Employee Relations

Sensitive job, angry worker? OK to discipline

12/17/2015

Some workers think that anytime their employer criticizes an emotional state or suggests therapy, the employer is “regarding” them as disabled. Thus, goes the argument, the employer violates the ADA when it tries to intervene.

Uh-oh! He’s uncooperative … what now?

12/16/2015

If you have an uncooperative employee, the following guidelines can help you resolve the problem.

The 5 common myths about workplace conflict

12/14/2015

Managed correctly, conflict can be a positive source of innovation and creativity. How do you harness its power?

Remind managers: It’s essential to document every disciplinary decision and punishment

12/10/2015

You never know which fired employee will sue. That’s why it’s important to make sure every disciplinary decision is based on solid business reasons. You may even want to create an internal disciplinary checklist to ensure managers and supervisors know how to document discipline.

5 ways to reduce absenteeism

12/10/2015

It may surprise you that the first item on the list of ways to get people to come to work more often is to encourage dissent.

Beware happy employees! They might be ready to bolt

12/08/2015

It sounds counterintuitive, but happy workers may not be everything you believe. The time to check in with them is now.

Two workers locking horns?

12/07/2015

It’s a common scenario in the workplace: An ongoing dispute between two employees. Left unchecked it can split your whole unit into factions. And your workers may be looking at everything you do in terms of which side you seem to favor. Here are some guidelines that can help you address employee conflicts in a positive, effective manner.

Give Those Seasonal Part-Timers Your Full HR Effort: 7 Tips

12/04/2015

Today’s new payroll numbers show that employers are confident in bringing on that extra employee or two, expecially at this time of year. But too often, part-timers don’t get the same HR attention as full-timers. If your organization employes lots of part-timers or seasonal staff, consider these tips …

It’s OK to have favorites … just don’t PLAY favorites

12/04/2015

Studies show that managers often unknowingly give the benefit of the doubt to employees that they like, even employees who are average or subpar performers. In fact, a Harvard Business Review study found that most managers would rather work with “lovable fools” than “competent jerks.” To make sure you’re not unwittingly playing favorites, consider these issues.

‘Tis the season for online shopping on-the-clock

12/02/2015

Next to a credit card with a hefty limit, a workplace computer may be this year’s most essential holiday shopping tool. After a slight downturn in work-based online shopping in 2014, more employees say they’re spending working hours hunting for deals and buying gifts this year, according to CareerBuilder’s annual Cyber Monday survey.