Employee Relations Archives

What’s the Problem? 5 Questions to ask an Underperforming Employee

One of the most challenging tasks for any manager is how to handle employee underperformance. This could be a general team issue where the whole group seems to be demotivated and underperforming. More likely, however, the issue will relate to one or maybe two particular individuals.

Difficult Conversations at Work

Most managers would prefer not to have to sit down and have what can potentially be a difficult and even emotional conversation. In this vein, the usual starting point is to try and rationalise the individual’s behaviour, and work out why they are underperforming. Continue reading “What’s the Problem? 5 Questions to ask an Underperforming Employee”

Banter, Banana Peel, and Snowflakes

The Shifting Sands of Employee Expectation

If you saw the news this weekend you will know about the incident involving football player, Raheem Sterling, at Saturday’s Chelsea v Manchester City game. The monstrous footage shows a group of middle aged men, faces contorted in anger and hate, screaming alleged racial abuse at the young player. Sterling, 24 (Saturday was his birthday), has been widely praised for his calm and professional conduct during it all. He has said, “I just had to laugh at the abuse – I didn’t expect any better.”
Continue reading “Banter, Banana Peel, and Snowflakes”

What is ‘Employee Relations’?

… and what’s the difference between employee relations and employment law?

Very simply, the term ’employee relations’ usually refers to how a business manages the relationship between staff and management. A business with a good ER focus provides fair and consistent treatment which produces a positive and committed attitude to work. Crucially, businesses with good ER are far more likely to nip any potential misunderstandings or disagreements in the bud and address them before they become problems. Continue reading “What is ‘Employee Relations’?”

Do I need to pay my Intern?

In the last two decades, internship and the use of interns has gone from being something which was occasionally offered by big companies on a loose short term basis, to being a normal part of a (usually young) job seeker’s career path. Their use is particularly prevalent in professional services companies such as law firms and banks where internship is often used as an audition for employment, and in media and creative type companies and advertising agencies who value the fresh new ideas that interns can bring. Naturally, there has been a ‘trickle down’ in their usage with many smaller companies extending out their traditional 2 week work experience placements to longer internships to the more typical university undergrad, down to year 11+ school students. Continue reading “Do I need to pay my Intern?”