Breastfeeding at work. It’s a topic we haven’t been very accustomed to, but COVID-19 is changing that. With so many employees working from home and daycare centers closed, employees are juggling work and childcare in all kinds of new ways. Recently, this came up on SHRM Connect in the form of, “Breastfeeding on Zoom Calls…What …
Work from Home: Treat It As Normal, and Everyone Benefits
In an article meant to spark debate (which it has successfully done), Luke Templeton suggests in Deutsche Bank’s “What We Must Do to Rebuild,” that there be a 5% government tax on employees who work from home, with the money being given to those who cannot. “People who can WFH and disconnect themselves from face-to-face …
The Art of Employee Appreciation: Reviving the Thank You
I’ve been fortunate to have had some really great bosses who were generous with their gratitude. They said “thank you” regularly and often to me and to others. They acknowledged the time and effort I had given. As a result, even when things were busy and stressful, I continued feeling the same amount of commitment …
The Importance of Asking Before Accusing
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 …
Navigating the Aftermath of Election Day
The 2020 Election Day is here. On Tuesday, November 3, voters will finish casting their ballots for president and for a number of other political positions. It could just be me, but this year’s election seems much more filled with very intense emotions. Georgia has become a battleground state, so emotions are really running high, …
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, …