Category: Communication

October 27, 2022

One of the biggest missteps within many organizations is rushing to terminate an employee before the record is ready to support it. When the lawsuits inevitably pop up, employers suddenly realize they moved too quickly to separate someone’s employment without […]

October 25, 2022

In this case, the 6-year-old grandson of the business owners allegedly called an employee the “n-word” on three occasions. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rigorously reviewed the factual record and considered whether the owners’ family could have done […]

October 25, 2022

On August 15, 2022, the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals (whose rulings apply to New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania employers) upheld the District of New Jersey’s dismissal of an employee’s age discrimination claims, finding she was unable to show […]

October 21, 2022

Generally speaking, you can prohibit your employees from engaging in certain activities (including social media use) during work hours or while using your equipment and/or communication systems—and discipline them for doing so. From a practical standpoint, the best way to […]

October 20, 2022

There’s been a lot of conversation surrounding issues of diversity and inclusion in the workplace in recent years. Indeed, there is mounting evidence that inclusivity and diversity are values employers, workers, and consumers alike enthusiastically embrace. But how do you […]

October 17, 2022

Is your organization a place of kindness and respect? Are you, as an individual, a person of kindness and respect? Over the past few years, I’ve been lucky enough to be part of an HR team that made a conscious […]

October 14, 2022

While “quiet quitting” may mean different things, the phenomenon is generally understood to refer to employees who feel disengaged at work and no longer believe they are a meaningful part of the company or its mission. Those who quiet quit […]

October 13, 2022

Here’s the scene: You’re an HR professional, and you realize the 2022 midterm elections are less than a month away. You start thinking about how you can prevent the great political divide from becoming a great workplace divide. As you […]

October 11, 2022

When you think about servant leadership, the first words that come to mind are probably empathy, awareness and listening – but maybe not shared decision-making. However, shared decision-making does make the list of important tools in a servant leader’s toolbox. […]

October 5, 2022

The working world has radically changed in the wake of the pandemic. Where remote work was once the stuff of daydreams or scam job offers, it has now become a legitimate work option for millions worldwide. According to surveys, 16% […]

October 3, 2022

The early 2000s classic Mean Girls still stands strong in today’s pop culture. In honor of a memorable scene between transfer student Cady Heron (played by Lindsey Lohan) and heartthrob Aaron Samuels (played by Jonathan Bennett), October 3rd is known […]

September 30, 2022

Until very recently, most people weren’t familiar with the concept (or even the term) “quiet quitting.” Thanks to remarkable media buzz around the subject, the practice of employees doing just enough on the job to not get fired and avoiding […]

September 29, 2022

James Abeyta-Stevens, SHRM-CP, talks about how he strives to try to change employee perceptions so that HR professionals are seen more positively, and his efforts have paid off as his New Mexico employers over the years have regularly been rated […]

September 23, 2022

About four months ago, I started my first job in my career field. I generally get along well with the people I work with. However, I find it challenging to tolerate a few of them. One of my co-workers has […]

September 22, 2022

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) has been at the center of conversations around building healthy, thriving organizations. It makes sense — having a DE&I strategy is essential to attracting top talent, as recent ADP research found that 76% of workers […]

September 21, 2022

Have you googled the term “quiet quitter” or “quiet quitting” recently? The sheer number of videos and other posts addressing it, analyzing it, complaining about it, lauding it, and advising on it on news sites and social media in the […]

September 20, 2022

HR professionals routinely use legal counsel to obtain advice on compliance issues, risk mitigation, and many other legal issues. Whether it arises in the context of a one-off accommodation question or a months-long harassment investigation, the attorney-client privilege is a […]

September 19, 2022

If you’ve seen any news in the past year, you know we’re currently knee-deep in one of the tightest labor markets in years. It all started in spring 2021, when burned-out workers triggered unprecedented churn, leaving millions of jobs open. […]

September 12, 2022

Workplace investigations in Canada can be complex to navigate, with few rules governing the process. While some legislation addresses investigations, there is wide leeway to implement them. “In Ontario, we have the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which creates a […]

September 9, 2022

In August, Lone Star Ambulance, a critical-care transportation company in San Antonio, settled a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for alleged sexual harassment and retaliation. The company will pay $90,000 in damages and provide additional […]