Every employer should make preventing workplace harassment a top priority Harassment is a form of employment discrimination that may violate federal laws such Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act; and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued a list of best practices for employers to use to prevent harassment in their workplaces. These include ..read more

A rejected job offer for a key position can cost your organization thousands of dollars in wasted time and expenses. Fortunately, rejected offers are not inevitable. Creating a great job offer requires research and the ability to sell both the position and your organization. Taking a few simple but necessary steps can help get you and your ideal candidate on the same page. Consider the following: 1. Gather information from employees. Survey your new hires to find out why they accepted their jobs. Ask them which parts of the offer were most attractive, which were neutral, and which ..read more

Employees can lose motivation during periods of layoffs, high turnover, economic downturns, and other challenging situations. A negative atmosphere can set in and damage productivity. But all is not lost. You can engage and encourage even the most cynical employees with a few simple strategies. 1. Begin at the top. All senior- and junior-level managers must be on the same page. Employees should be encouraged to think positively, focus on organizational goals, and move past negativity. A consistent message is essential to promoting an environment of togetherness. 2. Make a ..read more

Finding qualified job candidates can be frustrating and time-consuming, especially when you’re searching for skilled workers. If this sounds like your situation, it may be time to consider an apprenticeship program. Apprenticeships are growing in popularity across the United States, and with good reason: these programs benefit workers and business owners alike. Employees learn necessary skills while earning a paycheck, and employers develop a staff of qualified workers trained to their specifications. This steady flow of talent can help companies maintain productivity and workflow ..read more

The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law in 1990 to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities. In 2008, the law was updated to broaden the definition of disability. Among other things, the law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for disabled individuals during all phases of employment. Failing to comply can result in costly lawsuits and enforcement actions. Let’s look at some simple Do’s and Don’ts that can help you avoid common mistakes about reasonable accommodations: DO begin with the decision to educate yourself. Knowledge of t ..read more

Mentoring programs are a great way to build a knowledgeable, productive, workforce. They’ve been shown to boost employee satisfaction and engagement, and to reduce turnover. Whether it’s to ease the transition for new hires or to develop skills in longtime employees, mentoring makes sense for companies of all types ..read more

Managing employees can be a challenge, especially if one of them is a chronic complainer. Most of us know the type: employees who always see the glass as half empty. Nonstop gripers disrupt their colleagues and create a toxic environment for everyone. At the same time, these employees may be good at their jobs or have special skills you need, which makes the situation even trickier to handle ..read more

The science of predicting snowstorms has grown increasingly accurate. Still, meteorologists sometimes get it wrong, warning of "snowmageddons" that never materialize, but whose threatened arrival cause businesses—and even entire cities—to shutter needlessly. So what’s an employer to do when snow is in the forecast ..read more

Time and again, working parents identify childcare as their top concern. As a manager, you recognize that the benefits you offer have a strong effect on how job candidates view your company. Your ability to attract working parents may come down to whether you offer childcare help as a benefit. Indeed, childcare can be a crippling expense for working parents, with costs for at-home care averaging more than $28,000 a year in the United States. Easing this burden with strong workplace initiatives can help you attract and retain employees. The following strategies can enhance your app ..read more