Employee Relations

Court issues restraining order against employee? That’s good enough to support discipline

02/17/2017

What should happen if a physical altercation in the workplace ends with one employee securing a restraining order against the other? Can you fire the apparent instigator for breaking workplace rules against fighting? Will that expose you to liability?

10 lame excuses for showing up late to work

02/15/2017

More than a quarter of workers (29%) admit they roll in late to work at least once per month.

Employee motivation in one–yeah, just one–easy step

02/02/2017

Goal-setting focuses energies, opens lines of communication and keeps everyone on track. That’s where an IPP comes in.

Sloppy work heads list of senior execs’ pet peeves

01/31/2017

Want to get on your manager’s good side? Don’t let the details slide.

OK to condition telecommuting on performance

01/31/2017

Employers often limit telecommuting to employees with high scores on their performance evaluations. That’s reasonable and likely will stand up in court.

8 ways to say ‘No’ to employees without damaging morale

01/29/2017

As a supervisor, you have many opportunities to affirm the ideas and actions of your employees. But sometimes, you need to say “no.” The challenge is to learn to say “no” without losing the goodwill and enthusiasm of your employees.

How many ‘work martyrs’ do you have on staff?

01/27/2017

Almost 40% of employees want to be seen by their boss as a “work martyr.”

Is drama about dress really worth a lawsuit?

01/19/2017

If you fire someone because the way she dresses causes drama in the workplace, you may face a sex discrimination and harassment claim.

Jury backs worker on progressive discipline

01/17/2017

A case we covered last month—see “Consistently apply progressive discipline” in the January 2017 issue of Texas Employment Law—has now gone to trial.

Is that protected activity or an argument? OK to discipline forbidden behavior

01/02/2017

Employers have to let workers raise concerns about safety and other workplace problems. However, they don’t have to put up with incessant arguing in the workplace.