Month: September 2008

9 Legal Landmines for Untrained (and maybe Trained) Interviewers

Even seasoned interviewers can inadvertently ask questions that lead to legal problems. That’s why the first rule in interviewing is "Innocent questions can lead to trouble." "An interview is essentially a pretty casual conversation, particularly if it goes well," says Amy Berecek. And in a conversation, it’s just human nature to ask people if they’re […]

Is wrongful dismissal litigation reform coming to Canada?

by Karen Sargeant Can fired employees afford to take their prior employers to court? Are trials too expensive? Are there better ways to secure justice for employees? These are some of the questions a group of lawyers in Ontario, Canada, have been considering. Earlier this year, the Chief Justice of Ontario expressed concerns that employees […]

What’s Your HR Credibility Rating?

In yesterday’s Advisor, we shared some how-to-lose-your-HR-credibility pitfalls. How many applied to you? Today, more tips and an introduction to a unique online training program. Building “HR Cred” is a top task for HR managers, although it never appears on any job description. It’s tough to build credibility, but easy to lose it. Here is […]

BusinessWeek’s Bestseller List

BusinessWeek ranks business books that are the most recent bestsellers and provides a short summary. 1. StrengthsFinder 2.0: A New and Upgraded Edition of the Online Test from Gallup’s Now, Discover Your Strengths by Tom Rath. Are you unsure where your true talents lie? Do you feel that you are both a person who gets […]

‘HR Cred’–How to Build It and How to Lose It

Credibility–it’s hard to establish and it’s easy to lose. Yet, it’s critical for HR success. Today, one expert’s take on how to lose it. The respected HR Competency Study, conducted by the University of Michigan Business School and its partners, has identified six core competency domains for HR managers:At the basic “relationships” level:          Credible Activist […]

Lose Weight, Gain a Lawsuit

Litigation value: ($500,000 when all is said and done, mainly to Phyllis and Kelly) Wow, it certainly didn’t take the folks at Dunder Mifflin long to get into midseason form! And from a liability perspective, that’s not good. When corporate initiated a weight-loss competition among all the branches, the Scranton branch sprang into action. While […]

Risks, Benefits of Using Contingent Workers

by Craig Borowski Many employers use contingent workers: independent contractors, leased employees, consultants, and temporary employees. While using an alternative workforce has benefits, it can create legal and practical risks as well. If you use or are considering using contingent workers, here are some benefits and risks to weigh. Audio Conference: Independent Contractor Myths: New […]

Layoffs: Big Brother is watching you

Breaking News: President Bush Signs ADA Amendments Act Yesterday, President Bush signed the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. For more details on the new law, click here. The changes take effect Jan. 1, 2009. Get ready to comply–attend our audio conference on the new law on Oct. 8.

HEART Act Provides New Employment Benefits for Military Personnel

President George W. Bush recently signed into law the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax (HEART) Act of 2008, which provides the following employee benefit-related advantages to eligible military personnel and their families. Keep up with the latest changes in federal employment laws and regulations with the Federal Employment Law Insider Retirement plan requirements The […]

New DOL Rules Require More Disclosure to Workers with 401(k) Retirement Plans

Forty years ago, very few U.S. employees were personally affected by what happened on Wall Street. Six in 10 Americans were covered by a pension that they could count on regardless of the stock market. Today less than 2 in 10 workers in the private sector have a pension and most workers only option is […]