Employee Relations

Good news: Appeals court nixes idea that PIP is always adverse action

04/13/2026

Employers are free to manage their workforce through evaluations and, if work is found to be lacking in quantity or quality, create an improvement plan without worrying that constructive criticism will land them in court.

Beware discipline following a valid complaint

04/06/2026

There’s something inherently suspicious about following up a valid charge of discrimination or harassment with an almost immediate employment action against the employee who filed the initial claim. That smacks of retaliation.

Survey: Financial stress reshaping work and retention

04/06/2026

Nearly half of employees say they have changed jobs due to financial stress, while close to seven in 10 have considered doing so or reducing their hours. This positions financial well-being as a direct driver of turnover, not just an employee experience issue.

Negotiating workplace conflicts: 9 tips for managers

04/02/2026

Conflict happens in all corners of the workplace. If issues aren’t settled, bad things can happen. But supervisors and managers don’t need to become certified mediators to settle disputes.

Sudden poor performance after stellar work grounds for discharge

03/23/2026

Sometimes, performance deteriorates slowly, and the employer has plenty of time to document the decline. But there are other times when an employee who seems to have been a stellar performer declines suddenly. That’s when employers should document the extent of the problem and take prompt action.

The ‘Big Stay’ puts engagement at risk

03/23/2026

A stable workforce is only an asset if it’s also a motivated one. The risk of the big stay is stagnation, not turnover. Workers who feel trapped rather than loyal will drag down productivity and engagement.

Building workplace investigations that stand up to a jury

02/17/2026

When HR launches a discrimination or harassment investigation, it’s a good idea to stay attuned to how that investigation may look to outsiders a year or so down the line. That requires those performing the investigation to put aside any preconceived notions about what happened.

Investigations are still the best way to fix problems

02/09/2026

Chances are, at some point an employee is going to come to HR and tell you they believe they have been discriminated against, harassed or otherwise been treated unfairly. How you respond to that complaint can mean the difference between losing a lawsuit and all that entails or resolving the problem early and avoiding liability.

Performance record essential to defeat FMLA interference claims

01/20/2026

Employers can’t interfere with the right of an employee to take FMLA leave if that employee qualifies. But what if the employee has documented performance problems prior to leave? Can the employer still discipline the employee if that discipline would have been appropriate had the employee not requested leave?

Rethinking workplace diversity: Why thought matters

01/12/2026

Cognitive diversity, defined as the range of expertise, experiences, information, perspectives and ways of thinking within a team, drives the performance gains companies seek.