Month: November 2013

Offensive personal foul

Suspended Miami Dolphins offensive lineman and last-guy-to-realize-people-save-voice-mails-and-texts Richie Incognito is 6’3″ and weighs 319 pounds. He is (was) a member of the Dolphins’ players leadership council, and he was a 2012 Pro Bowler. Incognito, however, may finally be facing an insurmountable opponent: the corporate employment lawyer. The Dolphins put Incognito on indefinite suspension after reportedly […]

Ignoring the ‘Regular Rate’—DANGER Zone

Employers who ignore or miscalculate the “regular rate” make an easy, but costly, mistake. Here’s what the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) requirement is and how to make the calculation. What’s the Deal with the ‘Regular Rate’? First of all, overtime, at the rate of at least time and one half, must be paid on […]

Got conflict? Help managers know what to do

It’s a rare workplace that seldom experiences conflict. In fact, a 2008 global study on workplace conflict found that 85 percent of employees in the study experienced conflict at some level, and 36 percent of U.S. employees said they had to deal with conflict always or frequently. Globally, that figure was just 29 percent.  With […]

Put March 24, 2014, on Your Calendar—Vets’ Affirmative Action Deadline

Here are some of the other important changes included in the final affirmative action rule: The incorporation of specific EO Clause language in subcontracts. In order to incorporate the equal opportunity (EO) clause by reference in subcontracts, contractors must include specific language spelled out in the new regulations. This language notifies subcontractors of their responsibilities […]

Despite Senate passage, ENDA faces another hurdle

by Tammy Binford Although the U.S. Senate voted in favor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) on November 7, final passage of the bill, which would prohibit employers from discriminating against employees and applicants based on their sexual orientation and gender identity,  faces an obstacle in the House. The Senate voted 64-32 to pass the […]

Train Employees to Prepare 'Bug Out Bags'

FederalNewsRadio/WTOP Radio Special Correspondent Mike Causey cautions that a dangerous workplace incident—whether an act of violence or an act of nature—can happen anywhere or anytime. So, says the ex-Marine, it is just common sense that employees “take care of themselves” and not rely on their employer to give them everything they need to shelter in […]

4 Benefits of Effective Job Descriptions

Writing job descriptions may seem to be an onerous task, but if done well, there can be many benefits for your organization. “Unfortunately, not all hiring managers and companies value a well-developed job description. So, it’s critical to understand the rewards – along with the mitigating risks as they apply to federal, state and local […]

Vets’ Affirmative Action Deadline—March 24, 2014

Yesterday’s Advisor featured BLR® Senior Legal Editor and Attorney Susan Schoenfeld’s tips for complying with the new affirmative action requirements for veterans. Today, the rest of the story, plus an introduction to the best way to find problems before the feds do—the HR audit checklist. Here are some of the other important changes included in […]

jobs

What is the Purpose of a Job Description?

Some organizations have very structured job descriptions, with detailed processes and automated systems to keep up with job descriptions. However, other organizations have more limited resources or may not have a formal human resources department, or may not have an embedded process for creating and maintaining effective job descriptions. If this describes your organization, check […]

Live generously: business with an eye on helping others

by Dan Oswald I was in Birmingham, Alabama, over the weekend visiting my daughter at college. While out for breakfast, I saw a local newspaper with the headline “Live Generously: How three Gardendale teenagers hope to change lives with new business.” The headline caught my attention for a number of reasons. I love the “Live […]