Archives

When Good Meetings Go Bad (Hint: It’s Almost All the Time)

Yesterday, we looked at one of author and entrepreneur Jason Fried’s biggest gripes about the modern workplace: Interruptions, including those caused by managers who check in at inopportune times. But those interruptions are small potatoes compared to the most disruptive thing managers tend to do: Call meetings.

What to Do When Your Canadian Employee Is Accused of a Crime

By Anthony Houde and Emilie Paquin-Holmested You are quietly sipping your coffee one Saturday morning and flipping through the newspaper. You suddenly stumble upon an article about one of your Canadian employees. He or she has been accused of committing a criminal offense outside the workplace but has not yet been convicted. Your mind races […]

Probationary Period? Get Rid of It!

Yesterday’s Advisor featured legal tips about probationary periods. Today, Hunter “Please Sue Me” Lott says, “Get rid of your probationary period.” Otherwise you risk negating your employees’ at-will status. Lott says that any “probationary period” or “introductory period” (or as one company calls it, “comfort time”) is a threat to the employer’s at-will status because […]

Hot List: Bestselling “Organizational Behavior” Books on Amazon.com

Amazon.com updates its list of the bestselling books every hour. Here is a snapshot of what is hot right now, March 28, in the “Organizational Behavior” section of the “Business and Investing” category. 1. Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath. The authors of Made to Stick: […]

A Playbook for Success from Coach Mike Krzyzewski

Last Thursday night, the Duke men’s basketball team lost its game in the NCAA tournament to the Arizona Wildcats, ending the Blue Devils’ season. Had Duke been able to win the game, its coach, Mike Krzyzewski, would have equaled Bobby Knight’s record for the most victories in college basketball history. Instead, Krzyzewski went home one […]

Probation

Probationary Periods — Dangerous Device or Necessary Tool?

Many employers start employees off with probationary periods during which the employer can let the new employees go without worrying about just cause and lawsuits. Sounds good, but there’s a downside, says attorney Sandra Rappaport.