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.

Can an Employee Ask Too Many Questions?

Asking questions is a normal part of everyone’s workday. In fact, you want employees who are naturally interested, inquisitive, and curious. But, dealing with constant barrages of questions can make it difficult to get your own job done. A key part of your job as a manager is providing clear, direct feedback. But you wouldn’t [...] Read More

Ways to Recognize Your Top-Performing Employees

There is no one who doesn’t like being recognized for a job well done – even your most introverted, laid-back team members. On an ongoing basis, employee recognition may be simply a few short words of praise and encouragement to maintain a positive flow in the workplace environment. Your more formal program will likely include [...] Read More

5 Tips For Retaining Your Top Talent

You invest a lot in your top talent. And in today’s workplace, company loyalty has changed dramatically. Millennial employees have a reputation for moving quickly from job to job, and the days of staying with a company long enough to earn that gold watch for 25 or more years of service are fast becoming ancient [...] Read More

Unique Interview Questions to Find the Best Candidates

The best interview questions tell you about the person behind the resume, revealing their true personality and passions, strengths and shortfalls. By asking the right things, you can hire superstars who will get behind you in your business vision and help make it a reality. Here are some unique questions to help you set the [...] Read More

What is The Cost of Making a Bad Hire?

There are many variables in determining what a bad hire may cost your company. But no matter which expert analyses you consider, you can’t afford to make such a mistake very often. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates the cost of a failed hire is at least 30 percent of an employee’s first-year earnings. Half [...] Read More

What You Need to Include in New Hire Training

Starting a new job is one of the biggest transitions a person experiences. The way you welcome a new employee to your team makes a crucial first impression – and sets the stage for their future at your company. You worked hard to hire this person. So, work hard not to lose them. Studies show [...] Read More