Archives

Alcoholism and ADA, FMLA Liability:What Employers Need to Know

by Brian Burbrink According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 17.6 million people — about one in 12 adults — abuse alcohol. Based on the statistics, odds are good that one or more of your employees suffers from alcoholism and may need treatment. The case illustrations below provide insight into avoiding liability […]

Calculating How Much FMLA Leave an Employee Has Available

As we all know, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires covered employers to provide eligible employees with 12 weeks of unpaid leave during a 12-month period. Employers are allowed to define the 12-month period any way they wish — much like they are entitled to define the seven-day period that comprises a workweek […]

Controversial Immigration Reform Bill in the Works

by Hector A. Chichoni Senate Immigration Subcommittee Chair Charles Schumer (D-New York) and Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) are working together on a comprehensive immigration reform bill that they plan to introduce this year. In a recent Washington Post article, the senators laid out their plan’s “four pillars”: requiring biometric Social Security cards to ensure that […]

If I say ‘Settle,’ Take It as a Gift

In yesterday’s Advisor, we enjoyed Attorney Donna M. Ballman’s take on some of the dumbest moves HR managers make. In today’s issue, Ballman, who usually represents employees, shares more     HR bloopers. We’ll also take a look at an audit program that will keep Ballman and similar attorneys out of your workplace. “There are some badly […]

Wage War: DOL Launches Aggressive “We Can Help” Enforcement Outreach

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has fired a loud warning shot to employers in its ongoing effort to increase federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) enforcement. In a news release late last year, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis first unveiled plans for a proposed program to work with […]

Stop Sticky-Fingered Employees

Economic turbulence has contributed to a rise in workplace theft by employees, according to a recent survey of 392 employers conducted by the Institute for Corporate Productivity. Twenty-four percent of all respondents and 31 percent of respondents at large companies (10,000 or more workers) reported an increase in theft of office supplies, products produced by […]

It’s Not a Glass Ceiling, It’s a Sticky Floor

Cheryl Stone, SPHR, reviews It’s Not a Glass Ceiling, It’s a Sticky Floor: Free Yourself From the Hidden Behaviors Sabotaging Your Career Success by Rebecca Shambaugh. In It’s Not a Glass Ceiling, It’s a Sticky Floor: Free Yourself From the Hidden Behaviors Sabotaging Your Career Success, author Rebecca Shambaugh reminds us that even after years […]

How to Keep People Like Me Out of Your Workplace

“You’d like to keep people like me out of your workplace,” says Attorney Donna M. Ballman, who often represents employees. “Try treating your employees as an asset, not an expense. A little attention now will help you avoid litigation later,” she says. Ballman is the lead partner in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida law firm Donna […]

Working Notice: Is It Right for You?

By Hadiya Roderique Despite signs of a recovering economy, Canadian employers are still looking for ways to downsize operations and minimize human resources expenses. One cost-effective manner is to give working notice when terminating an employee. What is working notice? Working notice is an alternative to paying out a lump sum upon dismissal. The employee […]

Defusing Anger and Threats of Violence

In yesterday’s Advisor, Dennis A. Davis, Ph.D., talked about dealing with workplace conflict. Today, we’ll get his take on reacting to anger and violence, and we’ll get a look at a unique program for the small—even one-person—HR department. Sometimes people think anger leads to violence, so they won’t let an angry person talk. But it’s […]