When you’re in a management position, others will come to you when they have complaints about your employees. That’s pretty standard. It’s really not appropriate for them to address one of your employees directly; it’s more appropriate to tell you the concern so that you can handle it from there. Recently, I came across a …
3 Tips for Leading in the Midst of Uncertainty
Whether it’s a changing market dynamic, a resignation from a senior leader, COVID-19, or a yet-to-be-determined presidential election winner, leading in the midst of uncertainty can be quite a challenge. At times, the uncertainty is limited to within your company walls or perhaps within your particular department or team. Other times, the uncertainty is felt …
Why You Shouldn’t Ask Employees for Their Unemployment
The owner of a small business here in Georgia is trying to collect unemployment funds from his employees. When his employees were furloughed related to COVID-19, they received unemployment benefits, including the extra $600 per week that was part of the CARES Act. So, at least some of them received more in unemployment than their …
The Must-Haves of Anti-Harassment & Anti-Discrimination Policies (Podcast)
As leaders, we know how important it is to make sure harassment and discrimination aren’t welcome in our workplaces. Figuring out exactly how to accomplish this may not come as easily. I had the privilege of being a guest on the Humanize Your Workplace podcast with Alissa Carpenter, and we talk all about this! You …
Why It Matters Whether Your Meeting Ends on Time
We’ve all been there. A meeting is scheduled to start at 10:00, so you arrive coffee in hand. Not everyone is there yet, though, so you chit chat with others and scroll through your emails. You get a text from the meeting leader that he’s running a few minutes late. One by one, latecomers rush …
Help! An Employee Recorded a Conversation at Work!
What do you do when an employee is recording conversations in the workplace? It used to be that secretly recording conversations at work was a James Bond-style effort. Employees had to find a recording device and figure out a way to keep it hidden in order to get whatever evidence they were looking for. Now, …
Why Providing Time Off to Vote Is Important
Now that we’ve passed Labor Day, it feels like fall is officially arriving (even if it’s still in the 80’s here in Georgia), and that means that Election Day will be here soon. Some states require that companies provide time off to vote, but the rules vary on the specifics and whether it must be …
The Cost of Not Taking a Sexual Harassment Complaint Seriously
A DoubleTree Hotel in Jefferson City, Missouri, has realized that their cost of not taking a sexual harassment complaint seriously is $45,000 plus a list of actions they must take. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit against Vinca Enterprises, Inc., the company that operates this particular location, alleging that a female …
How Employers Can Help Working Parents with Back to School During COVID-19
With back to school quickly approaching, many working parents are beyond stressed about the fall. Due to COVID-19, some schools are beginning the year virtually while others are offering a hybrid of virtual and in-person options, all of which is leaving parents scrambling to piece together a plan for child care and education. Ayesha Badhwar …
Managing Employees Who Don’t Follow Directions
My employee isn’t following directions! I’ve told her what needs to be done a million times, but no matter what I say or how I say it, she just doesn’t do it! Sound familiar? There’s no telling how many calls like this I’ve received from managers. Managing employees can be very rewarding, but it also …