By Steve M. Cohen bio In dealing with your office staff, allegations of wrongdoing are never something you can ignore. Whether the charge involves sexual or racial harassment, bullying or something else, they must never be ignored. Never. Remember, an allegation by itself is neither fact nor fiction. It is simply a statement made by someone within your … [Read more...] about Dealing with workplace accusations? It’s time to investigate
Managing staff
What to cover in the office handbook and how to say it safely
While most firms have employee handbooks, few realize the responsibilities and even dangers a handbook creates. A handbook ensures that both firm and employees understand the full picture of the employment, says Beth De Lima, SPHR-CA, of HRM Consulting, a human resource management consulting company in San Diego, CA. It outlines what the firm expects from employees in terms … [Read more...] about What to cover in the office handbook and how to say it safely
Are you misleading job applicants during the interview process?
Six in 10 employees say they've found aspects of a new job different from expectations set during the interview process, according to a survey conducted by jobs and career marketplace Glassdoor. Areas where job reality differs from employee expectations include: Employee morale Job responsibilities Hours expected to work Boss' personality Career … [Read more...] about Are you misleading job applicants during the interview process?
Only 1 in 10 of your employees share your definition of success
A new global career survey of employees released recently by Right Management, the global career experts within ManpowerGroup, finds that only 10 percent of employees define career success as high performance and productivity. As employers struggle to find skilled and motivated individuals to meet performance goals, these findings indicate an ongoing disconnect between … [Read more...] about Only 1 in 10 of your employees share your definition of success
5 HR issues you need to review and keep on your radar
A law office manager has a wide range of responsibilities, which can make it difficult to keep every potential staff-related issue top of mind. Nevertheless, there are five human resources issues about which you should remain vigilant. 1 Discrimination Here are various types of discrimination, as identified and defined by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission … [Read more...] about 5 HR issues you need to review and keep on your radar
Have this one simple conversation to end staff’s personal Internet use
The manager of a Mississippi professional office relies on a basic management practice when she presents any new policy. “I make it a win-win situation,” says Beth C. Pharr. “I tell staff ‘this why it’s necessary, and this is how it benefits you.’” Such was the case when she set a policy to solve a problem common to almost every … [Read more...] about Have this one simple conversation to end staff’s personal Internet use
Model Tool: Candidate rejection letter, job interview
Why you need this model tool: After you interview candidates for an open position and choose the one you wish to hire, you have an obligation to get back to the people who spent time interviewing but did not get the job. How this model tool helps you: It can be difficult to know what to say to a candidate who was not hired. How to use this model tool: This model tool is a … [Read more...] about Model Tool: Candidate rejection letter, job interview
Model Tool: Checklist of steps to take when conducting an investigation
Why you need this checklist: When an employee makes a complaint, whether it's an accusation of sexual harassment, bullying or an alleged workplace safety hazard, you have an obligation to conduct a thorough and timely investigation. In many circumstances, the filing of a complaint sets in motion several legal and regulatory requirements for a business. How this checklist helps … [Read more...] about Model Tool: Checklist of steps to take when conducting an investigation
Work-Life Imbalance
Click to expand Related reading: Seattle office provides financial education for staff From ready dinners to errand helpers, Georgia firm supports families Are you violating state "time off" requirements for employees who are parents? … [Read more...] about Work-Life Imbalance
Mental illness in the workplace and protections for employees
By R. Scott Oswald bio When we think of "mental health" problems, many of us envision obvious symptoms. But mental health presents challenges precisely because it can be almost impossible to observe. This can become a problem in the workplace when an employee experiences intense anxiety or panic due to the stress of the position, and management simply expects these … [Read more...] about Mental illness in the workplace and protections for employees