Month: July 2007

Phyllis’ Wedding

As I said before, being a jerk isn’t illegal.  Typically.  And Michael’s conduct, although extremely self-centered and rude, probably does not violate anything more than the accepted standards of conduct in polite society.  But rude conduct at work can be more problematic.  At least according to a recent case from the Delaware Supreme Court. Recently, the […]

5 Steps to Leadership

Just My E-pinionBy Vicki Anderson, HR Consultant Our guest columnist says that instead of asking “Why can’t my people just do their job?” you should find ways to lead them to want to do it. When deadlines are pressing and everyone’s whining, when you’ve reminded someone of a task for the umpteenth time, or when […]

Nonexempt Employee Travel Time: When Do You Have to Pay?

The rules on paying nonexempt employees for travel time can get pretty convoluted. BLR’s Employee Compensation in [Your State] explains them. Yesterday’s article on topics relating to summer HR issues talked about the government’s rules relating to paying nonexempt employees on-call. We answered the question of whether you really have to pay an employee sitting […]

Bulletin: California Sexual Harassment Regulations Finally Approved

On July 18, after much delay and many revisions, the California Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved regulations relating to A.B. 1825, California’s mandatory sexual harassment training law. The regulations go into effect 30 days after the date of passage. The new regulations clarify the interactivity requirements for e-learning programs and webinars, and heighten the […]

“Dog Days" Advice for HR

Midsummer brings special workplace issues, relating to, among other things, workers on-call and operating with a skeleton crew. Here’s how to keep things both legal and moving. Get out the Milk Bone and Kibbles’n Bits, because here they come –the “dog days” of summer. It’s that lazy time from now until Labor Day when half […]

Compensation: Workers Think Execs Are Overpaid

Thirty-nine percent of workers say senior executives earn more than they should, according to a survey by the staffing firm Hudson. The survey, which included 10,000 respondents, found that while 64 percent of workers said executive pay should be tied to company performance, just 38 percent of employees say the practice is applied at their […]

Employment Law Tip: How to Avoid Trouble with Reference Requests

Providing references for current and former employees can be tricky. Improperly handling such requests can lead to lawsuits and claims from both the individual and the new employer. Each state sets its own thresholds for liability arising from employment references. Regardless of location, employers should exercise caution and err on the side of providing too […]

Interview Technique: More Than Just Good Questions

BLR’s HR subscription website, HR.BLR.com, explains that success at interviewing jobseekers means not just knowing what to ask, but the techniques of how to ask. Yesterday’s Daily Advisor gave you 20 key questions to use in interviewing job candidates. Question content is key, of course, to getting the information you need. But so is another […]

20 Top Job Interview Questions

If you could ask only 20 questions in a job interview, which should they be? BLR’s editorial mind weighs in with the answers. Back in the day, there used to be a TV quiz show called “20 Questions.” The contestant had a secret in mind, and the panel was challenged to learn it in just […]

Handling Employees Summoned for Jury Duty

John, a regular full-time employee of BigCo, received a jury summons from federal court. Upon learning he had to appear for jury duty, he called Jamie, BigCo’s human resources representative, to find out what he needed to do. Jamie told him that he needed to take personal leave for his absence. After hearing John complaining, […]