Workplace gossip can destroy morale and spawn a number of nasty lawsuits, including those based on sexual harassment, invasion of privacy, and discrimination claims. Kids on the playground may enjoy a good game of “telephone,” but gossip in the workplace is far from child’s play. It can even become a federal case: A group of government workers in New Hampshire recently filed suit against their town, alleging that being fired for gossiping violated their constitutional rights.
Whether you hear the whispers at your workplace or simply suspect they exist, you need to act now to combat a contagious behavior pattern that can diminish employee satisfaction, stimulate turnover, and breed lawsuits. Order this in-depth 90-minute audio conference recording on how to combat workplace gossip in an effective way.
You and your colleagues will learn:
- Why damaging gossip may be more prevalent than you think, and why refusing to take corrective action is the same as condoning the behavior
- How gossip can destroy workplace morale, productivity, and workers’ self esteem, through real-life examples you can relate to
- Why “top-down” methods are required to get to the root of - and quash - malicious behaviors
- How to construct and implement a damage-control plan that minimizes your legal risks
- The types of claims for which your organization could be liable if you don’t take steps to handle gossip-related issues
- How to draft and administer a sound internal policy that addresses gossip and provides appropriate remedial actions to curb it
- Why you must train your supervisors to be your first-line defense against gossip-related problems
This audio conference was recorded on Monday, November 17, 2008
About Your Speaker:
Eric W. Swenson is a principal at RSJ/Swenson, a management and HR consulting firm specializing in the support of businesses in California and Nevada. In his 20-plus-year career, Swenson has managed hundreds of employees, and he has spoken to many large groups on HR-related topics, including management, motivation, and personal development. An accomplished author, Swenson is a Kolbe Certified Consultant and member of the Society of Human Resource Management, the American Society of Training & Development, and the American Management Association. He regularly provides commentary and management tips at www.managingpeople.blogspot.com, and he is currently working on a follow-up to his first book, Managing People in the 21st Century.
Jack Schaedel, Esq., the founder of the Pasadena, Calif.-based law firm Schaedel & Associates, has more than 10 years of experience advising private and public employers and representing employers in litigation and administrative proceedings. He has successfully defended state and federal claims on behalf of employers concerning discrimination, harassment, defamation, contract violations, trade secret violations, unfair competition, and wage/hour matters including class actions, in court, and before the Department of Labor, Department of Justice, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Schaedel also serves as a settlement officer for the Los Angeles Superior Court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution panel.
Approved for Recertification Credit
This program has been approved for 1.5 recertification credit hours toward PHR, SPHR, and GPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HRCI home page at www.hrci.org.
