Month: May 2009

Reducing Pension Costs in Canada During Hard Times

The recent decline in financial markets has caused Canadian pension plans to become significantly underfunded. For instance, in Québec close to 97 percent of all defined benefit pension plans are currently underfunded. As this continues, many employers may look for ways to reduce pension costs or at least offset increases of those costs. Such losses […]

How Do You Train the Graveyard Shift?

If you keep the lights burning 24/7 for round-the-clock service or production, you know that providing adequate training for your shift workers is a formidable challenge. Your key to success? Accessibility. Pull Them Off Work or Pay Them Overtime? The first question is whether to train during the shift or outside shift time. If you […]

A New Era in Business?

Those who know me best would not consider me a sentimental person. In fact, my wife would probably laugh out loud if someone suggested that I was indeed sentimental. But with my oldest graduating from high school in a couple of days, it has caused me to think about what work life might be like for […]

HRHero Training Survey Results

When it comes to training employees and supervisors, HR plays a significant role in most — if not all — aspects at many companies, according to the latest HR Hero survey. While this probably doesn’t come as a surprise to many HR practitioners, the level of involvement in all phases of training might. Our survey, […]

‘How’m I Doin’?’ Employee Survey Helps Answer that Question

By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady Bob Brady invites you to take stock of employee satisfaction at your organization—and find out how you compare to similar employers—with the BLR® National Employee Attitude Survey. Third edition The former mayor of New York City, Ed Koch, was famous for asking people, “How’m I doin’?” He’d ask […]

Impractical Jokes

Time magazine is running a feature about The Office and NBC’s invitation for viewers to send in photos of hijinks in their own workspaces, like those often featured on the show. Some of the pranks featured on the show have been hilarious. From simple things like Jim enveloping Dwight’s stapler in Jello, to more complicated things like […]

New Health Benefits Law Goes into Effect this Year

On October 9 of this year a new federal law—called Michelle’s Law—regarding who’s entitled to health benefits will go into effect. The law is named for Michelle Morse, a New Hampshire college student with cancer who continued with a full course load against her doctor’s advice in order to maintain health benefits under her parents’ […]

Age Bias Becoming Battleground Issue for Employers

Earlier this month, a statewide class-action lawsuit was filed in a Northern California federal court, alleging that Minnesota-based giant 3M systematically discriminates against older employees. The lawsuit follows a similar case already pending in 3M’s home state.

Legal Dangers of Online Reference Checking, Video Résumés

In Yesterday’s Advisor, attorney Terry Solomon delved into the issue of Web 2.0 privacy. Today she covers legal dangers associated with online reference checking and video résumés. The main legal pitfall around online reference checking is discrimination, says Solomon. (Solomon and colleague Philip L. Gordon, shareholders in the Littler law firm, gave their suggestions at […]