In HR News Roundup, find a thoughtful piece on delivering difficult news to employees; an overview of the Scotus ruling on LGBTQ; and articles on inclusiveness and diversity in the workplace. Also, check out updated Covid resources, a grab bag of noteworthy news, and uplifting items from the lighter side.
Managers: You can give bad news to employees with respect
Sharlyn Lauby, HR Bartender
Unfortunately, regardless of where your organization is during this time, it doesn’t make you immune to having to deliver bad news. This could be a real struggle for organizations and managers that have never really had to deliver bad news before. Or they haven’t had to deliver bad news in quite some time.
But it is possible to deliver bad/sad news in a way that’s respectful to employees. This is an area where human resources departments can help. We can listen and coach managers through the process of crafting and delivering tough messages. The way to do it is by keeping the basic tenets of the employee experience in mind.
4 Different Approaches Companies Are Taking to Performance Reviews This Year
LinkedIn, Samantha McLaren
The current situation may lead more organizations to rethink their approach to performance management in the long term. But in the meantime, many are simply asking how they can best support their people right now and demonstrate compassion for the unique circumstances employees face.
Whether you plan to make temporary tweaks or permanent changes to your process, here are a few examples of how companies are tackling performance reviews this year to help you determine the best approach for your organization.
SCOTUS rules Title VII protects LGBTQ workers
Rachel Mucha, HR Morning
After years of district and circuit courts debating whether sexual orientation is a protected class under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Supreme Court finally ruled it is.
In a 6-3 landmark decision, SCOTUS decided that employees can’t be fired due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Understanding organizational barriers to a more inclusive workplace
Survey results, McKinsey & Company
Thirty-nine percent of all respondents say they have turned down or decided not to pursue a job because of a perceived lack of inclusion at an organization. Survey results show that many employees do not feel fully included at work and want their organizations to do more to advance inclusion and diversity. To do so, companies can address four factors.
How Workplaces Can Invite Dialogue on Race
Paula Glover and Katie Mehnert, MIT Sloan Management Review
In order to heal divides and fix systemic issues in organizations, leaders should focus on starting conversations, emphasizing individuality, and measuring feedback.
HR News: Covid Updates
Workforce strategies for post COVID-19 recovery
Deloitte – Jeff Schwartz, Steve Hatfield
The bridge from responding to the crisis to preparing to thrive in a new normal: Insights for organizations moving beyond responding to the immediate crisis, towards strategies for accelerating recovery
4 takeaways about return-to-work plans
Peter Cappelli, Human Resource Executive
As restrictions are being lifted around the country, the reality of returning to the workplace is coming into focus. I’ve spent some time looking across the various surveys conducted by different organizations as to what companies say they are doing. Here’s what I’ve learned.
A Compliant Return to Work Plan: 7 Tips
HR Bartender
To ensure the safety of employees and to protect against legal liability and stay compliant as you develop your return to work plans, here are seven tips to consider.
Debunking 8 Common Employer Myths About Dealing with COVID-19
Amanda M. Jones, HR Daily Advisor
With guidance regularly changing and sometimes seemingly conflicting, some misperceptions about best practices for employers during the COVID-19 pandemic still exist. Here are eight common misunderstandings and the facts employers should know.
- Are Your Workers Doubling as Caregivers? How COVID-19 Is Forcing Employers to Rethink Leave Policies
- Face Off: Businesses’ Legal Considerations When Requiring Face Coverings
- Does the ADA allow us to require masks in the workplace?
- Coronavirus Update 6–19–2020: How to communicate when an employee tests positive
- How Businesses Can Screen Employees’ Temperatures Post-Shutdown — Without Violating Their Privacy
- Can an Employee Take FMLA Leave During a Furlough?
- Employees age 65+ cannot be barred from returning to work, says EEOC
- IRS: COVID-19 leave donation payments are not wages
- ADA prohibits COVID-19 antibody tests, EEOC says
See our prior HR News posts on reopening the workplace
- Back to business: creating a new normal at work
- Coronavirus tools for employers: Reopening the workplace
HR News: Quick links
- 100 Useful performance review phrases
- How to start meditating
- Communicating differently after conflict
- Creating compelling job postings
- New restrictions on work Visas seen further limiting employer options
- The 9-step definitive guide for building remote work culture In Virtual teams
- The healing power of forgiveness
- Confronting the workplace bully
- Predictions on the long-term outlook for remote work
- Scammers using fake antibody test to steal information, FBI warns
Lighter side
You won’t be sorry if you take the time to watch this. “I Chose You” | Decatur Public Schools: We challenged our teachers and staff to think of just ONE of the many students who inspire them to come to work every day. Watch our students’ reactions when they realize the impact they truly have on us.
- Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free books to children from birth to age five regardless of family income in participating communities within the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Republic of Ireland.
- What did you do during the pandemic lock down? Illinois high school student Peyton Manker used 41 rolls of Duck Tape and spent nearly 400 hours to a Corona virus-themed prom dress for the 2020 Stuck at Prom Contest, and annual contest that awards $10,000 college scholarships for the winning prom dress and tuxedo fashioned out of Duck tape. And although that might sound – ahem – tacky, the winning entries are quite spectacular. This year’s winners won’t be announced until July 21. See this year’s entries and past year’s winners