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Employee Relations

10 things your employees are dying to hear you say

04/28/2022
Only about a third of employees these days say they are “engaged” in their jobs. But in the midst of everyday chaos, it’s hard for managers to think about big-picture issues like employee morale and motivation. Here are 10 phrases or questions you can use with employees to build respect, gratitude and trust, according to a new book by Todd Patkin, Finding Happiness.

10 common phrases that turn employees against you

04/28/2022
Managers are human. You’re bound to make some unfortunate word choices now and then. But employees will give you a pass on those annoying expressions for only so long. Spew these 10 phrases at your peril.

Poor employee engagement is lowering productivity

04/26/2022
Over three-quarters of employers report they are struggling to engage their employees, and 34% are seeing an actual cost to business in the form of low productivity, according to a survey conducted in March by outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

Focus on well-being to improve engagement

04/26/2022
Well-being is the watchword these days for employers committed to increasing employee engagement. The drive to support employees’ physical, mental and emotional health in a holistic way—both at work and in the rest of their lives—has been fueled by our collective coronavirus experience.

Don’t suggest retirement in lieu of discipline

04/14/2022
Take care when disciplining older workers. You could be falsely accused of age discrimination if you end up firing the employee. Even a well-intentioned suggestion that the employee may want to retire rather than face termination can be a huge mistake.

Employees are burning out. Are alternative work arrangements the answer?

04/12/2022
Alternative work arrangements may ease employees’ return to the physical workplace. Consider your options carefully.

OK to penalize fighting, even if provoked

03/31/2022
Will Smith’s Oscar night slap upside Chris Rock’s head may have only bruised celebrity egos, but it shined a spotlight on the importance of preventing physical conflict in professional settings. For employers, that usually means enforcing a strict policy that prohibits all physical violence.

Half would quit if forced to return to work full time

03/29/2022
There’s a disconnect between managers’ expectations about on-site work and employees’ willingness to come back, and it foreshadows a worsening retention problem for employers.

5 questions to spark deep conversations with new colleagues

03/22/2022
The next time you meet a new professional contact, ask these questions to get beyond dreaded small talk.

Polls offer cues on how to retain employees

03/22/2022
These days, keeping your employees happy may be key to actually keeping your employees. Fortunately, a new Gallup poll offers insight into what it takes to prevent employees from taking that initial step of sending out their résumés.