So you have decided to develop an employee manual, or maybe you even have one already. Now what? Can’t you just stick it on a shelf somewhere in case you end up in a lawsuit someday? Well, you can. But it is a waste of money to do that, and … Read More
Every company is expected to have a mission statement, but there is little agreement on what a good one looks like. Some people think the mission statement should be short and easy to remember, others think it should include all the company’s major goals, from how it treats its employees … Read More
Internet templates for employee manuals and other documents are cheap and easy – but they may need some adjustments to work for your business. There are three major reasons an employee manual template needs to be tweaked: It is written for other states, which mostly allow at-will employment. Montana is … Read More
ISO 9000 and other quality management systems require a documented procedure for dealing with corrective actions and preventive actions. ISO allows them to be dealt with by the same (CPAR) system, but they are different mind sets. Preventive action is reading the manual before you open the box, corrective action … Read More
Hiring new employees can sometimes feel like a crap shoot. How a candidate interviews is frequently a poor indicator of job performance (except in fields like sales where presentation is key). Asking good questions in a structured way helps, as do portfolios and reference checks. The best way to test … Read More
It can be challenging to keep track of which employee has had what training, even in a small company. One good way to track it is with a training matrix: A matrix like this lets you quickly find out what training an employee has had and needs (you can easily … Read More
If you have a conflict that is headed to mediation (including an investigation with the Human Rights Bureau, which will attempt to mediate the case before they decide it), preparation is key. This includes not just getting facts organized; you also need to have your goals clearly articulated. Before you … Read More
Developing a written safety plan can take time, but there are some quick things you can add to an employee manual, procedures binder, or even job descriptions that can help your employees stay safe. Think about the small, easy things employees can do to prevent accidents, especially slips, trips, and … Read More
If an employee comes to you and says they have a disability, your first responsibility as an employer is to talk to them about it; this is the “interactive process” required by the ADAAA. Don’t panic or freeze up; disabilities are seldom a workplace crisis (unless you refuse to deal … Read More
In Montana, dogs are often an important part of the workplace, even where they are not actively working. Most of the time, employees understand the expectations for their dogs and no problems arise. Every once in a while, there are misunderstandings about a particular dog and it is helpful to … Read More