Do I Have to Provide Employees Time Off to Vote?
Voting is a basic right in the United States, but do employers have to provide time off to allow employees to exercise that right? As with many answers in human resources, “It depends.”
Archive for category: Communications
Communications Questions of the Week
Free Speech in the Workplace: Navigating Rights & Respect
HR Question In an era of polarized opinions, instant communication, and frequent social media interactions, HR professionals face the challenge of balancing employees’ free speech with maintaining a respectful workplace. How do we handle these sometimes-conflicting aspects in employment? HR Answer We see employee communications often that cause us pause. An employee calls their boss […]
Workplace Bullying
HR Question: How do you address bullying behavior in the workplace? HR Answer: Bullying is one of the most common types of workplace misbehavior. In 2022, the Harvard Business Review reported that an estimated 48.6 million Americans, or about 30% of the workforce, are bullied at work, and that number continues to grow. Employees are […]
Empathy First: A Modern Guide to Nonprofit Layoffs
Layoffs are never easy. For not-for-profits (NFPs), where mission-driven cultures and tight-knit teams are the norm, the impact of workforce reductions can feel even more personal. Yet in times of economic uncertainty, funding changes, or strategic realignment, reductions in force (RIFs) may be unavoidable. Although consideration for the necessary legal concerns related to a layoff […]
How to Create an Effective HR Communication Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide
We are getting ready to roll out a new employee handbook and I've been asked to create a Communication Plan. I'm not a marketer, what does such a plan entail?
Unleashing Employee Potential Through Competency-Based Job Descriptions
by Linda Gravett, PhD, SPHR How many times have you heard statements like these from your employees? “I have no idea what my official job duties are.” “My job description mainly says ‘other duties as assigned’.” “I’m evaluated on things that aren’t even in my job description.” If you’ve heard these complaints much too often, […]
How Can I Prevent Tension Between My Remote Team and On-Site Team?
HR Question: Due to COVID-19, some of my team members are able to work from home. However, I have other team members that I need to be present in the office. This has understandably caused some frustration for those that need to be on-site, as they may feel that the situation is unfair. How can […]
Why Do I Need An Employee Handbook?
HR Question: Why do I need an Employee Handbook? Are they required? HR Answer: While it is not a requirement to have an employee handbook, having one can be an effective tool for you to communicate expectations throughout your organization. The employee handbook can be a quick reference for commonly asked questions such as […]
Why Do We Celebrate Labor Day?
HR Question: While the US recognizes several national holidays throughout the year, it’s easy to get caught up and forget the reason behind the day. So, why do we celebrate Labor Day? HR Answer: Its title gives a clue to this holiday’s purpose as many of us understand Labor Day to be a national holiday […]
What Are Stay Interviews and What Questions Should I Ask?
HR Question: Can you explain stay interviews – what are they? How should we use them and what should we ask? HR Answer: Not to be confused with exit interviews (meant for seeking to understand why departing employees are leaving), stay interviews are a great tool to understand why your employees choose to stay with […]
Designing a Modern Dress Code for Today’s Workplace
HR Question: We’re taking a look at revising our dress code policy. We want to balance today’s increasingly casual approach while still asking our team members to look professional. How can we create a modern dress code policy? HR Answer: In today’s modern workplace, the concept of dress code has evolved to reflect a more […]
How Can You Teach a Manager to be a Good Listener?
HR Question: I’ve received a couple of complaints about one of our managers because he is quick to jump to conclusions and doesn’t listen well to his team. I want to provide him with some coaching on active listening. Can you offer suggestions on how to teach him to be a good listener? HR Answer: […]
Dealing With Workplace Gossip
Question: Our office struggles with workplace gossip. It tends to breed negativity between our employees and hurts our culture of teamwork. What tips do you have for dealing with employees who love to gossip and complain?
What is the Value of Job Descriptions?
HR Question: Do I really need job descriptions for my employees? Are they legally required? We have a small staff and everyone has to be willing to do everything. What is the value of having job descriptions? HR Answer: No, job descriptions are not legally required documents, however, they can help your employees (and their […]
HRIS Software – What Does “Determine Your Needs” Mean?
By Clay Scroggins with CompareHRIS.com If you have read any articles on selecting an HRIS, HRMS or HR software programs, they all say you first have to determine your needs. The phrase is used so often it’s almost a cliche. I am not saying that people who say this are wrong; far from it. I […]
Tips For How To Have Difficult Conversations With Employees
HR Question: Each time I take on a new role managing staff, I find myself needing to have difficult conversations with employees about sensitive issues. I’ve had to deal with hygiene issues, someone who wore too much perfume, and even someone who wore an unsightly shirt every single day. What is the best way to […]
Happy and Positive Thinking Is a Choice
By Cathleen Snyder with Strategic HR For many of us, the holidays bring times when we spend additional time with family that we might not normally spend. This can present joys as well as challenges. After the Thanksgiving holiday, several on our team were talking about some “interesting” interactions we may have had with some […]
What Should I Consider Before Doing a Reduction in Force?
HR Question: I may need to restructure my workforce as a result of the downturn in business activity. What should I consider from a fairness and legal standpoint? HR Answer: Determining the need for a Reduction in Force (RIF) is a challenging decision to make, but it is sometimes necessary to keep the business running […]
Why You Should Always Be Networking
Question: I keep hearing “Network! Network! Network!” I already have a full-time position. I thought networking was just for job seekers. Answer: In short, you should always be networking – no matter if you are employed or unemployed. Let’s begin by defining networking so we are on the same page. According to Merriam-Webster, networking is […]
Should I be worrying about employee retention?
Question: Should I really be worried about employee retention during economic downturns when unemployment numbers are so high? Answer: YES!!! It is still a shock to the system when we give presentations to HR professionals and small business owners and ask “what are you doing about retention?” and we get these looks like “retention” why […]
English-Only Policies in the Workplace
Question: My manager is upset because his employees are speaking another language in front of him and he is unable to understand what they are saying. He wants me to write a English-only policy for the department and I am not comfortable with that. Is there a legal basis to help back me up to […]
Writing a Winning Employee Newsletter
Question: I’m trying to improve our old traditional employee newsletter. What information will help create a communication piece that is effective and meets the needs of all of our employees (onsite, remote, etc.)? I really want it to be worthwhile. Answer: The days of the old employee newsletter have really changed. With today’s technology, we […]
Communication During the Holidays
Question: I’m concerned about productivity during and after the holidays. How can I communicate my expectations in a friendly yet forceful manner? Answer: It’s a wonderful time of the year — shopping for gifts, decorating our homes, baking, traveling to be with family. Stress can also increase for many people during the holidays with the overall […]
Gauging Employee Engagement
Question: What is an Employee Engagement Survey and why would I need one? Answer: An employee engagement survey measures things like how passionate employees are about their work, how proud they are to tell people where they work, if they believe in the mission of the organization, and if they feel their work is valued […]
Starting An Employee Newsletter
Question: My CEO would like HR to publish an employee newsletter. What should I include in the newsletter? Answer: The first question I would ask is ‘what is the purpose of the newsletter?’ Why does your CEO think a newsletter is needed and what is the goal? You will select topics and include articles that […]
Office Communication: Email Etiquette
Question: I LOVE email but it can get out of hand. Many times in our office when a message goes out to the team, everyone “responds to all” causing massive amounts of email that aren’t always necessary. How can I help my staff understand a bit of ‘email etiquette’ and is it really necessary to […]
Improving the Flow of Communication
Question: Until recently I thought we did a good job of communicating with our employees, but now I’m getting blind-sided with issues that I had no idea were brewing and it is obviously affecting productivity. How can I improve the flow of communication? Answer: As you have learned, the role of communication in the workplace […]
Employee Newsletter – Planning
Question: My CEO wants HR to start producing an employee newsletter. How do I start? Answer: This is a huge undertaking – but one that is surmountable with the proper planning. To get started you need to outline your plan by determining the following: Objective: Why are you doing this? What is the newsletter’s objective – […]
Total Rewards Statements
Question: I’ve always heard that Total Rewards Statements were a great tool to provide to employees the ones I have seen seem very difficult to understand. How can I provide a Total Reward Statement that is valuable, easy to understand, and will help my employees truly understand what their total compensation is? Answer: While knocking […]
