Employee Relations

8 steps to becoming the manager your employees need

04/23/2025

In an effort to “empower” their staffs, too many managers take a completely hands-off approach, leaving employees alone unless they really need help. But this can create a rudderless ship, says management expert Bruce Tulgan. That’s not leadership! Here’s how effective managers provide genuine support to their employees.

7 situations you should document every time

04/11/2025

Thorough and accurate HR documentation is what wins lawsuits.

Demote a staffer? Make it work

04/09/2025

If you decide that demotion is a viable alternative to terminating a particular employee, knowing how to execute the demotion properly is essential to making it work.

How to bridge the gap between listening and action

04/02/2025

The numbers tell a troubling story: While 95% of organizations maintained or increased their employee listening efforts last year, HR leaders’ confidence in these programs has plummeted from 43% to just 27%. This stark decline signals a critical challenge facing HR departments today—not in collecting employee feedback but translating it into meaningful action.

Invest in 4 key drivers to improve retention

03/31/2025

Recent analysis from The Conference Board, the nonprofit economic and business think tank, reveals that prioritizing talent retention delivers substantial cost savings compared to constant recruitment efforts. The board’s report urges HR leaders looking to boost retention to focus on four key drivers.

Clear violation of your rules? Courts won’t second-guess disciplinary decision

03/28/2025

You have workplace rules for a reason, and you can require employees to follow them. If someone breaks your rules or violates your policies, feel free to discipline them. As long as you enforce your rules evenhandedly and impose discipline consistently, courts are unlikely to second-guess your decision to punish employees.

Managing people with limited professional experience

03/28/2025

Dealing with employees unfamiliar with workplace norms takes patience. But just as you would help someone lacking technical competencies get up to speed, guiding a worker to a higher level of professionalism proves a worthy endeavor. Here are five strategies to try.

Demotion or termination? How to make the call

03/19/2025

If you’re faced with an employee who isn’t a good fit with his or her current job, is termination the answer or is demotion a better alternative? The answer is, of course, it depends.

Document termination decision before telling worker

02/28/2025

Always document disciplinary decisions the moment you make them—and before you tell the employee. That way, you can successfully argue that you could not have retaliated against the employee because the decision was made before you knew about their request.

Toxic positivity: How HR can foster an authentic culture

02/26/2025

Toxic positivity functions as a destructive force in workplace environments. When employees express legitimate concerns, toxic positivity responds with empty platitudes: “You’ve got this!” “Stay positive!” These responses invalidate employees’ experiences and suggest that their struggles stem from poor attitudes rather than real problems.