Employee Relations

The ABC’s of documentation

02/12/2021

Many managers don’t enjoy documenting employee performance, but it’s crucial if you have to defend a decision to terminate an employee, or recommend him or her for promotion. Don’t take any chances with your record-keeping responsibilities. Here’s what to keep in mind.

Remote work could save U.S. employers $500B per year

02/09/2021

“The Business Case for Remote Work” says a typical U.S. employer can save $11,000 per year for each employee who works remotely two to three days a week.

Remote workers rent private homes to hold meetings

01/28/2021

Here’s a timely new trend: Growing tired of gathering on Zoom, groups of remote employees have begun renting out meeting spaces in private homes.

Using emojis in the workplace: A terrible idea?

01/28/2021

There’s a clear generational divide over whether it’s appropriate to use emojis in work communication.

2 questions for ‘stay’ interviews

01/27/2021

“Stay” interviews are a good tool for promoting employee retention, but their success rides on asking the right questions. These two can help you hold a productive conversation.

When you learn you employ a Capitol rioter

01/14/2021

Imagine you learn one of your employees was part of the hoard of rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 in an act of open rebellion against the United States. Can you fire this person?

HR supports work flexibility even after vaccine is deployed

12/28/2020

Ninety percent of HR leaders surveyed Dec. 9 said they plan to allow employees to work remotely at least part of the time even after covid-19 vaccines are widely available. Plus, 65% told the Gartner business advisory firm their organizations would continue offering employees flexibility on when they do their work.

It’s up to HR to foster workplace civility

12/03/2020

American society is as polarized as it has been in decades. We have just completed a bitterly divisive election. Public discourse and even private conversations are angry. That same coarseness can permeate the workplace unless employers intervene. But employers must be careful not to chill protected speech when they try to enforce civility.

Scuttlebutt may hold bits of truth

11/25/2020

Here’s a common situation: An employee informs you of a co-worker’s faults or misdeeds. Although most of the tale sounds like gossip, some details sound as though they could be true. Certainly you don’t want to support gossip, but you have to get at the truth. Try this approach.

How to raise employee engagement by 300%

11/24/2020

When goals and accountability are clearly communicated to employees, they are 2.8 times more likely to be highly engaged in their jobs, according to a Quantum Workplace review of 1.2 million employee engagement surveys at 12,000 companies.