Blog

Frontline Supervisor: High-Conflict Employees

Q. Employees in conflict can be very disruptive to the work group. I have no problem making a referral to BJC EAP, but supervisors should attempt to resolve conflicts first. The question is how early to step in, right? Also, does a “formula” exist for doing it right?

Frontline Supervisor: Dealing with Employees’ Personal Problems

Q. In supervisor training, we are strongly warned not to ask employees personal questions or discuss employees’ personal problems. I find this a difficult task because it makes me appear cold. Can you discuss this a little more?

Frontline Supervisor: Substance Abuse and the Workplace

Q. One of our reputable employees was hospitalized and later shared his story of addiction to heroin. I was floored. The employee never showed any symptoms and didn’t look anything like a street person. There was an absenteeism problem, but I never dreamed it was drugs. Is this rare?

Frontline Supervisor: Employee Morale & Motivation

Q. My employee does not like her job, but she is good at it. I don’t have another position for her, and she doesn’t want to quit. Her morale is not very good. Sometimes her attitude is poor. Is there a way to help her feel more joy in her position?

Balancing Work and Family

All of us must allocate 24 hours a day to the activities of life. How well we balance responsibilities with doing things we truly enjoy directly affects our quality of life. It also helps manage stress. Are you satisfied with your balance of time between work and family?

Frontline Supervisor: Becoming a Better Manager

Q. My boss called me a stress-monger after some of my employees complained about my hard-charging style. I am not as bad as these employees have made me out to be. If others get stressed because I push them to excel, why is that my problem?

Workplace Survivor Syndrome

We’ve all felt the impact of layoffs in one form or another, but people who have been spared the direct hit often find that being lucky never felt so bad. “Miserable” is how most downsizing survivors describe it – grinding through massive daily workloads while waiting anxiously for the other shoe to drop and wondering why it was the other guy, and not themselves, who ended up out of work. 

Frontline Supervisor: Alcohol & Your Employees

Q. I will be confronting my employee about the smell of alcohol on his breath in accordance with our reasonable suspicion policy. Can you offer any quick tips prior to my meeting?

Frontline Supervisor: Stress and the Workplace

Q. Every workplace is different, so specific strategies for managing stress vary, but what should we focus on as managers to help employees reduce stress? How do we come up with a list of things to try?

What Your Interview Clothes Say About You

Whether you're a fashionista or someone who has been wearing the same suit for years, you should be aware of what message you send with your interview clothes. Your first interview is not the place to be making a grand fashion statement. Here’s how to demonstrate professionalism. 

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