Employee Relations

Why ‘ASAP’ is a lousy directive

03/02/2015

While requesting results “as soon as possible” can underscore the urgency of the job at hand, it can also breed resentment if workers tire of always having to rush in a panic to give you what you want.

Better late than never–if you have a good excuse

02/27/2015

Getting to work on time can be hard enough without the added obstacles imposed by bathroom mishaps, gas station stick-ups and, of course, bands of roving deer. The pollsters at CareerBuilder recently asked more than 2,100 hiring and HR managers for the most ridiculous excuses for tardiness they have heard.

Bright idea: Think outside the suggestion box

02/23/2015

Often, employees do have some great ideas. They just need the right way to deliver them to you.

Good records are your best defense in court

02/18/2015

Can you explain why you terminated one employee, but not another who committed a similar offense? Chances are, if you didn’t document specific behavior and provide concrete examples of poor performance, you won’t be able to explain it in court. Resolve to improve your system for documenting disciplinary actions now, before an unhappy former employee sues.

Safeway adds benefits for LGBT employees

02/17/2015

Safeway is making its support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees and shoppers visible with some perks for workers and the communities where its grocery stores are located.

Even if criminal charges don’t hold up, it’s OK to discipline government worker

02/16/2015

When a government employee is arrested and charged with a crime related to her job, most public employers take some form of action—typically suspending the employee pending trial. If they are found guilty, they usually are terminated. Then the employee is entitled to “some sort of a hearing,” according to Supreme Court precedent. But what if criminal charges wind up being dropped?

It’s cheaper to retain employees than to replace them

02/12/2015

It’s clear that reducing employee turnover is a smart management strategy. Here are six ways to do that.

What new hires need

02/06/2015

You want new hires to get oriented and up to speed quickly, but there’s only so much information they can absorb at once. Here are some methods for organizing a comprehensive and comprehensible introduction to your workplace.

Leverage your workplace culture to attract and retain

02/05/2015

In an increasingly competitive market, traditional incentives such as salary scale and benefits packages alone are not going to cut it. Crafting a powerful, engaging culture not only boosts hiring, but it also helps you keep the talent you already have.

Practice quiet leadership to bring out the best in teams

02/04/2015

The key to team leadership is knowing how to pull back and let the group gel.