Employee Relations

How to say ‘I’m sorry’

09/02/2025

Effective apologies clear the air and set the tone. They help build a new risk-taking climate as employees realize that mistakes—yours and theirs—are not the end. But if you don’t make your apology the right way, it can go unnoticed or even backfire.

Bypass progressive discipline if necessary

08/29/2025

Progressive discipline plans are great for correcting the behavior of employees in whom you have invested time and money and getting them back on track. But always leave yourself an “out” for those cases when retaining the worker just doesn’t make sense.

What 4-day workweek trials reveal about work, well-being and productivity

08/18/2025

The four-day workweek has long been viewed as a bold experiment—but recent global trials led by economist Juliet Schor suggest it might also be a smart business move.

Market stability brings retention opportunities—if managers act now

08/15/2025

Despite a cooling job market and economic uncertainty, most employees are signaling they’ll stay put over the next six months. But a sharp decline in worker confidence about external opportunities suggests that stability in the short term could mask deeper engagement challenges.

Detailed personnel records defeat bias claim

07/28/2025

Employers who keep detailed personnel records that include objective, fact-driven performance reviews often win discrimination lawsuits soon after the employee sues.

Is your employee discipline fair? A 5-question self-test

07/11/2025

Whether it’s deserved or not, the perception that management is “against” employees, once earned, is difficult to shake. That’s why it’s vital for supervisors to make sure they treat everyone fairly and consistently, especially when disciplining employees.

Documenting performance? Better date-stamp and retain

07/07/2025

Whether deleted by accident or because the employer lacks clear rules about what to toss and what to keep, having to admit to a judge that you don’t have a document may mean big fines and penalties, up to and including having the lawsuit become an automatic win for a fired worker.

‘Impossible’ PIP sinks employer’s discharge appeal

07/07/2025

Performance-improvement plans should be challenging enough to let supervisors know the employee is up to performing their essential job functions at an acceptable level. Set reasonable, objective goals that can be achieved with sufficient effort in the time allotted in the PIP.

Refocus on manager engagement to boost team-wide performance

06/30/2025

If your management teams seem more drained lately, the data supports the concern. This isn’t just a leadership issue, but an organizational one. When managers struggle, so do their teams—and it shows in performance.

Strategies to attract and keep talent from Gen Z to boomers

06/23/2025

It’s not enough to call your workplace “inclusive” when large swaths of your candidate pool feel invisible before they’ve even hit Submit.