Union-represented employees have the right to have a representative present during an investigatory interview that could potentially result in their discipline or discharge. These are Weingarten Rights. Failure on the part of a supervisor to grant these rights to union employees will likely be trouble for the company. Supervisors are not legally required to inform […]
During my travels, I once talked with a gentleman who managed a group of unionized bus drivers. He was participating in a series of training meetings sponsored by his employer with several of his peers. They were not brainstorming, retreating, or developing company visions, but rather receiving a list of directives from the corporate Human […]
Growing up, I traveled all over the United States. I witnessed many highway trucking accidents. One particular accident I recall consisted of up to a dozen eighteen wheelers and several cars. One driver fell asleep, and lives were lost. In those days, truckers often drifted off the road because they were legally permitted to drive […]
Discharging any employee is not a simple task. Discharge meetings can be a devastating experience for both the employee and the employer. The way a leader handles this meeting could make an enormous difference on how things will go later during a dispute. Leaders have the potential to prevent problems altogether if they effectively manage […]
Leaders should be accurate and realistic when documenting performance reviews. The review is a document outlining an employee’s performance, behaviors, judgment, and competence over an entire time period, usually the most recent twelve months. The performance review is not a reflection of an employee’s work ethic over the past few weeks—when she may have been […]
A concept often overlooked by companies hoping to avoid litigation takes into account the appropriate level of leadership making the official decision to discharge an employee. A lower-level supervisor should not make the final decision regarding a termination, nor should a high-ranking executive. When the record indicates a supervisor or manager made the decision to […]
