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NLRB resurrects proposal on speeding up union elections

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is reprising its 2011 effort to change the rules related to union representation—an effort that sparked opposition from employers then and will surely do so again. A statement from the NLRB says that in substance, the proposed amendments are identical to the representation procedure changes first put forth in […]

Wage and Hour: Over $220 Million in Back Wages Recovered by DOL in 2007; Highest Amount Ever

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced that in 2007, its Wage and Hour Division recovered $220,613,703 in back wages, the highest amount ever, on behalf of 341,624 workers. These back-wage collections exceeded the previous record levels from 2003 by 3.8 percent. In addition, the division assessed over $10.3 million in penalties in 2007.

Corporate Communication 1, 2, 3

by Michael P. Maslanka I spend a lot of time thinking about corporate communication, both internal and external. And here is a bold statement: There is nothing more important. Work gets performed, sales are made, and brands are created, all through communication. Here are some keys. Basic Training for Supervisors Say first what it’s not […]

The holiday (party) season is coming: Plan now to minimize the risks

by Craig M. Borowski The holiday season is almost upon us. Employers often use this time of year to show their appreciation for employees’ hard work and to celebrate with them in the workplace. Unfortunately, however, even an office party planned with the best of intentions can create legal liability for your company or possibly […]

Healthcare workers’ longer hours don’t necessarily increase health, safety risks

by Rosalind H. Cooper Most employers know that there are restrictions under employment standards legislation regarding maximum hours of work for their employees. In certain circumstances, it is possible to exceed these daily or weekly maximums. However, care must be exercised when doing so in order to avoid a breach of the employer’s duties under […]

Share Your Opinion with 155,000 of Your Closest Colleagues

Have you had a “eureka” moment lately? How about a penetrating insight into the HR profession? Or maybe just strong feelings about an issue of the day that you just can’t keep to yourself? Well, here’s your chance to share. Regular readers of this column know that it’s often written by BLR’s founder and CEO […]

Stereotypes Are Alive and Well

We are beyond the day when an employer could evaluate employees by assuming or insisting that they matched the stereotypes associated with their group. — U.S. Supreme Court Price Waterhouse Facts Brenna Lewis started working for Heartland Inns, a small hotel chain, in July 2005. She mainly worked as a night-shift auditor, and in the […]

Health Care: California Health Care Reform Gets a Step Closer

The California Assembly has voted in favor of a landmark health care reform measure—A.B. x1 1, the Health Care Security and Cost Reduction Act—which is backed by Gov. Schwarzenegger. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. If approved there and signed by the governor, the bill would then go to voters in November […]

Can Less Pleasant Still Be Equivalent?

Job restoration for employees returning from family leave can be tricky. Today, we look at a couple of common scenarios. FMLA Restoration Example 1 John is a bank teller. He works at a bank branch 20 miles from his home. The branch is in a suburban neighborhood that allows John to do shopping or to […]