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The 6 Scary Phrases to Avoid in Documentation

In yesterday’s Advisor, attorney Allison West offered her do’s and don’ts for bulletproof documentation. Today, her six scary phrases to avoid, plus an introduction to a surprisingly effective 10-minutes-at-a-time training system for your supervisors and managers. West, principal at Employment Practices Specialists in Pacifica, California, offered her suggestions at SHRM’s annual conference and exhibition, held […]

Hot List: Wall Street Journal’s Bestselling Hardcover Business Books

The following is a list of the bestselling hardcover business books as ranked by the Wall Street Journal with data from Nielsen BookScan. 1. StrengthsFinder 2.0: A New and Upgraded Edition of the Online Test from Gallup’s Now, Discover Your Strengths by Tom Rath. Are you unsure where your true talents lie? Do you feel […]

Company Owner’s Sexting Costs Him and His Business

By Hadiya Roderique Modern technology provides many new avenues for human rights violations. As recently learned by the owner of British Columbia-based Metro Aluminum Products, sending sexually-related text messages or photos electronically by mobile phones, also known as sexting, can get you into trouble. Sexting is getting widespread attention in the media. It’s no longer […]

The Playbook for Refereeing Employee Disputes

The conflict-free workplace…alas, it simply doesn’t exist. Because workplace conflict disrupts morale and performance, and affects everyone in the organization, it’s important to be able to referee these disputes to a peaceful conclusion. Here are some tips for doing just that.

Careless Documentation: Key Evidence Against You in Court

If you’re not careful with your documentation, says Attorney Allison West, you’re probably creating evidence that your employee’s attorney can use against you in court. In today’s Advisor, her do’s and don’ts. Employment law attorneys aren’t allowed to say “document,” West says; they are always required to say “document, document, document.” There’s a good reason […]

UCLA Hospital to Pay $865,500 in Latest HIPAA Privacy Settlement

In the latest big-ticket enforcement action for alleged HIPAA privacy and security violations, the University of California at Los Angeles Health System (UCLAHS) has agreed to pay the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) $865,500 to settle allegations the hospital violated HIPAA’s privacy and security rules. The settlement, announced July 7, resolves two […]

Consumer-Directed Health Plans Like HSAs/HRAs Continue to Grow

Does your computer’s spelling function auto-correct “HSA” to “HAS”? Mine used to, not recognizing that this abbreviation is no longer an error, but represents health savings accounts (HSAs), one type of consumer-directed health plan that is fast becoming mainstream in the health benefits industry. Health savings accounts couple a tax-favored savings account that is used […]

Service Dog

Endangered (Service) Animal Species

by Karen McAndrew As of March 15, 2011, boa constrictors, ferrets, wildebeests, and rabbits are no longer considered “service animals” under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), so assuming the Attorney General’s Office of your state concurs, you will not have to let those animals dine in your restaurant or hang out in a cubicle […]