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Employee Relations

Pros and cons of tuition assistance

11/01/2007

Q. I am the HR director of a midsize company. I am currently evaluating additional benefits that my company can provide to help us attract and retain talent. One of our employees suggested a tuition-reimbursement program. Can you describe some of the pros and cons of such a program? …

Attract and keep great employees with these 5 ‘Best practices’ benefits

10/23/2007

As the HR profession celebrates National Work and Family Month—you knew October was National Work and Family Month, didn’t you?—it’s time to stock up on innovative benefits ideas from U.S. employers. From wellness incentives to “future leave,” these best practices help attract and retain great workers …

Recognize any of these 6 supervisor profiles?

10/23/2007

The hard-driving, ruthless boss may fit the stereotype of today’s most successful corporate executive. But the most effective workplace leaders are honest, caring  and flexible. Six profiles show the full spectrum of supervisory skill—as rated by employees.

Prevent ‘Survivor syndrome’: Avoid turnover after layoffs

10/16/2007

Issue: After a round of layoffs, remaining employees will wonder "Who’s next?"
Risk: That insecurity can cause layoff survivors to "fire themselves" and seek greener pastures elsewhere.
Action: Don’t …

Light a Fire Under Slow-to-Discipline Supervisors

10/09/2007
When it comes to disciplining problem employees, managers often find every excuse to procrastinate. But as an outsider from HR, you can provide the kind of focused intervention that gets results.

Help managers set employee deadlines: 4 do’s and don’ts

10/02/2007

Without deadlines, employees flounder. They can’t set priorities—and can’t kick it into high gear—unless their supervisors tell them. Pass along these four tips to help supervisors set realistic deadlines for their employees.

Only business need can justify English-Only rules

10/01/2007

Employers that want to limit the use of languages other than English in the workplace take note: Your language restrictions must be reasonable and based on genuine business needs. A simple company preference for English isn’t good enough …

Don’t add insult to injury: Be careful what you say about litigious employees

10/01/2007

When a former employee sues and you think the lawsuit is frivolous, resist the temptation to belittle or punish the employee by discussing the case. Small talk can mean a big payday for a former employee who finds out and files a defamation lawsuit. What’s more, you could be personally liable if a jury finds you acted vengefully or with ill will. The best advice: Don’t discuss pending lawsuits. If you say nothing, you can’t be accused of slander …

How to identify (and reverse) employee disengagement

10/01/2007
A recent Gallup Poll says less than one-third of U.S. employees are actively engaged in their jobs. That’s why it’s important for managers to watch for the early signs of employee disengagement and try to pull those employees back from the edge. How can you see the slide? Employees stop offering suggestions. They contribute less […]

Management ‘Pyros’: Spot ‘Em, then put out their fire

10/01/2007

Some managers turn every problem into a three-alarm fire, which can be stressful and ineffective. How do you know if a manager (or you) is a “management pyromaniac”? Fortune Small Business offers this quiz …