PRI in Durham, N.C., has figured the formulas for you.

* Employees getting ready to retire need a lot of information. Professional Retirement Planner ($99) from Stafford Financial Systems of Penfield, N.Y., allows the user to make "what if" changes for categories such as age, rate of return, inflation, payout period and COLA. The resulting printout adds extra service to the benefits department. The Retirement Planning Kit ($15) from T. Rowe Price will calculate the cost of retirement and help plan an investment strategy. The Wall Street Journal rated this package the most user-friendly of five retirement software products.

* Changing employee schedules is a time-consuming task. Employee Scheduling Program ($99) from Caddylak Systems in Brentwood, N.Y., can schedule employees by name, position or assigned task.

* A gift that keeps on giving all year long is the computer-guided exercises to relieve strain and manage stress. Computer Health Break ($80) from Escape Ergonomics of Sunnyvale, Calif., is a system that pops up automatically and includes more than 70 exercises.

* For organizations that restructure their reorganizations, an organization-charting package might be useful. Serendipity Systems in Ithaca, N.Y., offers Org-Charter for $59.

* The Name Tag Kit from Power Up! Software will print the name of your organization and the name of the attendee in one of eight fonts. If the HR department often plays host, the kit, priced at $99.95 for the software, cardboard tags and plastic holders, could be a real bargain.