Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
By Simon-Pierre Hebert and Rachel Ravary McCarthy Tetrault If you have employees in Quebec, then you are likely familiar with the prohibition against “psychological harassment” that was added to the Act Respecting Labour Standards in 2004. Managers initially reacted to the new provisions with a lot of apprehension, fearing that a disgruntled employee could turn […]
One result of the current business downturn is increased employee complaints about unfair compensation or other discrimination. As it takes just one complaint, justified or not, to trigger a probe. That means getting ready for a visit from your friendly DOL investigators. Here’s how to handle things if (or these days, when) they show up. […]
The following is a list of the bestselling hardcover business books as ranked by the New York Times on June 23. 1 The One Minute Entrepreneur: The Secret to Creating and Sustaining a Successful Business, by Ken Blanchard, Don Hutson and Ethan Willis. A fictional parable incorporating real-life advice on how to start a business. […]
Massive layoffs and reduced pension payouts have helped corporate America trim expenses, but there’s been a cost—a disastrous new employee mindset. And the negative effects of that mindset—what today’s expert calls “psychological recession”—go straight to the bottom line. “Psychological recession” is an “emotional state” that includes a “dour view of the present and an even […]
The first case, Meacham v. Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, involved an employer’s decision to lay off 31 employees, 30 of whom were age 40 or older. The workers sued, claiming the layoffs had a disparate impact on older workers in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). The employer claimed it based its […]
Summer is in full swing so it’s time to make sure employees stay safe in the hot weather. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) doesn’t have a specific standard for addressing heat stress. However, the agency has previously issued citations to employers that have allowed employees to be exposed to a risk of serious […]
by Robert P. Tinnin, Jr. Q. In January of this year, amendments to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) became effective, adding certain types of leave for family members to help relatives serving in the military. I understand the leave is available for a “qualifying exigency.” What is that? I recently had an employee […]
I’ve gotten hints and heard rumors through the grapevine about inappropriate activity going on in my company. In one case, a manager is allegedly “hitting on” a subordinate, and in another case, apparently employees are making fun of a co-worker on their project team because she is African-American. I don’t have any evidence or corroboration, […]
By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady Today, our CEO re-opens our no-cost employee survey program for signups, and reports how last year’s results differ from this year’s, at the nearly 2,500 companies that have taken part so far. Also, how you can join them—if you act by July 7, 2008. Readers of this column […]
In “The Deposition” episode of “The Office,” Michael Scott tries to testify against his employer, Dundler Mifflin, after his girlfriend Jan Levinson sues the company for wrongful termination. While Michael is being deposed, his e-mail, personal diary, and performance reviews are used. Employment law attorney Troy Foster reminds us that “that nothing at work should […]