The Watercooler

The Watercooler Blog is full of workplace tips and trends related to employee retention, engagement, interviewing and more. The Watercooler is frequently refilled, so gather ‘round often.

Don’t Let the Summer Heat Ruin Team Productivity

When it’s hot, it’s hot. And when it’s summer, work may not always be the first thing on your employees’ minds. The kids are out of school, vacations are beckoning, and the pool looks pretty darned good right about now … As an employer, you can scarcely afford to let productivity or profitability suffer just [...] Read More

3 Common Mistakes New Managers Make in the Workplace

The transition into management isn’t easy. According to at least one study, it can be almost as stressful as divorce. And with current levels of employee engagement hovering around a dismally low level of about 30 percent, there’s no question that management is a challenging discipline. It’s no wonder new managers can easily take wrong [...] Read More

Onboarding Tips for New Employees

The first weeks and months of a new job are a transitory time between the excitement of the offer and the reality of the role. You’ll experience a wide spectrum of experiences and emotions as the dust settles. In the midst of it all, you want to make the best possible first impression and prove [...] Read More

HR Has Transformed!

Remember the “personnel department”? The term sounds about as relevant in today’s workplace as a mimeograph machine. Over the last 20 years, HR has undergone…

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An Employee Handbook Can Save You from an HR Meltdown

Your employee handbook is more than just a “necessary evil” imposed on you by your legal department. It can be a powerful tool for workplace success. Recent research has shown that 22 percent of staff turnover occurs within 45 days of employment. If new hires feel lost, they need strong support and clarification to understand [...] Read More

Should You Hire Your Best Friend to Fill an Open Position?

Some employers prefer to avoid mixing their personal lives with business. Others clearly see the benefit of working with people who know them well. So if you’re considering hiring a good friend to work for you, you need to decide where you stand on that spectrum. Can your friendship survive in the workplace and bring [...] Read More