Month: July 2013

Free labor or future liability? Unpaid internships in Canada also pose issues

By Julia Kennedy With each summer comes a wave of new graduates and returning students looking for ways to gain career experience. This summer, the media spotlight has been focused on the nature of unpaid internships in the United States and Canada. They are no longer limited to the not-for-profit sector. It’s probably a good […]

Sorting out rights for specific disabilities under the ADA

Employers are accustomed to the basics regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but the details can get tricky especially since employers must navigate the changes brought on by the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), which made it easier for individuals with a range of impairments to qualify for protection under the law. Recently, the Equal […]

What’s on the immigration horizon for employers?

by Elaine Young During the month of May, the Senate Judiciary Committee marked up the comprehensive immigration reform bill that the “Gang of Eight” proposed earlier in the year. In June, we saw the House of Representatives debate over what to add or take away from the bill. Here’s a quick Q&A on how some […]

Growing prevalence of severe food allergies may trigger ADA accommodations

by Holly Jones Late last year, a small private university in Massachusetts entered into a detailed settlement related to accommodating food allergies on campus. The settlement was the first of its type in higher education, but could it have broader implications for employers in general? University under fire for mandatory meal plan program In 2009, […]

OFCCP issues new compensation directive

by Melineh Verma The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) formally rescinded the Bush-era guidance on pay discrimination in February, criticizing the 2006 “Voluntary Guidelines and Compensation Standards” as improperly limiting its ability to conduct full investigations of compensation matters. The OFCCP replaced the 2006 voluntary guidelines with Directive […]

National origin discrimination and race discrimination aren’t the same thing

by Kevin McCormick In a recent decision, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland affirmed the notion that discrimination on the basis of race and discrimination based on national origin are distinct legal claims. Moreover, because 42 USC § 1981 only prohibits discrimination based on race, a claim alleging national origin discrimination under […]

‘No Fair, I’ve Got Free Speech Rights!’ (Sorry.)

Special from Chicago—SHRM Annual Conference and Exhibition In private employment, the employer determines whether there is an expectation of privacy, says attorney Jonathan Segal, but unwary employers may create the right if they are not careful. (Government employees generally have a constitutional right to a higher level of privacy than those in the private sector.) […]

What Metrics Should HR Be Using? Q&A Session

What financial metrics should HR be using? What is most important to track? Which metrics measure effectiveness? Should the metrics vary depending on what industry your organization is in? Teri Morning fielded all of these questions and more in a recent BLR webinar. Check out the sample questions and answers below to learn more. Q. […]

Make Your Safety Training Program OSHA-Compliant

Many industrial jobs require employees to have specialized knowledge and skills, and to be prepared to deal with a special set of serious hazard exposures. OSHA-mandated specialized training requirements are found in a number of standards. For example: Hazard communication of chemical, carcinogen, and radiation hazards (29 CFR 1910.1200) Combustible dust (29 CFR 1910.22, 269, […]

How HR Can Earn a Seat at the Table: Understanding Cash Flow Statements

For HR to be most effective, you should understand how the business side of the organization works. HR won’t earn a permanent seat at the decision-making table without a clear understanding of what’s behind the finance team’s decisions and strategies—including basic financial reports. Let’s take a look at the cash flow statement as an example. […]