Good morning!
HR leaders are in charge of all sorts of things, from digital transformations to succession planning. But CHROs are also famously—or infamously—tasked with taking on and managing underperforming employees.
The problem of a struggling staffer is eternal, but there are certain extenuating factors right now that may be making matters worse for the workforce as a whole: a mental health crisis, widespread feelings of disconnect, and a dawning awareness that most people are operating on the brink of burnout.
My colleague Emma Burleigh reached out to more than a dozen top career experts and people leaders from companies including Microsoft, Salesforce, and EY, to get their advice on how to handle staffers who are struggling in their current role.
“We don’t need to prevent underperformance. The reality is it can happen,” said Ginnie Carlier, vice chair of talent for EY Americas.
Experts delivered some evergreen advice that many managers are familiar with, including setting crystal clear expectations about what the job involves, and being consistent with follow up conversations about how the employee is doing. But they also recommended that CHROs lean more towards the carrot than the stick when it comes to leading people.
That includes creating growth opportunities for employees who may have lost sight of their career path at the company, figuring out a different role that the employee might be better suited for, and above all, interacting with empathy. Employees are often doing their best with invisible weights tied around their legs, and people leaders need to be mindful of the different challenges workers are up against.
“By building empathy with the employee, you develop an understanding of the full scope of what might be affecting their work, including stress, burnout, or personal concerns,” says Denis Hickey, VP of total rewards at Wellhub, a corporate wellness platform. “You can collaboratively develop a plan that addresses both performance and their wellbeing.”
Azure Gilman
azure.gilman@fortune.com
Today’s edition was curated by Emma Burleigh.
Around the Table
A round-up of the most important HR headlines.
After getting hit with charges of unfair labor practice, Amazon is accusing the National Labor Relations Board of violating the constitution. The Guardian
Paramount will lay off about 15% of its staffers, as the company seeks to cut costs by $500 million and prepare for a merger next year with Skydance. New York Times
The United Auto Workers union has filed federal labor charges against Donald Trump and Elon Musk for supporting the practice of firing workers who threaten to strike against their companies. NBC News
Women who have recently graduated college are persistent in their job search, even accepting part-time work or roles they’re overqualified for, while their male counterparts are taking a break. Bloomberg
Watercooler
Everything you need to know from Fortune.
Unexpected. The U.K.’s unemployment rate has dipped slightly as companies have increased hiring, signaling that there is more strength in the labor market than what forecasters anticipated. —Tom Rees, Andrew Atkinson, Bloomberg
Buying barriers. General Motors is cutting research and development staffers in China as the country’s COVID restrictions and a more competitive electric vehicle market has affected the business landscape. —Lionel Lim
Blame game. Google's former CEO Eric Schmidt blames the company's work from home policy on it failure to gain a competitive advantage in the AI race. —Orianna Rosa Royle
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