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Gender Pay Gap? Readers Respond … and How

And some men think the pay gap discriminates against men, not women. Here are the comments (boldface is ours): What about the pay gap between men and women holding the same position, such as happened to Lily Ledbetter? It’s not just a matter of women not seeking out the highest paying jobs–those who do often […]

Radio Show Features Discussion with BLR’s Patricia Trainor on Presidential Election’s Impact on HR Issues

Where do Barack Obama and Mitt Romney stand on employment law and HR issues? Patricia Trainor, BLR’s Senior Managing Editor, Human Resources, was the featured guest on the November 1 broadcast of “The Proactive Employer” –a radio show hosted by Stephanie Thomas that features one-on-one discussions with leading policymakers and thought leaders—on how the presidential […]

Your Ex-Employee’s Case Is an Investment Decision for Plaintiff’s Attorney

Special from the Advanced Employment Issues Symposium, Las Vegas To avoid lawsuits, think like a plaintiffs’ attorney, says attorney Dan M. Forman. When the law firm evaluates your employee’s case, it is making an “investment decision.” Your objective is to discourage their interest. Forman is a partner at the Los Angeles office of Carothers, DiSante […]

How to Get a Seat at MY Table (CEO Talks to HR)

Special from the Advanced Employment Issues Symposium, Las Vegas If you want a seat at my table, you have to talk my language, and that’s the language of numbers and dollars, says Dan Oswald, BLR CEO and author of the Oswald Letter. Oswald offered his remarks at BLR’s Advanced Employment Issues Symposium under way this […]

Retention: Know why employees leave and how to make them stay

Not many HR professionals take the importance of retaining top performers for granted. Recruiting, hiring, and bringing new employees up to speed can bring on a sense of dread. Plus, having to slog through daily work while a position goes unfilled adds to the burden. So employee retention and engagement becomes a priority, and the […]

Gender Pay Gap? Readers Respond… and How

Wow, readers. In response to our recent column on gender pay disparity, some didn’t like the headline (one thinks it “smells of link bait”), a number want more meaningful comparisons of similarly situated, same-job workers, and some shared stories, such as “Hell on heels.” And some men think the pay gap discriminates against men, not […]

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 […]