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Hang on Loosely … Or You’re Gonna Lose Control

Oswald, CEO of BLR, offered his thoughts on “loose” control in a recent edition of The Oswald Letter. Look “manager” up in the dictionary, Oswald says, and you’ll find it described this way: “a person who has control or direction of an institution, business, etc., or of a part, division, or phase of it.” There […]

Ignoring the Basics Can Lead to HR Failures

In yesterday’s CED, we offered tips for managing the basics of HR legal issues. Today, the rest of the tips and an introduction to a California-specific resource for your employee handbook policies. Once again, a tip of the CED hat to attorneys John K. Skousen and Christopher J. Boman, partners at the Irvine office of employment law […]

It’s all about attitude

by Dan Oswald I happen to live in the country music capital of the world, Nashville. So at least a couple of country stations have been programmed into my radio. This morning on my drive to the office, I was listening to one of the stations when a Travis Tritt song titled “It’s a Great […]

Small Merit Budget? Carve-Outs Let You Differentiate Performance

Yesterday’s Advisor offered the first 6 of 9 factors necessary to make pay for performance real. Today, three more factors, plus an introduction to the all-compensation-in-one-place website, Compensation.BLR.com. 7. Make Merit Matter [Go here for factors 1 to 6.] Of course, one of the problems with merit pay has been that we’re mostly working with […]

The 11 E-Info Risks—Realistic and Legal Policies

Beachboard, who is a shareholder in the Los Angeles office of employment law firm Ogletree Deakins, details the risks in today’s Advisor. He made his comments at the SHRM Annual Conference and Exhibition held recently in Atlanta. 1. Leaks of Company Information The risk of unwanted disclosures is at the top of CEOs’ worries, says […]

Do Your Managers Know How to Resist Retaliation?

Gauge your managers’ current knowledge about retaliation with these quick cases: Peter worried that a dangerous chemical was being used without proper protection, and he reported it to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). His boss, Sheila, was not happy. “Peter’s wrong,” she said. “There’s nothing unsafe about our process. And I’m miffed […]

Supreme Court Okays Rehearing of Liberty U.’s Challenge to Reform Law

The U.S. Supreme Court has ordered a federal appeals court to rehear a Christian university’s challenge to the health reform law in Liberty University v. Geithner.  Reviving the case creates the possibility that the High Court may rule on the case itself sometime in 2013, which would make it the second challenge to health reform […]

IRS sets 2013 standard mileage rate

The IRS has announced the 2013 standard mileage rate to use in computing the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business use. Employers often use the rate to determine how much they will pay employees for using their personal vehicles for work-related purposes. The 2013 rate for transportation or travel expenses is 56.5 cents […]

Employers on their own for compliance with health and safety orders

by Rosalind H. Cooper Employers in many Canadian provinces have often looked to Ministry of Labour inspectors to provide guidance to assist them in complying with their obligations under various occupational health and safety statutes and regulations. Employers often request such advice because they believe that Ministry of Labour inspectors, who visit multiple workplaces and […]

30% Do Pay for Performance Well–That’s the Good News

About 30% of organizations we study do pay for performance well, consultant Jim Kochanski says, so it is possible, but it’s not easy. Fortunately, there are nine factors that can help that other 70% do it better, he says. Most employers say they have pay for performance, says Kochanski, but they don’t. Unfortunately, employees spot […]