Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
To improve health and cut costs, a large corporation has begun firing smokers. But two attorneys are suggesting a better way. January is traditionally a month in which people resolve to change their habits. Those who overeat try to diet. Those who disdain exercise suddenly discover the corner gym. And those who smoke …well, if […]
New rules just put in effect will make e-mails more useful as evidence in lawsuits, but e-mail systems costlier to maintain. See box below for information on a special audio conference explaining this and other key federal employment law changes for 2007. It was the smoking gun that blew away the giant Arthur Andersen accounting […]
An international consultant forecasts that, in the coming year, corporate leaders will focus on retention, ethics, self-development, and “bonding with employees.” What human resources priorities will America’s corporate leadership (with the help and guidance of their HR people, of course) be focusing on in 2007? One of the key prognosticators on this topic has been […]
Neither California nor federal law requires employers to give employees paid sick leave–but now, as a result of last November’s election, the city of San Francisco does. Sixty-one percent of San Francisco voters approved Proposition F, which requires one hour of paid sick leave per 30 hours worked. The ordinance, which takes effect Feb. 5, […]
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has recently decided two more “supervisor” cases under its new standard. The decisions are in addition to one the Board recently issued that shed some light on the often murky question of which employees are considered supervisors rather than “lead employees” under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). That […]
LITIGATION VALUE: $150,000 I empathize with Michael. There is nothing worse than the sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach when you realize that you just accidentally forwarded that witty e-mail (which you worked on all morning) mocking your boss’s bad suits and strange habits to your boss, herself, rather than to your clever […]
Jan. 1 is the effective date for new employment law in many states. Here’s a widely used tool to help you keep up with the changes. As of this week, if you allowed smoking in your company’s lobby or stairwells, you can’t anymore, if you operate in California. As of this week, if you operate […]
A new California Court of Appeals decision makes employers more vulnerable to big payouts when terminating a longtime employee who has stacked up unused vacation time over the years. We’ll examine the case and give you policy tips that can help you limit the amount of accrued vacation time you may need to pay for […]
With employers increasingly targeted over hiring illegal immigrants, here’s how to handle I-9s and no-match letters so that you stay on the right side of the law. As the 110th Congress convenes this week, immigration is sure to be a hot issue, but lawmakers will be reflecting only what’s been going on in the nation […]
The IRS is helping businesses cut their transportation costs but, even better, businesses are helping employees cut their costs as well. Shout hallelujah! It’s finally here. The annual IRS business mileage cost adjustment, which takes effect every January 1. This year, it’s an unusually large change. Your company can now deduct 4 cents a mile […]