Month: June 2013

High Court Advances Same-sex Marriage and Impacts Employers

As a result of the U.S. Supreme Court rulings on same-sex marriage, employers throughout the United States will have to adjust their benefits plans, policies and documents to accommodate employees’ same-sex spouses for purposes of federal law and regulations. California employers will need to do the same for purposes of state law. On June 26, […]

Tennessee’s “guns in trunks” law takes effect July 1

by Kara E. Shea The Tennessee law giving handgun carry permit holders the right to transport and store firearms and/or ammunition in their vehicles parked in an employer’s parking lot goes into effect July 1. With the enforcement deadline at hand, employers understandably want to know whether they need to alter current “no weapons” policies […]

College Graduate? Now Start Learning

Oswald, CEO of BLR, offered his advice to his son in a recent edition of The Oswald Letter: My first thought was that I had the order of those two things reversed—that I should be providing him advice on life first and career second. The most precious things in life aren’t “things” at all—they’re people. […]

Top 10: Compensation & Benefits Daily Advisor Review

10 Phrases Successful Managers Never Use Whether you’re making a formal request, pitching an applicant, or proposing an idea, there are ten phrases that can ruin your pitch, says author Darlene Price. Editor’s Choice: How To Handle Employee Pay During Winter Weather Closures: INFOGRAPHIC For this edition of the Compensation Daily Advisor, we present you […]

Is Your Employee Handbook a Legal Time Bomb?

Hunter Lott is an HR practitioner dedicated to the “rights of management.” His handbook remarks below came during his “Please Sue Me” session at a recent Society for Human Resource Management Conference and Exposition.

8 Reasons to Use an HRMS

Do you use a human resource management system (HRMS)? If not, perhaps you’re wondering whether the benefits are worth the costs. What are the reasons to use an HRMS? What is an HRMS? First, let’s start by outlining what an HRMS is. It is an integrated system providing information used by HR management in decision […]

Some interesting lessons from the U.S. Supreme Court

by Mark I. Schickman History will remember June 26’s U.S. Supreme Court decisions as the landmark cases supporting same-sex marriage, a coupling that will become commonplace in a decade or two. But these decisions and the affirmative action, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and voting rights cases that preceded them the […]

Training Can Help Close Economy-Related Skills Gaps

In a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) poll, 66 percent of respondents reported having a hard time recruiting for specific job openings, up from 52 percent in 2011. “The Ongoing Impact of the Recession—Recruiting and Skills Gaps” found that recruiting challenges vary by industry, but highly skilled positions—scientists, engineers, technicians, programmers, nurses, doctors, and […]

Illinois court makes noncompete agreements harder to enforce

by Steven L. Brenneman In a decision handed down June 24, the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, found a restrictive covenant unenforceable because of a lack of adequate consideration (something given in return for the employee’s agreement not to compete). The court ruled there must be at least two years of continued employment to constitute […]

Are You ‘Cost of Sales’ or ‘Cost of Labor’?

DiMisa, who is senior vice president, Sales Force Effectiveness, at Sibson Consulting, clarified the difference between the two approaches during a recent webinar sponsored by BLR® and HR Hero®. “Cost of Sales” or “Cost of Labor” Philosophy? Approach Concept Example Market Cost of Sales Payouts are based on a percentage of volume or $ per […]