Month: March 2011

Unemployed Job Applicants Pose Practical and Legal Dilemmas for HR

Employers have started hiring again and are often overwhelmed with huge numbers of resumes, even for entry-level positions. Some companies have decided that an effective way to identify the best candidates is to refuse to consider job applicants who are currently unemployed. But a number of human resources professionals, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), […]

1000 Readers Tell Us About their Benefits Communication Programs

By Stephen D. Bruce, PHR Editor, HR Daily Advisor Just My E-pinion Benefits communication is especially critical these days—with little going on in the raise department, employers need to be sure that employees truly appreciate the cost of the benefits they’re getting. Last month we surveyed our readers to see how they are doing it. […]

Montana House Passes Bills That May Cause Criminal Penalties, Disastrous Results for Employers

By Jeanne M. Bender Two bills that are progressing through the Montana Legislature would impose significant restrictions on employers’ staffing response to emergencies and their ability to manage unemployment compensation eligibility for recent hires. Montana law currently limits the workday in certain occupations and for certain employers (e.g., mining, smelting, school districts, and state and […]

Tame Turnover with Low-Cost Work/Life Balance Programs

In yesterday’s Advisor, we offered tips for reducing turnover and increasing productivity. Today, the rest of the story, plus good news about job descriptions. [Go here for steps 1 to 5] Step 6: Communicate with your employees Communication is critical for reducing turnover. Remember that communication needs to go both ways. You need to share […]

The Wisdom of Crowds

HR practitioner Paul Knoch reviews The Wisdom of Crowds by James Surowiecki. He finds that while the book is a bit heavy on theory and light on real-life examples, the examples that are provided are revealing and the book raises the important question of whether businesses should look beyond a small field of experts or […]

The 5 Dumbest Management Concepts?

Author and blogger Geoffrey James puts a new spin on the old saying about nothing being certain in this world except death and taxes — he’d add “bad management” to the list, too.

Recruit Your Best People Every Day (Your Competitors Are)

Many managers think retention is management’s problem, that it’s all about salary and benefits and perks. “There’s nothing I can do” they think. But studies show that in large measure, it’s what happens at the department and individual levels that makes the difference in retention. Reviews of exit interviews tend to back up this idea, […]

Supreme Court Issues Employee-Friendly Decision in USERRA Case

Today, in Staub v. Proctor Hospital, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously held that an employer may be liable under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) when the discriminatory actions of an employee who doesn’t make employment decisions influence the employment decisionmaker. More specifically, the Court noted, “if a supervisor performs an act […]

TN Senate: No Safety Penalty for Employers That Allow Guns at Work

A bill rapidly making its way through the Tennessee Legislature would protect employers that opt not to restrict persons who are legally licensed to carry a handgun from bringing their weapons into the workplace. On Monday, Senate Bill (SB) 519 passed almost unanimously (the lone dissenter was Democratic Senator Beverly Marrero of Memphis). The bill, […]