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‘Sex-plus’ discrimination claims are still viable

by Rachel E. Burke The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals recently addressed the issue of whether a “sex- plus” claim of discrimination, in which a former employee claimed that she was discriminated against specifically for being an African-American female, can be made under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The case […]

Going to the Dogs! Train Employees About Guide Dogs in the Workplace

Even the most well-intentioned employers cannot anticipate every potential workplace scenario and provide advance training on how to react in each situation. That’s why it is important to be aware of training-related issues that crop up at other workplaces and take proactive steps in response.Two recent complaints in New Jersey provide such a learning opportunity. […]

Fidelity Settles 401(k) Suit with Employees for $12 Million

Fidelity Investments agreed to pay a class of its own employee 401(k) plan participants and beneficiaries $12 million to settle ERISA violation allegations of excessive fees and committing prohibited transactions with their retirement accounts. The settlement, filed July 3 with the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, ended two lawsuits brought by employees: […]

Do You Know the ‘Secret of Motivation’?

From The Oswald Letter A colleague shared with me an article published recently in The New York Times Sunday Review. In addition to the fact that the article had been recommended, its title, “The Secret of Effective Motivation,” was certainly enough to get me to read it. Who in management doesn’t want to know the […]

Do You Know the ‘Secret of Motivation’?

Dear Readers, The article’s authors—Amy Wrzesniewski, a professor of organizational behavior, and Barry Schwartz, a professor of psychology—had conducted a study about motivation. According to them, there are two types of motivation: internal and instrumental. Internal motivation, as you would guess, comes from within. People are motivated to do something based on the feeling of […]

Despite flaws, survey finds employers sticking to performance evaluations

If it’s not review season at your organization, you probably aren’t thinking about performance evaluations. Often review time comes around just once a year, and it’s not top of mind any other time—possibly because so many people dread the process.  For human resources professionals, that process can be even more stressful than it is for […]

Learning How to Count: IRS Attorneys Discuss ACA’s Pay-or-play Provisions

Employer preparation for preparing for health care reform’s pay-or-play provisions, especially data reporting (under Sections 6055 and 6056) to the IRS, can be complicated by: (1) changes in workers’ employment status (from part-time to full-time); (2) an organization’s switching from one measurement method to another; and (3) the structure of controlled groups and subsidiaries, speakers […]

May You Require a Pregnant Employee to Take Leave?

Yesterday’s Advisor covered several aspects of pregnancy discrimination as laid out in recent guidance issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).  Today, more about pregnancy plus notice of a timely new webinar on benefits for same-sex couples. [Go here for the first part of the discussion on pregnancy discrimination] Requiring Leave May an employer […]

5 More Presidential Communication Tips

In studying the highest levels of leadership, impact, and influence, several common aspects of effective communication become clear, especially on the 10th anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s passing, June 5. But even 10 years later and 25 years after his presidency, he is still known as the “Great Communicator,” says Dan Quiggle, author of Lead Like […]

‘I send pregnant employees home their last month’

[Go here for the first part of the discussion on pregnancy discrimination] Requiring Leave May an employer require a pregnant employee who is able to perform her job to take leave at any point in her pregnancy or after childbirth? No. An employer may not force an employee to take leave because she is or […]