Month: June 2010

The Chronic Complainer: Must You Investigate?

Yesterday we shared a hypothetical posed by Denise Kay, SPHR, Esq. Kay is president of Employment Practices Solutions, Inc., in Lakewood, Colorado. She recently spoke at the Society for Human Resource Management Legal and Legislative Conference in Washington, DC.

Are Reference Checkers Checking the References You Give?

In yesterday’s Advisor, Employment Screening Resources (ESR) offered important policy and legal considerations for performing reference checks. Today, we’ll get their specific recommendations, and we’ll take a look at a unique resource for small HR departments. ESR, a Novato, California-based provider preemployment screening services, offers the following suggestions for responding to requests for references: 1. […]

One-Third of Résumés Lie—Reference Check, Anyone?

Everyone agrees that reference checks are important, but actually doing them is difficult. Employers want to get information about candidates, but when other employers want the same information from them, they don’t want to give it. That’s frustrating, says Employment Screening Resources (ESR). One-Third of Résumés Contain a Lie According to industry experts, up to […]

Iowa ‘Mini’ WARN Act Goes Into Effect July 1, 2010

A new state law imposing stringent notice requirements on Iowa employers engaging in business closings or mass layoffs goes into effect Thursday, July 1, 2010. Near the end of the 2010 session, the Iowa Legislature passed a state version of the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. Often referred to as a “mini” […]

Canadian Court Not Prepared to Act as Workplace Referee

By Sara Parchello Does an employer have a broad obligation to protect employees from mental distress that may be caused in the workplace? Ontario’s Court of Appeal recently answered this question in Piresferreira v. Ayotte and Bell Mobility Inc. with a resounding “no.” The decision reverses, in part, an award made back in 2008 – […]

If You Don’t Test, You’re a Magnet for Drug Abusers

In yesterday’s Advisor, Dr. W. Smith Chandler offered tips on drug testing. Today, he’ll show how to prevent liability when testing, and we’ll introduce a unique all-in-one HR problem solver that helps with drug testing and most every other HR challenge. Chandler, an SPHR and physician who is board-certified in occupational medicine, has helped many […]

Hot List: Bestselling “Skills” Books on Amazon.com

Amazon.com updates its list of the bestselling books every hour. Here is a snapshot of what is hot right now, this Monday morning, June 28, in the “Skills” section of the “Business and Investing” category. 1. Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Tony Hsieh. In his first book, the CEO of […]

Why Drug Test? Simple. Save Money

"Why do we have substance abuse testing programs?" asks Dr. W. Smith Chandler. The answer is simple—they save money. Chandler, an SPHR and physician who is board-certified in occupational medicine, has helped many employers develop substance abuse programs. His comments came during a recent audio conference sponsored by BLR®. How Do Substance Abuse Programs Save […]

Dear BP: Please Get Out of Your Own Way

How hard can it be? I’m talking about BP’s apparent lack of ability to get out of its own way. Time and time again BP has been able to say or do exactly the wrong thing. Forget about what the oil company could or could not have done to avoid this whole tragic mess. Let’s […]

Office Scuttlebutt Redux

Additional Litigation Value:  $150,000 ($50,000 each for Stanley and Andy; $25,000 each for Kelly and Erin) Tonight’s episode – Gossip – is a repeat from last season.  My law partner, Matt Rita, thoroughly covered Michael Scott’s shenanigans in the first run, astutely pointing out how Michael’s self-generated rumor mill could give rise to an invasion […]