Blog

Frontline Supervisor: Dealing with Employees' Personal Problems

Q. I’m sympathetic to a worker with personal problems that are affecting her performance. She doesn’t want to go to BJC EAP because she says she’s “had it with therapy.” I know I can’t force her to go. Isn’t it better to respect her wishes?

Frontline Supervisor: Diversity in the Workplace

Q. We have a very diverse workplace, and I sometimes correct employees when I see them demonstrating poor tolerance of coworkers’ differences. I am not an expert on tolerance and bias, so can you offer some language, tips, or “phrases” helpful in educating employees?

Frontline Supervisor: Morale and Motivation

Q. Some employees seem to have morale problems. My problem is that "poor morale" is a hard thing to document or describe. Is poor morale something upon which I can base a supervisor referral, or is it a symptom of something else? 
 

Frontline Supervisor: Becoming a Better Manager

Q. My employees say they like me because I'm an easy boss. I think they appreciate the fact that I'm not demanding, and am more like one of them. I think they respect me more for it. Do you think I'm right?

Frontline Supervisor: Dealing with Layoffs

Q. My organization will lose nearly 15 percent of its employees in a planned downsizing this year. Should I anticipate that productivity will be negatively affected, and if so, is there anything I can do about it? Will employees simply not care about productivity this year?

Frontline Supervisor: Developing Talented Employees

Q. What traits should I look for in employees likely to become good managers someday? Are managers “born” or can people learn to become managers?

Frontline Supervisor: Dealing With Employees' Personal Problems

Q. My employee discusses many personal problems at work. One day it’s health issues, the next day it’s problems with her sister-in-law. It’s bothersome to coworkers, and I fear it could influence some to leave the company. Should I refer her to BJC EAP? Is this a performance matter.

Frontline Supervisor: Engaging Employees

Q. Engaging employees is important, but I think the missing piece is making sure they know what they are doing, how they will be measured and how they fit into the grand scheme of things. In other words, clarity and purpose. Am I right?

Frontline Supervisor: Skills for New Supervisors

Q.  I am a new manager and in my first job as a supervisor. What problems might I encounter early that I can prepare for now? If I feel overwhelmed, can BJC EAP help me?

Frontline Supervisor: Dealing with Referral Issues

Q. I was about to make a supervisor referral of my employee to BJC EAP, but before I could, he went to the program as a self-referral. This is great, but I don’t have a release signed, as I would if this was a formal referral. Should I ask him to sign one now?

12345678