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Getting management right: What’s HR’s role?

Few would argue that managers play a large role in attracting the best employees and keeping them engaged and productive. An effective manager keeps the team strong. The trick is learning how to improve managers and figuring out whether, or even if, the human resources department has any control over manager effectiveness.  Pete Smith, a […]

5 New Affirmative Action Requirements

In yesterday’s Advisor, BLR Senior Legal Editor and affirmative action expert Susan Schoenfeld clarified the main aspects of the new affirmative action requirements for people with disabilities. Today, four more requirements, plus an introduction to SmartPolicies®, BLR’s popular collection of prewritten HR policies. In addition to the major changes discussed in yesterday’s Advisor, there are […]

Create Future Leaders by Training Employees How to Delegate

Delegation is yet another essential managerial skill. Employees who aspire to leadership positions must begin to acquire this skill now. Teaching delegation means providing opportunities to practice the skill—perhaps through management of a special project or team effort. It also means imparting an understanding that delegation is a six-step process. When you delegate, you must […]

Government Shutdown Accord Doesn’t Change Obamacare Much

A bipartisan accord to fund the federal government until Jan. 15 and raise the government’s debt ceiling until Feb. 7, was reached by leaders in the U.S. Senate on Oct. 16, but the final agreement did virtually nothing to change the health care reform law. The only part of the compromise affecting health care reform […]

New Affirmative Action Requirements for Individuals with Disabilities

In August, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs–OFCCP—announced a final rule that requires significant new efforts on the part of government contractors, including a 7% utilization goal, self-identification, and a new utilization analysis. The changes are to the regulations implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits […]

How can employers reduce FMLA/CFRA abuse?

Employers have the right to curb FMLA/CFRA abuse, but must do so in a way that doesn’t hinder employees from taking their protected leaves. It can be a fine line to walk. Thankfully, employers do have some options.

Do Your Employees Know the Skills They Need for Professional Advancement?

Do your supervisors know the skills their employees need for professional advancement? Do they know how to delegate work and teach those skills to employees looking to advance in the organization? Here is some important information to convey to your supervisors. Skills needed for personal and organizational growth change constantly. That means offering appropriate training […]

Oklahoma workplace tobacco law revisions effective November 1

by Charles S. Plumb Effective November 1, 2013, two Oklahoma statutes governing how an employer addresses tobacco use in its workplace or by its employees will be revised. Under the new 21 Okla. Stat. § 1247, lighted tobacco products in any form are prohibited in indoor workplaces. With a few exceptions, this prohibition includes work […]

Linking pay raises to company tattoos: good idea or legal minefield?

by Peter A. Jones A New York employer offered its employees a 15 percent pay raise if they had the company logo tattooed on their bodies. Reportedly, there were no limitations on the size or location of the tattoo, and about 40 employees accepted the offer and are receiving raises after having been inked. There […]

Engagement and Enablement—Keys to Comp Effectiveness

McMullen is Reward Practice Leader for Hay Group in Chicago. He was joined by Dow Scott, Professor of Human Resources in the Quinlan School of Business Administration at Loyola University Chicago and president of Performance Development International, a management consulting firm. Their remarks came at the WorldatWork conference in Philadelphia. McMullen offers the following “equation” […]