Productivity / Performance

ADA: Essential Functions

12/31/2013

HR Law 101: An employer needn’t hire a disabled person if he or she lacks the requisite skills, experience and education for the job in question. But if the deciding factor is the disability, you must prove that the condition interferes with what the ADA terms the “essential functions” of the job …

Accommodation failing? Focus on performance

12/13/2013

Employers must reasonably accommodate disabled workers so they can perform the essential functions of their jobs. But what should you do if you have made accommodations and they don’t seem to be working?

Holiday cybershopping could kill productivity

12/10/2013

Over half of workers (54%) expect to spend some time at work shopping online for the holidays, up from 49% last year, according to a survey by CareerBuilder.com.

3 holiday headaches could slow down work

11/27/2013

The period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day typically finds employees distracted—if they’re at work at all. Head off a big productivity slump by anticipating these three problems.

Survey: Stress is top workforce health risk

11/26/2013

Stress is the No. 1 workforce health issue, ranking above physical inactivity and obesity, according to a Towers Watson Staying@Work Survey. But only 15% of employers identify improving employees’ emotional and mental health as a top priority of their health and productivity programs.

‘I’m pregnant’ + poor review = likely employee lawsuit

11/19/2013

When a formerly high-rated employee suddenly finds herself on the receiving end of a poor evaluation, she’s likely to look for a reason—such as her recent announcement that she is expecting a baby.

Want to retain employee threatening to quit? Think twice before over-promising

11/19/2013

Here’s a warning that may save you time and trouble: If you want to keep an employee who has another job offer, be careful what you promise.

It’s business as usual, even after sex change

11/06/2013

Here’s a tip for handling employees undergoing sex changes: Make sure the employee isn’t harassed and that it’s business as usual in the workplace. Treat the employee as you always have and don’t fear legitimate discipline or an evaluation based on performance.

Be sure to document any deviation from evaluation rules

11/01/2013

Following your own rules for discipline, promotion and evaluation is the best defense against a discrimination lawsuit. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make exceptions to your rules when the situation calls for it. Just make sure that you document why you made the exception at the time you did.

Coaching costs less than hiring new employees

10/30/2013

Smart business people know it’s more profitable to keep existing customers than constantly having to find new ones. The same principle applies to employees.