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The human resources department can take a lesson from Benjamin Franklin. It was that bespectacled founding father who is credited with uttering a famous quote that should be the guide for HR professionals embarking on any new project. “When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Cara Parker, owner of CParker Consulting, Inc., a […]
by Burton J. Fishman The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has taken a bold step to challenge standard and accepted provisions in severance agreements in a recent suit, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. CVS Pharmacy, Inc., CA no. 14-cv-863 (N.D. Ill., 2014). There are two particularly important elements in this suit. The first is that […]
Put a dozen human resources professionals together and ask them about problems related to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and you’re likely to hear many dozens of stories. The rules can be complicated and intricate, and unscrupulous employees manage to find creative ways to take more leave than they’re entitled to have. Recently, […]
by Peter Lowe The concept of zero-tolerance policies is rooted in the criminal justice system, and over the last 20 years, the policies have spilled over into our schools and workplaces. Zero-tolerance policies usually reflect a strong institutional stance on specific types of misconduct (e.g., drugs, theft, and violence) and consistency and severity in punishments. […]
Career-minded human resource professionals interested in proving their worth to their employers devote time, energy, and money into earning certification. But now the credentialing system they’ve relied on for decades is up in the air, and a new system is still a mystery. HR pros were surprised in May when the Society for Human Resource […]
The news of a change in certification for human resource professionals struck a nerve this spring when the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) announced it was developing a new certification system that seems to be a threat to the familiar credentials offered through HR Certification Institute (HRCI). The heat has only built since the […]
by Christine D. Mehfoud E-Verify is an Internet-based employment authorization verification system administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA). After completing the Form I-9 process, employers create an E-Verify case and submit it to E-Verify, which electronically verifies work authorization by checking the information entered against DHS, […]
by Joe Godwin In 2013, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigated 93,727 charges of discrimination, which resulted in penalties totaling $372.1 million. Retaliation claims accounted for 41 percent of all the charges. The most frequent bases of claims across all statutes are related to discharge and discipline. Therefore, employers have opportunities to reduce the […]
by Gary S. Fealk Almost every union contract has a provision that requires that disputes be settled by final and binding arbitration. Preparing for arbitration is essential. Here are some pointers on arbitration preparation and procedures. Grievance answers and choosing an arbitrator Always answer grievances with an eye toward arbitration. Answer the merits of the […]
Employers are always on a quest for higher productivity. They examine what kind of technology, office design, organizational structure, time management training, etc. will boost performance and the bottom line. But no matter how careful an organization is, distractions can derail even the best laid plans. CareerBuilder recently released a study on what it calls […]