Author: Stephen Bruce, PhD, PHR

When Supervisors Fail, Their Fault or Yours?

A lot of new supervisors fail, but it’s usually not their fault. They simply don’t know how to be a supervisor until you teach them, say Jonna Contacos-Sawyer and Polly Heeter Wright. Contacos-Sawyer and Wright, both with HR Consultants, Inc., of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, suggest the following outline for briefing new supervisors about compliance. They gave […]

Sued? Here’s the Worst Thing You Can Do

In yesterday’s Advisor, we gave you the first 6 of 10 steps to take if you are sued. Today, we’ll find four more critical actions you must take, and we’ll take a look at a unique HR problem solver. Here, again courtesy of the Employer Resource Institute®, are "We’ve been sued!" tips 7 through 10. […]

What to Do When You Are Sued—10 Immediate Actions

Even if you follow all the best advice for avoiding lawsuits, eventually you’re going to get sued. The actions you take the instant you know about a suit can spell the difference between a quick, inexpensive resolution and a prolonged, expensive one. Here are the 10 most important things to do when you first learn […]

Employer’s Free Speech Rights Upheld

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion this week denying the application of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to have eight employees of the Santa Barbara News-Press, who were fired for engaging in union activity, reinstated.

Before You Can Fire, the Employee Sues. Now What?

By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady [The following article previously appeared on HR.BLR.com®.] Consider this scenario: An employee is a major problem. Regularly late. Misses deadlines. Difficult to deal with. Her supervisors have given good counseling along the way. The file is in good shape, clearly documenting the problem and what has been done. […]

300% ROI for Weight Loss Programs?

In yesterday’s Advisor, we discussed the CDC’s strategies for dealing with obesity. Today we continue that discussion, and we take a look at a unique wellness guide that could get you a 300% return on your investment. Of course, it’s not easy for most people to diet and lose weight, and then keep it off. […]

PIPs + Progressive Discipline = Caution Required

Performance Improvement Plans — or PIPs — have become a common part of progressive discipline programs. After an initial verbal counseling, many employers use formal PIPs to set specific goals for employee improvement, and to document employee progress or lack of progress in relation to future discipline.

Obesity Epidemic in Your Workplace? CDC Can Help

There’s an "obesity epidemic" in the U.S., and that means there’s probably one at your workplace, too. Obesity is a natural target for wellness programs. The effects of obesity—from cardiac problems to diabetes—are dire, but they are reversible through exercise, diet, and nutrition. What works best to reduce obesity? The Centers for Disease Control and […]

2 Reasons Why You Must Do Exit Interviews

In yesterday’s Advisor, our experts recommended an exit interview for every separating employee. Today we’ll look at two reasons why exit interviews are important from a legal standpoint, and we’ll take a look at an extraordinary program that will help you generate an exit interview protocol and dozens of other critical HR policies. A well-thought-out […]

Shabby Treatment at Termination Begs for a Lawsuit

The way you treat the people you terminate can make the difference between an ex-employee who is upset but moving on, and an ex-employee who is angry and calling 1-800-LAWYER. Lin Grensing-Pophal, writing in Human Resource Executive, cited several tales that highlight what disgruntled employees might do: One made a false accusation of harassment that […]