{"id":5090,"date":"2025-11-20T17:21:17","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T17:21:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/human-resources\/?page_id=5090"},"modified":"2025-11-21T23:00:13","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T23:00:13","slug":"managing-employee-concerns-supervisor-guidance","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/human-resources\/managing-employee-concerns-supervisor-guidance\/","title":{"rendered":"Managing Employee Concerns \u2014 Supervisor Guidance"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Supervisors play an essential role in building a respectful and supportive workplace. Employees may come to you first when something feels wrong. This page provides clear guidance on how to respond and when to involve HR.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Understanding the Employee\u2019s Options<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Employees have several ways to raise concerns. As a supervisor, you should understand all available paths:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/human-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/Rights-Respect-Resilience.pptx-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4695\" srcset=\"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/human-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/Rights-Respect-Resilience.pptx-1.png 960w, https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/human-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/Rights-Respect-Resilience.pptx-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/human-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/Rights-Respect-Resilience.pptx-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/human-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/Rights-Respect-Resilience.pptx-1-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/human-resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/Rights-Respect-Resilience.pptx-1-320x180.png 320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Your Responsibilities as a Supervisor<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Supervisors are expected to:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Listen openly and without judgment<\/li>\n<li>Maintain discretion (but never promise full confidentiality)<\/li>\n<li>Address behavior, communication, or performance concerns promptly<\/li>\n<li>Consult HR early, even if an issue seems minor<\/li>\n<li>Support a safe, respectful work environment<\/li>\n<li>Avoid retaliation or any appearance of retaliation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What to Expect After You Contact HR<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HR will:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Support appropriate documentation and handling of concerns based on facts<\/li>\n<li>Connect you with an assigned HRBP<\/li>\n<li>Determine routing (HR, EOC, Title IX, or Campus Police)<\/li>\n<li>Communicate expected next steps<\/li>\n<li>Contact the employee and gather information<\/li>\n<li>Partner with you on resolution steps as needed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may be asked to provide context, documentation, or participation in coaching or resolution.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Manager Responsibilities During HR Review<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Supervisors are expected to:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Provide factual, accurate information<\/li>\n<li>Maintain neutrality and confidentiality<\/li>\n<li>Avoid influencing witnesses or involved parties<\/li>\n<li>Refrain from conducting your own investigation<\/li>\n<li>Implement recommended actions (coaching, expectations, improvement plans)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What to Avoid<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Do not<\/strong> promise outcomes\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>Do not<\/strong> delay reporting concerns to HR<\/li>\n<li><strong>Do not<\/strong> collect evidence or statements on your own<\/li>\n<li><strong>Do not<\/strong> attempt informal investigations<\/li>\n<li><strong>Do not<\/strong> retaliate or treat employees differently after a report<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tools for Supervisors<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/1kOXYa4LwAXTIf_wxEsyw4FRso2_Z9DaHszZaPtTwgog\/edit?ts=691cb95c\"><strong>Decision-Tree Routing Tool<\/strong><\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/cm.maxient.com\/reportingform.php?AustinCC&amp;layout_id=30\"><strong>HR Concern &amp; Complaint Form<\/strong><\/a><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/human-resources\/hr-business-partners\/\"><strong>HRBP Directory<\/strong><\/a><br \/><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/administrative-rules\/?p=1096\">Progressive Discipline Guidelines<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Supervisors play an essential role in building a respectful and supportive workplace. Employees may come to you first when something feels wrong. This page provides clear guidance on how to respond and when to involve &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/human-resources\/managing-employee-concerns-supervisor-guidance\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5090","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5090","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5090"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5090\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.austincc.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5090"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}