Employee Relations

Strive for harmony, plan for a lawsuit: Document every complaint

05/16/2013

Of course you have an anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy. You make sure employees know about it. You even make it easy for employees to use the policy. But all that can be for naught if you’re unable to track those complaints.

Boss’s letters fill book for Kaiser Permanente staff

05/14/2013

Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO George Halvorson has written enough letters to his staff to fill a book. His compilation of 101 letters has been published as KP Inside: 101 Letters to Us at Kaiser Permanente.

Fix racial harassment before hostile environment starts affecting employee performance

05/10/2013

Employees who have to work in a hostile work environment may have a hard time doing their jobs well. When resulting poor performance leads management to fire someone, expect trouble. Your best bet is to address any hint at a hostile work environment right away.

Collaborative owner keeps staff happy at N.J. Volvo dealer

05/10/2013

What works for employees of Cherry Hill Volvo in South Jersey? The attitude of the company’s owner. Workers at the 51-year-old Volvo dealership say the company’s president, Judith Krupnick, fosters a feeling of family in the workplace.

Document misconduct probe, just in case of lawsuit

05/09/2013

Sometimes, it’s pretty obvious you need to terminate an employee. That doesn’t mean you don’t have to investigate and document your decision.

Unseen lawsuit peril: Too much performance input from too many co-workers

05/09/2013

Seeking performance appraisal input from too many employees can cause problems if you’re sued by a terminated worker. The wider a net you cast, the more likely someone will be called to testify about his or her opinion of the discharged employee’s performance. The problem: If any of those co-workers retire, quit and move on, you may have trouble tracking them down.

Should veiled lawsuit threat affect how we approach disciplining difficult worker?

05/08/2013

Q. We have an employee who has been a constant source of drama and complaints within her department. When her manager sat down with her recently to discuss a confrontation she had with another co-worker, she “casually” mentioned that she has been trying to get pregnant, and “wonders if the stress of the job” could be the reason she has been unable to conceive. What are we supposed to do now?

2 workers broke same rule? Explain different punishments

05/07/2013

Sometimes, two employees who break the same rule don’t deserve exactly the same punishment. But employers must make sure they can explain the difference.

Overlooked retention tool: Show employees a future path

05/03/2013

Many employers are missing out on a simple, no-cost way to retain employees—communicate your promotions and promotion policies.

Retaliation alert: Don’t punish boss for refusing to alter disputed performance review

05/01/2013

Here’s an important reminder for senior executives: If an employee says she will sue for discrimination unless her evaluation is changed, don’t punish her supervisor if he refuses to go along. That could amount to retaliation for protected activity—meaning you could have two lawsuits on your hands.