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Productivity / Performance

Solving for the unknown: No duty to accommodate disability that employee never revealed

10/31/2011
Some disabled employees never tell employers about their con­­ditions—even if their disability could affect performance. And of course you know you shouldn’t treat employees as disabled unless they claim a disability. But what if you fire someone for poor performance?

The art of giving negative feedback: A 7-step approach

10/28/2011
Giving feedback is an important management task but certainly not an easy one—especially when the feedback isn’t all sunshine. Fortunately, it’s a skill that can be learned.

Outsource staffing to save labor costs, maintain productivity

10/19/2011
Even in an economy that’s running full-tilt, HR and management face pressure to spend less on labor. If you’re hearing a cost-control refrain from the C-Suite, it might be time to dust off alternative staffing models that helped you survive the Great Recession.

Personality clash or hostile work environment? It depends on hypothetical ‘reasonable person’

10/17/2011

Overly sensitive employees can interpret anything negative as hostile. But often what is subjectively hostile is just unpleasant from an objective standpoint, the result of an apparent personality conflict. It all depends on how a hypothetical “reasonable person” who finds himself in the same situation would view the matter.

Sometimes it’s OK to fire before parental leave

10/17/2011
Many employees believe that the FMLA and its state counterpart, the Minnesota Parental Leave Act (MPLA), absolutely prevent an employer from terminating someone who asks for or takes parental leave. That’s not the case.

Even stupid remark won’t sink legitimate discharge case

10/03/2011
Supervisors sometimes say incredibly dumb things. But those remarks won’t necessarily create liability—if you have carefully documented employee performance.

Have a progressive discipline system? Beware giving more leeway to younger employees

10/03/2011

It might make sense to give newer employees a bit more leeway when it comes to discipline for poor job performance. After all, sometimes it takes time to learn a job well. But if the newer employees happen to be younger than another, older employee who doesn’t get the same benefit of the doubt, you may spark an age discrimination lawsuit.

Can fired poor performer receive unemployment benefits?

10/03/2011
Q. One of our employee’s job performance no longer meets our standards. While she used to be a good worker, she’s now making a lot of errors, coming in late from time to time and not getting along with her co-workers … If we fire her for poor performance—which we would consider termination for cause—will she be eligible to collect unemployment compensation?

Poor performer has complained? Read this before firing!

09/28/2011

Employers usually don’t have a problem terminating an em­­ployee for poor performance if the employee has never raised any kind of discrimination claim. But somehow, as soon as an employee goes to the EEOC (or even just HR) with a complaint, the same employer doesn’t know what to do. Should you terminate the em­­ployee and face a potential retaliation suit?

Don’t let fear prevent firing of whistle-blower: Your complete records will back you up

09/23/2011
Some whistle-blowing employees think they can’t be disciplined if they report alleged wrongdoing to authorities or upper management. That’s not true. Employers can always discipline employees who break rules or perform poorly. The key is fairness and equal treatment.