Search Video Library for: Video Vignettes
Being F.A.I.R.™ How Can I Be F.A.I.R.?
We all want to be treated fairly. And we all want to be seen like we're being fair with others, right? So, the question is, how do we do that? The key is to have a common way to talk about and practice being fair. And that's what the F.A.I.R. tool does.
Being F.A.I.R.™ What is Cultural Competency?
Diversity is a fact of life in our organizations. So, the question is, "how can we use our awareness of diversity to be more effective?" Being culturally competent means having the ability to recognize and respond to our similarities and differences; and make better decisions based on that understanding.
Being F.A.I.R.™ What is Diversity, Really?
As well know well, diversity is all about relationships. The similarities and differences that exist among employees, customers, and suppliers are what create diversity in the workplace. When we talk about diversity, one of the most important things to understand is that it's about culture. Culture is a way of living, thinking, doing being and believing. It has to do with things like dress, customs, language, and beliefs.
Couldn’t You Do It on the Side?
We must be careful not to participate in any activities where our personal interests or actions might interfere or compete with our obligation to the organization. Even the appearance of a conflict of interest can create problems for ourselves and our organizations. So, the bottom line is, we all have a responsibility to know and follow the organization’s policy on dealing with conflicts of interest.
Cyber What?
Sensitive information left out on a desk can easily be taken by thieving hands and seen by prying eyes. All sensitive and confidential information should be securely stored – especially things like system passwords. The bottom line is simple. You need to know and follow the organization’s secure/sensitive information policies and procedures – especially when it comes to passwords. Cybersecurity policies are not to be taken lightly.
Getting Paid to Scroll
Time theft hurts the company. A recent study estimates that it costs U.S. employers more than $400 billion per year in lost productivity. Five to ten minutes here and there add up to big losses over time. So, the bottom line is, we all have a responsibility to know and follow the organization’s policy on our work responsibilities. Remember, it doesn't matter if 'everybody's doing it’... simply put, it breaks trust.
I Need ‘Em Shredded
To summarize, business documents (including paper files, reports emails and electronic files) need to be retained in accordance with the law and organization requirements/policies. And, if documents are destroyed improperly, it can result in serious problems for the organization and the individual. So, the bottom line is, we all have a responsibility to know and follow the organization’s policy on document retention and destruction.
Isn’t That Confidential?
In most organizations, managers and supervisors have an obligation to help employees resolve business practice or compliance concerns. Remember, all reports of violations must be taken seriously, and appropriate action taken in a timely manner. Again, no matter what our role in the organization—we all have a responsibility to know and follow the organization’s policy on handling reports of violations.
It Hasn’t Worked for Months
Interactions with auditors, inspectors, or investigators—internal or external—must be conducted in an open, honest, and ethical manner. And all information provided to auditors, inspectors or investigators must be accurate and truthful. There can be no exceptions, which mean the bottom line is, we all have a responsibility to know and follow the organization’s policy on providing accurate information.
It Isn’t in Their Best Interest
We all know that situations where we’re trying to win business put a lot of pressure on everyone involved. And we also know that comparing our products and services to the competition must be done in a truthful manner. The bottom line is, we all have a responsibility to know and follow the organization’s policies relating to how we talk about our competitors.
It’s Pretty Obvious Where He’s From…
In making hiring decisions, it is important and necessary to follow good employment practices. And we must not engage in any actions that would result in unlawful discrimination. In short, we all have a responsibility to know and follow the organization’s policies on dealing with diversity and preventing discrimination in the workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Be More Assertive
You have an key employee who needs to be more assertive in recognizing needs, taking action, speaking up, and contributing ideas. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Communicating Plans for a Change
Changes are being made in your organization and employees are going to be concerned. You can’t control the changes but you can help control the employees’ reaction to the changes. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Consistently Late for Work
You have an employee who’s consistently late for work. It's negatively impacting others on your team. People are starting to complain. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Disability Discrimination
An employee comes to you and complains that she or he has been subject to disability discrimination. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Doesn't Interact Well With Others
You have an employee who doesn’t interact well with other people. If this is important in the person’s job, you need to address it... effectively and thoroughly. How do you do that? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Employee Doesn't Understand Expectations
You have an employee who works hard but doesn’t get the results you want. You’ve discovered the problem is that the employee doesn’t understand what’s expected to do the job correctly. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Employee Will Not Work Extra Hours
You have an employee who won’t stay after hours or come in early when it’s needed. The job position requires some flexibility of this kind. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Excessive Socializing
You have an employee who spends too much time chatting with others instead of working. The employee is being paid to do the best job possible during work hours. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Frequently Absent
You have an employee who’s missed too many work days. How much absenteeism is tolerated depends on your organization’s policy. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Gender Discrimination
An employee comes to you and complains that they have been discriminated against because of gender. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Harmful Gossip
You have a problem with an employee who gossips and spreads rumors which have been detrimental to some working relationships. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Inappropriate Dress
An employee is coming to work in clothes that are inappropriate for the workplace. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Lacks Necessary Job Skills
You’ve discovered an employee is not performing up to expectations due to lack of job skill. The employee insists that their work around is better. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Low Raise, Really?
You have an employee complains to you that their raise was less than expected. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Makes Unacceptable Mistakes
You have an employee who makes an unacceptable number of mistakes. It's impacting the team's work and deliverables. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Needs Motivation
You have an employee who seems disinterested, apathetic, or just isn’t putting forth the effort. What do you do? This type of behavior could impact the entire team. This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Perform Beyond Skill Level
You have an employee who may have been promoted beyond their capability, or perhaps the job outgrew this employee. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Personal Problems at Work
You’re aware an employee is having some personal problems and you feel they’re affecting his or her work. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Poor Attitude
You’ve got an employee with an attitude problem. In most cases you can’t change a person’s attitude but you can encourage a change in behavior. How do you do that? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Race Discrimination
An employee comes to you and feels that they have been the target of racial discrimination. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Religious Discrimination
An employee comes to you and complains that they have been discriminated against because of their religion. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Resists Change
A change has been made in your area and, unfortunately, an employee is not accepting the change. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Safety Rules Violation
You’ve got an employee who consistently ignores certain safety rules and needs to understand safety regulations must be adhered to. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Solving Conflict Between Employees
A conflict between two or more employees is causing problems. For most managers or supervisors, the toughest part of dealing with conflict is making the decision to do something about it. So, what do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Substance Abuse
You believe an employee is abusing alcohol or drugs. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Termination Due To Downsizing
You have to let someone go because your organization is downsizing and you want to make it as painless as possible for the employee and for you. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Termination Due To Poor Performance
You have to fire someone for poor performance and you want to make it as painless as possible for the employee and for you. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
Managing Essentials™ Too Many Personal Calls
You have an employee that's making and receiving too many personal phone calls during work hours. What do you do? This video scenario provides the just-in-time information and tools needed to help a manager address the situation while maintaining a respectful workplace.
My Brother-in-Law Works Over There
We have an obligation to keep up with current developments in our industry. That includes the right and responsibility to obtain information about the competition. However, there are right ways and wrong ways to get that information; we must always choose the right way. And the right way is to know and follow the organization’s policy on gathering competitive information.
She’s in for a Struggle
When it comes to discussing personal health information (PHI), it should only be discussed with the people who need to know. If you have access to PHI and discuss it with those who do not have the right access to this information - it is a violation of HIPAA. The bottom line is simple, know and follow the organization’s policy on handling personal health information (and reporting violations).
They've Never Failed Inspection…
The pressure to perform and get work done can cause us to consider compromising our work or product quality. However, taking any action that compromises work or product quality can have serious consequences for us, our organization, our vendors, and our customers. So, the bottom line is, we all have a responsibility to know and follow the organization’s policies related to maintaining the quality of our products and services.
Those Things Are Like Gold
It’s not always easy to identify when giving and receiving gifts crosses the line. In certain circumstances, simply the appearance of impropriety can result in significant problems for you and the organization. So, the bottom line is, we all have a responsibility to know and follow the organization’s policy on accepting and giving gifts.
Integrity, Honesty & Values (Behavior-Based Interviewing)
Past actions are still the best predictor of future performance. So, stay focused on asking behavioral questions about job requirements. For example, if the job does require honesty, you might ask questions this, "When were you honest, even though it was embarrassing for you? What did you say?
Prepare Written Questions For Your Interview
Writing things down is important. And with written questions are part of your interview preparation, you have proof of what you asked the candidate and that you asked the same question of every candidate. Those are legal issues. Before you write questions, you need to do some preparation.
Probe for Specific Information During Interview
When an answer is a generality, self-promotional, not behavioral, isn’t complete or the candidate’s non-verbals don’t match what the candidate is saying, follow-up with behavioral probes to draw out more information. You discover that the specifics the candidate gives can be linked to job requirements.
The “Like Me” Syndrome (Behavior-Based Interviewing)
The "like me" syndrome is like a bias. Over weighing the positives of a candidate because you have many things in common will usually lead to a less than optimal hire.
I'll Take Care of It! (from Workplace Inclusion: Navigating Through Difficult Times™)
You're back at work after many months of working from home due to a health scare. Someone is sent home because of a cough. You see them back at work the very next day. Management doesn't seem concerned. But then there are rumblings and someone makes a veiled threat about taking care of it. What do you do?
Wanna Get Us All Sick? (from Workplace Inclusion: Navigating Through Difficult Times™)
Social distancing policies and standards within the workplace are essential to protecting employees from possibly getting sick. Employees most likely will continue to maintain a six-foot distance from others and otherwise observe social distancing in the workplace as work duties permit. Also, there might need to be a limit to the total number of workers in a workspace (based on square footage) and a limit to the number of people in conference rooms, workstations, etc.
If You Change Your Mind…
Our working relationships are complicated for all kinds of reasons. That's why we really have to know where the lines are when it comes to managing our interactions with co workers, customers, and vendors. Take the unwanted pursuit of a relationship. It doesn't make any difference where it comes from a manager, a coworker, a vendor or a customer unwanted pursuit could be considered illegal harassment and simply can't be a part of the workplace.
She’s Asian, Right!
Blaming an Asian employee for a world-wide pandemic based on their heritage makes no sense. If it spread within an organization, it can impact personal relationships and cause deeper harassment and discrimination issues.
People Like That…
All of us have things that we value and believe in strongly. But it's important that we make sure that we don't cross the line and allow those convictions to get in the way of treating others with respect. Most organizations have policies that prohibit harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation.
I Can’t Take It Anymore! (from Workplace Inclusion: Navigating Through Difficult Times™)
Change! How many of us really like it? We all know it's part of life – part of the workplace. But with change comes stress and uncertainty. Many of us are feeling (or have felt) the impact of working remotely during the pandemic. We’ve been asked to social distance for months and we are all feeling the lack of real co-worker interaction.
It Wasn’t Personal or Anything…
In general, there's nothing wrong with kidding around at work. But we can step over the line when it comes to having fun at someone else's expense. Hazing, teasing, profanity, and horseplay are the kinds of unprofessional behaviors that lead to low morale, low productivity, turnover and even safety issues.
It's Just Allergies! (from Workplace Inclusion: Navigating Through Difficult Times™)
Yes, coughing in the workplace might take on a whole new meaning in the 'new normal' we face. But allergies, the common cold, even the flu bug will still be found in the workplace. Using good judgement and good hygiene can help prevent the spread of workplace sickness - without discriminating against others based on what we might perceive as fact.
I’ve Got Another One…
Most of us like a good joke, right? The problem is, while we may think we know what's acceptable, there's a fine line between funny and disrespectful. We can't always know what may be offensive just by looking at someone. That's why we have to focus on respect when it comes to things like, jokes, off hand comments, posts, puns, texting cartoons, drawings, pictures or videos at work.
Just Being Paranoid…
Being frustrated with co-workers from time-to-time is natural and understandable. But when we perpetuate stereotypes about people based on things like their appearance or where they come from, not only is it unprofessional and disrespectful… it also can be illegal.
Let's Not Shake Hands
New organizational policies and standards will be implemented across most organizations protecting employees while in the workplace. In the immediate future, 'new normal' guidelines will most likely include refraining from shaking hands while in the workplace. Refusing to shake hands can be dicey - even uncomfortable. There is definitely a right way to maintain respect while adhering to social distancing policies.
Nothing’s Going On…
Workplace gossip is one of those areas where it's easy to find ourselves on the wrong side of the line. While it may seem like harmless talk, it's not. Not only is gossip unprofessional because it destroys respect and trust in the workplace; it can also get you and your organization into a lot of legal trouble.
Regain Control of the Interview (Behavior-Based Interviewing)
When a candidate takes over the interview - maybe by non-stop talking or story-telling - it's okay to re-take control of the interview by politely interrupting and re-focusing the candidate back to the task at hand.
Seek Reverse Information When Interviewing
Reverse information is the opposite of what the candidate told you, or the opposite of your reaction to the candidate. It is designed to give you a broad sample of the candidate’s job skills and help you get new information to balance an overly positive or overly negative opinion of the candidate.
Shining a Light on Child Abuse & Neglect
This powerful video was created as an introduction to child abuse and neglect mandatory reporter training (California AB1963). Sobering statistics are presented - driving home the importance reporting child abuse and neglect.
The New Normal (from Workplace Inclusion: Navigating Through Difficult Times™)
Blaming an Asian employee for a world-wide pandemic based on their heritage makes no sense. It's this type of explicit bias that not only impacts personal relationships, but if it's allowed to spread within an organization, it can potentially cause deeper harassment and discrimination issues.
Everyday Diversity™ Three Strikes
Everyone is a combination of the many things different aspects of our lives. Daughter, engineer, team lead, brother/sister, type A personality, lover of jazz, etc. How all of these come together in the workplace is unique to all of us. Building an inclusive workplace means that people can be authentic and feel that they belong.
Your Path to Success™ Empowering Teamwork
Even the most talented teams don’t start out as high performing. To begin with, there are steps you can take to set your team up for success and create a work environment that values teamwork and collaboration. Set a vision and shared goals based on trust… explaining how the work of the team fits with the mission and goals of the organization.
Everyday Diversity™ The Assertive Salesperson
When we think about other people, we need to be aware of how bias may come into play. This is particularly true when the same behavior is seen as positive or negative depending on the gender of the other person. As we think about how to put awareness into action, we must watch the words we use to describe others and strive to be fair and equitable in our descriptions.
Everyday Diversity™ Are You Speaking English?
Providing customer service over the phone can be hard, particularly when someone has an accent that is hard to understand. While it can be frustrating not being able to communicate easily, the reality is that everyone in the world has an accent. We only notice it when we are speaking with people who don’t share our native language.
Everyday Diversity™ Difficult Name
We all know the dangers that come from making assumptions based on one aspect of a person - such as their name. People want to be seen as whole people and our name is just one part of who we are. This kind of bias can be very subtle and we may not even realize that it is being done. So, as we think about putting this into action, let’s support all of employees in the appropriate pronunciation of their names and to watching any biases that start from someone’s name.
Everyday Diversity™ Happy Holidays!
When the holiday season comes around, many people - by default - wish others a "Merry Christmas." But for people who don’t celebrate Christmas, this can feel disrespectful... and even rude. A key component of being respectful includes using appropriate holiday greetings during the holiday season.
Everyday Diversity™ Hijab
People often have different religious practices based upon their faith. Some of these practices include wearing something like a crucifix. For others, it means wearing a piece of attire such as a hijab. Today’s inclusive and respectful workplace culture means that the ability to practice your religion is open to you.
Everyday Diversity™ His Husband
There are still many stereotypes and prejudices about LGBTQ+ people - and this can often make it hard to come to work depending upon the attitudes and behaviors of co-workers. While we may not agree with every aspect of all of our co-workers, what we can agree on is that people need to be treated with respect and dignity.
Everyday Diversity™ I Can Hear You!
People with disabilities live normal happy lives and most of the time are very independent and self-sufficient. Don’t offend someone by assuming that they cannot do something or that they have to have your help, but be willing to offer if it is desired.
Everyday Diversity™ Mary the Dinosaur
We can make assumptions about people based on their age – younger people will be great with technology for example or anyone over the age of 25 will have a harder time adjusting to the software changes. But, assumptions like this can have a real-life impact on our work teams.
Everyday Diversity™ More Than Meets the Eye
How we present ourselves to the world is part of our personal choices. Some people prefer a laid back styles, some prefer a buttoned up conservative look. So long as people are within the dress code, what people are wearing is personal.
Everyday Diversity™ Speak English
Speaking in a foreign language can be tiring and more challenging. Being able to speak in a native language often makes things easier and quicker - especially when describing work or tasks. It can be easy to assume that when we hear people speaking a foreign language that they are speaking about us. Sometimes this also means that we feel left out of the conversation.
Everyday Diversity™ Taking Our Jobs!
Caring for ourselves and our families is something that everyone in the world worries about. And, immigrants are no exception of the rule. Often immigrants are willing to take jobs that other people find too hard or that they are willing to take because they have other opportunities. Other immigrants provide highly sought after skills and degrees that help companies to be successful. Helping immigrants to be successful at work helps everyone be a great part of a work team.
Everyday Diversity™ They Went to School...Where?
Bias and stereotypes can impact us in many ways... including assuming that just because someone didn’t go to prestigious university - they won’t be a great employee. So, when we are reviewing resumes for new hires, it is important to not let those biases keep us from seriously considering candidates for reasons like the school they attended.
Everyday Diversity™ We Need More Seats!
Cultural differences can impact how people perceive situations such as a visit to the doctor. For some cultures, this is seen as something an individual does, for other cultures, they see it as an important event which a good number of family members need to attend.
Everyday Diversity™ What Does a Girl Know?
Sometimes a department or field is dominated by one gender and it can be hard for people who aren’t that gender to be successful in that field - due to ingrained perceptions or long-standing stereotypes. Think male nurses... or female software developers.
Everyday Diversity™ What's His Problem Anyway?
When we think about people with a disability – we typically think about visible or mobility related disabilities. But, in reality, many disabilities are hidden. When someone asks for an accommodation – that is between them and their manager. It isn’t anyone else’s business.
Traditional vs. Behavior-Based Interviewing Questions
When it comes to behavior-based interviewing, it's all in how you ask your questions. This video is designed to illustrate the difference between a traditional interview question and a behavior-based interview question.
Your Path to Success™ Being Professional
You know… when it comes to how we interact with people, there's a whole range of things that we don't want to see happen in the workplace, right? So, being professional at all times is the key to preventing situations that might lead to harassment or discrimination.
Your Path to Success™ Being Your Best
Most seem to think that success on the job is all about what you know… or what you can do. Most quickly learn that your attitude and how you act around others are just as important. It's always easy, but it goes a long way towards being your best.
Your Path to Success™ Choosing Integrity
We all know how important integrity is to our organization, right? You may have even thought, "Hey, we've got a Code of Conduct. We've all been trained. We're go to go!" However… to create a culture of integrity, those policies have to be more than just words on paper. They have to be things we truly live… each and every day.
Your Path to Success™ Embracing Civility
In today's fast-paced world, a simple social media post or email can lead to hurt feelings...lost jobs and maybe even a lawsuit. Simply put, uncivil actions disrupt the workplace! But... being civil is not about just being polite or having good manners.
Your Path to Success™ Embracing Inclusion
Inclusion in the workplace only exists when we create a culture that makes a space for everybody to be present, participate, contribute and feel valued. When we think about inclusion, we think about words like: belonging… fitting in… acceptance… togetherness… engagement… Now, when there’s a culture of inclusion, people don’t feel like they have to hide any part of who they are – they can simply be “real” at work.
Your Path to Success™ Engaging Others
Engaged employees are not just those who are excited to come to work every day. Engaged employees are deeply involved in, enthusiastic about and committed to their work. They understand their role and how it can impact the future of the organization. Engagement is an employees’ willingness and ability to contribute to the company’s success.
Your Path to Success™ Leading Others
As a leader, your success is contingent upon the success of those you lead. Leadership is all about: building relationships, communicating clear goals, providing coaching and feedback, setting clear expectations, and… recognizing & celebrating achievements. Leadership is a journey.
Your Path to Success™ Resolving Conflict
Most of us would agree that one of our biggest challenges is dealing with conflict… whether at work or at home. Unfortunately, most of us don't have the tools to resolve conflict in a healthy way. We end up damaging relationships, we lose trust… the list goes on and on. Like it or not, when you are around people...conflict is going to happen.
Your Path to Success™ Respecting Others
Being cooperative and respectful are probably two of the most important things we can do to really excel on the job. Just being able to get along with people is one of the most important skills any of us bring to the workplace. It means getting to know your colleagues and co-workers; making the effort to gain the respect and support of the people you work with.
Your Path to Success™ Serving Others
These days, when most people pick up the phone, write an email or walk into an office or store, they pretty much expect the service they're going to get is indifferent or even just plain awful. Little things like… Thanking the customer and empathizing with their situation. Acknowledging their emotions, rather than ignoring them. And reassuring the customer that your goal is to help… Those are the kinds of things that make customers feel like you really care.
Your Path to Success™ Understanding Diversity
Diversity has to do with human differences. So… a lot of times when people say “diversity” what they really mean is race or gender or ethnicity. Diversity is much more than that – it’s any point of difference. It can be differences in race or gender, but it also could be differences in work style, differences in personalities, differences in terms of our organizational cultures… any type of difference that matters.
Your Path to Success™ Understanding Hidden Bias
We are all socialized into our cultural heritage, whether we know it or not. We learn language, values, and beliefs as well as “who is one of us” and “who is not” from our experiences in our cultures. Many of these beliefs remain even when presented with contradictory information or evidence. Bias can be expressed blatantly or through subtle messages.
Must Do's As a Mentor
There are some "must do’s” that will help you be a successful mentor. Having an open communication channel between you and your mentee is a must!
The Americans with Disabilities Act (from It's the Law™)
Both the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - which applies to Federal employers and Federal Government contractors - and The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 - which applies to private employers - promote and expand employment opportunities for millions of people who have a mental or physical disability.
Equal Employment (from It's the Law™)
Modern day federal equal employment laws began with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and amendments to it and interpretations by the courts. It’s important to understand that sex discrimination law protects persons of all sexes, gender identities, and sexual orientations-including cisgendered men and heterosexuals. Also, race discrimination law protects persons of all races, including Caucasians. Basically, almost every applicant, employee, or former employee is now protected from discrimination because of their membership in groups protected by law.
Understanding Retaliation (from It's the Law™)
Under federal, as well as many state and local employment laws, retaliation is defined as any adverse action taken because the employee engaged in an activity protected by law that would either dissuade a reasonable person from engaging in that protected activity or punish them for having done so.
FOSA™ Model Introduction (from FOSA™ Documenting Discipline)
This video introduces the FOSA™ process - facts, objectives, solutions and actions. This approach is paramount to a successful progressive discipline approach to tackling tough workplace performance.
Did You Hear the One About?
This vignette effectively demonstrates the the point at which workplace jokes can cross the line and become harassment.
The Fight Response (from Confronting Workplace Conflict™ for Managers)
It’s pretty obvious…yelling doesn’t help promote a respectful workplace or help make people feel included. It’s the same thing when dealing with conflict. Relationships get damaged, productivity dramatically decreases - people just shut down. Who wants to be yelled at? It’s unfortunate, but those who hit conflict straight on like that usually don’t know a better way to get things done.