Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Last month, I talked about how the military makes the most effective use of e-mail. This month, I want to talk about using email to build a team effectively, to develop an esprit de corps, and to make use of wasted electronic real estate. No. 1: This Is Not About Etiquette The following is about […]
Massachusetts joined a growing list of states with pay transparency laws when Governor Maura Healy signed “An Act Relative to Salary Range Transparency” into law. The law, which will take effect in stages in 2025, requires many Massachusetts employers to disclose salary/pay ranges in all job postings and to file certain wage data/information with the […]
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with a disability. When employees request an accommodation, employers are required to engage in an interactive dialogue with them to determine whether the requested accommodation is reasonable and aimed at assisting the employees in performing their position’s essential functions. Employers […]
In a recent case, the U.S. Supreme Court decided a case in which a police sergeant alleged she was transferred from one job to a less desirable job in the police department because of her sex. About the Case The sergeant was transferred out of the intelligence division where she had worked for several years […]
We can learn a lot from the military. One such lesson: how to write effective emails, those that are read and understood. “How to Write Email with Military Precision” by Kabir Sehgal appeared in the Harvard Business Review on November 22, 2016, and it was an eye-opener for me! Make the Subject Line Count The […]
When thinking about the hiring process, those doing the hiring often focus on mistakes job candidates make. Maybe hopefuls show up for an interview late and unprepared, or maybe they’re interested in the job’s salary but not so much the actual work the job requires. Certainly, candidate mistakes can be egregious, but what about mistakes […]
Conventional wisdom says firing an employee is one of the more difficult decisions for managers and HR. Unconventional wisdom says to think differently. Read on. Thought No. 1: Fire Sooner, Not Later When a new employee isn’t the right hire, act! When there isn’t a good match between your need and their talent, no amount […]
Hiring a new employee takes time—for example, time completing paperwork before the start date, as well as time reviewing policies and procedures and completing training. But how much of that time is considered compensable under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)? Orientation and Onboarding The FLSA generally counts a new hire’s time spent in orientation […]
Question: What is considered compensable time during the onboarding process under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)—for example, time completing paperwork before the start date as well as time reviewing policies and procedures and completing training? Answer: Employee onboarding involves incorporating new employees into the organization by providing necessary knowledge and skills to succeed. As […]
Question: If an employee takes Family Medical and Leave Act (FMLA) leave to bond with his new child, would he be able to take additional bonding time later the same year if he still had FMLA time available? Answer: The FMLA has some restrictions on when an employee can take leave for birth or bonding […]