Category: HR Management & Compliance

There are dozens of details to take care of in the day-to-day operation of your department and your company. We give you case studies, news updates, best practices and training tips that keep your organization fully in compliance with ever-changing employment law, and you fully aware of emerging HR trends.

Government Employers: Are you Nordstroms or Wal-Mart?

By BLR Founder and Publisher Bob Brady Just as in private industry, government HR managers need to understand their organization’s core strategy, and then hire people and build policies that match. Several weeks ago, I wrote about how strategic HR decisions flow from what kind of company you are. If you depend on product creativity […]

Workplace Discrimination: An Effective Way to Prevent It

With terrorism has come increasing discrimination. Here’s a way to prevent it in your workplace. Since the horrors of five Septembers ago, Americans have lived in a charged atmosphere about race and religion. Despite long-standing ideals of tolerance, the actions of a violent few are often blamed on all the members of certain races or […]

Employment Law Tip: Addressing Domestic Violence in the Workplace

Domestic violence affects more than 32 million Americans each year, with more than 2 million injuries and approximately 1,300 deaths. As the scope of the problem underscores, domestic violence isn’t just a personal issue, but one that spills over into the workplace as well, affecting both men and women. What can employers do to help […]

Safety: Governor Signs Cell Phone Law

Governor Schwarzenegger has signed S.B. 1613, which will make it an infraction to drive a motor vehicle while using a wireless phone unless a hands-free device is used. In particular, the new law, known as the California Wireless Telephone Automobile Safety Act, prohibits driving a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone, unless the phone […]

Acting in Good Faith: How to Deal with Religion in the Workplace

The Constitution protects the freedom to practice religion. Employers must honor this right while balancing the needs of the business. Here are some guidelines for doing both. In virtually every religion, there are significant days on the calendar that dictate religious observance. For example, next Monday, October 2, is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, […]

Want to Avoid Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Problems? Do a Self-Audit

If the government is willing to go after the world’s largest store on FLSA, they’ll go after anyone. Here’s how to keep the Washington wolves from your door. Wal-Mart has been in the news lately, and not just for having “always the low price.” According to government allegations, Wal-Mart has also had “sometimes the low […]

Employment Law Tip: Maintaining an At-Will Relationship

If you’re like many California employers, your employee handbook contains a statement that employment is at-will, meaning that employees can be fired for any reason or no reason at all, providing the termination does not violate state or federal law. But have you checked your handbook to be sure it doesn’t contain provisions that undermine […]