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Employee Relations

Isn’t how you communicate to staff just as important as the information you want to share?
When employers are considering downsizing, pay reduction or other tough decisions, a communication strategy is the most integral piece to change management.

An employee states that his religious beliefs preclude his ability to work on Saturdays. Do we have to accommodate his schedule?
Generally, employers with 15 or more employees must make reasonable accommodations for employees’ religious observances.

A manager inadvertently destroys morale when providing criticism. What tips can I give him?
It is difficult to deliver negative feedback without discouraging the recipient. But motivating employees—even troubled employees—is a fundamental leadership skill.  

How can my company best retain repatriated employees?
More than 25 percent of repatriated employees leave the company within one year after an international assignment ends, according to a 2005 study by a partnership between PricewaterhouseCoopers and Cranfield University School of Management.

An employee requested I keep a conversation confidential. Am I obligated to keep the meeting confidential?
An employer is not obligated to honor this kind of employee request, and, in fact, should not honor it.

An employee is secretly recording conversations with management and other employees. What should we do?
The Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, amended by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, makes it unlawful intentionally to intercept wire, oral or electronic communication.

Are there office etiquette tips we can share an employee promoted from a production to office position?
Just as there are guidelines for proper conduct at social events and in the home, there also are guidelines for proper behavior in the workplace.

A manager yells and degrades employees in front of co-workers or clients. Is this workplace bullying?
Bullying comes in many forms but normally involves any repeated behavior meant to intimidate, humiliate or degrade another individual.

Are there any "best practices" related to terminating employees?
Before an organization decides to terminate an employee for performance reasons there are several issues to consider.

Are we obligated under the Americans with Disabilities Act to accommodate sensitivity to fragrances?
Fragrance sensitivity can be considered a disability; therefore, it can require reasonable accommodation.