Risk Management

Consider these simple ways to keep your staff focused and positive.

© North Carolina Center for Nonprofit Organizations, Inc. From Common Ground, a publication of the N.C. Center for Nonprofits, www.ncnonprofits.org.

We are peppered with apologies from politicians, business people, and celebrities. Even TV journalism has one of its own stars apologizing profusely.

Public apologies by famous people can be incomplete hedges designed to preserve the speaker’s status while admitting enough to make the inquiry go away. It rarely works because people don’t completely believe them. But, we can gain valuable insights by how famous people mishandle these things.

Employees in direct service organizations are often subject to compassion fatigue as a result of working in high-stress environments. This checklist can assist in determining if employees are suffering from compassion fatigue, burnout, or secondary traumatic stress. (Professional Quality of Life by B. Hudnall Stamm, 2009-2012)

Organizations can adapt one of these sample employee dating policies for their organizational personnel policies.

Employee Relationships in the Workplace Policy (Workable)

Sample Employee Dating Policy (Paycor)

If you are a new employer, or new to dealing with federal employment taxes, the first place to go for information is Publication 15, Employer’s Tax Guide (Circular E). This publication, revised annually, contains basic information employers need to collect information needed to determine and pay their and employees’ employment tax liability, file correct tax returns, and withhold federal taxes. (Internal Revenue Service)

Grievance Procedures and Internal Dispute Resolution - Rather than turning a deaf ear to complaints, nonprofits need to provide employees with a credible listener who will objectively review their grievance. Employees will feel fairly treated if they have had an opportunity to tell their story, and the nonprofit has the benefit of learning--outside of litigation--the details of the employee's concerns. (Nonprofit Risk Management Center)

Nonprofits compete with for-profit workplaces for talented workers, so setting the right level of compensation can make the difference between attracting and retaining qualified employees or, in contrast, suffering from high turnover and/or not being able to find the hoped-for caliber of employees. (National Council of Nonprofits) 

Compensation For Nonprofit Employees

Identifies benefits that local governments receive from working with small community nonprofits, challenges that these nonprofits often face in developing internal strength, reasons that governments help address these challenges, and strategies that governments use to provide such assistance. (UNC School of Government, 2005)

The P's and Q's of Performance Reviews presentation and workbook covers the components of an effective performance review, factors to evaluate performance, how to differentiate performance levels, steps involved in conducting a performance appraisal discussion, and how to create an appropriate and effective development p

Doing good is tough work, and consensus shows that many do-gooders face more resource restraints than their private sector peers. With the stress of impressing your manager or your peers, the pressure to produce superb programs, and the weight of scrutiny from regulatory bodies, funders, and the general public, it's easy to burn out fast. 

10 Ways to Definitely Burn Out as a Nonprofit Employee (WildApricot.com, 2020)