Memos to Managers

Better brainstorming: How to inspire group creativity

09/30/2013

Group brainstorming meetings can become productive drivers of company innovation or simply a waste of time. Tips on successfully managing them:

Supervising difficult employees? Mend it, don’t end it

07/31/2013

Rather than ignoring tough situations or automatically getting rid of “difficult” employees, it’s better to learn techniques to effectively manage those situations.

Reining in absences & tardiness: 7 do’s and don’ts

07/05/2013

Managers can’t instantly say, “Be here or be fired” to an employee struggling with attendance issues. Managers have to work with HR to employ strategies that not only combat absenteeism, but also avoid legal trouble.

Demotion or termination? How to make the call

05/28/2013

If you’re faced with an employee who isn’t a good fit with his or her current job, is termination the answer or is demotion a better alternative? The answer is, of course, it depends.

Employee documents: What to keep, what to toss

04/29/2013

Is the paper piling up in your office and in need of a big spring cleaning? Before managers start tossing documents in the circular file, they need to know which employee-related paperwork must be saved—and for how long.

Honest or not? 10 questions to spot ethical applicants

04/02/2013

When managers interview job candidates, it’s nearly impossible to get a good reading of a person’s moral compass. Here are some effective “situational” or “behavioral” questions and scenarios managers can pose.

Employment law 2013: Compliance quiz for managers

03/05/2013

Legal complaints filed by employees against their employers have risen dramatically over the past decade. How well do you know the law? Take this quick quiz:

10 ways to overcome ‘negative vibes’ among your staff

01/07/2013

A hard-core negative attitude that starts with just one employee can quickly infect an entire department (or a whole company) if the manager doesn’t rein it in quickly. Here are 10 tips for confronting employees whose negative behavior has begun to affect co-workers and the company:

A step-by-step guide to legally safe hiring practices

11/27/2012

Hiring is one of the most difficult and legally dangerous tasks for supervisors. Just a few ill-timed words in a want ad or interview can trigger a legal complaint. Here are the key liability hot spots to watch out for in the hiring process:

Don’t be swayed by the top 9 excuses for harassment

10/29/2012

When managers witness or hear about a possible sexual harassment situation at work, it’s important for them to take the situation seriously. It’s vital for managers to contact the appropriate company officials in any potential harassment situations. Don’t be swayed by these common excuses you’ll hear from employees.