Archive for the 'Communications' Category
HR - Handling Exit Interviews Appropriately
HR professionals that feel the need to make insensitive or embarrassing comments during an exit interview encourage judicial wrath.
An article I wrote on firing a few months back spoke to what ‘not to say’ during the course of an employee’s exit interview.
This article emphasizes the importance of personnel having expertise in this area, in terms of whom is [...]
USA – Employers’ Electronic Communications Policies ‘Revisited’
Court Finds Employer Improperly Accessed Employee’s E-mails Sent Via Company Computer
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of New Jersey held that an employer was not entitled to read particular employee emails, even though the communications were stored on a company issued laptop for employee use, due to the ambiguous nature in the wording of the [...]
Organizational ‘Silo’s’ - Why do they Exist?
I have had the misfortune and frustration of working in an organization where these ’silo’s have been prominent, and therefore, am confident in my personal knowledge regarding this structure. If you look up ‘Silo’s in Wikipedia, you will find the following excerpt from its definition
… is a management system incapable of reciprocal operation with other, [...]
Learning to Say ‘No’ Effectively
We all have a hard time saying ‘no’, particularly to our boss, and our co-workers as well, when they seek out our help with something. However, as difficult as it is, I believe it is imperative that you learn how to say ‘no’ effectively so all parties involved in the quest for assistance are not [...]
Ten Things Not To Say When Firing An Employee
Having to fire, terminate, layoff, suspend, or whichever ‘label’ you wish to apply to the scenario, it is not an easy process for anyone to have to go through. If the person, or persons performing ‘the deed’ have compassion, it is of course not a pleasant ordeal, and can be an uncomfortable experience, depending on the reaction [...]
Dealing with Difficult Co-Workers
We have all come across someone, or perhaps even more than one person, that has proven to be the ‘difficult’ one in the group that, despite our efforts, just seems to rub us the wrong way. I have yet to meet someone that has not experienced this uncomfortable situation at one time or another in his [...]
Space Invasion
As I have previously stated, your office or work station is a ‘rental’ in the sense that you do not ‘own’ the space, you are just ‘borrowing’ it during your tenure in your ‘current role.’ All property belongs to the firm, not the employees. It is not ‘your’ space…..
Having said that, you are hopefully going [...]
Temporary Assignments – Please Do Not Adjust the “Set”
When employees are away on vacation, or off on sick leave for an extended period, that is to say more than three consecutive days, a Temporary worker (‘Temp’) will usually be called in to cover the workload. After all, just because you are off enjoying yourself on a beach in Hawaii, or home sick with [...]
Keeping ‘Personal Issues’ Away from Work
It is natural, and normal human behaviour to want to share your load, and talk to someone you feel close to at the office about any issues you may be experiencing at home, or in another area of your life. Though this is a natural desire, it can devastate your career and relationships on the [...]
The #1 Corporate Secret - “Confidentiality”
While I realize that this topic speaks to just plain old fashioned ‘common sense’, it is surprising how easy it can be to ‘fog out’ and forget about your surroundings, and the people around you when you are out having fun, or having a really interesting discussion with a friend or work mate.
No doubt, when [...]
