Communication

Can we stop employees from talking politics?

10/01/2012

Q. With the election approaching, it seems like our office is as politically divided as the country. Can we ban all political talk?

Do your employees trust their co-workers?

09/10/2012

U.S. workers may not trust their boss, but they do trust their colleagues. More than a third of workers (34%) say they “very much” trust their work colleagues and another 38% say they “moderately” do, according to a survey by consultant Lee Hecht Harrison.

Company’s survey succeeded because of employee trust

09/06/2012

After a major merger, Sims Metal Management in Princeton, N.J., polled employees to learn how engaged they were in their work, and got an overwhelming response. More than 90% of the employees responded to the organization’s first-ever employee engagement survey.

Stop the stragglers: 7 ways to start meetings on time

09/05/2012

Years ago, Jon was part of a three-member team with an important daily 10 a.m. meeting. The other two members were routinely late. “I had a decision to make,” he says. “What if I set the expectations for this team meeting going forward? What if I started the meeting on time—all by myself?” That’s exactly what he did.

Slackers need not apply to New Jersey training company

08/08/2012

The owners of interactive training company Red Nucleus make it a point to hire only what they call “passionate” employees. In fact, its website uses bold language to warn off would-be applicants who “go into work every day, go through the motions and go home.”

Customizing feedback: The 9 different personality types

07/03/2012

Ever notice how you can say the same exact thing to two different people, and they each take the comment completely differently? The best managers know how to give feedback to different employees. Here are nine personality types and how to handle them:

7 ways to limit your social media liability

06/14/2012

Online social networking sites provide a variety of benefits to organizations. They can help you collect industry-based knowledge, reach new customers, build your brand and publicize your company’s name and reputation. But those benefits come with their fair share of legal risks. You need a comprehensive social media policy to guide employees on your expectations about their online behavior.

Make up training deficits with mentoring

06/08/2012

A recent HR Specialist online poll found that 42% of training budgets that were slashed in the recession haven’t yet rebounded. Mentoring can help close the training gap, and improve recruitment, retention and career development—and the bottom line.

Motivate employees through better communication

05/22/2012

When it comes to retaining and motivating employees, compensation is important, but communication is key. Especially for a company with a combination of on-site and virtual employees, regular, required communication between management and staff—and among peers—is essential.

Art helps employees better understand their colleagues

05/18/2012

Employees of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services are tapping their inner art critics to better understand their co-workers. In partnership with the Detroit Institute of Arts, the company is exposing workers to the work of artistic masters in a setting where they can express their views on the artwork—and learn about their colleagues.