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Take Precautions when Using Humor in Safety Training

Before we get into what not to do when using humor in safety training, let’s look at why it matters: Using humor and promoting some laughter and fun in safety training sessions helps trainees relax, interact more with you and other trainees, and be more open to new ideas. Laughter can also help perk up […]

Pregnant Employees? What the FMLA Requires

The PDA applies regardless of how long an employee has worked for you. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), however, has stricter eligibility requirements but also offer more potential benefits. For example, the FMLA applies to new fathers as well as mothers. To be eligible for FMLA leave, an employee must have worked for […]

Contractors for Storm Clean-up Pose Misclassification Risks

Hurricane Sandy’s path of destruction has left many homeowners, municipalities and businesses in need of reconstruction and repairs — and when such weather-related disasters require massive reconstruction efforts, many landscapers and builders hire subcontractors to help. Increased joint employer liability, particularly in those industries that frequently use subcontractors, often goes hand-in-hand with worker misclassification. Employers […]

Hurricane Sandy prompts extension of affirmative action form deadline

by Tammy Binford The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has extended the deadline for federal contractors and subcontractors to file their VETS-100 and/or 100A reports because of the effects of Hurricane Sandy. The deadline was extended from October 31 to November 9. All paper reports and electronic files in the 2012 cycle are now due […]

Are California employers legally obligated to have a PTO policy?

Are California employers required to implement a paid time off (PTO) policy? It may seem so, since paid-time-off banks (as opposed to sick leave banks) are becoming increasingly popular. It may be surprising to learn that California law doesn’t actually require employers to provide PTO, vacation, sick time (with limited exceptions), or even paid holidays.

The human side of crisis management

What would your company do if it was faced with a crisis? It’s a question that’s getting harder and harder for businesses to ignore, especially in the face of crises such as Superstorm Sandy. Employees Aren’t Just ‘Human Resources,’ They’re Human Beings When many companies look at disaster planning, they focus on how to prevent […]

Finding Internal Fraud–How to Do Your Audit

“Oh, it wouldn’t happen here” is a naïve attitude to take toward internal fraud, says consultant Vicki M. Lambert CPP. It’s more common than you might expect, but fortunately it’s not that hard to detect and prevent. Lambert, who offers payroll training as “The Payroll Advisor,” says that if you are doing an audit, might […]

Boss to Workers—If You Vote for Obama, You Will Lose Your job

Maybe David Siegel, billionaire president of Westgate Resorts, needed to read BLR’s special report on political activity in the workplace, 2012 Election Issues for Employers. If he had, he probably wouldn’t have written the e-mail letter where he tells employees they will lose their jobs if Obama is reelected. No, the letter is not fake; Siegel […]

Birthday Luck

Move over horoscopes, birthdays have a new prophetic power. According to a recent study, “The relative-age effect and career success: Evidence from corporate CEOs,” the month you were born in has a “long-lasting influence on career success.” The study, highlighted on Inc.com, found that babies born in March or April are more likely to become […]