When it comes to discharging an employee, be careful not to simply accept a supervisor’s opinion of the employee’s performance. If the supervisor is...
Question: I report directly to the director and I also supervise the
receptionist/secretary in our agency. The problem is dealing with the
assistant director (AD), who...
You know to keep employees' health records confidential and locked away. Yet some HR professionals and supervisors aren't so cautious when it comes to in-house talk of...
Process every employee complaint without commenting on its merits or on the potential consequences of making the complaint. Remind managers to do the same. Never make...
What’s a manager to do when faced with conflicting accounts of an argument between employees? An important part of that answer is to resolve it quickly, before the...
Employees who claim an ADA-protected disability will have to cite more than a simple personality clash with their boss. Such conflicts won’t win an ADA lawsuit...
Question: I
have an office mate who is very nosy. We have different positions. I
have a lot of traffic flow with vendors and other employees who ask me
for help or...
Question: Last
spring, the company hired an AA. She conducts her personal business
loudly so it echoes down the hall, slams doors and comes to my desk in
the front...
HR Law 101: Employee theft costs U.S. businesses $40 billion every year, according to estimates by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. And internal theft contributes to the...
Question: I will
be working with a new director soon. When I meet with the new director,
I would like to ask the right questions in order to get to know his
work...
Q. In the December 2000 issue, you discussed the topic of employees with body odor. We also have a staff member with body odor so bad that other staff members have...
Question: Has anyone in a Sr. Admin. Asst. role had to deal with a “Diva”? I
am a Sr. Admin. Asst. and I work with an Admin. Asst. who feels that
she...
"Logic bombs" and sabotage aren't the makings of a James Bond film. They're problems any employer can face in this electronic age. Sometimes, employee malice is to...
Question: A
younger woman (early 20s) is working our switchboard. She has stolen
from people before but no one has been able to catch her in the act.
(She’s...
Question: Nepotism:
A big word that finally came to me under much distress. I'm a fairly
new administrative assistant, although I think the position could
easily be...
Question: I work in an office where I am in the center of everything, so I can hear and
see everything that goes on. One of my co-workers pretends to work...
Question: I work in a nice
office with a lot of nice people around. Sometimes, however, the lady
next to me in her cube will chew gum ... then, she will pop it. Not...
