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Employee Relations

Using insensitive nicknames can spell bias

10/01/2005
Issue: Some supervisors, particularly males, try to bond with employees by giving them nicknames.
Risk: When nicknames are insensitive to a protected class (race, ethnicity, etc.), they could trigger hostile-environment …

Pitch your great ideas by brushing off the naysayers

10/01/2005
Issue: Winning over the higher-ups with your ideas is a key component to success.
Risk: “Negative Nellies” in your workplace can kill your best ideas unless you’re prepared to fend …

Heed looming deadline for Medicare drug-plan notices

10/01/2005
Issue: The 2003 Medicare reform law adds a new paperwork burden for some employers.
Risk: Failing to provide “creditable coverage notices” by Nov. 15 could bring unwanted heat from the …

Employees can disobey bias-tainted orders

10/01/2005
When an employee refuses to carry out an order, supervisors may automatically think such insubordination is worthy of discipline or firing. Not so fast! That initial response, punish the employee, may …

A surprise inspection can uncover discrimination before it’s too late

10/01/2005
There may be areas of your workplace that supervisors, and maybe even HR, rarely visit, such as locker rooms, loading docks and break rooms. But don’t take a “hear no evil, …

Involve all relevant managers in employee reviews

10/01/2005

Q. We have an employee who works for two different departments, under two different supervisors. Which supervisor should conduct the review, the one with the most seniority? —D.F., Illinois

High gas prices offer retention opportunity

10/01/2005
With gas prices jumping over $3 a gallon, employees with long commutes may be thinking about working closer to home. Ease their pain by: 1) Talking with the top brass about …

Combat tardiness with progressive discipline

09/01/2005
Q. Some of our assistants are good employees, but they’re constantly late. What can we do to get them to come to work on time? —A.A., Virginia

Stay on guard against top 10 ‘bad boss’ behaviors

09/01/2005
Bad managers are the main reason many employees quit. An online survey at KeepEm.com details which bad-boss behaviors would make them quit. The top 10 worst offenses, in order: belittles people …

Watch those nicknames: Turning El-Hakem into ‘Hank’ spells bias

09/01/2005
You know that ethnic slurs and name-calling have no place in the workplace. But a new court ruling proves that any kind of ethnic intolerance can be punished.
If supervisors …