Month: December 2011

Watch Out for Exemption Misclassifications in California

It’s important to be sure you properly classify jobs as exempt if you’re asserting an exemption to the overtime pay requirements of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). That message was reinforced by a recent decision of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (which includes California) in which the court concluded that state social […]

Social Media Affecting (Infecting?) HR in Many Ways

Social media. It’s affecting—or is that infecting—a lot of HR’s territory from recruiting to productivity to community. In today’s Advisor, attorney Margaret (Molly) DiBianca sorts out the key elements for your social media policy. DiBianca, who is with Young, Conaway Stargatt & Taylor LLP in Wilmington, Delaware, offered her tips at the BLR’s Advanced Employment […]

New DOT Rule Reduces Driving Time for Truckers

A new U.S. Department of Transportation rule reduces the number of hours a truck driver can work within a week. The new final rule, announced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration a few days before Christmas, reflects new research in driver fatigue to make sure truck drivers can get the rest they need to […]

Wellness Discounts of $60-$120/Month Drive High ROI

Jeppesen and Dent made their comments at the SHRM Annual Conference and Exhibition held recently in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jeppesen, who is SPHR certified, is senior VP, Human Resources of Larry H. Miller Group of Companies; Dent is a senior consultant for ACAP Health in Dallas Texas. Costs of Health Care with Wellness in Place […]

Communication and Conflict Resolution Within Teams

Do your employees understand the importance of maintaining good communication when working within a team? Do they have the tools to resolve conflicts to maintain progress? Here is some helpful information to convey to your employees that will help facilitate effective cooperation and teamwork.

‘Unique Interactive Process’ Key to Appeasing EEOC on ADA

In yesterday’s Advisor, the Advanced Employment Issues Symposium panel offered tips for dealing with an increasingly aggressive Wage/Hour Division; today, the panels advice for dealing with ADA issues, plus an introduction to the leading all-HR-in-one website. EEOC is coming after anyone not using a unique interactive process, says attorney Stacie Caraway. They want to see […]

Why Do Traditional Wellness Programs Fail?

Jeppesen and Dent made their comments at the SHRM Annual Conference and Exhibition held recently in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jeppesen, who is SPHR certified, is senior VP, Human Resources, of Larry H. Miller Group of Companies; Dent is a senior consultant for ACAP Health in Dallas Texas. Has traditional wellness failed? Jeppesen notes that 71% […]

8 Steps to Conflict Resolution

What steps do you take to resolve conflicts among employees? Do you find the process effective? Do your employees have a plan to resolve conflict in their teams? Here is a simple 8-step conflict resolution process that you and your employees can use to resolve any type of workplace conflict.

Labor Arbitrators Have More Scope than Courts, Supreme Court Says

By Brian P. Smeenk Canadian labor arbitrators are not legally bound to court-made legal rules. Rules of evidence, for example, are more relaxed. Rules of contract interpretation may also vary. But just how far arbitrators can deviate from general rules of law has been an open question. A recent decision by the Supreme Court of […]

Outlook for 2012—The Wage/Hour Hot Spots

What’s in store as we begin 2012? Robust agencies with more aggressive tactics, says attorney Charles Plumb, but you can prepare yourself to fend off the worst of it. Plumb, a partner with McAfee and Taft in Tulsa, Oklahoma, made his remarks at BLR’s Advanced Employment Issues Symposium in Las Vegas. He was joined by […]