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What a Gas! Frequent ‘Farter’ Fired for Flatulence

Say that three times fast! We all know that flatulence is a part of our bodily functions, but most of us know when it’s appropriate to cut the cheese, and when it’s not. For one man, though, his frequent flatulence caused his termination. Was this disability discrimination or a load of hot air?

The Intern: delightful movie—risky employment practice

Well, the Golden Globes were Sunday night and all of Hollywood tuned it to celebrate the best of film and television. One movie that was noticeably absent from the nominations (at least in my opinion) was The Intern, a heartwarming film starring Robert DeNiro and Anne Hathaway, that tells the story of a lovable retiree […]

Getting Strategic in 2016

By Holly Jones, JD, Senior Legal Editor Yesterday we heard from BLR® Senior Legal Editor Holly Jones, JD, who had some excellent tips on getting your goals strategically oriented for 2016. Today, more from Jones on setting and accomplishing strategic goals, posters in the workplace, and other HR housekeeping. Refinable Goals Refinable goals are those […]

2nd Circuit Mandates Supervision over FLSA Private Settlements

By Zachary D. Morahan, JD Most employers and their legal counsel are used to settling wage and hour claims in a simple and straightforward manner. Other than an agreement containing the appropriate terms and conditions, not much more was needed to settle such a claim before litigation began. With the exception of getting a case […]

Ask the Expert: Can We Substitute Reduced Rent for Overtime Pay?

We are planning to have one of our employees, who typically works Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., live in one of our apartments for a reduced rent rate. In exchange for this, on the weekends he will empty the dumpsters and address any maintenance calls that may occur during the weekend. We […]

Equal Pay on a Global Scale

I came across an article recently that talked about a report on pay equality between genders from the World Economic Forum. I have to say it was a bit of a bubble buster for me.

Increase the Impact of Your Compensation System

So, what’s your problem? We’re not trying to be confrontational but asking a sincere question. If you’re one who designs, processes, or transacts your company’s compensation program, it isn’t a stretch to think that you may have a few headaches.

Do Your Best People Know Their Extra Value?

In yesterday’s Advisor, experts Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones presented tips to building an authentic organization from their book Why Should Anyone Work Here? What It Takes to Create an Authentic Organization (Harvard Business Review Press, November 2015). Today, Goffee and Jones emphasize the importance of injecting extra value into the workplace.

Use discipline to achieve your goals in 2016

by Dan Oswald The other day, I brought in a couple dozen donuts for a meeting we were having at the office. Since it was the first week back to work in the new year, I must admit I was curious about how many of those donuts would get eaten. How resolute would my colleagues […]

Court: Employers Can Condition Health Benefit on Wellness Participation

An employer may require its workers to participate in a wellness program in order to receive health insurance benefits, a federal district court has ruled, dismissing a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Granting summary judgment for the employer, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin said it disagreed […]