Month: July 2014

How Do You Compare? Training and Development Survey Results Are In

Thanks to all 1,052 participants in the 2014 Training and Development Survey! Here are the detailed results: HR’s Role HR wears multiple hats when it comes to implementing training programs. What Is HR’s Role? Helps supervisors with training for employees as needed 86.9% Decides what training is needed 86.2% Evaluates training materials/options 83.5% (59% in […]

Termination Danger Zones 7 to 10

Yesterday’s Advisor featured termination sins 1 to 6; today, we have sins 7 to 10, including the old favorite, documentation, documentation, documentation. [Go here for sins 1 to 6.] Sin #7. Terminating Without Proper Documentation Boss: Documentation, schmockumentation; this guy’s a poor performer and I want him gone today. The trouble with this scenario—terminating with […]

Are Your Workers Effectively Trained on Hazardous Waste Decontamination Procedures?

Decontamination is a vital process for employees who handle hazardous wastes because it removes or neutralizes contaminants that have accumulated on personnel and equipment. Decontamination serves the following purposes: It protects workers from hazardous substances that may contaminate and eventually permeate the protective clothing, respiratory equipment, tools, vehicles, and other equipment used on-site. It protects […]

Don’t Back-Burner Employee Communications

Ask employees what they like least about their jobs, and they typically cite a problem with communication. In fact, in many national employee attitude surveys, participating organizations across the board were rated lowest on questions related to communication. This is particularly unfortunate given that employees who took the survey said communication was very important to […]

A not-so-constructive constructive dismissal decision

By Fréderic Parisien A Canadian employee may claim that his or her employment is constructively dismissed when his or her employer makes a unilateral change to a fundamental term or condition of employment without appropriate notice. What about a change in the employer with no other change? Surely that can’t be a constructive dismissal. Apparently […]

OSHA Releases New Interactive Training Tool

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently released a new interactive training tool to help small businesses effectively identify hazards in the workplace. Employers and workers can virtually explore how to identify common workplace hazards in the manufacturing and construction industries. Users of the new training tool will not only learn hazard identification skills […]

Don’t skimp on preparation when arbitrating with a union

by Gary S. Fealk Almost every union contract has a provision that requires that disputes be settled by final and binding arbitration. Preparing for arbitration is essential. Here are some pointers on arbitration preparation and procedures.   Grievance answers and choosing an arbitrator Always answer grievances with an eye toward arbitration. Answer the merits of the […]

Employers, Employees Increasingly at Odds Over Wellness Incentives

As employers continue to ramp up their use of wellness incentives, employee resistance also is on the rise, recent studies suggest. While wellness programs in general enjoy broad public support (76 percent of respondents), a majority (62 percent) oppose requiring employees to pay more for health coverage if they do not participate, according to a […]