Category: Employee Relations

Think about your most memorable bosses. I’m willing to bet the first person that comes to mind is probably the worst one, and the “kind” boss probably came in second or third. This is because our memories are tied to emotions, and emotions can be both good (positive) and bad (negative). The strongest reaction is […]

Across the country, one of the more recent trends in vacation use by employees is the staycation. That compound word was coined to mean exactly what it sounds like: staycation = stay + vacation. It’s vacation time spent at home, instead of on an actual vacation that depends on traveling away from home. The staycation […]

Sarcasm [sahr-kaz-uhm] Harsh or bitter derision or irony A sharply ironical taunt; sneering or cutting remark (from Dictionary.com) Guess what this article is about? If you said “sarcasm,” you are a genius! That’s sarcasm, folks. Most of us think sarcasm is humorous and lighthearted, not as dark and heavy as defined by the dictionary. Sarcasm can […]

“I forgive you.” It’s easy to say, but harder to do. Have you ever been wronged by someone? Of course, you have. And when that happens, what’s your normal reaction? Usually, we lash out in anger or try to get some measure of revenge. Mahatma Gandhi said, “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the […]

Holidays offer a fun way to do a little celebrating unless you’re stuck at work, that is. This year, the 4th of July falls on a Saturday, which means many people will not get an extra weekday off work to celebrate. And some people who work on weekends may have to report anyway, despite the […]

Today’s job seeker is a different breed from previous generations. From better company perks to being able to work flexible hours, and from a more casual dress code to the option to work remotely – modern job seekers have a whole different set of expectations. So what exactly do they want out of their next […]

We recently posted a blog called “Should You Care About Employee Happiness?” which examined the need for happy and engaged employees. That blog got me thinking, “Is having happy employees enough?” If you were to ask a group of HR professionals that question, you’d probably get plenty of middle-of-the-road answers like, “It depends,” or “Maybe;” […]

After reading Sumanth Kolar’s LinkedIn article “How to Handle Your Office Avengers,” in which he breaks down the flaws associated with the superheroes who make up Marvel’s Avengers, I could not help but think about how difficult it is to lead highly talented team members with larger-than-life egos. During my career I have held many […]

The topic of work/life balance has been coming up more and more lately. Since the startup culture first arose, and 60-80 hour workweeks became the new industry standard, most people haven’t been able to take the downtime necessary to let their brains recharge and focus on things outside of work. A 24/7 work lifestyle is […]

Most employers are extremely hesitant when it comes to hiring a woman who’s returning to the job market after taking some time out to be at home raising her children for the past five or ten years. The bias that exists in the workplace when it comes to hiring a mom who’s been out of […]

All too often we hear terms like “health and wellness” or “work-life balance” in HR, and the advantages of offering your employees those benefits. The whole idea is to make their lives less stressful and more productive overall. Both concepts are important; however, in most cases, they do very little to help those employees who […]

You walk in the office and you see all of these little people being paraded about by their parents, and it hits you like a ton of bricks “Oh snap! It’s Bring Your Kids to Work Day.” Most parents will remember and proudly drag their child into the office for a full day of shenanigans. […]