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A Newsletter Published by The People Group (TM)
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Greetings!
 There are a great number of issues moving in the people practices environment. Some of these topics are; employee engagement and how to create it, workplace bullying and how to stop it, the implementation of "The No Asshole Rule" in company cultures, workplace flexibility and how it improves employee productivity, the Results Only Work Environment that finally tosses out the politically expedient face-time for work results, and much, much, more. It is an exciting time to be at The People Group improving the bottom line results of our clients through positive people practices (P3).
I encourage you to visit our Resources Page and view the new Video Section that includes some of the best videos on the web related to P3. This is a complimentary service by The People Group.Visit our Resources Page
To Your Success!
kevin kennemer
the people group
Improving Our World One Workplace at a Time
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Toxic Company Culture Attracts Lawsuits
by Kevin Kennemer, SPHR
Do you know why patients sue their doctors? Poor bedside  manner.
The manner in which doctors behave alongside their patients is the
biggest predictor of future malpractice lawsuits. A physician who
treats a patient with respect and courtesy, along with open two-way
communication, is unlikely to be sued, even if the doctor makes a
mistake in a diagnosis or surgery. A doctor with a toxic bedside
manner who makes a similar mistake, however, should call his attorney
and begin working on his defense.
In an effort to find quick, proven ways to predict the probability
of malpractice lawsuits, an insurance company discovered a proven
method in managing risk. Quickly observe how doctors treat their
patients. "Patients file lawsuits because they've been harmed by shoddy
medical care and something else happens to them," points out
Malcolm Gladwell, author of "Blink," a book on how we make
instantaneous decisions without thinking. These quick and perceptive
judgments are quite accurate according Gladwell. The concept, called
thin-slicing, is the ability of the unconscious mind to make precise
judgments based upon thin slices of experience.
"What comes up again and again in malpractice cases is that patients
say they were rushed or ignored or treated poorly," says Gladwell.
"People just don't sue doctors they like," states Alice Burkin, a
leading medical malpractice lawyer.
This same concept is likely true for employers. Companies who treat
their employees with respect, dignity and fairness, earn the trust of
their employees. Employees typically will not file a lawsuit against
an employer who has treated them well. A company whose leaders have a
poor cubicle-side manner, on the other hand, should make sure their
liability insurance premium is paid and that they have a good labor
attorney.
Toxic work environments create an atmosphere of fear, hatred,
mistrust, contempt and brutal office politics. It is only a matter of
time when these toxic company cultures begin springing up a crop of
wrongful termination claims, sexual harassment charges, constructive
discharge lawsuits, race discrimination allegations, unethical
executive conduct investigations, insider trading reports by the press,
and much, much more.
Pay attention to the signals, good and bad, displayed by your
employer's leadership. Their cubicle-side manner could be foretelling
the future.
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The Future of Work
Study shows remote work on the rise
According to an August 5, 2008 article at WorldatWork.org, a
 growing number of workers will be dialing, rather
than driving, into work. According to a recent survey, more than
two-thirds (69%) of executives polled said it is common for their
companies' employees to work off-site.
The study,
conducted by an independent research firm and developed by OfficeTeam,
also found that 82% of managers said they expect the number of
employees who work remotely to increase in the next five years.
"Rising fuel prices are causing people to look for alternatives to
lengthy commutes, and working from home or at locations closer to home
are attractive options," said Dave Willmer, executive director of
OfficeTeam. "Technology has also made it easier for employees to work
remotely when traveling for business."
Source: World at Work
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World at Work says Fathers Struggle with Work/Life Balance
Working dads may be bringing home a share of the
bacon, but they are working harder to get it done, according to survey
results. 61% of dads polled bring work home every week, a 7% increase
from last year.
However, many of these fathers are conflicted: 75%
indicating that bringing work home interferes with a parent's
relationship with his or her child.
Additionally, 73% would be a
stay-at-home parent if money were not an issue.
The survey was conducted by Monster.
Forty-one percent (41%) of working dads surveyed think their employers provide
sufficient benefits for working fathers, indicating a strong desire for
work-life balance among this group of employees.
Above all other work-life related benefits, working fathers most
appreciate a flexible work schedule (52%), followed by the ability to
telecommute (32%). When considering a new job, 88% view employers more
positively if they offer flextime benefits; 85% if they offer paternity
leave benefits.
Source: WorldatWork
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