Month: December 2013

’Tis the Season … to Do Right by Employees and Customers

Among other things, having a manager who cares about them as people is part of being happy at work. So when I heard about Liberty Bottleworks, I figured it must have a pretty satisfied workforce. Here’s the story, from a recent edition of The Oswald Letter. It seems that over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the […]

’Tis the Season … to Do Right by Employees and Customers

“Have you ever thought about what employees really want from a company and a manager?” asks business and leadership blogger Dan Oswald. What is it that really makes employees feel satisfied in their workplace? Among other things, having a manager who cares about them as people is part of being happy at work. So when […]

Tips for sorting out a few thorny employment discrimination questions

Employers face tough personnel decisions every day, and the threat of litigation makes the decision process even more problematic. Recently a group of attorneys tackled a couple of situations that present discrimination hazards–whether it’s too risky to reduce an older employee’s hours and whether it’s possible to lawfully check out an applicant’s workers’ compensation history.  […]

Robertson a sitting duck after controversial quotes released

Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson and his family are most likely not enjoying a Happy Happy Happy Holiday after his recent GQ interview hit newsstands. In the interview, Robertson is quoted as saying: “It seems like, to me, a vagina—as a man—would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. I’m just thinking: […]

Top 10: Training Daily Advisor Year in Review

11 Stress Management Training Tips In yesterday’s Advisor, we looked at the statistics and signs of stress in the workplace. Today, we’ll present simple stress relief tips from a stress management expert—plus explore an extensive online library of prewritten safety training sessions all ready for your use. Could You Get Sued for Not Providing Adequate […]

Rhode Island’s temporary caregiver leave law takes effect January 1

by Timothy C. Cavazza As of January 1, 2014, Rhode Island’s temporary disability insurance program will be expanded to cover employees taking temporary caregiver leave. Leave will be available to employees “to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, domestic partner, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, or to bond with a new child.” An employee who is […]

New California law grants domestic workers overtime pay

by Cathleen S. Yonahara A new California law taking effect January 1, 2014, grants overtime pay for at least the next three years to domestic workers who are personal attendants. Under old state law, “personal attendants” are exempt from statutory overtime and meal and rest break provisions, but they are not exempt from minimum wage […]

4 Reasons Your Top Talent Is Thinking About Leaving

Chou, who is senior practice leader, compensation, at WorldatWork, offered his tips at WorldatWork’s Total Rewards 2013 Conference and Exhibition in Philadelphia. Why Key Talent Leaves Employers are always concerned about retaining top talent, says Chou, and most are getting a little more concerned as the economy brightens. However, the truth is that the job […]

New York law on unemployment taxes takes effect January 1

by Colin Leonard and James Rooney A new law going into effect on January 1, 2014, will increase New York employers’ contributions to the state’s unemployment compensation program. Earlier this year, legislation was enacted in response to the insolvency of the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and the state’s need to repay $3.5 billion borrowed from […]

Failing to Track All FMLA—4 Hazards

It is generally in your best interest to capture all absences that are Family and Medical Leave (FMLA)‐related, says consultant Kristi McKinzey, PHR. She offers four common hazards employers face when they don’t track all absences. McKinzey, a consultant with The Robert E. Miller Group in Kansas City, Missouri, was joined by a colleague, attorney […]