Month: December 2012

Tips for managing employee requests for time off during the holidays

The best way to account for employee absences during the holidays is to plan ahead. Creating a plan allows you to make sure that your company still has enough employees to operate while allowing time off to those who request vacation leave. Vacation leave is governed by the employer’s policies Remember that while neither federal […]

2012 Survey Highlights–Pay, Policies, HR, Leave, Holidays

In today’s Advisor, we’ll do our annual summary of our 2012 survey results—a good time to check your practices against those of thousands of other employers around the country. Pay Budgets 2.5 to 3 Percent Our survey revealed that most employers offered modest pay increases in 2012 and will do so again in 2013. In […]

The Best Harassment Prevention Prescription is to Train, Train, Train

[Go here for 1 to 5] 6. A superior blocks a promotion for a subordinate who has firmly stated that the superior’s sexual remarks were unwelcome. This is another example of potential tangible employment action harassment. Of course, the superior can argue that he or she blocked the promotion for a good business reason, but […]

Signs of Disengagement—and What to Do About It

Botwin, who is CEO of SPC (Strategy People Culture) Consulting in Florham Park, New Jersey, offers 14 signs of disengagement: Signs of Disengagement High turnover Lack of cooperation Lack of feedback Shaving of hours Absenteeism Quality less than capability Customer complaints High shrinkage Lack of pride/care in the business Lack of creativity and new ideas […]

Q&A on personnel records

Personnel records often contain sensitive information, so you have to handle them carefully. They can not only prove you’re in compliance with government recordkeeping requirements, but they also can make or break your case during disputes with current or former employees.

HR 2013 and Beyond—Hot Topics

Special from the Advanced Employment Issues Symposium, Las Vegas In yesterday’s Advisor, panelists at the Advanced Employment Issues Symposium in Las Vegas covered sweeping developments at DOL and EEOC Today, the compensation-related issues, plus an introduction to the unique “50×50” (50 Employment Laws in 50 States). Panelists included Susan Webman, Of Counsel with FortneyScott in […]

recruit

New Study Links Hiring to Matchmaking

A new study, “Hiring as Cultural Matchmaking: The Case of Elite Professional Service Firms,” suggests that employers are often looking to find a candidate whom they would like to hang out with rather than identifying the person who can best do the job.  “It is important to note that this does not mean employers are […]

Reader’s Story: The Refrigerator Vandal

It’s finally time for your lunch break. You go to the fridge, open the door, and … where did it go? Having your lunch disappear from the fridge is an aggravating (and according to a recent poll, not all that uncommon) experience. However, coworkers aren’t always to blame. In this story, submitted by a reader, […]

Nurse’s High Anxiety Put Employer on FMLA Leave Notice

An employee walks visibly shaken into your human resources office. She is upset about a work reassignment and says she does not feel properly trained for the new position. She has an emotional meltdown in front of you: crying and shaking so severely that she requests an ambulance. You attempt to calm her and instruct […]

Ruling Underscores Limits to Plan Participant Remedies

Sometimes an employer may delay transfers of payroll deductions to employees’ retirement accounts. That’s a breach of fiduciary responsibility, but a recent decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts may offer them some comfort. Managing retirement plan administration can be a burden for busy small business owners who aren’t financial professionals. […]