Archives

‘You’re Not Attractive Enough to Work Here’ (Lookism)

Special from Atlanta—SHRM Annual Conference and Exhibition People can’t admit to their own performance failures, says attorney James McDonald, so when they are fired, they wonder, What could it have been? And they come up with: “I must have been discriminated against based on my looks!” McDonald, who is a partner in the Irvine, California office […]

Medical marijuana law takes effect in Connecticut Oct. 1

by Jonathan C. Sterling As of October 1, Connecticut employers need to make sure they’re in compliance with the state’s new medical marijuana law. Under the law, employers of one or more employees are prohibited from refusing to hire, discharging, penalizing, or threatening an employee solely on the basis of his status as a “qualifying […]

Are job counter offers ever a good idea?

Without question, a job counter offer can be a useful tool if the situation fits. Under the right circumstances it might save a key employee from leaving—at least temporarily. However, in most cases they may create more problems than they solve, so employers should take care in assessing whether a job counter offer is truly […]

Recognizing the Red Flags of Retaliation

Special from Atlanta–SHRM Annual Conference and Exhibition In yesterday’s Advisor, attorney Dana Cotham offered suggestions for avoiding retaliation claims—the most common type of claim. Today, the red flags that signal potential problems, plus an introduction to the new, comprehensive training solution—TrainingToday. Here are Cotham’s “Red Flags for Retaliation.” The actions listed below are those that […]

Rising Caregiver Responsibilities Fuel Push for Extra Worker Protections

The increasing need for employees to care for an older relative or friend should prompt an expansion of federal legal protections against workplace discrimination, according to a recent report by the AARP Public Policy Institute. In what the AARP report authors dub as the “new normal,” Protecting Family Caregivers from Employment Discrimination says discrimination in […]

HR Department Survey Results–How Does Your Department Compare?

For years, BLR® has surveyed HR and compensation/benefits professionals to find trends in policy and practice. We appreciate your participation in our series of brief, targeted surveys. Today’s survey topic: Employee Leave Survey. We’ll publish the results in a future issue, and we’ll also send you a PDF report. (Be sure to include your contact […]

Consistency counts

One of the traits I think is important in a leader is consistency. It’s not always easy to assess in job candidates, but it certainly shows itself (or not) over time. Webster’s defines consistency this way: “steadfast adherence to the same principles, course, form, etc.” A consistent leader has a steadfast adherence to the same […]

Did he quit, or was he fired?

by Emilie Paquin-Holmested Generally when employees decide to leave their jobs, they are considered to have quit. But in Canada, if they leave their jobs because the employer substantially changed essential terms of their employment, they are considered to have been constructively dismissed. The line separating these two notions is often unclear. It’s especially so […]

Stupid Money for Stupid Acts (Retaliation)

Special from Atlanta—SHRM Annual Conference and Exhibition Retaliation means the employer is paying stupid money for stupid acts, says attorney Dana Cotham. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much these days to rise to the level of retaliation. Here’s what happened with retaliation as the result of a 2006 Supreme Court decision, says Cotham: BEFORE 2006 (before […]

Feds Freeze Per Diem Rates for FY 2013

Reimbursement rates for lodging, meals and incidental expenses for fiscal year 2013, which begins Oct. 1, will be frozen at FY 2012 levels, the U.S. General Services Administration announced Aug. 27. GSA is the arm of the federal government that sets travel policy for federal employees. The reimbursement rates, commonly called per diems, determine the […]