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Survey—Social Media Background Checks, Policy Enforcement

Yesterday’s Advisor covered survey results for policy development and distribution; today, policy enforcement and background checks.   Policy Focus: Background Checks Multiple states and cities have enacted laws in recent months that govern the use of background checks, so this year’s survey takes a closer look at those policies. We kicked it off by asking […]

harassment

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: Quid Pro Quo Versus Hostile Work Environment

Sexual harassment in the workplace is a topic often met with either a snicker or an eye roll—it brings to mind a culture where inappropriate jokes and gender-based comments are the norm. But the reality of sexual harassment is serious, and it happens every day in our workplaces. Often, it’s not as obvious as inappropriate […]

Who’s Got Policies on What? Survey Says …

Do you have a policy on background checks? Social media? Want to know about policies your competitors have? Here are the results of our 2014 Policies survey. The results of BLR’s 2014 Policy Practices Survey are in; here are some highlights: 89.8% of participants have formalized policies. 77.5% have an at-will employment statement. Employee handbooks […]

Ready for kickoff

I live in the South. This time of year, that means college football; that also means otherwise healthy friendships will erupt with enough recrimination, envy, taunts, and ill will to put the Corleones and Tattaglias to shame. Everyone crows that this is their year , we’re going to come out on top, and what-do-you-mean-that-overtime-loss-last-month-means-we-can’t-play-for-the-championship? (Except […]

Do You Train New Leaders to Avoid These 7 Enemies of Success?

Egbers, president of Leadership Excelleration, Inc., (LEI Consulting) (www.lei-consulting.com), says HR needs to be proactive about assimilating promoted leaders into their new roles. “It’s often what leaders don’t know that can harm them.”In The Ascending Leader: Conquer the Seven Enemies of Success—A Strategic Guide for the Newly Promoted, Egbers and coauthor Karen Schenck outline seven […]

Supreme Court roundup: the fall of government regulation

by Mark I. Schickman In June, the U.S. Supreme Court finished one of its most interesting terms in recent memory when it comes to employment law. While it’s difficult to find a consistent pattern in the multiple waves of rulings that were issued, one theme emerges: a limitation on governmental authority in areas that have […]

Latest fast-food protests buoyed by NLRB, Obama stance

More fast-food protests are planned for September 4, with the latest round including homecare workers and possible civil disobedience. Fast-food and other low-wage workers have been staging periodic strikes and demonstrations since 2012 in hopes of increasing their hourly wage. In addition to expanding the type of workers represented, planners of the new protests have […]

Monkeys and Dogs React to ‘Workplace’ Unfairness

Don’t shake your head when employees come to your office complaining that some practice is “unfair.” It could be a natural animal reaction, said experts presenting at the American Psychological Association (APA) annual convention. Their research found that monkeys, and even some dogs, can discern when something is not equitable in their favor.