General

When possible, having employees involved in decision-making or policy development gives them the buy-in to influence others and accept the results.

One of the best tips I can give you with regard to recruiting is “hire slow, fire fast.” In other words, when hiring someone, take your time and properly vet them. On the other hand, when someone is not working out, don’t waste any time. Take action quickly.

Thank employees for the work they do. My first boss would walk around the department on paydays and hand each of us our checks. When we would thank her, she would always say “No, thank you for the hard work. It is so appreciated.” She was a special lady and helped me build the strong...

Communication is key when it comes to employee relations. I’ve seen situations where rumors started due to lack of communication. The rumors were actually far more damaging than the truth.

No matter how small your business is, you should have an employee handbook. Even with one employee. It is wise to have the rules and policies documented and communicated to all.

I always recommend exercising caution when terminating an employee. You do not want to jeopardize the safety of your employees or you. When in doubt or if you have concerns, have the necessary witnesses and call for outside help with law enforcement. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

In this ever-changing world of ours, who would have thought that we need to keep our eyes and ears open for workplace violence signs? Who would have thought we would know the meaning of “if you see something say something.” It’s better to be safe than sorry.

We hear so many stories about violence in the workplace, don’t think it can’t happen to you. Having policies in place and communicating them to your employees is critical. As the saying goes, just do it.