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Employee Relations

10 tips on setting goals for others

03/17/2009

Ask employees to focus on razor-thin, challenging targets, and they might fail or do something unethical. Managers can avoid those unintended consequences by using this 10-point checklist when setting goals for others.

Assign HR staffer to monitor and update employees’ ADA accommodations

03/13/2009

Don’t think it’s the end of the story once you have offered an ADA accommodation to a disabled employee and put it in place. Disabilities change, equipment fails and technology improves, making the accommodations process a continual one. Here’s what you risk if you make an accommodation and walk away without ensuring the accommodation actually works.

Set up employee complaint hotline to flag managerial abuses—and stop lawsuits

03/13/2009

All too often, low-level managers and supervisors cause misunderstandings that could have been avoided. Of course, training on company processes, anti-discrimination or anti-harassment policies and so forth can prevent many workplace problems. As a backup plan, make sure you have a way for employees to quickly notify HR about any problems.

Your FMLA obligation ends with forms and notice

03/12/2009

Employers have to let their employees know about the FMLA so they can take advantage of the leave guaranteed by the law. But if an employee doesn’t take advantage of his FMLA rights, the employer can’t be held liable for not providing leave even if it turns out the employee was eligible.

Unions at your doorstep: The ABCs of EFCA … and how to respond

03/11/2009

Let the battle begin. On March 10, The Employee Free Choice Act, commonly referred to as the “card check” bill, was introduced in Congress. It’s the top legislative priority of labor unions. If passed, EFCA would streamline the process of union organizing, tilting it substantially in favor of workplace unionization. Union-free employers should consider acting now to keep their operations union-free. Here are the action steps to take today …

March Madness: Can a morale boost offset the productivity hit?

03/10/2009

As if computer solitaire wasn’t enough of a distraction for daydreaming office workers, March Madness is about to make working hard even harder. But that’s not all bad, according to one expert: The morale boost may make the NCAA tournament a good bet for employers. Here are some of the rules of the game for HR.

3 ways to run more effective meetings

03/10/2009

On average, American professionals spend 5.6 hours each week in meetings that 71% say “aren’t productive.” If you’d rather spend those hours creatively engaged, try these tips for making the most of meeting time. (You can pull off one of these even if you’re not the one who called the meeting!)

Employee wellness committees focus on community service

03/09/2009

At PCL Construction in Denver, employees decide which wellness programs the organization will offer. Employee-run wellness committees at each corporate location focus on physical, financial and community wellness, as well as team building.

Advantage for tough times: Creating a company that cares

03/09/2009

Organizations that are perceived as caring companies typically look out for their employees and the communities where they do business. During hard times, then, companies that care tend to do whatever they can to keep their employees on their payrolls. Simply put, they respect the fact that employees need their jobs.

Take a hike: April 29 is Walk @ Lunch Day

03/09/2009

Get ready to trade working lunches for walking lunches. On April 29, employees at thousands of companies will take part in National Walk @ Lunch Day, sponsored by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.