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Is Veganism a Religion?

If you thought the Church of Body Modification was stretching the bounds of religious accommodation, now we’ve got veganism to contend with, at least in one courtroom. A recent case in Ohio shows how far religious accommodation may be heading, says BLR legal editor Joan Farrell. In the case, a customer service rep in a […]

8 Simple Steps Toward Resolving Workplace Conflict

In yesterday’s Advisor, we reviewed the popular training topic of conflict resolution. Today we revisit our 8-step guide for leaders looking to effectively resolve everyday conflicts between their team members.

Placing a Focus on Emphasizing Strengths, Not Overcoming Weaknesses

If you think about the typical performance evaluation, where does the focus generally lie? When evaluating employees on a scale of 1–5 (where 5 is high), do managers tend to spend most of their time talking about the items they rated 4–5, or the items they rated 1–3? Most, perhaps unfortunately, tend to focus on […]

Which Training Format Is Better: Instructor–Led Classroom or Independent Online?

Although technology-based training is becoming increasingly popular, training experts agree that it will never completely replace classroom training. At present, an overwhelming number of companies continue to use classroom training alongside an increasing amount of technology-based training, such as e-learning and computer-based training. Today, there is an array of techniques, methods, activities, and training aids […]

Practical Examples: FMLA to Care for Children 18 and Above

My 20-year-old daughter has been put on bed rest because of her high-risk pregnancy. I am the only one available to care for her. Can I take FMLA leave for this reason? Maybe. In order to take FMLA leave to care for your adult daughter, she must be incapable of self-care due to a disability […]

resolutions

Encouraging Employees to Make (and Keep) New Year’s Resolutions

It’s always hard to believe when it comes around, but it’s New Year’s resolutions time! Individuals have been making resolutions for years, focusing on personal goals like weight loss, romance, and financial discipline.

Redefining Performance Reviews: Why Traditional Systems Are Failing—and What to Do About It

New data from Acorn’s “2025 Corporate Performance and Learning Survey” reveals a troubling reality: performance reviews, learning programs, and competency frameworks are often failing employees—so much so that they’re pushing talent out the door. After reviews: This disconnect stems from disjointed systems—isolated performance tools, inconsistent evaluation metrics, and no centralized management framework—leading to fragmented development […]

How a Flexible Approach Boosts Talent Development

Talent development is—or at least should be—a key aspect of any organization’s long-term goal and succession planning. It’s also one of the most challenging. Top leaders and top talent don’t fit neatly into predefined molds. What works for some will fall short with others. This means that organizations should be taking a pragmatic approach to […]