Month: April 2010

If I say ‘Settle,’ Take It as a Gift

In yesterday’s Advisor, we enjoyed Attorney Donna M. Ballman’s take on some of the dumbest moves HR managers make. In today’s issue, Ballman, who usually represents employees, shares more     HR bloopers. We’ll also take a look at an audit program that will keep Ballman and similar attorneys out of your workplace. “There are some badly […]

Wage War: DOL Launches Aggressive “We Can Help” Enforcement Outreach

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has fired a loud warning shot to employers in its ongoing effort to increase federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) enforcement. In a news release late last year, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis first unveiled plans for a proposed program to work with […]

Stop Sticky-Fingered Employees

Economic turbulence has contributed to a rise in workplace theft by employees, according to a recent survey of 392 employers conducted by the Institute for Corporate Productivity. Twenty-four percent of all respondents and 31 percent of respondents at large companies (10,000 or more workers) reported an increase in theft of office supplies, products produced by […]

It’s Not a Glass Ceiling, It’s a Sticky Floor

Cheryl Stone, SPHR, reviews It’s Not a Glass Ceiling, It’s a Sticky Floor: Free Yourself From the Hidden Behaviors Sabotaging Your Career Success by Rebecca Shambaugh. In It’s Not a Glass Ceiling, It’s a Sticky Floor: Free Yourself From the Hidden Behaviors Sabotaging Your Career Success, author Rebecca Shambaugh reminds us that even after years […]

How to Keep People Like Me Out of Your Workplace

“You’d like to keep people like me out of your workplace,” says Attorney Donna M. Ballman, who often represents employees. “Try treating your employees as an asset, not an expense. A little attention now will help you avoid litigation later,” she says. Ballman is the lead partner in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida law firm Donna […]

Working Notice: Is It Right for You?

By Hadiya Roderique Despite signs of a recovering economy, Canadian employers are still looking for ways to downsize operations and minimize human resources expenses. One cost-effective manner is to give working notice when terminating an employee. What is working notice? Working notice is an alternative to paying out a lump sum upon dismissal. The employee […]

Defusing Anger and Threats of Violence

In yesterday’s Advisor, Dennis A. Davis, Ph.D., talked about dealing with workplace conflict. Today, we’ll get his take on reacting to anger and violence, and we’ll get a look at a unique program for the small—even one-person—HR department. Sometimes people think anger leads to violence, so they won’t let an angry person talk. But it’s […]

Hot List: Bestselling “Skills” Books on Amazon.com

Amazon.com updates its list of the bestselling books every hour. Here is a snapshot of what is hot right now, this Monday morning, April 5, in the “Skills” section of the “Business and Investing” category. 1. The Art Of War by Sun Tzu. A seminal work on the philosophy of successful leadership that is as […]

Conflict Is Normal—The Way You Handle It Makes the Difference

“Frontline supervisors are terrified by the idea of conflict,” says Dennis A. Davis, Ph.D., “but [it] is a normal part of the work environment.” Fortunately, he says, careful management of conflict can be successful in reducing or eliminating it. When conflict festers, productivity suffers and the negativity spreads, Davis says. Unfortunately, without training, supervisors just […]

4 Ways To Curb Intermittent Leave Problems

The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and its California counterpart, the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), allow workers to take time off each year to care for their own or a family member’s serious health condition, or to bond with a new child. Employers have complained about certain aspects of the law for […]