Month: May 2013

Is Your Leadership Training All About Power and Style?

People sometimes confuse leadership with power. Leaders are often portrayed as hard-driving, hardnosed, and headstrong. And many good leaders have those qualities, to be sure. But it takes both force and influence to lead others effectively. The two approaches complement each other and create a powerful, yet adaptable force for action. Good leadership always balances […]

Which Occupations Have the Widest Gender Pay Gaps?

Yesterday’s Advisor featured questions and answers from a recent OFCCP-sponsored chat. Today, more answers from the agencies plus an introduction to a highly practical collection of prewritten, ready-to-use HR policies. Pat Shiu, director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), was joined for the chat by Latifa Lyles, acting director of the Women’s […]

Most 401(k) Plan Participants Will Invest in TDFs by 2017, Vanguard Says

Target-date funds’ popularity over the last 10 years has soared, among both plan sponsors and participants, so odds are your plan offers these as an investment option. Their wide acceptance after being designated an eligible qualified default investment alternative for automatically enrolled new participants seems likely to guarantee their ultimate presence in most plans. A […]

New Oklahoma law confirms enforceability of nonsolicitation agreements

Although noncompetition agreements remain unenforceable under state law, a new law confirms that Oklahoma employers may enforce agreements prohibiting former employees from soliciting a company’s employees to leave their jobs to work for another employer. For some time, Oklahoma employers have been able to contractually prohibit former employees from soliciting workers for a reasonable period […]

Survey says: training and development

Recently, BLR surveyed 700 HR professionals on the training and development practices at their organizations. The survey asked about types of training conducted, frequency of training, training methods, and types of training products and services used. Here are some of the findings of the survey: When asked who makes decisions about training, 70% of the […]

Nation looks to Arizona’s experience with E-Verify

by Dinita L. James Reports out of the nation’s capital indicate the time finally may be right for comprehensive immigration reform. The word “comprehensive” encompasses a lot of issues, including border security and what some call a “pathway to citizenship” and others call “amnesty.” Everyone describing the scope of comprehensive immigration reform seems to include […]

OFCCP Pay Equality Chat–Teach Workers How to Negotiate for Fair Pay

Rob from the poor and give to the rich, says consultant Joseph DiMisa. That’s how to use limited Pat Shiu, director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), opened the recent Equal Pay Chat by saying that “… we can and must do more—from updating our regulations and collecting better data to working […]

When this CEO Says ‘No Bonuses,’ You Can Believe It

When this “CEO” says something, you can believe it! Citing the world’s poor economy, this administrator says he is out to cut expenses, and he is starting at the home office. Yes, numerous media report that newly elected Pope Francis has instructed that there be no bonuses given to staff to honor his election. Instead […]

Happy Hour: What’s Your Beverage of Choice?

While 60 percent of workers reported that they don’t attend work happy hours, those who do are most likely to cite beer or water as their beverage of choice, according to a CareerBuilder® survey. Here are the results of the survey that asked respondents what they order at a happy hour with colleagues: Beer—35 percent […]

Worst Job of 2013

What’s the worst job of 2013. Hint: What’s black and white and “read” all over. If you didn’t already guess, newspaper reporter was rated the worst job this year by CareerCast. With a BLS national salary median of $36,000 and projected job growth on the decline (-6 percent), it inched out others on the “worst […]