12 Days Of Christmas: HR Headaches

The holidays are here and, along with them, the opportunity for employees to goof off and collectively test the limits of managers and Human Resources professionals everywhere. Don't let these headaches disrupt your office.

Twelve Online Shoppers

Cyber Monday is the biggest day of the year for online shopping. Although some employees shop on their lunch break or at home, many take time out of the work day to cross items off their Christmas list. Solution - remind employees that some down time is inevitable, but work time is still for work.

Eleven Fantasy Footballers

Wasting time at work is not an art enjoyed exclusively by shoppers. The holiday season is also football season, and that means fantasy players will be out in full force. Solution - see above.

Ten Office Party Drunks

Some folks continue to believe that getting intoxicated in front of your boss is a good idea (hint - it is not). Solution - limit the number of drinks at office parties and arrange for safe transportation if needed.

Nine Facebook Posters

If you are going to have drunken shenanigans at your Christmas party, the last thing you want is for the evidence to be posted online for the whole world to see. Solution - review your social media policy and prohibit employees from posting photographs or video without management permission.

Eight Whistleblowers

End of the year accounting can be the prime time for irregularities to come to light, and complaining employees can be protected from retaliation under federal and state laws. Solution - review whistleblowing policy and ensure managers are trained that complaining employees are protected for good faith reports of misconduct.

Seven Bonus Braggers

Christmas time often means end of year bonuses and the temptation for employees to compare notes on the size of their checks. Solution - It is against federal law to prohibit employees from discussing wages, but a reminder about good manners can be effective

Six Laid Off Workers

End of the year planning often leads to budget cuts and, unfortunately, layoffs. It is never a good time to tell someone they are being fired, but it can be even harder around Christmas. Solution - consider a severance package which provides a financial cushion for the employee and limits the liability of the company.

Five Absentees

No one wants to work around the holidays, and workers will be looking for an excuse to spend extra time with friends and...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT