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Working late at the office

What message are you sending about what is important?

Two of my colleagues forwarded me a recent New York Times article about the temptation of managers to reward employees who work long hours instead of those who produce results. Maybe they were trying to send me a not-so-subtle message! The article cited a study published in 2010 in which researchers found that employees who […]

Post-contractual duty to act faithfully: a protection limited to a (too) reasonable period

by Isabelle East-Richard Throughout Canada, whether under article 2088 of the Civil Code of Québec in Quebec or the common law elsewhere, employees have a duty to act faithfully and honestly toward their employer once the employment relationship has ended. That is the case even when there is no noncompetition clause in an employment contract. […]

HR Metrics the C-Suite Will Appreciate

To be business leaders, HR professionals must utilize C-Suite thinking in reporting and decision support. And that means metrics. For guidance we turned to the all-HR-in-one website, HR.BLR.com. A metric is simply a way to quantify, measure, and track key performance indicators. Metrics can support decisions related to: Compensation programs Hiring and retention Succession planning […]

NLRB and nonunion employers

Employers with nonunionized workforces once went about their business without giving much thought to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). But with union membership in decline, a more activist Board is branching out, and now even nonunion employers need to be on guard. As union membership dwindles, the NLRB is emphasizing that the National Labor […]

How Will the Election Affect Health Care Reform?

Here’s the third in our popular series of “Eye on the Election” posts which are focused on helping employers prepare for post-election changes, no matter who is elected. Eye on the Election For today’s topic—likely changes to health care reform after the election—we turned to BLR legal editor Jessica Webb-Ayer, J.D., editor of the Benefits […]

Most Employees Don’t Act During Benefits Enrollment, Poll Finds

When given a chance each year to change their employee benefits, including retirement savings options, most American workers don’t, a recent poll by insurance and benefits provider MetLife found. And just over half of those surveyed feel very confident that they will make the right choices for themselves and their families during this “open enrollment” […]

Strong Documentation Defeats Employee’s ADA, ERISA Claims

Good recordkeeping and documentation is key in defending employment discrimination claims, a recent court ruling illustrates. An employee terminated for performance problems alleged that he was fired in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, because of his wife’s disability. The employer, however, produced evidence showing that: (1) the employee’s performance was subpar; (2) he […]

Is Your Training Sufficient for Your Employees' Career Needs?

While 77 percent of survey respondents indicated that training should be a joint responsibility between employer and employee, more than 33 percent said the current training they receive from their employer is not sufficient to meet their career needs in the future, according to the survey by Kelly Services (www.kellyservices.com), a global workforce solutions firm. […]

balance

Does Your Organization Value Work-Life Balance? These Companies Do

Despite the rough economic climate, many employees value work-life balance over benefits or pay when it comes to staying at their job. According to the American Psychological Association’s (APA) recent Workforce Retention Survey, 60 percent of American workers said they remain with their current employers because of benefits and 59 percent because of the pay, […]