Month: January 2015

Now showing at a workplace near you

The air is bitterly cold, especially here in Minnesota. The kids are back in school, and the Christmas decorations have all been put away. For followers of pop culture, those signs can mean only one thing: Now you finally have time to see all those prestigious, blockbuster movies that came out in late 2014. Business […]

Dangerous driving: employer liable for unauthorized use of company vehicle

by Hannah Roskey It is well understood that Canadian employers may be vicariously liable for the actions of their employees when the employees are acting within the scope of their duties. But surely not if the employee acts against the instructions of the employer? Maybe so, according to a recent panel of the Alberta Court […]

3 New Training Tips for Using New Technologies in the New Year

  The technology website Geek Wire published advice from ergonomics writer Larry Swanson, author of Scared Sitless, the Office Fitness Book. In the past few years, tablets and smartphones have made huge inroads in workplaces of all types. According to Swanson, the compact size and portability of the devices make work and life better in […]

A Lesson from Google in Fostering “Smart Creatives”

I often talk about the characteristics of the people with whom I want to work. In their book How Google Works, Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg talk about the type of people they had at Google. And the two of them should know—Schmidt is the executive chairman and ex-CEO, and Rosenberg is a former SVP […]

A Lesson from Google in Fostering “Smart Creatives”

I often talk about the characteristics of the people with whom I want to work. In their book How Google Works, Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg talk about the type of people they had at Google. And the two of them should know—Schmidt is the executive chairman and ex-CEO, and Rosenberg is a former SVP […]

BYOD and Employee Habits—Employer Concerns

Have you implemented (or are you considering implementing) a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy? This trend just keeps growing. Employers are finding that many employees are more than happy to use their personal phones (and even tablets and computers) for work, since it means workers will be able to have a say in what […]

EEOC weighs in on employer wellness plans

by Kelly Smith-Haley January is here, which means diet, exercise, and wellness resolutions aren’t far behind.  And, like many of us, the EEOC has “wellness plans” on its list of 2015 New Year’s resolutions.  The Chicago branch of the EEOC recently filed its third action alleging that an employer-sponsored wellness program violates the Americans with […]

Design Handouts to Give Trainees a ‘Hand Up’ to Better Performance

  If your handouts are “throwaways,” you’re doing something wrong. Presentation expert Marie Wallace says, “Too many presenters treat handouts like an afterthought, justifying their action with ‘They will just get trashed anyway.’ That kind of thinking becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. When handouts are not designed well, they do get trashed.” When done correctly, however, […]