Communication

A 10-step ‘prescription’ to create a happier workforce

02/17/2014

Most employees feel stressed, doubtful about job security and less invested in their companies and careers. You can and should do something about it.

Remind supervisors about the importance of praise

02/12/2014

“As business leaders, we do a really good job of telling people what they do wrong, and a really bad job at telling them what they do right,” says Bill Sims, author of the new book Green Beans & Ice Cream.

Changing employee behavior: 8 simple steps for ‘the talk’

02/11/2014

Smart business people know it’s more profitable to keep existing customers than constantly having to find new ones. That’s because the costs of acquiring new customers are so high. The same principle applies to employees.

Employee Handbooks: Overview

02/10/2014

HR Law 101: Employee handbooks are extremely valuable business tools. But if you’re not careful, your handbook could land you in court. In particular, employees are increasingly suing for wrongful discharge, pointing to a handbook they claim guaranteed them employment indefinitely …

Four Seasons employees share via in-house newscast

01/20/2014

Employees of Boston’s Four Seasons Hotel get employee news via an in-house, co-worker-produced newscast. Every two weeks, employees put together a 10-minute show that airs on TV sets in staff areas.

Employers inbound, quitting suburbs for downtown

01/02/2014

Motorola is offering full relocation packages for employees affected by a looming office move—all the way from Libertyville, Ill., to new offices 35 miles away in Chicago. It’s one of several large U.S. corporations leaving suburban office parks for new digs downtown, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

The smart team leader’s code of conduct

12/12/2013

Christine Comaford, author of the new book SmartTribes, says good team leaders can become great team leaders by following this code of conduct:

Employees want one-on-one benefits info

12/02/2013

Here’s how employees prefer to learn about their employer-provided benefits options:

Survey: Stress is top workforce health risk

11/26/2013

Stress is the No. 1 workforce health issue, ranking above physical inactivity and obesity, according to a Towers Watson Staying@Work Survey. But only 15% of employers identify improving employees’ emotional and mental health as a top priority of their health and productivity programs.

When settlement requires confidentiality, tell everyone to keep lips sealed

11/12/2013

Settling a case early on can have advantages. One of these is that you can include a confidentiality clause that bars a former employee from talking about the case. Now a California court has said that such clauses are valid, meaning you can sue a former employee who breaks a confidentiality agreement.