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Vote for Your Favorite Law Blog

The American Bar Association (ABA) Journal is once again holding an election to pick the most popular law blogs — blawgs — in the land. And the nominees include four by members of the Employers Counsel Network (ECN), a group of law firms in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada that advise and represent […]

Gift-Giving Policies for the Workplace

It’s the time of year when gift-giving shifts into high gear. Maybe a vendor sends an oversized tin of cookies or basket of fruit for the whole office to enjoy. Or maybe coworkers in neighboring cubicles pick out presents for each other. Sometimes a vendor or client hands over an expensive gift to one particular […]

US Labor Department, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment sign agreement to reduce misclassification of employees as independent contractors

Nancy J. Leppink, deputy administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, and Ellen Golombek, executive director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, signed a memorandum of understanding Dec. 5 regarding the improper classification of employees as independent contractors. “This memorandum of understanding helps us send a message: We’re standing […]

Montana’s 2012 Minimum Wage Hits $7.65

By Jason S. Ritchie The Montana Department of Labor and Industry has completed its annual review of the cost of living and has determined that the minimum wage in Montana will increase to $7.65 effective January 1, 2012. Montana workers earning the minimum wage will see an increase from $7.35 per hour to $7.65 per […]

Simple Chart System Tracks Stacked FMLA Leaves

Here is a suggested charting system for tracking multiple leaves, says Southard, who is the founder of leave management firm Work & Well, and is principal of Southard Consulting in Somerville, NJ. Her remarks came at SHRM’s Annual Conference & Exposition, held recently in Las Vegas. FMLA Tracking Scenario #1 The facts: A Wisconsin employee […]

How SPIFFs Will Turbo-Charge Your Sales Performance

In yesterday’s Advisor, experts Jerome A. (“Jerry”) Colletti and Mary S. Fiss clarified Fast Start Bonuses and Overachievement Incentives for “turbo-charging sales performance. Today, their take on SPIFFS, plus an introduction to a special guide for smaller comp/HR departments. Colletti is Managing partner of consulting firm Colletti-Fiss, LLC; Fiss is a partner. They shared their […]

Dwindling NLRB Takes Step Toward Quicker Union Elections

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is moving ahead with a plan to allow for quicker elections on union representation even as Congress considers legislation aimed at thwarting the Board’s proposed rule. The NLRB met on November 30 to decide on a resolution from Board Chairman Mark Gaston Pearce on whether to adopt some of […]

Encourage Workplace Experiences that Inspire, Motivate Employees

I had a conversation about Christmas the other day with my 15-year-old son. We were talking about the gifts he might like to get when our conversation turned to things he’d like to do. Might he prefer tickets to a concert or a ballgame instead of a new iPod or video game? The idea seemed […]

Arizona Minimum Wage Rising 30 Cents for 2012

By Dinita L. James Arizona’s minimum wage will increase 30 cents to $7.65 for the 2012 calendar year, making it 40 cents higher than the federal minimum wage. The increase is a result of Proposition 202, also known as the Raise the Arizona Minimum Wage for Working Arizonans Act, which was approved by state voters […]