As a leader, there are times when I must referee between two staff members who have a dispute with each other. I remember years ago, I had an employee who voiced a legitimate complaint about another employee. This person provided a lot of compelling information against their co-worker. Their story was so convincing that I sided with them and told ...
Sometimes the best nuggets of wisdom are found immediately after interviewing someone. Recently, I was video interviewing Scooters Coffee franchisee, Tracy Bouwens. After we finished, we discussed some common challenges of managing employees. Tracy told me that a common refrain in her workplace is, “Being unclear is unkind.” Tracy mentioned those times when we avoid hard conversations because we’re afraid ...
A new HR Brew/Harris Poll found that 41% of respondents say that conflicts related to faith have caused tension in their workplaces. Additionally, these types of disputes have increased due to the Israel Hamas armed conflict. For employers, this can be challenging. As much as we need teamwork and unity, modern day issues can put team members at odds ...
In the book of Revelation, Jesus gave performance reviews to seven churches. Jesus provided us a good format for our employee’s performance reviews. Regardless of how bad these churches had acted, Jesus finished his final section with hope and encouragement. Jesus wanted what was best for them, so He closed His letters with the benefits and rewards possible, if His ...
Occasionally, I’ve witnessed an employee facing a crisis that grieves me. I want to help, but sometimes it’s more than I can do personally. Fortunately, there are possible solutions like establishing employee assistance programs. A Corporate Assistance Program I’m familiar with allows the company and team members to donate money to a fund designed to help employees through crises and ...
Recently, I had to forewarn our son, Jeremy, that change was coming. We were in the process of moving to a new home. The change seemed minimal to me because we only moved two blocks away to a similar home, but Jeremy, in part due to his autism, needs a lot of forewarning to process change. Later, I found Jeremy ...
During 1894, the Pullman Palace Car Company slashed the wages of its employees while requiring them to work 16 hour days. Pullman also controlled the price of housing and necessities through their ownership of the local town. When George Pullman refused to listen to his employees concerns, the situation escalated into a national shutdown of the railroad system. Federal ...
A Harvard Business Review article entitled, “Where Religious Identity Fits into Your DEI Strategy” provides seven practices to help companies embrace religious diversity. The final practice recommended is to support interfaith employee resource groups (ERGs). According to the REDI Index, only 8.6% of Fortune 500 companies report having faith-oriented ERGs. TFactor and others are encouraging significant growth in this area, ...
A Harvard Business Review article entitled, “Where Religious Identity Fits into Your DEI Strategy” provides seven practices to help companies embrace religious diversity. The sixth practice noted is to offer ongoing religious diversity skill-building opportunities. Sixty percent of companies in North America offer regular diversity training for their employees, but few include a robust focus on religion. Small businesses may ...
A Harvard Business Review article entitled, “Where Religious Identity Fits into Your DEI Strategy” provides seven practices to help companies embrace religious diversity. The fifth practice discussed was to provide meaningful and flexible accommodations for employees’ diverse religious practices. Practical recommendations were explored like, when you create time off policies, consider floating holidays to accommodate different religious holidays. Also be ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
