Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
The new world of social networking and electronic communications opens all sorts of questions about etiquette, behavior, and life style. In "Available All the Time: Etiquette for the Social Networking Age," Wharton Professor Nancy Rothbard calls it a "double-edged sword." For example, she says, a Blackberry® can allow parents to attend their children’s soccer games […]
During our own audit of our pay for salaried workers, we discovered some discrepancies that I think might be questionable if someone were to sue us for discrimination. Statistically, it appears that we may be underpaying women as compared to men in the same job groups, but regional pay differences and other factors such as […]
by Susan Fentin Employers in Massachusetts with at least 50 employees are now required to allow employees who are victims of domestic violence to take up to 15 days of unpaid leave within a 12-month period to deal with the violence. The law, which went into effect August 8, also allows leave for covered family […]
It can be hard to describe good customer service, but you sure know it when you see it. Last week, I was at — of all things — a baseball tournament in the greater Atlanta-metro area. The tournament wasn’t a small volunteer undertaking. The organization that sponsored the tournament is national in scope and has […]
When you offer employee perks, it’s critical to make clear whether the program is a vested benefit or a company bonus that is subject to change or cancellation. Former Hewlett-Packard engineer Mark G. Leonard is suing the high-tech giant, claiming that it cancelled a program to provide thousands of retirees lifetime rebates on its products, […]
888 Seafood Restaurant, a Chinese eatery in the San Gabriel Valley, has agreed to pay $306,500 in overtime back wages following a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) investigation that revealed pay improprieties. The funds will be shared by 57 employees who routinely put in additional work time after they clocked out, according to the DOL. […]
By Brian P. Smeenk As we all contemplate our personal goals for next year (have you, too, promised yourself to work out more?), what resolutions should you make for your business in Canada? Your CFO might urge the normal resolutions of cutting back on consumption or reducing your size. But maybe there are some more […]
In yesterday’s Advisor, we covered the first six of Attorney Barbara Meister Cummins’ Top 10 least desirable quotes from managers. Today, 7 through 10, plus we’ll introduce a unique 10-minute training program. Cummins, principal of the Law Offices of Barbara Meister Cummins in New York City, offered her Top 10 at a Human Resources Association […]
President Clinton has announced new guidelines clarifying how and when religious beliefs can be expressed in the federal workplace, and they could be expanded to the private sector. Among other things, the guidelines say federal workers can pray together at lunchtime in empty conference rooms and display religious art in their personal work areas. Proselytizing […]
Although proposed changes to the FMLA may alleviate some of the pain, FMLA headaches will not go away anytime soon. Today’s expert shares some workplace-tested remedies. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) management isn’t such a headache if you work out your policies carefully, publicize them to employees, and enforce them consistently, says Beverly Kish, […]