Month: February 2017

Leadership lessons from New England Patriots

by Dan Oswald Sunday night, the New England Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons in the greatest comeback in the Super Bowl’s 51-year history. None of us should have been surprised. The Patriots have had more success in this millennium than any of the other 31 teams in the NFL. Since head coach Bill Belichick and […]

Are rules for same-sex marriage about to change in Texas?

by Jacob M. Monty The Texas Supreme Court recently announced that it will review a case arguing that Texas employers shouldn’t be required to spend taxpayer funds to provide benefits to employee spouses in same-sex marriages, even if they do offer benefits to employee spouses in opposite-sex marriages. Depending on the outcome of the case, […]

retirement

Trump Halts DOL Fiduciary Rule

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has been directed to postpone and reexamine the fiduciary rule on investment advice that was scheduled to take effect April 10, under a memorandum signed February 3 by President Trump.

interview

Performance Management and the Employee Review Process

When performance management is mentioned, people often think of the employee performance appraisal or review, however, performance management involves so much more. Properly constructed appraisals should represent a summary of an ongoing, year-round dialogue. Focusing only on an annual appraisal form leads to misunderstanding and a lack of appreciation for the benefits of performance management.

DOL Sues Colorado Company to Recover $82K in Missing Retirement, Health Plan Contributions

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court of Colorado against Central Security Communications Inc., CEO Robert Millikin, and fiduciary Howard Klinger to restore more than $82,000 owed to the Greeley, Colorado-based company’s retirement and health plans, as well as additional lost income, according to a new DOL […]

culture

Feedback: The Key to Growth, Motivation, and Company Strength

A toxic culture can disrupt business, resulting in low engagement and high turnover and ultimately damaging your company’s reputation. However, culture can be influenced, and new norms can be internalized to help companies bounce back. Even if a company is not suffering from the effects of a negative culture, creating a strong purpose and values from the beginning helps to institutionalize the right kinds of behaviors.

Payroll Issues During Blizzards and Snow Days

As we head into the heart of the winter storm season, it is inevitable that employers could face some severe snowstorms and blizzards in February. Hence, this is an excellent time to brush up on the wage and hour laws, which dictate whether you are required to pay salary or hourly wages to employees who are unable to get to work during a blizzard or severe snowstorm. Here is a timely refresher article on these issues.