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Employee Relations

Tell all bosses: You must report harassment

05/13/2011
It’s crucial for front-line supervisors to report alleged race harassment up the chain of command. That’s because courts will inevitably conclude that when an employee complains about harassment to the boss, that puts the company on notice that it had better investigate the problem and fix it.

Walmart finds jobs for military employees on the move

05/13/2011

Walmart employees who also are in the military or are married to military spouses can keep their jobs, even if their service requires them to move to another part of the country. The 9,000-store chain has guaranteed its 2 million employees that it will find a local job for them if the military transfers the family to a new location.

Lower employee stress to raise performance

05/11/2011

Studies show that workplace stress has increased over the past several years and that productivity can drop if employers don’t address the problem. Here are just some of the issues likely stressing your staff—along with suggestions on how HR can help.

Management 101: Never hand off work without a checklist

05/10/2011

More than ever, work is collaborative. And where do things go wrong when it comes to collaborative work? At the handoff. It’s usually not because someone is incompetent or lazy; it’s due to poor communication. The bottom line: We all need checklists. Use or adapt this “handoff checklist” when delivering a project assignment, suggests the Harvard Business Review blog.

Admins aren’t personal assistants … and vice versa

05/10/2011
It’s one of the most sensitive issues HR pros have to deal with: the boss who treats administrative support staff like they’re personal assistants. Think it went out with the three-martini lunch? Think again.

4 ways to make telework work

05/03/2011
More than 33 million Americans now work remotely at least one day per month, according to the nonprofit WorldatWork. Here’s how work-from-home arrangements operate in organizations nationwide, according to a recent survey. Plus, learn what managers must do to make the most of their teleworking staff members.

New business etiquette rules for the modern age

04/26/2011
Having good manners today is less about using the right fork, and more about showing consideration toward others. As we celebrate Administrative Professionals Week, here’s sound business etiquette advice for everyone who works. The key, as always: Common courtesy.

Wells Fargo loan officer pleads guilty to wire fraud

04/22/2011
A former Wells Fargo loan officer in Maple Grove has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for his part in approving $4.3 million in fraudulent loans. The bank took a $1.5 million loss on the deal.

Never hand off work without a checklist

04/19/2011

More than ever, work is collaborative. And where do things go wrong when it comes to collaborative work? At the handoff. It’s usually not because someone is incompetent or lazy; it’s due to poor communication. The bottom line: We all need checklists. Use or adapt this “handoff checklist” when delivering a project assignment, suggests the Harvard Business Review blog.

Showing sympathy doesn’t create ADA liability

04/18/2011
Employees who turn out not to meet the definition of “disabled” can still sue for disability discrimination based on their employer’s perception that they are disabled. That doesn’t mean, however, that supervisors can’t express concern and sympathy when an employee reveals a problem. Nor does it mean they can’t offer accommodations at that point or explain what types of leave are available.