2014—The 3 Levels of Concern for HR Managers

It’s going to be a challenging year for HR (well, aren’t they all?). In today’s Advisor we’ll take a look at three levels of concern—policy HR issues like technology, health care, and social media; basic HR issues like wage/hour threats; and strategic HR issues like losing your high potentials because your Boomers aren’t retiring.

Technology/Social Media—HR Managers Are as Bad as Any

Technology changes so fast it’s hard to keep up with it. First, there’s the productivity issue, and HR managers are as bad as anyone else.

At a presentation on social media at a recent SHRM convention, the speaker said, “OK, HR managers, we’re 20 minutes into the presentation, be honest, how many have checked their social media since the presentation began?” About half the hands went sheepishly up in the air.

And then there’s the social media background check issue (if you go on social media, you’ll find out things you don’t want to know), and the disparagement, stalking, and badmouthing on social media issue..

Add to that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issue (Is that vitriolic diatribe “protected activity”?) and the BYOD (bring your own device) issue (Are your precious company data and trade secrets sitting unprotected on employee phones and tablets?)

Health Care

Health care—there’s an ongoing policy issue that will bedevil HR managers for the foreseeable future.

First of all, there’s complying with the Affordable Care Act. But on top of that, there’s the untenable burden of rising costs.

Agenda for 2014?  Start on May 7, 2014, with a free interactive webcast What HR Needs to Be Prepared for in 2014. Features Sue Meisinger. Learn More

NLRB

A newly energized and aggressive NLRB is on the march. In the area of social media, they are regarding a lot of employer actions as having a “chilling effect” on employees’ right to discuss terms and conditions of employment (“Section 7 rights”). For example, in one case, a car dealer’s admonition to employees to be courteous was viewed as having a chilling effect:

 “Everyone is expected to be courteous, polite and friendly to our customers, vendors and suppliers, as well as to their fellow employees. No one should be disrespectful or use profanity or any other language which injures the image or reputation of the Dealership.”

Remember that Section 7 rights apply to nonunion organizations as well as those that are unionized.

Basic HR Compliance/Lawsuit Avoidance Issues

Wage/hour is the best example of HR basics that may need attention. The Wage/Hour Division at the Department of Labor (DOL) is newly energized and better funded than in the past. They are focusing on two areas:

• Systemic discrimination. These are situations in which they can find patterns of discrimination across large numbers of employees and/or over extended periods of time.
• Disadvantaged populations. Typically, this means either young workers who don’t have the confidence to defend themselves or know what to do when treated inappropriately, low-wage workers who don’t have access to help, and/or non-English-speaking workers.

Beyond the blatant violations of failure to pay the minimum wage, or failure to pay overtime, be on the lookout for these other wage/hour violations:

• Off the clock work. (“I’m out of overtime. Please clock out and then set up for tomorrow. I’ll make it up to you.”)  This could be agreeable to both boss and worker, but that doesn’t make it legal. (“Make sure to keep your phone on at home tonight in case the West Coast calls.”) If the calls are more than a quick “Where’s the production report?” they may be paid time.
• Autodeductions. It’s handy to have your software automatically deduct the time for a lunch break, but it can cause problems if a worker got called to the phone. Workers have to be relieved from all duty during an unpaid break.
• Recordkeeping. Nearly all suits brought in the area of wage/hour include a separate charge that involves faulty recordkeeping.

SHRM ex-president dishes on what to look for in the year ahead. Join us for a free interactive webcast on What HR Needs to Be Prepared for in 2014. Earn 1 hour in HRCI Recertification Credit.
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Discrimination

The DOL is also on the lookout for systemic cases of discrimination. This can be in hiring or subsequent treatment, such as promotions.

One issue in the news is accommodating religious dress and religious worship schedules. Of course, discrimination against anyone in a protected class is unlawful and against company values and policy.

In tomorrow’s Advisor, we’ll take a look at some of the more strategic issues confronting HR managers, plus we announce a free “what to watch out for in 2014” webcast featuring Sue Meisinger, former president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management.