Archives

Be Up-Front When Communicating Pay-Cutting Strategies

There was a popular song in the 1970s telling listeners that the hardest word to say is “sorry.” You may agree with that, generally speaking. But for those who are less musically inclined, and those whose companies are suffering in the current bleak economy, different words likely come to mind: Words like “layoff,” “furlough,” or […]

Travel Incentive Competition Boosts Productivity, Retention

At some companies, worthwhile projects fall by the wayside due to lack of sufficient time and resources. Not so at eni, where teams of employees who successfully complete special projects are rewarded with a companywide, all-expenses-paid trip to an exotic location. How It Works The travel incentive program was implemented more than a decade ago […]

Tips for Managing a Reduced Workforce Cutting Corners to ‘Save a Buck’ Can Cost Millions Down the Line

by Warren Nelson and Karl Lindegren, Fisher & Phillips, LLP  In today’s tough economy, employers worldwide have been forced to shed key personnel in order to minimize costs. Companies large and small have reduced their workforce by drastic numbers, many left with no choice but to lay off valued employees. However, in the wake of […]

Outside Compensation Experts and HR: What’s Your Role?

As part of the Human Resources team who has significant compensation expertise, you may be feeling a little, well, left out. The climate around executive compensation is complicated right now, including both increased regulation and increased outrage (not coincidental, by the way). It may have your compensation committee bringing in the big guns—external resources called […]

California Minimum Wage: 2009 – Present

We get a fair number of questions about the minimum wage in California, so we felt it was worth a mention that it’s been $8 per hour since January 1, 2008 and remains there now. Don’t forget that some cities throughout the state impose their own, higher minimum wage rules (in San Francisco, for example, […]

Profit at the Bottom of the Ladder

In her book Profit at the Bottom of the Ladder: Creating Value by Investing in Your Workforce, Canadian researcher Jody Heymann analyzes hundreds of interviews with front line employees to C-suite executives and concludes that your company can profit more from improving worker conditions than cutting wages, benefits, and other workforce expenses. As an example […]

Consider Extra Harassment Training Before Hiring Teens

Summer is upon us, and that means an influx of seasonal teen workers at many workplaces throughout the state. You may have already looked into the special safety rules for these workers, as well as the restrictions on the hours they can work, but there’s another key issue you may not have considered: sexual harassment.

3 Worst Mistakes Managers and Supervisors Make

They say the perfect business has no managers, no supervisors, and no employees. Unfortunately, your business isn’t perfect, and you have to deal with managers and supervisors who will make today’s “worst mistakes” if you don’t train them. Here are the worst mistakes managers make: Worst #1—Failure to Be Honest in Performance Management Supervisors and […]

On-Site Medical Offices, Wellness Initiatives Promote a Culture of Health

W.R. Grace & Co. not only promotes the benefits of wellness to its 5,900 employees globally, the company makes it easy for them to maintain a healthful lifestyle. Accessible Treatment Grace (www.grace.com), a global supplier of catalysts and other products, was recently recognized for a third consecutive year as a Platinum-Level Start! Fit-Friendly Company by […]