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Productivity / Performance

Planning for productivity: What time are workers at their best?

10/07/2010
Tackle important projects in the morning and don’t plan brainstorming sessions for the afternoon. That’s the message of a new survey that says employee productivity peaks from 10 a.m. to noon and hits a wall from 4 to 5 p.m.

Bonuses bounce back, but bar is set higher

10/06/2010

The days of organizations handing out bonuses like Halloween candy seem to be over. While employers have returned to awarding bonuses in 2010, they’re attaching more strings than ever and are more likely to look at “hard” financial performance metrics when making variable pay decisions.

9 strategies for unleashing employees’ creativity

10/05/2010
Does your company’s success depend on employee innovation? It’s important for managers to let employees know they value initiative and creativity and that people who question will be rewarded—not labeled as troublemakers. Here are nine tips your managers can use to remove barriers to employee innovation.

Poor attitude and work ethic? Don’t give that promotion

10/01/2010

You want to promote the most capable and promising employees and encourage low performers to improve. That may mean pointing out some painful realities when an employee is passed over for promotion. Done sensitively, pointing out poor attitude and lack of a strong work ethic won’t fuel a lawsuit.

Taking FMLA leave may rule out performance bonus

10/01/2010
Under the right circumstances, employers that pay discretionary bonuses based on actual performance don’t have to make the extra payments to employees on FMLA leave. Thus, a discretionary bonus based on performance during each quarter may not have to be paid if the employee didn’t work.

The latest buzz: Tomorrow is National Coffee Day!

09/28/2010
National Coffee Day is tomorrow, Sept. 29, and according to a new survey commissioned by Dunkin’ Donuts and CareerBuilder.com, a cuppa Joe helps keep the nation’s workforce—particularly younger workers—productive and energetic through the workday.

3 former female execs sue Goldman Sachs

09/27/2010
Only on Wall Street can you make $800,000 a year and claim that you’re underpaid. But three women who used to earn big bucks at Goldman Sachs are suing because they could have earned even more if they were men.

Keep the flame alive: Simple ways to motivate employees

09/27/2010
It’s more important than ever for supervisors to create an environment that supports, motivates and empowers their employees. Here are some step to take.

Bring clear documentation to earn quick dismissal

09/24/2010

When employees file their own lawsuits, judges often bend over backward to help them out. They reason that employees who lack legal expertise deserve a little slack in court. That’s when it becomes crucial for employers to come to court armed with solid evidence that they handled the employee fairly.

Get it in writing: Creating effective and legal job descriptions

09/24/2010
Job descriptions are the cornerstone of communication between management and staff. Good job descriptions make sure bosses and employees alike know what kind of performance is expected. They’re the basis of every effective performance-appraisal system. At a minimum, a job description should include these elements: