Month: January 2014

Do Your Employees Understand the Current MSDS/SDS Situation?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) revisions to the hazard communication standard (HazCom) have been in effect since May 2012, including a 3-year phase-in period that manufacturers, importers, and distributors will have to switch the material safety data sheets (MSDSs) to the new safety […]

HR’s Trends and Traps 2014

What Are the Big Changes for the 21st Century? Schickman’s crystal ball suggests that the issues below will be drivers of 21st century change. (Schickman was the keynoter at the Advanced Employment Issues Symposium, held recently in Las Vegas.) Boomer retirement Societal entitlements Medical insurance Nontraditional family units Challenges to privacy Lack of job security […]

Employer groups applaud demise of NLRB poster rule

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has decided not to seek U.S. Supreme Court review of two appeals court decisions against a posting rule, and probusiness groups are claiming victory. In 2011, the NLRB issued a rule that would have required all employers under Board jurisdiction—including nonunion employers—to display a poster explaining that employees have […]

Tweet Goes Viral: Gets Communications Exec Fired

It took an airplane flight for a communication executive’s inappropriate tweet to go viral and get her into trouble with her employer. The (former) senior director of corporate communications of an Internet company was fired after sending an offensive tweet on her way to South Africa. By the time she landed, the Internet was up […]

A Blunt Burger

A fast-food worker must have been a little “distracted” when she put her half-smoked blunt down when making a customer’s burger.

Making job descriptions live and breathe, not sit dusty in the files

The task of writing and revising job descriptions may sound dull, but at the same time be daunting. With so much to consider—essential versus nonessential functions, varied job responsibilities, experience and education requirements, etc.—the job can be mind-numbing. Then throw in the legal issues to consider, including things like how to prevent discrimination and wage […]

Train Supervisors to Communicate Effectively in Emergencies

The material in today’s issue is adapted from BLR’s 10-Minute HR Trainer session, “Communicating in Emergencies.” Supervisors such as yourself play a critical role in emergency communication. In fact, communicating emergency information is a crucial part of your job. In addition to conveying information to employees, you also play an important role in communications with […]

Compassionate Impulses—Understandable, But Dangerous

The Two Problems Fentin, who is a partner in the Springfield, Massachusetts, law firm, Skoler, Abbott & Presser P.C., points out the two sometimes opposing desires of dealing with employees with chronic illnesses: Supporting the employee with chronic illness, and Managing the employee with the chronic illness. Balancing these two needs isn’t easy, Fentin admits. […]