Employee Relations

Your anti-harassment obligations are 24/7/365

05/17/2023

An employer has the same obligations whether the harassment takes place in the workplace during working hours, in the break room, at the bar during happy hour, via text message or social media, in a grocery store aisle or in outer space.

‘That’s not my job!’ How to shut down those slackers

05/17/2023

Some employees resent it when their employer directs them to perform work that appears to fall outside their usual job duties. But contrary to what those employees think, there is nothing illegal about assigning them tasks that aren’t listed in their job descriptions. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals just said so.

Refusal to sign discipline memo? What to do

05/12/2023

Every HR professional knows the importance of disciplinary documentation. But what happens if an employee refuses to sign a disciplinary memo?

Uncover top motivators for employee learning

05/10/2023

Competitive companies know that the ever-changing world requires them to adapt on a regular basis. LinkedIn’s 2023 Workplace Learning Report notes that skill sets for jobs have changed by around 25% since 2015, and this number is expected to double by 2027. Organizations lacking workers dedicated to continuous professional development jeopardize their future.

Retention: Understand why employees decide to stay or go

05/05/2023

Gallup has uncovered some key trends that should interest managers determined to retain their best employees. The research makes it clear: Your employees are keeping their eyes open for new job opportunities.

What not to say to older workers: ‘You’re overqualified!’ ‘When are you going to retire?’

05/01/2023

Even as the baby boom generation ages, many older workers are finding they must delay retirement because they can’t afford to quit working. That should raise red flags for employers. Boomers have a powerful federal law on their side—the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, which makes it illegal to discriminate against employees and applicants over age 40 because of their age.

Focus on employee experience to bolster retention

04/26/2023

In today’s strong job market, employees have lots of career options. If they feel unhappy or unfulfilled at work, they will look elsewhere. That makes it more important than ever for leaders to create a work environment that fosters employee support, connection and empowerment.

Check for possible retaliation before approving discipline

04/17/2023

Before approving a termination, always review the case details. Be on the lookout for signs that the action might be motivated by a supervisor’s attempt to retaliate against the employee.

Case of the Week: Ensure HR reviews, signs off on all PIPs

04/17/2023

When an employee needs to do a better job, supervisors are often the ones charged with creating a performance improvement plan. Since PIPs are often a last-chance option for underperforming employees, it’s common for them to include stringent attendance requirements. But allowing supervisors to set the terms of a PIP without close HR supervision can be a big mistake.

Never mind a possible recession: HR leaders still confident about hiring, retention

04/10/2023

Chief human resource officers are optimistic about hiring and retaining workers over the next few months, according to the Conference Board’s CHRO Confidence Index for the first quarter of 2023. That confidence comes despite expectations of a recession in 2023 and news of layoffs.