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Reluctant Witness—Can You Demand Participation in Investigations?

What do you do about a reluctant witness, that is, the employee who doesn’t want to participate in your investigation? For guidance, we turned to BLR’s Workplace Investigations: The HR Manager’s Step-by-Step Guide.   Start with the Handbook Your employee handbook should have a provision stating that all employees are required to participate in any […]

Performance Problem—Blame the Job Description?

Well-written and effectively developed job descriptions are communication tools that allow both employees and candidates to clearly understand the expectations of the role, its essential duties, competencies, and responsibilities, along with the required educational credentials and experience, says Kennedy. Kennedy is the principal consultant of MAKHR Consulting, LLC, and author of the career coaching book […]

7-point checklist for avoiding retaliation claims in California

Most employers know that retaliation is prohibited under Title VII at the federal level for employees who have engaged in protected activities. California employers also have to stay in compliance with employee retaliation protections under FEHA. Unsurprisingly, the standards applied in California differ from those applied at the federal level.

Governor LePage: an HR case study on senior managers behaving badly

by Daniel C. Stockford What would you do if a senior manager in your company was prone to making the types of controversial and incendiary remarks for which Maine Governor Paul LePage has become famous? In this article, we will examine the governor’s history of controversial statements and explore what can be done when a […]

Selecting Your Outsourcing Vendor

Yesterday’s Advisor offered consultant Amy Letke’s guidance for HR managers considering outsourcing HR functions. Today, how to select your outsourcing vendor, plus an introduction to the everything-HR-in-one-place website, HR.BLR.com®.

Employers Face Another End to QTFB Parity

Unless Congress acts soon, employees will once again have less to use for mass transit expenses under qualified transportation fringe benefit plans, and employers will once again have to lower the limits they allow under QTFBs at the end of the year. The mass transit component of QTFBs, which covers expenses incurred in commuting to […]

DOL’s New Disability-Based Affirmative Action Requirements

In addition to the major changes discussed in yesterday’s Advisor, there are several other important changes that are included in the final Section 503 rule, says Schoenfeld. Definitions The definition of “disability” has been revised, pursuant to the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008. EO Clause Contractors will be required to state in solicitations and […]

Survey Asks Whether College Effectively Prepares Students for the Working World

Twenty-two percent of adult workers in a recent survey said that a college education does not effectively prepare students for employment in the workforce. Meanwhile, nearly the same percentage—25 percent—reported that college does effectively prepare students for the working world. Only 10 percent said college prepares students very effectively. The April 2013 survey of more […]