Hiring: Getting the Right Fit

By: Ron Guest
Co-Founder, BottomlineHR

We have all heard the stories about people that just plain don’t fit in a company, and the inevitable question always asked is, “How did that person get hired here in the first place?” By far the most common reason I hear when I go into a client company to try and help turn an employee’s performance around, is that “they just don’t fit here”, and not being a fit is quite often the reason for employment terminations. (it is easier to train someone to be technically competent than it is to try and change behaviour or personality of someone)
  Read More

Just Cause: The Law and Practice in Relation to Job Performance

By Megan Wright
Employment Lawyer

An employer can dismiss an employee by providing reasonable notice of termination of an employee’s employment contract, or pay in lieu thereof. In the alternative, an employer can dismiss an employee without reasonable notice or pay in lieu if the employer has just cause to do so. Providing reasonable notice is the most common option, as just cause is an increasingly difficult standard to satisfy. Generally, the court takes a contextual approach in deciding whether the employer dismissed the employee for just cause. The court will determine whether the nature and seriousness of the employee’s conduct can be reconciled with sustaining the employment relationship, or whether the conduct of the employee has made it impossible for the relationship to continue.
  Read More

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

By: Ron Guest
Co-Founder, BottomlineHR

Much has been written about Employee Engagement. In management training I conduct I often ask to what level participants think their skills, wisdom, knowledge and experience are currently being utilized, and the average answer is about 50-60%. (and these are managers!!!) What do you then think employees would say?

The level of employee engagement can have a significant impact on productivity. Organizations that have disengaged employees are likely to suffer financial consequences. They are likely to incur costs as a result of increased employee turnover, recruiting costs, the training of new employees and overtime compensation for employees who support vacant positions.

Top tips for engaging employees:

  Read More

TOXIC LEADERSHIP

By: Barry Chapman
Co-Founder, BottomlineHR

Many people, at some point in their careers, will encounter a toxic leader. This is a manager who bullies, threatens and shouts, and whose mood swings dictate the office atmosphere. Toxic leaders are bad news for organizations. They bleed the energy and enthusiasm of employees, and often lower organizational productivity and damage corporate reputation. For small or start-up organizations, the toxic leader may even prove fatal to the business. To tackle the toxic leader, organizations must first understand who or what they are dealing with.
What Makes a Toxic Leader Tick?
  Read More