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Newsletter #27 July 24, 2018 |
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How Zero Tolerance Policies Can Go Nuclear
Earlier this month, Chai Feldblum, a Democratic Commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission floated the opinion that “zero tolerance” policies can actually make it harder for employers to fight workplace harassment. According to Ms. Feldblum, a zero tolerance policy “will not only be correctly perceived as an unfair system, but it might also chill reporting. A lot of people don’t want their co-worker to be fired, they just want the conduct to stop.”
Constangy attorney Robin Shea thinks Feldblum’s observation makes a lot of sense. In a new article, she submits that zero tolerance policies can be perceived as a “nuclear option” in many cases of employee misconduct. Those perceptions make the policies counterproductive.
If co-workers are afraid that an employee who makes a little joke in bad taste is going to get fired, they’re probably not going to say a word about it. And if nothing is said, there’s a chance that the employee may feel free to tell more inappropriate jokes. The “innocuous” inappropriate jokes (can) escalate to obscene jokes, told to a wider circle of employees. The next thing you know, you have a real mess on your hands.
Shea takes the argument further, submitting that zero-tolerance policies can also discourage investigation of harassment and other charges of inappropriate behavior. She advises employers to qualify their policies for disciplinary action, communicating a range of responses according to the severity of the inappropriate conduct.
Read the complete article in the blog section of the GEA website.
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| | The Value of Engagement: Patsy Barron
If you’ve attended a recent Georgia Employers' Association conference, you’ve probably had an interesting conversation with Patsy Barron. Patsy is the owner and manager of Career Smart, an executive recruiting firm based in Macon, and she has been extremely engaged with GEA activities, training, and events.
Here’s what Patsy has to say about the value of GEA membership:
GEA has had such a very positive impact on Career Smart and has been a very valuable resource to our business. We’ve benefited from educational opportunities that are not readily available to businesses of our size. GEA has also been an excellent networking resource, allowing us to meet people and learn about companies from all over the state.
Thank you to Patsy for her participation and for her enthusiasm about our association. It’s members like you who bring special value to GEA!
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| | Does Work Make You Fat?
45 percent of workers think so. A new survey of 1,117 employees by Careerbuilder and the Harris poll reveals that 57 percent of the nation’s workforce believe that they’re overweight and 45 percent think that they’ve gained weight at their present job.
Here are the top 3 causes cited by those who are adding pounds:
- Sitting at a desk most of the day (53%)
- Too tired from work to exercise (49%)
- Eating because of stress (41%)
Six percent of workers also attributed their weight gain to happy hours. On a more positive note, 58 percent of U.S. workers exercise on a regular basis, Those who work out four or more days a week (29 percent) say that they’ve lost weight in the last year.
Some employers are stepping in with gym passes, workout facilities, and wellness benefits, reported by 30 percent of the workers surveyed. Not all employees want to participate, though. Only half of the employees without wellness benefits stated that they would take advantage of opportunities if they were provided.
Photo Credit: Cormac Moore. |
| | | What Participants Say About GEA's Leadership Series
I thoroughly enjoyed the class. The trainer was very knowledgeable and her ability to bring real life examples into the classroom made the material very interesting. I am very excited about putting what I have learned to work.
Informative and motivating. Our instructor immediately found the right balance with the group, maintained focus, and moved us through a great deal of information both efficiently and thoroughly. Thanks for a job well done!
The Leadership Training Series is a five session, multi-module series that focuses on practical skills and tools for team leaders and supervisors. Classes start on August 15 in Macon.
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Georgia Employers' Association |
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