Employee Relations

Dig into harassment case to learn what really happened

03/08/2018

There’s aren’t many ways for an employer to defend against allegations that a supervisor sexually harassed a subordinate. But a careful investigation may uncover evidence that the relationship was wholly consensual, which may help.

Uncover the real reason for poor performance

03/08/2018

Whether you’re giving an oral warning to a new hire or issuing a last chance to a veteran employee who is on thin ice, there’s one step you must take before you discipline: Pinpoint exactly why the employee isn’t performing appropriately.

Calling a time-out on the real March Madness

03/06/2018

Working professionals surveyed for a recent OfficeTeam poll said they spend an average of 25.5 minutes per day on sports-related activities in the office during the college basketball playoffs.

How to get those silent workers to open up

02/25/2018

Most teams have them—members who complete their assigned tasks well enough, but never have much to say during team meetings. How do you reach these silent workers? It depends on why they keep quiet.

Annual reviews: Most popular, least effective

02/22/2018

The most common frequency for performance reviews continues to be annually. However, HR professionals say that reviews offer a more accurate appraisal of an employees’ performance when those reviews are conducted more frequently.

Ultimate lawsuit preventive: Proof of poor performance

02/21/2018

Employers that track poor performance and can clearly justify reasons for discharge rarely lose lawsuits. That’s because, unless there is solid proof of bias, poor performance will always trump spurious arguments about alleged discrimination.

Impartial discipline: The best defense against bias claims

02/20/2018

Treat all employees impartially and you’ll rarely end up on the losing end of a discrimination lawsuit.

No slack for employees who take FMLA, then get caught breaking your rules

02/20/2018

Employees who take FMLA leave are not immune to discipline discovered while they are out on FMLA leave or after they return to work.

Good records get lawsuits dismissed fast

02/14/2018

Employers that have well-documented business reasons for every discharge typically win lawsuits that allege discrimination. Good records force employees to prove that an allegedly legitimate reason for firing was a pretext for covering up discrimination.

Influence when you aren’t the boss

01/25/2018

You don’t need a title or boatloads of authority to influence people. Here’s how to lead others and influence them to get things done, even if you aren’t the boss.