Month: May 2012

Some ‘Surprised and Disappointed’; Some ‘Loved’ It

By Stephen D. Bruce, PHR Editor, HR Daily Advisor Dan Oswald’s recent epinion, “It Takes Three—Creative Type, Business Type, and ?” garnered contrasting responses, some quite negative and some quite positive. The original article put forth the proposition that successful companies need three types of leadership: creative, business, and a**hole. Here are the comments: ‘Every […]

Reporting Businesses FLSA Violations Is Now Just a Smartphone App Away

Business owners should be aware that customers typing away on their smartphones might actually be reporting FLSA violations to the U.S. Department of Labor. DOL’s recently created smartphone app, “Eat Shop Sleep,” allows users to search for places to eat, shop and sleep and to read Yelp customer reviews. However, the app also provides users […]

Benefits Other Than Health Insurance Survey 2012

Employee benefits other than wages have evolved over the years as companies look for new ways to retain good employees, boost employee morale, and encourage employee loyalty. Each year, we at HRHero and BLR survey our readers to find out what benefits they offer and how their benefits plans are decided and change to fit […]

Be Careful When Scheduling Split-Shift Meetings

Yesterday, Garrett Jensen of the Orange County office of Carothers, DiSante & Freudenberger LLP spelled out the facts of a recent court case in which an employee claimed he was entitled to reporting time pay on days he had meetings scheduled. Today, the court’s ruling.

Investigation 101—Confronting the Alleged Offender

Yesterday’s Advisor offered tips for interviewing an employee who has made a harassment or discrimination complaint. Today, how to interview the alleged offender, plus good news—there’s a upcoming virtual summit webinar on How to Conduct Investigations. For help we turned again to HRhero/BLR’s Workplace Investigations: the HR Manager’s Step-by-Step Guide written by attorney Jody Shipper. […]

Health Care Insurance Reform’s Fate in Supreme Court’s Hands

By Jessica Webb-Ayer, J.D., BLR Attorney Editor The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments on challenge to the massive health care insurance reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), enacted March 2010. Although there’s no crystal ball to tell us how the justices will inevitably rule, the oral arguments did provide […]

Flex, Fitness, Financial planning, Free Food, Concierge? Benefits Survey Results

For example: About 38 percent offer wellness programs About one third offer flextime, only about one fifth offer telecommuting, and nearly 64 percent offer a flexible spending account About 21 percent think their benefits are more generous than their competitor’s and about 42 percent think their benefits are about the same (although 30 percent don’t […]

Wal-Mart, DOL Reach Agreement for $5M+ Settlement Over FLSA Violations

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. will pay almost $5.3 million in penalties, damages and back wages for overtime violations at stores nationwide, the U.S. Department of Labor said on May 1. According to the agency, 4,500 vision center managers (VCMs) and asset protection coordinators (APCs) at Wal-Mart Supercenters, Wal-Mart Discount Stores, Neighborhood Markets and Sam’s Club Warehouses were […]

Helping Employees Deal with Gas Prices

Fueling Change: What Employers Can Do To Ease Employee Pain at the Pump

Employers and employees have seen gas prices rise to alarming levels, then ease a bit only to head back up again in a seemingly endless cycle. While pump prices hover in the $3 to $4 range, forecasters hint that $5 a gallon or higher prices may be in the future. The direction gas prices will […]