Productivity / Performance

Tell well-intentioned managers: You must route all ADA accommodation requests through HR

03/26/2009

Sometimes, immediate supervisors want to be helpful when a valued employee asks for disability accommodations that seem reasonable. Instead of having HR handle the ADA process, they just make the accommodations themselves. That’s a scenario for trouble down the line.

The death of one-size-fits-all benefits: Tailor rewards to generational differences

03/26/2009

Nearly a third of HR professionals plan to alter their total rewards programs with generational preferences in mind, according to the new Top Five Total Rewards Priorities survey. That figure is likely to increase significantly in the future because the workforce is becoming more multigenerational—especially as older workers remain longer to rebuild their nest eggs.

Make solid case for axing good but toxic worker

03/20/2009

Sometimes, an employee is so disruptive that it doesn’t matter how well she is performing her job. Constant arguments, tension and other elements of a personality conflict can poison the work environment and drag down other employees’ performance. She’s got to go!

Lawyer fired for appraisal sues for wrongful discharge

03/20/2009

A former lawyer at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP has filed a lawsuit against the law firm for terminating his employment after he wrote a performance evaluation that criticized another associate and partner.

10 tips on setting goals for others

03/17/2009

Ask employees to focus on razor-thin, challenging targets, and they might fail or do something unethical. Managers can avoid those unintended consequences by using this 10-point checklist when setting goals for others.

Assign HR staffer to monitor and update employees’ ADA accommodations

03/13/2009

Don’t think it’s the end of the story once you have offered an ADA accommodation to a disabled employee and put it in place. Disabilities change, equipment fails and technology improves, making the accommodations process a continual one. Here’s what you risk if you make an accommodation and walk away without ensuring the accommodation actually works.

March Madness: Can a morale boost offset the productivity hit?

03/10/2009

As if computer solitaire wasn’t enough of a distraction for daydreaming office workers, March Madness is about to make working hard even harder. But that’s not all bad, according to one expert: The morale boost may make the NCAA tournament a good bet for employers. Here are some of the rules of the game for HR.

3 ways to run more effective meetings

03/10/2009

On average, American professionals spend 5.6 hours each week in meetings that 71% say “aren’t productive.” If you’d rather spend those hours creatively engaged, try these tips for making the most of meeting time. (You can pull off one of these even if you’re not the one who called the meeting!)

Advantage for tough times: Creating a company that cares

03/09/2009

Organizations that are perceived as caring companies typically look out for their employees and the communities where they do business. During hard times, then, companies that care tend to do whatever they can to keep their employees on their payrolls. Simply put, they respect the fact that employees need their jobs.

Has the recession motivated your staff?