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Despite Senate passage, ENDA faces another hurdle

by Tammy Binford Although the U.S. Senate voted in favor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) on November 7, final passage of the bill, which would prohibit employers from discriminating against employees and applicants based on their sexual orientation and gender identity,  faces an obstacle in the House. The Senate voted 64-32 to pass the […]

Train Employees to Prepare 'Bug Out Bags'

FederalNewsRadio/WTOP Radio Special Correspondent Mike Causey cautions that a dangerous workplace incident—whether an act of violence or an act of nature—can happen anywhere or anytime. So, says the ex-Marine, it is just common sense that employees “take care of themselves” and not rely on their employer to give them everything they need to shelter in […]

4 Benefits of Effective Job Descriptions

Writing job descriptions may seem to be an onerous task, but if done well, there can be many benefits for your organization. “Unfortunately, not all hiring managers and companies value a well-developed job description. So, it’s critical to understand the rewards – along with the mitigating risks as they apply to federal, state and local […]

Vets’ Affirmative Action Deadline—March 24, 2014

Yesterday’s Advisor featured BLR® Senior Legal Editor and Attorney Susan Schoenfeld’s tips for complying with the new affirmative action requirements for veterans. Today, the rest of the story, plus an introduction to the best way to find problems before the feds do—the HR audit checklist. Here are some of the other important changes included in […]

jobs

What is the Purpose of a Job Description?

Some organizations have very structured job descriptions, with detailed processes and automated systems to keep up with job descriptions. However, other organizations have more limited resources or may not have a formal human resources department, or may not have an embedded process for creating and maintaining effective job descriptions. If this describes your organization, check […]

Live generously: business with an eye on helping others

by Dan Oswald I was in Birmingham, Alabama, over the weekend visiting my daughter at college. While out for breakfast, I saw a local newspaper with the headline “Live Generously: How three Gardendale teenagers hope to change lives with new business.” The headline caught my attention for a number of reasons. I love the “Live […]

Happy Veterans Day—And Here Are the New AA Rules for Vets

Happy Veterans Day, readers, and here’s a look at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs’ (OFCCP) new affirmative action requirements for veterans. Last August, the OFCCP announced a final rule that makes significant changes to the regulations implementing the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act, or VEVRAA. VEVRAA prohibits employment […]

Happy Veterans Day—As OFCCP Issues Rules for Vets AA

Last August, the OFCCP announced a final rule that makes significant changes to the regulations implementing the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act, or VEVRAA. VEVRAA prohibits employment discrimination against specified categories of veterans by federal government contractors and subcontractors. For a closer look at the new regulations and the implications for federal contractors, we […]

Sample Job Description: Leave Program Specialist (a Job Worth its Weight in Documentation)

Job descriptions are the glue that holds together organizational hierarchy and work processes. When they are well-written, job descriptions create tangible objectives and signify accountability. To keep their companies in compliance with federal and state employment laws, human resources professionals need to be certain that the essential functions of every job are clearly documented. When […]

Toys “R” Us Will Pay $35K for Requiring Deaf Applicant to Provide Own Interpreter

Retailer Toys “R” Us will pay $35,000 to settle allegations that it required a deaf applicant to provide her own interpreter for a job interview  according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. EEOC filed suit earlier this year on behalf of Shakirra Thomas, alleging multiple Americans with Disabilities Act violations. According to the commission, Thomas […]