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Obesity Can Be a Disability, Court Rules

An employee’s obesity may be a disability covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, a federal district court has held. The employer challenged the claim, arguing that the ADA does not cover obesity, but the court disagreed, refusing to dismiss the suit. Joseph Whittaker sued his former employer, America’s Car-Mart, Inc., alleging that the company […]

Refresh Your Employees Respirator Training

The material in today’s e-mail is adapted from BLR’s 7-Minute Safety Trainer session, “Respiratory Protection.” Employees need to inspect respirators before and after each use to ensure they retain their protective ability. Report to your supervisor: Connections that aren’t tight; Holes, cracks, tears, or other damage; Wear or deterioration, especially in rubber parts like the […]

What Does At-Will Employment Really Mean?

At-will employment is something most U.S.-based employers are familiar with. But what does this term really mean? Can an employer actually terminate an employee without any reason at all? What are the exceptions?

Senate vote deals blow to $10.10 minimum wage effort

The campaign to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour fell a step backward in a Senate vote on April 30—a vote that brought cheers from business interests concerned that the increase would be too onerous on employers and jeers from labor groups that claim the current $7.25 minimum is inadequate. Sixty votes […]

How to Set Profit-Sharing Based on Goals, Not $

In yesterday’s Advisor we discussed straight and hurdle-rate profit-sharing; today, goal-driven profit-sharing plans. [Go here for 1. Straight and 2. Hurdle-Rate Profit Sharing] 3. Goal-Driven Profit-Sharing Plans In a goal-driven profit-sharing plan, profits are used to establish an incentive opportunity, but employees also must earn that opportunity, based on achieving other goals. These other goals […]

Hawaii minimum wage to increase to $10.10

by Paul Saito The Hawaii Legislature has passed a bill that will increase the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10, with hikes every year from 2015 to 2018. Senate Bill (SB) 2609 also will increase the state’s tip credit from 25 cents to 75 cents over the next two years. The bill will be sent […]

Competing Compensation Goals? Matrix Them

Yesterday, consultant David Cichelli talked about hurdles, modifiers, and multipliers for sales compensation. Today, his take on using matrices, plus an introduction to a new compensation webinar you won’t want to miss.

Are You Training Your People to Avoid Age Discrimination?

Age discrimination in the workplace can be subtle. Yes, we’re all aghast when we read about direct evidence of discrimination, like the manager who allegedly said he fired an employee because she was “old and ugly.” But most age discrimination claims are based on circumstantial rather than direct evidence. Take for example the age discrimination […]

Do Your Employees Need Respirator Training?

The material in today’s e-mail is adapted from BLR’s 7-Minute Safety Trainer session, “Respiratory Protection.” The goals for a training session on respirator safety should include teaching employees to: Understand when to use the different types of respirators. Understand how to fit, inspect, and maintain respirators. The applicable regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health […]