Human Resources: Termination for Performance Issues

What steps should an employer take before terminating an employee for performance issues?  Ideally, termination of employment is never a surprise to an employee who has performance issues. Throughout employment, managers should have ongoing conversations with all employees about their performance, and employees need to be coached and counseled at the first signs of performance […]

HR Basics: Documentation Pitfalls

If HR and/or Managers are going to make a documenting error, it will fall into one of three categories. First, you will have little or no evidence to support the decision to discipline or terminate. You don’t have anything to back up why you’re doing what you’re doing. Second, your documentation is ambiguous or unclear […]

Human Resources: Gossip in the Workplace

What measures can an employer take to stop employees from gossiping? Casual gossip is inherent in the culture of many companies and, for as long as people work together, employers will have to deal with gossip. But at its worst, gossip involves vicious rumors that create animosity among co-workers and disruptions in the workforce. Gossip […]

Human Resources: Do You Have an Effective Onboarding Process?

An employee’s first day of work is a time of excitement and promise, for both the employee who is embarking on a new chapter in his career, and your entire organization as you integrate another personality into your workplace.  But along with that excitement and possibility, new employees also can experience some anxiety as they […]

Human Resources: Six Keys to Motivation

When a manager says, “I wish I could motivate John,” that usually means, “I wish I could get John to do his job better.” Here are six keys to doing exactly that.  » Ask for performance. Describe how the job is being done now, and how you want it to be. Then have the employee […]

HR Basics: What is Employment at Will?

Most of you are probably aware of the term “employment at will.”  This is actually not a law, but rather a doctrine or philosophy.  “Employment at will” means that there is a mutual understanding between the employee and the company that either party is free to end the employment relationship at any time for any […]

HR Basics: Changing the Payroll Workweek

Can We Change The Payroll Workweek of Our Employees? Yes, but be careful. The payroll workweek is the fixed seven day, 168-hour period that is used for purposes of determining overtime due for non-exempt employees, and the basis for wage payment and deductions. It does not have to correspond to the calendar week. It can […]

Consistency Is The Key

In the workplace, it’s all about consistency.  If you’re not consistent in your practices, employees won’t trust you or each other. Consistency helps employees feel secure about their work responsibilities and workplace demands. Let’s start with being consistent in your communications.  Giving employees the facts honestly and listening sincerely are the main requirements.  Don’t tell […]

What are the Benefits of Having Company Policies?

There are many benefits to having well-written company policies. Aside from helping an employer defend itself against an unfair termination claim or liability claim, they can demonstrate that the company is being operated in an efficient and professional manner.  Additionally, they foster stability and ensure consistency in decision making and operational procedures. A good workplace […]