Category: Communication

September 8, 2022

Letting go of employees never gets easier. The longer your tenure spans, the more you understand the demoralizing ramifications of a layoff. Whether the person about to be let go deserves it or not, they are still human and should […]

September 2, 2022

Every employee, every workday, makes a decision: Are they only willing to do the minimum work necessary to keep their job? Or are they willing to put more of their energy and effort into their work? In the last few […]

September 1, 2022

When the pandemic first started, most companies asked their employees to work remotely—and Merit was no exception. “We used to be an in-person company, so our traditional structure of knowledge transfer was in person,” said Eliza White, vice president of […]

September 1, 2022

If you’re seeking to create a high-performing organization, there are specific tasks you cannot ignore. Chief among those tasks is developing your company’s current and future leaders. The thought of designing and implementing a sustainable leadership development program can be […]

August 31, 2022

When you’re overloaded with day-to-day concerns, adding a surprise task to your to-do list—such as coordinating an employee’s exit—can feel daunting. The good news is that solo HR practitioners can develop a plan in advance that will allow them to […]

August 30, 2022

The outcome of an HR investigation is sometimes “inconclusive.” In other words, the conclusion is a lack of a conclusion. This result frequently occurs either because there were no witnesses to the alleged incident or there was disagreement among the […]

August 23, 2022

There is a lot of talk surrounding company culture, which is important. A company’s culture is the revving engine behind any successful organization. Keeping with the motor metaphor, companies like to discuss what type of ‘engine’ they want powering their […]

August 18, 2022

What happens when politics, sex, race, religion and other polarizing topics come up in conversations among co-workers? SHRM Chief Knowledge Officer Alexander Alonso, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP, has some unexpected answers. In his new book, Talking Taboo: Making the Most of Polarizing […]

August 17, 2022

Layoffs open employers up to the possibility of lawsuits under a wide range of laws, including the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, state “mini-WARN” requirements and the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA). Nonetheless, employers can adopt some […]

August 15, 2022

Sadly, in the past 12 months, I have been hired to investigate or assist in investigating employee embezzlement more times than in the past 15 years combined. Embezzlement is the theft or misappropriation of funds or property placed in one’s […]

August 15, 2022

One of the most impactful strategies companies can utilize in the workplace is the power of belonging. As human beings, we are hardwired to motivate ourselves towards connection. In fact, recent research by neuroscientists suggests that social needs such as […]

August 12, 2022

Even before the pandemic, organizations of all sizes and across industries were embarking on digital transformation journeys. The pandemic shifted these journeys into high gear, especially as remote and hybrid work became (and continues to be) the norm. To be […]

August 8, 2022

One of the ways workers who are returning to physical workplaces can reconnect to management and one another is through town hall-style meetings. Gathering everyone together can be helpful in smoothing the transition back to the office, as long as […]

August 3, 2022

Achieving diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) in the workplace continues to be a challenge for most organizations. Despite a substantial investment of time and money, many companies aren’t reaching their DE&I goals. By contrast, in team sports, the principles of […]

August 1, 2022

Q: I keep hearing rumors about hiring freezes and layoffs. How should I message those changes if they happen at my organization? Employers have plenty of examples to learn from when it comes to delivering bad news. The notorious Better.com […]

July 27, 2022

Knowing what sets your business apart is vital if you’re going to stand out from your competitors. And as the world grows smaller, differentiation becomes increasingly important to ensure your business thrives. Understanding what your organization’s core competencies are can […]

July 27, 2022

I used to really enjoy watching The Real Housewives on Bravo. The franchise gave a glimpse into the glittering lives of women in Beverly Hills, Atlanta, and other major cities across America (and Dubai). Unfortunately, over the years, the shows […]

July 13, 2022

As businesses begin to welcome staff back into their offices, the return to face-to-face work environments is being welcomed by some and dreaded by others. After two years of remote work, many introverts worry they’ll struggle with being around their […]

July 7, 2022

While many organizations are home to at least one or two stereotypical aggressive, Type-A personalities who aren’t shy about sharing even their most controversial opinions, most people within any given organization tend to be a bit more reserved. This is […]

June 30, 2022

On the onset of hybrid work across the world, an overwhelming number of executives are confident that their company cultures will remain under the new working arrangement. A study from global professional services firm Genpact revealed that 97% of 500 […]