Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
In a typical workday, it’s almost certain that employees aren’t engaged in their specific job duties for a full 8 hours. Instead, employees frequently spend time tending to biological needs; scanning the Internet; and, of course, chatting with coworkers. Often, this chatting occurs around a literal or metaphorical watercooler—hence the term “watercooler conversations.”
There’s a scene in the movie Bruce Almighty in which Jim Carrey’s character, stepping in to play God, hears the prayers of thousands of people all at once. Overwhelmed by the noise, he handles it in the most efficient way possible: a “reply all” e-mail. As you might expect, chaos ensues in a flood of […]
As diagnosed cases of the coronavirus increase globally, “social distancing” and “flattening the curve” have entered the common lexicon—and earned hashtag status in the United States. Many companies are doing their part to support government directives by encouraging employees to work from home.
by Dan Oswald I recently wrote that we shouldn’t overlook the contributions the younger generation can make. In business, we often assume that experience equates with success and therefore conclude it’s unlikely that a 20-something can make a significant contribution. I think that’s complete hogwash, but so is assuming people can’t have a major career […]
Q: I own and operate a business in which physically demanding work is part of the employees’ daily activities. I recently hired several employees who I thought were qualified for the job. However, I quickly learned that they weren’t in good enough health to do what was required of them. This is causing a lot […]
by Sam R. Fulkerson The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced in January that 93,277 workplace discrimination charges were filed nationwide during 2009 — the second-highest level ever — and monetary relief obtained for victims totaled more than $376 million. The 2009 data show that private-sector job bias charges alleging discrimination based on disability, religion, […]
Here’s the scenario: As the human resources director for your company, you’re asked to sit in on the selection process for your company’s next CEO. After an intense screening process, you have three candidates to be the next leader of your company — a white male in his early 70s, a male in his 40s […]
Do you have a policy related to employees who’ve had sex changes? If not, you should consider it, says John Putzier. “Employers are increasingly adopting nondiscrimination policies pertaining to what are now being called GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) workers, who generally have had no legal protection from being fired if they express a […]