Month: August 2010

Did HP’s Board Make the Right Call?

When a colleague suggested I write about Hewlett Packard’s firing of CEO Mark Hurd, I wasn’t sure there was anything of value to say about this situation. But on further reflection I think there is a clear lesson in all of this. You might recall that on August 6, Hurd resigned under pressure from HP’s […]

Words Matter (More than Lithium)

Litigation Value: A plaintiff (and high school) class consisting of “Scott’s Tots,” each of whom could claim entitlement to four years of college tuition — less an offset for the value of a laptop battery. (Thanks, Mr. Scott.) Greetings, faithful readers! You know the summer’s going fast and the nights are growing colder — at […]

HRDA Interview: Are Scanned Documents Legal in Court?

By Stephen Bruce, PhD, PHR Just My E-pinion Scanned documents are legal, says attorney Catherine Moreton Gray, but you must be careful and consistent in your procedures if you want to be sure they’ll hold up in court. Gray, an attorney with Robinson & Cole in Hartford, Connecticut, answered HRDA’s questions during a recent interview. […]

Trying to Go Paperless? Guidelines for Electronic Personnel Documents

by Joseph C. Pettygrove Employers are increasingly looking at the feasibility of scanning hard copies of various types of employment documents and retaining only the electronic copies in the routine course of business. Generally speaking, you are allowed to do that if you ensure that your electronic record maintenance systems are secure, accurate, reliable, and […]

Walking the Tightrope of State and Federal FMLA

In yesterday’s Advisor, we featured examples of state and federal family and medical leave (FML) interactions. Today, we’ll look at some critical considerations plus take a look at the “FMLA Bible.” Here are today’s major considerations regarding interplay between state and federal FML law: Intermittent Leave Many of the state FML laws do not provide […]

With State Family Leave laws, Brace Yourself for Double Dipping

If your state has its own family and medical leave (FML) law, in some circumstances employees may be able to take both leaves, one after the other, and there’s nothing you can do about it. To deal with federal/state family leave issues, the first step is to determine which laws apply to you as a […]

Fines for Non-Compliance Add Up Fast in California

Penalties for noncompliance with California wage and hour laws can add up surprisingly fast, says attorney Christopher C. Hoffman. And it’s surprisingly easy to run afoul of California‘s many tricky requirements. (See yesterday’s CED to read Hoffman’s tips on rest periods and meal breaks in California.)

How the Mighty Have Fallen (Again)

by Katherine Pollock Recently, we learned of a scandal out of the United States that cost a top CEO his job. On August 6, Mark Hurd, the chair, CEO, and president of Hewlett Packard for the past five years, “resigned” under intense pressure from the board. While it was an allegation of sexual harassment that […]

Party+Alcohol=Harassment+Liability

In yesterday’s Advisor, we covered the alcohol-related challenges of company social events; today we’ll examine harassment and injury issues and take a look at a unique program that “writes” your policy for social activities and dozens of other critical HR policies. Sexual Harassment at Social Functions Courts in many states have found that unwanted sexual […]

Hot List: Bestselling “Work Life Balance” 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, July 26, in the “Work Life Balance” subsection of the “Business Life” section in the “Business and Investing” category. 1. The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key […]