Memos to Managers

Back to school: 4 teacher tactics to use with your staff

08/28/2015

Teachers are some of the first “managers” that people ever encounter. Teachers organize each day to get maximum results from their charges, and they must deal with a wide variety of skills levels, motivation levels and communication challenges along the way. Here are four ideas worth borrowing from teachers to bring to the workplace.

Discipline and discharge: 5 do’s and don’ts

07/06/2015

We live in an era when employees have more power than ever—which has made it more legally tricky to come down on them when you need to send a message.

How to manage your staff through a crisis

07/01/2015

Staff morale is a key factor in how engaged and accountable employees feel in their roles. But how do you keep spirits high when business waters are clearly troubled?

How to avoid making legally binding promises when hiring

06/01/2015

Employee lawsuits can erupt when promises made in interviews aren’t kept or job offer letters inadvertently oversell the potential for monetary rewards. Here are four key questions to consider.

Managing the legal way: Lessons from the courts

03/26/2015

These four court cases exemplify core concepts—and traps—in employment law.

Manager quiz: How effective is your team?

03/03/2015

Genuine teamwork in most organizations is as elusive as it’s ever been, says Patrick Lencioni in his book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. Take this quiz to see what is holding your team back from being in perfect harmony

After job-bias complaint, remind managers to keep calm & manage on

02/23/2015

While employees filed fewer charges of job discrimination in 2014 than the year before, one new statistic from the EEOC should make HR and employers stand up and take notice: More than 2 in 5 charges last year allege some form of retaliation against the employee for pursuing the discrimination claim.

Documenting performance: 3 most common mistakes

12/22/2014

In court, clear and specific documentation about an employee’s performance or behavior can mean the difference between a quick employer victory and an expensive defeat.

Pregnant employee? Better know the law

10/24/2014

When an employee tells you she’s pregnant, it may bring on mixed emotions for supervisors. While you’re happy for the employee, you’re anxious about the impact on scheduling, productivity—and whether she will quit after the birth.

How to make yourself into a leader, not just a boss

09/26/2014

Some people use the words interchangeably. But for many people, the traditional boss is someone who turns employees off, while a leader turns them on. That’s why it’s important to understand how to become a true leader of your team. Here are some useful guidelines.