Category: HR Hero Line

HR best practices, employment law tips, news and analysis, Q&As, and lessons learned from the courtroom.

Organized labor continues to branch out

by Connor Beatty Maine lobstermen, paralegals, and college football players may not initially strike you as the type of workers who would join a union. Yet, in the past year, each group has taken steps toward unionizing, highlighting the trend of the modern union with organized labor branching out into previously unimagined industries. Why would […]

Who’s working at home, and is home the proper place?

Workers who battle drive-time traffic, spend a significant portion of a paycheck at the gas station, and fight the distracting hubbub of the office may dream of working amid the comforts of home. There’s no frustrating commute, no office annoyances. But a good many telecommuters worry that they’re missing something because they’re isolated from colleagues. […]

What you need to know about the continuing trend to regulate employers at the local level

by Marc A. Koonin The increasing regulation of private-sector employers at the city, county, and local regional agency level is a significant continuing trend. Many state and federal employment laws expressly allow or don’t expressly preempt further regulation at the local level. Such regulatory power was mostly dormant for many years because local government agencies […]

How trusting are employees? Study finds good, bad news for employers

Ever wonder how much employees trust their employers? Ever wonder if trust is even important? A new study from the American Psychological Association (APA) shows reason to worry about the level of trust workers have in their employers. As to the question of whether it’s important that workers trust their employers, the researchers say a […]

Conducting internal investigations: avoiding claims of intimidation and coercion

by Randi J. Winter Employers routinely conduct internal investigations in response to allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, theft, and other forms of employee misconduct. Although conducting such investigations can be critical to your continued operations, you should be mindful of the importance of exercising neutrality and fairness during the investigative process.  Be thorough, but fair […]

Engagement: Should it extend to contingent workers?

Employers are always looking for the best ways to engage employees. They know a highly engaged workforce means good morale, enhanced productivity, high retention of talented workers, an environment conducive to innovation and creativity, and the list goes on. Recently, some experts have even advocated extending engagement efforts beyond an employer’s regular employees. With contingent […]

It’s time to take a new look at your wellness plans

by Philip Bruce Whether you have an established wellness program or are considering implementing a new one, now is a great time to review your wellness plan. Employees who are determined to lose weight for bathing suit season, quit smoking, or otherwise live a healthier lifestyle may be more inclined to take advantage of your […]

Do you want bosses or leaders? Getting the most from managers

Bosses come in various forms. Some rule with an iron hand, others take instructions from on high and then make sure the orders are carried out by underlings, and others truly inspire everyone on their team. It’s not surprising that an inspiring manager is likely the most effective, but it’s up to the HR department […]

Alternatives to H-1B status and the H-1B cap

by Leigh Cole H-1B nonimmigrant status allows U.S. employers to hire international workers in “specialty occupations” that require at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent vocational preparation. Most H-1B applications are subject to an annual limit on H-1B approvals known as the H-1B cap.   Some employers are exempt from the cap, but most H-1B applications […]

Young workers’ innovative ‘whizness’ messes with ADEA limits for business

by John Phillips Recently, a piece I heard on NPR’s Morning Edition, “Does Business Innovation Depend on a CEO’s Age?”, while driving to work caused me to swerve from one lane to another. Fortunately, my swerve didn’t result in an accident, but it did ignite a cacophony of horns.  The NPR report dealt with new […]