Is It Time to Ditch the Annual Performance Appraisal?
Ah, the annual (or semiannual) performance appraisal. One of the few rituals of work life that’s loathed in almost equal measure by employees, managers, and HR alike.
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Culture of Help Benefits the Company and the Individual
Early in my publishing career, I took the “assist” part of my editorial assistant job quite literally, and I would volunteer for nearly every task lobbed at my team by our publisher.
Personal phones causing a problem at work? Damage control is possible
Smartphones. Certainly, they can be tremendous tools, but they also can be major distractions in the workplace. A recent survey from CareerBuilder placed cellphones at the top of a list of productivity killers at work, more of a problem than office gossip, social media, smoke breaks, and other diversions. Phones are now so much more […]
In California, You Can’t Fight Fire with Firings: Preventing Domestic Violence at Work
On April 10, 2017, a 53-year-old man walked into a special needs classroom in San Bernadino, California, pulled out a gun, and shot his estranged wife, 53-year-old Karen Elaine Smith. Two children standing near Smith were also hit by gunfire; 8-year-old Jonathan Martinez died later at the hospital. The gunman then turned his gun on […]
With HR’s Help, Employee Network Groups Can Improve Retention
From the employer’s perspective, employee network groups can boost engagement and retention—or they can create divisiveness. To ensure the former, employers need to be involved from the start.
Is the Potential to Contract Ebola a Disability? EEOC Thinks So
A Massage Envy franchise violated federal law when it fired an employee for traveling to Ghana, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The company acted on fears that its massage therapist might contract Ebola and, in doing so, violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the commission has alleged in a lawsuit.
Ironclad Employment Documentation: A Q&A with Susan Fentin
You fire an employee for poor performance. He says the termination was in retaliation for filing a race discrimination claim against the company. Will you have the employment documentation to back up your decision and avoid a costly lawsuit?
Treasure Hunt Promotes Teambuilding, Leadership Skills
Students from a Louisiana university searched for Mardi Gras beads as part of a teambuilding and team-bonding exercise, but they found so much more in the process.
Proposed Comp Time Law and Overtime Regs: What’s the Connection?
You’ve probably heard by now that the U.S. House of Representatives last week passed a new law that allows private employers to offer employees comp time in lieu of overtime pay. That law has not yet been passed in the U.S. Senate but what if it is? How will it impact your compensation plan? Will […]
FMLA Training Scenario: Reduced Schedule Leave Request Vexes Employer
Here we present a leave-related workplace scenario—inspired by an actual court case—that’s intended to help HR professionals better understand an employer’s responsibilities under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This scenario involves an employee who can no longer work overtime due to a medical condition—but the employer says that working overtime is an essential […]