Tag: relationship management

November 18, 2021

We have witnessed tremendous change in the workplace since the lockdowns imposed in early 2020 due to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us were new to the world of remote work and the drastic changes we were forced to […]

October 7, 2021

For many, the return-to-work movement feels like a disconnect. It suggests that we’ve all slacked off the past 18 months and now it’s time to get back to work. In reality, the workforce has added 48 minutes to the workday […]

July 7, 2021

HR professionals who manage family and medical leave know that leave laws are complex, which makes compliance difficult. So having sound policies and practices is critical. “Whatever your policy is, make sure you’re consistent with it,” said Eric B. Meyer, […]

May 27, 2021

As workers transition from being isolated at home—whether working remotely or furloughed and waiting to return—some experts fear a rise in workplace violence. HR professionals can take proactive steps to minimize this risk. “Always remember that workplace violence is generally […]

May 27, 2021

Touchy topics in the workplace—politics, racism, religion—can stir up employees and create discord if not handled properly. Some employers, such as Basecamp, a software development company, are banning use of internal social media outlets for such conversations. Others are looking […]

May 12, 2021

Everybody wants to be happy. But how can we meet that sometimes elusive goal? This was a difficult question even before the global pandemic, but nowadays just thinking about it can seem futile. Parents are trying to balance the demands […]

April 15, 2021

Employee engagement surveys have been used in organizations for decades, some more successfully than others. Depending on the employees’ feedback—and, frankly, on the percentage of completed surveys—surveys are a tremendously effective way to understand how engaged the workforce is and […]

December 17, 2020

We can all agree that 2020 has been an unforgettable year. With the 2020 presidential election coming to an end, it’s also clear that we are politically divided as a nation. Political discussions tend to spill over into the workplace, […]

November 3, 2020

Employees are dreading going to work on Nov. 4. In a survey by Reflective of 1,000 U.S. employees—conducted earlier this year—54 percent of participants said that if their candidate loses this election, it will impact their performance at work. Another […]

August 26, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic and the sudden shift to remote work complicates what was already a major challenge for HR: cultivating and managing an inclusive workplace. “An inclusive work environment doesn’t just happen, it requires sustained effort,” said Diana Ellsworth, a […]

August 7, 2019

More employees are voluntarily leaving their jobs than at almost any other time this millennium. When an employee quits, it can feel like a gut punch, leaving managers scrambling both emotionally and operationally. The loss can be particularly acute when […]

August 6, 2019

Pettiness, the word that is, dates back to the 14th century, and derives from petit or “small”, “minor” in Middle English/Old French. Today, we understand pettiness as a construct based on twentieth-century theories of motivation and personality informed by various […]

May 28, 2019

One of the most valuable services HR professionals can perform is helping other employees resolve their conflicts. Conflict itself is not necessarily negative. From different points of view, breakthrough ideas or strategies can be found. Synergies can be developed. Wounds […]

February 14, 2019

New Year’s resolutions made at the top of the year, including employees’ personal health and wellness goals, inevitably start to fade as the year progresses. Workplace wellness programs, however, when aligned with personal goals, can recharge employees’ commitments to healthier […]

March 6, 2018

The U.S. economy continues to chug along. The unemployment rate is at a 17-year low, which is certainly good news for American workers. But for companies that want to add high-quality talent to their ranks, it’s tough to attract new […]

September 6, 2017

An investment management company did not create a hostile work environment based on disability for a hearing-impaired employee who claimed her supervisor made four hearing-related insults to her over a three-year period of her employment, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court […]

November 28, 2016

Back in 1990, a 24-year-old HR clerk made a bold suggestion during a departmental lunch. That person was me. I proposed that our company amend its leave policies to allow parents to use sick time to care for their ill […]