Discussing staffing and personnel issues publicly can be a volatile minefield and, in some cases, illegal. The management vs. labor tension always resurfaces, whether the dispute is about compensation, time off, employee dishonesty or a rash of other conflicts.

Regardless of which side of the industry you're on—management or labor—sometimes you have pressing conflicts you simply need to discuss with someone else or won't be able to sleep at night. Naturally, your industry peers are most likely to empathize and provide useful advice, but sometimes these issues are so sensitive that you want (or need) to discuss them anonymously.

Thankfully, there's a place to turn: Self-Storage Talk. By creating an account on SST, the official online forum for Inside Self-Storage, you can use forums such as "Staffing, Education and Training" to send out a human-resources S.O.S.

Recently, one facility manager began a discussion about how she is paid her bonuses out of the facilities net rather than gross profit, and she wanted to know if her situation is atypical. Frankly, she thinks her setup is a bit unfair. Six pages of responses later, a spirited discussion has ensued about which method is the best to compensate managers, most of whom depend on bonuses to supplement a relatively small base wage. The beauty of the situation, though, is that the thread-starter can get the feedback she needs without revealing her identity or where she works. She can draw on the support of the community without having to put her job at risk.

On the other side, regional and district managers, along with owners and other decision-makers, face many challenges in motivating and managing their employees. Is "mystery shopping" effective in creating better customer service? What qualities to look for in a manager?  Where can you find good part-time help? All of these discussions are helpful for management in making important personnel decisions.

To start asking for help on Self-Storage Talk, you'll need to register an account. But don't worry, it's free. Remember, you don't have to tell anyone who you really are. Some members fully disclose their identities. Others choose to be anonymous. The decision is completely up to you.