Originally presented on May 1, 2009
10:30 a.m. to Noon (Pacific)

Order Option       Price   CD Recording Only       $219

No matter how much you consider yourself a "people person," some employee conversations are just no fun at all. Confronting a workplace bully. Talking to the high-performing assistant whose only problem is a nearly nonexistent wardrobe. Explaining why there won't be raises this year. Telling Joe in the front office that his coworkers are complaining that he smells bad.

Worse still, if you handle these conversations badly, you could risk not only alienating these workers (and their allies), but an expensive lawsuit—for example, a protected medical condition could be the cause of Joe's pungent aroma.

Listen—and bring your managers along!—to an in-depth audio conference all about the tough talks you need to have with your employees. You'll learn:

• Practical solutions for handling tough conversations with employees about their attitude, behavior, and job performance
• How to move beyond your own fears about these confrontations
• What you can do right now to create a workplace atmosphere that encourages positive behavior and honest exchanges between supervisors and rank-and-file employees
• Best practices for offering constructive criticism that leads to behavior changes instead of resentful feelings
• What techniques work best in dealing with specific types of problem employees—from emotional workers who "lose it" and persistent rule breakers to workers who can't get along with their colleagues or who have an excuse for everything
• How to handle difficult conversations about the most sensitive issues on the job, such as discriminatory gossip, poor hygiene, and complaints about pay
• The extra steps you should take when having tough chats with brand-new hires, senior-level executives, or workers in protected classes
• Which California laws and regulations you must keep in mind to reduce your legal risks when you deal with difficult employees

About Your Speakers:

Mary L. Topliff, Esq., founded The Law Offices of Mary L. Topliff in San Francisco in 1997. She specializes in employment law counseling, training, and compliance, with a focus on practical, proactive solutions to employee relations issues. Topliff regularly advises business owners and human resources professionals on all aspects of workplace issues, from harassment prevention and exempt/nonexempt job classifications to disability accommodations and leaves of absence, among many other topics. She has held leadership positions within several state and local human resource organizations. She received her law degree from The Ohio State University School of Law.

This program has been approved for 1.5 recertification credit hours toward PHR and SPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). This program is also a California-specific continuing education activity for PHR-CA and SPHR-CA recertification. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HRCI homepage at www.hrci.org. The use of this seal is not an endorsement by HRCI of the quality of the program. It means that this program has met HRCI's criteria to be pre-approved for recertification credit.

Bonus Offer

As an additional benefit, you will receive a no-risk trial subscription to California Employer Advisor when you register for this Audio Conference (or purchase a CD recording). You will receive 3 evaluation issues. If you want to continue to receive the newsletter, simply pay the invoice you will receive in the mail. If you decide the newsletter isn't for you, just write cancel on the invoice and return it. You will owe nothing, and all issues you receive are yours to keep. As with all ERI products, your satisfaction is guaranteed 100%. (Offer good for new subscribers only.)

How Do Audio Conferences Work?

An Audio Conference is remarkably cost-effective and convenient. You participate from your office using a regular telephone. You have no travel costs and no out-of-office time.

Plus, for one low price you can get as many people in your office to participate as you can fit around a speakerphone.

Because the conference is live, you can ask the speakers questions' either on the phone or via e-mail.

With your registration, you also receive conference materials with additional practical information from Employer Resource Institute sent to you via e-mail shortly before the conference.

Why You Can Sign Up To Attend This Event with Confidence

As with all Employer Resource Institute products, you're completely protected. If for any reason you are unsatisfied with this Audio Conference, simply let us know and we will return your entire registration fee.