Work / Life Issues

Encourage staff volunteerism, but don’t link it to pay, promotion

02/01/2005

Heads up: More employers are heaping legal trouble on themselves by tracking employees’ volunteerism ef-forts and, in some cases, using that information (either directly or indirectly) as a prerequisite for promotions …

Be consistent when bending policies to suit elder care needs

01/01/2005

Issue: Most organizations lack formal elder care benefits or policies. Instead, they assist employees by making exceptions to other policies.
Risk: Unless you apply those exceptions fairly, you’ll risk complaints …

Combat absenteeism caused by flu-shot shortage

11/01/2004

Issue: Experts are predicting a sharp rise in flu victims this winter due to the unexpected shortfall in flu vaccines. Risk: More absenteeism and …

5 steps to help you take control of your workday

10/01/2004

Issue: How to succeed at work, stay sane and still get home on time. Benefit: By seizing control over your day, you boost your value to the organization and advance …

Retain low-wage employees without busting your budget

08/01/2004

Issue: Retention efforts often focus only on the well-paid professionals and superstars. Benefit: A few simple moves and low-cost programs can help trim turnover …

Tell sick employees to stay home

06/01/2004

The sluggish economy of recent years has helped encourage more employees to show up at work, even while they’re sick. Nearly 77 percent of employees say they’ve shown up to …

Parenthood: Walk the fine line between accommodation & bias

05/01/2004

Even if your state or local laws protect employees based
on their “marital status” or “family responsibilities,” that
doesn’t mean parent/employees can create their own schedule. You can still …

Help employees through the grieving process

03/01/2004

The death of a loved one affects more than just the people who suffer the loss; it also affects the organizations where they work. The Grief Recovery Institute estimates that employees’ grief costs U.S. companies $37.5 billion a year in lost productivity. Here’s what a survey of newly bereaved employees found: 90 percent said they […]

Focus on employee results, not face time

01/01/2004

A new OfficeTeam survey asked employees what one thing would give them more job satisfaction. The runaway winner: more schedule flexibility (33 percent). The lesson: If possible, stagger schedules to …

Cut Health Costs by Telling Staff to ‘Take a Hike’

09/01/2003

A Michigan auto supplier, Freudenberg-NOK, launched a Walk for Wellness program that rewards employees for reaching walking and other exercise goals …