• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

Employee Relations

How to fix a department problem

09/23/2024
If you or your organization’s executive team must call an entire department on the carpet for an overall workplace problem, don’t let the “defeat” become demotivating.

10 low-cost communication tips to start open enrollment right

09/23/2024
With benefits election open-enrollment season looming at organizations across the country, make sure you avoid the mistake too many employers make: plopping a benefits booklet in front of employees and telling them to figure it out. That just doesn’t work anymore. Benefits have become too complex for employees to figure them out on their own. Here are 10 ways you can do a better job of communicating with your employees.

Recognizing presenteeism in your team members and 10 ways to address it

09/20/2024
Your star employee hasn’t missed a day in months, but their output has mysteriously declined. Another team member is visibly under the weather yet insists on powering through their tasks. These scenarios point to a pervasive issue in modern workplaces: presenteeism. This phenomenon can be more costly than absenteeism.

High-quality feedback is a must for employee retention

09/19/2024
High-quality feedback involves more than just superficial communication; it requires openness and honesty. Tell your people which parts of their job they’re performing well, but make sure they know where they have gaps and how to close them.

How to improve employee attitude toward performance reviews

09/19/2024
Don’t give up on the usefulness of performance reviews. Instead, think about ways to make them more informative and engaging. Here are six things to try.

Work resorts: New trend or wishful dreaming?

09/19/2024
Imagine starting your workday with a quick dip in the pool, hitting the golf simulator at lunch or sneaking in a game of ping pong, followed by a power nap at a fully loaded gym.

Investigate all complaints

09/19/2024
Ignoring a harassment complaint could result in a messy public lawsuit.

Consider the benefits and pitfalls of stack ranking before implementation

09/13/2024
The search for new ways to boost team performance seems to be never-ending in your role as a manager. But what if you chose a method that could motivate top performers while possibly demoralizing the rest of your workforce? Enter stack ranking, a controversial performance-management system making a comeback in some corners of the business world.

How many more chances after last-chance agreement?

09/12/2024
In Moore v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co., the appeals court held that an employee’s last-chance agreement, signed after the employee tested positive for marijuana, did not bar his subsequent discrimination lawsuit when terminated after yet another positive test.

Try a better way to hear employees’ complaints

09/09/2024
Chronic griping can certainly drain your energy and time. However, some complaints are worthy of your attention. Don’t try to silence them all. Instead, listen to employees—but don’t solve their problems.