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Gender identity in the workplace: Employers face emerging discrimination issue

When the Olympian and reality TV star the world knew as Bruce Jenner announced this spring that he identifies as female rather than male, the resulting publicity put a new employment issue into focus: Controversy surrounding gender identity is more than fodder for reality TV. It also poses workplace discrimination questions as well as practical […]

We’ve come a long way, maybe

by Susan G. Fentin I’m old enough to remember a time when sexual harassment wasn’t illegal, in the era before the courts began to apply Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to such claims. I have vivid memories of getting a “back rub” from a manager in the small office where I […]

Referral bonuses, diversity, and disparate impact liability

by Andy Rodman Q My company is having difficulty attracting qualified candidates for high-tech positions. We’re considering implementing a referral bonus policy, under which a current employee would be paid $500 for referring a candidate who is hired. Is this type of policy legal?  A There is nothing inherently illegal about a referral bonus policy. […]

Nonreligious observance may require religious accommodation

by Maggie LeBato and H. Mark Adams Both federal and state laws prohibit employers from discriminating against employees because of their religion. The courts have further ruled that the prohibition against religious discrimination requires you to accommodate your employees’ sincerely held religious beliefs unless it would cause undue hardship to your business. You might assume, […]

Unemployment rate for veterans at lowest point since 2008

On March 24, 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released unemployment numbers showing that the 2014 unemployment rate among military veterans dropped to its lowest point since 2008. Employers’ recognition of the strengths that veterans bring to the workforce is at least one factor for this drop in unemployment. […]

Take a New Perspective on Training with Bloom’s Taxonomy

You may have regular training sessions, but is your target audience really learning the material? There are many methods and models when it comes to learning and retention, and today, we consider Bloom’s Taxonomy—and how you can use it to take a fresh look at how you train employees.

Data May Be King, But Don’t Forget the Humans

Yesterday’s Advisor featured futurist Mike Walsh’s take on recruiting and managing employees in an environment that is quickly changing. Today, Walsh says we may be awash in data, but let’s not forget the human element. Walsh, a well-known prognosticator and author of the Dictionary of Dangerous Ideas, delivered his tips for preparing for the future […]

Prefer Harvard MBA or High-Ranking WOW Master?

What will it take to build a culture of engaged innovators who can keep our organizations successful? How do we spot the capabilities that will matter in the future? One corporate hiring manager summed it up this way: I’d rather hire a high-level master of World of Warcraft than a Harvard MBA. In his 10 […]