Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Given a choice of using the carrot or the stick in their organizations, many people favor the carrot. But not today’s guest poster, Kyle Eastham (a.k.a., “the Black Belt Speaker”). He feels we need more stick—or perhaps “kick,” given his moniker?
Business leaders, especially in high-stress, high-test industries, are under immense pressure. In recent years, organizations have navigated complex issues from civil unrest to the pandemic and, inexplicably, worker shortages juxtaposed with devastating mass layoffs. Every day, leaders face important work decisions, competing responsibilities, growing workloads, and workplace conflict. They also have additional responsibilities, challenges, and […]
When we think about going through a drill at work, the first thing that comes to mind is probably a fire drill. We’ve all been through them. Everyone knows in advance what day it’ll be, maybe even what time. It’s a minor annoyance to listen to the loud alarm and flashing lights and then stop […]
Successful mentoring relationships start with a clear agreement about goals, procedures, and limitations, says mentoring expert Lois Zachary. Too often mentors and mentees start off without doing enough preparation and end up with an unsatisfactory experience, she says. Zachary, author of The Mentor’s Guide and the recently published The Mentee’s Guide to Mentoring, provides guidelines […]
No More Gags The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021 prohibited “gag clauses” in contracts between insurance plans, insurance issuers, and providers. The law provides that a group health plan can’t enter into an agreement with a healthcare provider, network or association of providers, third-party administrator, or other service provider offering access to a network […]
Mike, sitting across the conference table from me, looked totally defeated. As a division executive for a leading research laboratory, he was accountable for millions in budget, several hundred highly professional employees, and the production of thousands of high-quality tests weekly. Recent cost-cutting and staff reductions had put pressure on hiring, and an expectation that […]
by Hannah Roskey and Katie Clayton Maintaining the privilege of a document is a fundamental aspect of any litigation. The Canadian legal system is premised on the search for truth, which, by default, requires parties to disclose relevant documents to one another in the course of litigation. This is the case in traditional civil actions […]
Although the COBRA statute never defined gross misconduct — leaving it up to the courts — no dictionary is needed when an “out-of-control” employee screams profanities at and makes seemingly threatening hand gestures toward another employee, saying she would “get” hers. This behavior was “so manifestly so outrageous and extreme as to constitute gross misconduct,” […]
Managers—especially HR managers but others as well—are often called upon to engage employees in the most sensitive, uncomfortable conversations. The gamut extends from telling an employee he or she has bad breath to telling an employee that he or she is fired. These difficult conversations can be made easier by recognizing that once people […]
You can hire for skills, or hire stars, for culture fit, or for a mixture of those, says best-selling author Adam Grant. Data show that with fast-growing start-ups, cultural fit trumps. However, as companies grow, culture becomes a problem. Grant, a professor at the Wharton School of Business, offered his tips at SHRM’s Annual Conference […]