Communication

Verizon workers teach each other via video

04/22/2013

Verizon invested nearly $400 million in the development, education and training of its employees last year, and spent $100 million in tuition assistance for more than 23,000 employees. But it’s the company’s employees themselves who may be teaching one another the most.

The art of giving negative feedback: A 7-step approach

04/09/2013

If employees are totally blindsided by poor reviews or terminations, they are much more likely to file lawsuits. But if workers receive coaching and progressive discipline, they’ll see the bad news coming a mile away, and they’ll have little reason or motivation to play the legal card. Follow this seven-step method whenever giving negative feedback:

Build staff buy-in for your internship programs

03/25/2013

It’s no secret that long-term staff often dread the summer onslaught of interns—a generation gap that can sink even the best-designed internship program. Smooth the process by having a talk with the older, wiser managers and co-workers who will interact with interns this summer.

When rude boss spouts off, expect little sympathy from juries

03/21/2013

A supervisor’s foul temper can alienate employees—and wind up costing an employer big bucks.

How to fix a department problem

03/13/2013

If you have to call the entire department on the carpet for an overall problem, don’t let the “defeat” become demotivating. Before you review the negatives of the situation, ask yourself these questions.

Benefits alert: Health insurance exchange notice requirement postponed

03/01/2013

The health care reform law required employers to begin notifying employees on March 1 about the availability of state-based exchanges as an option for buying health insurance. But acknowledging the obvious—that the state exchanges are nowhere near ready to go live—the Department of Labor has temporarily rescinded the notice requirement.

12 steps you can take to create a happier workforce

02/14/2013

As an HR professional, you’re in a unique position to guide your organization to a culture that causes less worry and stress for employees—and better health and productivity. Here are 12 ways to get started:

Think twice before giving employees personal advice

02/12/2013

It happens all the time: An employee approaches someone from HR to ask for help. But occasionally, HR pros find their work conversations veering dangerously toward inappropriately personal topics—from how to handle retirement investments to life-and-death health care decisions.

10 ways to overcome ‘negative vibes’ among your staff

01/07/2013

A hard-core negative attitude that starts with just one employee can quickly infect an entire department (or a whole company) if the manager doesn’t rein it in quickly. Here are 10 tips for confronting employees whose negative behavior has begun to affect co-workers and the company:

‘Week of Service’ invites Allstate employees to volunteer

11/23/2012

Northbrook, Ill.-based Allstate this summer challenged its 70,000 employees to partner with local nonprofit organizations in their communities—and it made a $500 grant to each of those nonprofits, awarding $80,000 overall.