Entries by Saranne Segal

When Are Employers Required to Conduct a Workplace Investigation?

I get asked this question a lot, usually by employers who’ve just received a complaint and are hoping the answer is “not always.” Fair enough. Not every workplace gripe needs a formal investigation. But here’s the thing: more complaints require investigation than most employers think. And the consequences of deciding not to investigate when you […]

How to Choose a Workplace Investigator (And How to Spot a Bad One)

Choosing a workplace investigator is one of those decisions that feels straightforward until you actually have to make it. You’ve got a complaint on your desk, HR is nervous, and someone has told you to “get an external investigator.” Great. But how do you actually choose one? And more importantly, how do you tell the […]

When Your Star Performer Is Also Your Biggest Problem (Or: How to Handle the Brilliant Jerk Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Team))

We need to talk about Sarah. You know Sarah. Every workplace has one. She’s the one who delivers exceptional results, hits every KPI, and makes clients swoon. She’s also the textbook definition of a toxic high performer. She’s the reason three people have requested transfers this year, why Tom from accounting eats lunch in his car, […]

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Turning Conflict into Opportunity: The Innovation Connection

Conflict in the workplace often gets a bad rap, but I’ve found it can be one of the most powerful sources of innovation, if handled the right way. And the research backs that up. Accenture found that companies encouraging constructive disagreement are six times more likely to be innovative. Gallup reports teams with healthy conflict […]

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The Cost of Avoiding Conflict: What Leaders Need to Know

Workplace conflict is often seen as something to be avoided at all costs. Many leaders believe that if they ignore small tensions, they will simply fade away. However, the reality is quite the opposite – unresolved conflict festers, disrupts teams, and eventually leads to significant financial and cultural consequences. At Segal Conflict Solutions, we’ve seen […]

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Why Your Team’s Tone Matters

Ever read an email or heard a comment in a meeting and thought, “Ouch, that felt unnecessary”? Tone-the unspoken element of communication-can make or break a team. It’s not just the words we use but how they’re delivered that influences how people respond. At Segal Conflict Solutions, I’ve seen firsthand how a team’s tone can […]