Left unchecked, the same qualities that drive leaders to the top will assure their downfall. To survive at that altitude, you have to throw off certain dangerous habits.
Issue: Is pursuing a graduate degree worth the effort? If so, which one should you pursue? Benefits: An advanced degree can build your HR and business know-how, plus...
Issue: When can you refuse to rehire a former employee who may be protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? Benefit: You don't have to rehire people who...
Issue: Employees who miss work frequently often show predictable patterns. Benefit: Knowing which people are likely to avoid work can help cut costly absenteeism. ...
Issue: Poorly managed disability-management programs and rising costs can reduce your organization's profits. Benefit: By making disability programs more efficient, you...
Sir Ernest Shackleton never did get to walk across the South Pole. The explorer’s huge ego had betrayed him when he set off for Antarctica in the dead of winter,...
Issue: The Staten Island Ferry crash in October raised the issue of when you can investigate employees' prescription use. Risk: You could spark an ADA suit by asking too...
1. Focus on what you want to happen, not on how you feel. The emotional response always kicks in first, but the trick is not to act on it.
2. Schedule a meeting to...
If employees' on-site amorous actions are making you or their co-workers uncomfortable, don't be afraid to tell the lovebirds to withhold their romance for more private,...
Issue: Some courts consider agreements, signed or unsigned, to be valid, binding contracts. Risk: A manager's verbal promise could lock your company into legal...
Issue: Personal relationships between employees and their bosses are ripe conditions for legal trouble. Risk: Any form of quid pro quo ("this for that") exchange of...
Issue: If managers "go public" about employee discipline, it could spark an invasion-of-privacy lawsuit. Risk: Jury awards and damaged employee morale, leading to...
Issue: As outsourcing grows and gains popularity, you need to prove your value to the organization. Benefit: Protect your job and build a reputation as a "big-picture"...
Issue: Paid-time-off (PTO) plans combine sick leave, vacation time and personal days into a single leave-time bank. Benefits: A PTO plan can reduce sick leave abuse and...
Expect lawmakers in other states to be encouraged by California's landmark passage last month of a bill requiring all but the smallest companies to provide health...
Issue: Interviewers often have one pet question they use to test an applicant's quality. Benefit: The right question can separate the contenders from the pretenders ...
Issue: With the job market flooded with experienced and skilled people, the temptation rises for hiring managers to use "overqualified" as a weeding-out method. Risk:...
