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Employee Relations

Employee passed test? He’s probably ‘qualified’

12/30/2012

For an employee to win a dis­crimination lawsuit, he has to show that he was qualified for the job he held. Some employers assume that if they disciplined the employee for poor performance, that proves he wasn’t qualified. But a court might not see it that way if you trained and tested him before putting him to work.

The effects of stress on workplace performance

12/20/2012
Stressors like workload, people issues, lack of work/life balance and job insecurity can cause a dip in productivity at work, according to ComPsych’s 2012 Stress Pulse survey.

Investigations must be thorough, but not bulletproof to justify discipline

12/10/2012
Here’s some good news for those handling discipline and wondering whether your decision will stand up in court: You don’t always have to be exactly right, just fair and honest.

Workplace romance gone bad? Don’t hesitate to terminate if you perceive danger

12/01/2012
Not every romance ends happily ever after with a storybook wedding. But with the passage of time, most breakups don’t leave a lingering mess. That’s not necessarily true of workplace romances gone sour, where the former love birds may remain in regular contact with each other.

Track all discipline just in case employee sues

11/29/2012
Not every terminated employee sues, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared. If you fire someone for breaking a rule, note which one.

Discovered unsuspected wrongdoing? Fire away!

11/29/2012
Sometimes, internal investigations pull back the curtain on performance problems that have nothing to do with the original inquiry. Even if it turns out that the initial reason for the investigation was unfounded, you don’t have to ignore other issues you may uncover.

The details matter when documenting discipline

11/27/2012
The next time you discipline an em­­ployee, consider how his conduct compares to others who broke a similar rule. Then detail the differences if the punishment varies. That way, you can later explain why two employees violating a similar rule deserved different punishments.

Frequent standing eases back pain for desk-bound

11/26/2012

At HealthPartners in Minneapolis, the workstations of employees with computer-intensive jobs have been redesigned with desks that allow users to easily raise or lower the keyboard and monitor so it’s possible to type while seated or while standing.

‘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.

Fire if necessary: Complaining about bias doesn’t earn free pass to terrorize co-workers

11/19/2012
Don’t let past discrimination complaints by an obviously troubled employee keep you from ensuring workplace safety. Even vague threats can justify firing a potentially dangerous employee. Few judges will see that as retaliation.