"Crucial conversations" are about issues such as poor performance. How a camp director handles them can have a profound influence on a camp. Tips for succeeding at crucial conversations include; recognizing when you're having a crucial conversation; holding the right conversation; starting with your intent, not your content; starting with facts,…

Responses from human resource managers in 136 Israeli companies revealed a paternalistic approach to career management. Promotion decisions depended on individual rather than universal criteria and internal human resource development. They were more likely to hire managers from external rather than internal sources. (Contains 44 references.) (SK)

Discusses labor relations at Yale University, explaining that for 35 years, they have been negative, with 4,000 workers recently walking off the job. (EV)

Reports on a study intended to develop a typology of "troublesome others" at work as a basis for research on unpleasant work relationships. Notes respondents rated an unpleasant work associate on a series of Likert-type scales. Present six troublesome boss clusters, eight troublesome peer clusters, and five troublesome subordinate clusters…

Examined how personnel managers (N=19) and line managers (N=28) make disciplinary decisions using policy-capturing approach. Findings suggested that factors likely to affect attributions about reason for a disciplinary problem were important determinants of disciplinary decisions. Considerable weight was assigned to either provocation, tenure, or…

Identified taxonomy of humor that was developed during seven weeks of participant observation in a small, family-owned business. The various types of humor were found to help minimize differences in status and alleviate workplace tension. Humor also had implications for socialization of employees and appeared to create bonds among employees. (TE)

Controlling human resources costs is critical for a competitive advantage. More money will have to be invested in education and training because of an inadequate, ill-prepared group of entry-level workers. Commitment to employees will have to be considered in relation to the increased investment in them. (JOW)

Discusses the problems encountered by first time library supervisors who have to learn not only their new professional jobs but also how to supervise others. A supervisory approach based on work checking is described, and the role that managers should play in assisting their supervisors to acquire necessary skills is outlined. (14 references) (CLB)

Used the Job Feedback Survey and performance data to examine the relationship between perceived organizational feedback environment and performance among 152 salaried employees. Higher performers were found to have received more total positive feedback, while expressions of dissatisfaction or anger from supervisors was related to lower…

Data collected at two law enforcement agencies were used to address three specific issues concerning frame-of-reference rater training: (1) prototype-anchored rating system; (2) sensitivity and threshold analyses to identify idiosyncratic raters; and (3) areas of performance where supervisors and subordinates were likely to disagree on frame of…

Although many school districts may effectively use traditional industrial union bargaining, this approach is based on an adversarial posture emphasizing winners and losers. This article describes more mature industrial relations bargaining structures, such as meet-and-confer, win-win, and alternative approaches that transcend the legally mandated…

Cost increases and realization of the diverse needs of employees have prompted organizations to review the cost and value of employee benefits. Examines alternatives including "cafeteria plans," managed care programs, and disability income plans. (MLF)

Analyzes managers' responses to employee event accounts to explore how managers ascribe meaning to employees' conduct. Suggests that accounts are assessed against a background of prior problematic events, accounts, and evaluations. (RAE)

Arbitration can be a way to settle employee grievances efficiently and fairly. Count on spending five or six hours in preparation for each hour spent with the arbitrator. Presents strategies for meticulous preparation. (MLF)

Provides an examination of management and employee values as influential for organizational rule formation. Demonstrates that management values are directly related to employee values but indirectly influence the evolution of organization rules. Supports a view of rule emergence based on management and employee values. (HB)