Employers Must Allow Some Religious Expression at Work
I’m not a football fan, but recent events in the NFL have grabbed even my attention. The latest event took place during the September 29 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots. Chiefs’ safety Husain Abdullah intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown. When he dropped to his knees and […]
Get rid of your “use it or lose it” vacation policy
Even though a “use it or lose it” vacation policy has been illegal in California for years, having such a policy made the California Chamber of Commerce’s top ten list of things employers do to get sued (released on July 19). This implies that some employers still have such policies in place and are being […]
Employers’ Response to Complaints is Critical
To paraphrase a popular saying, “stuff happens.” As the following court case demonstrates, when stuff happens in the employment world, an employer’s inept response to complaints about it can make life stuffier for said employer. According to court documents at www.ca5.uscourts.gov, Tonia Royal was employed as an apartment complex leasing manager by CCC&R Tres Arboles, LLC, […]
Acting Professionally
Almost 50 years ago, local music legend Buck Owens recorded the song, “Act Naturally.” Written by Johnny Russell and Voni Morrison, the #1 Billboard Country Single tells the story of a man who is staring in a film “about a man that’s sad and lonely, and all I have to do is act naturally.” It […]
There’s More to Motivating than Money
“Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort,” said Franklin D. Roosevelt. Easy for him to say – he was filthy rich. However, according to lots of research on the subject, he was right. That’s good news for employers who want […]
Difficult Conversations
Owners, managers, supervisors, and HR practitioners are often required to have difficult conversations with others, such as disciplining employees or having to talk to them about personal issues such as body odor. These conversations can be less stressful for everyone involved if those who initiate the conversations remember a few key things: Why we communicate. […]
Business lessons from a Christmas story
Just before Christmas when I was eight years old, my dad brought home a big cardboard box that he painted to look like a fireplace. Our house was small, so the big box in the living room was a bit of an inconvenience. My three brothers and I grumbled amongst ourselves as we put the […]
How Domestic Violence Affects the Workplace
Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was indicted in March by a grand jury for assaulting his fiancé (now wife). San Francisco 49er defensive end Ray McDonald was arrested on August 31 for felony domestic abuse. Evidently, domestic violence has become a problem in the NFL. Unfortunately, it’s not just a problem there. The Alliance […]
Giving Employees a Second Chance
In his article “Hire Slow, Fire Fast” on www.forbes.com, Patrick Hull tells readers that, “If a person that you hire is not working out, don’t hesitate to move on quickly…I know many businesses that took time to try and change someone. I haven’t seen it be successful. People don’t change.” I disagree. As an HR consultant, […]
Employer Postings Lead to Lawsuits
If you’re an employer or manager who is being sued by some of your employees, don’t go posting derogatory comments about them on your company website or Facebook page unless you want to get an additional lawsuit. That’s what happened to Coyote Ugly founder and franchise president Liliana Lovell who, in addition to being sued […]
