Archives

Belles, Bourbon, Bullets & Bankruptcy

Litigation Value: $0. Shockingly no one did anything illegal in this episode. Dunder Mifflin suffered a full day’s lost productivity due to Corporate’s poor handling of the bankruptcy situation. In this week’s episode, the recession finally hit Dunder Mifflin. Faced with such stress, I would have expected the Scranton branch to become a plaintiff’s lawyer’s […]

How Does Your 401(k) Stack Up?

By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady A lot of things have changed in the past year, causing priorities to shift and business practices to be reevaluated. Are you wondering how the situation at your organization compares with others in your industry? Last December, a survey conducted by WorldatWork and the American Benefits Council found […]

Holidays 2009 Survey Results

Each year, HR Hero Line surveys its readers about what days they will be off at the holidays and in the coming year. Most of you will have a paid holiday later this month on both Thanksgiving Day and the day after, while about 36% of you will get off on Thanksgiving Day only. Christmas […]

When HR Risks Multiply, Training Is Essential

By Patricia M. Trainor, J.D.BLR Legal Editor In yesterday’s Advisor, we began our look at the 12 biggest risks for HR in a down economy, as seen by attorney Allison West. Today, we’ll look at the final six of those risks and see how training is the key to avoiding them. West’s suggestions came during […]

Fierce Leadership: A Bold Alternative to the Worst “Best” Practices of Business Today

Employment law attorney Michael Maslanka reviews Fierce Leadership: A Bold Alternative to the Worst “Best” Practices of Business Today by Susan Scott, which he finds a useful tool for HR communication. Fierce Leadership: A Bold Alternative to the Worst “Best” Practices of Business Today by Susan Scott is full of good HR advice, and I […]

Employers Jailed for Failing to Pay Back Wages

Ever wonder just how far government agencies will go to punish employers who don’t pay back wages? As the owners of Southern California Maid Services and Carpet Cleaning Inc. found out recently, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is prepared to take misbehaving employers all the way to the jail house to enforce back wage […]

12 Biggest HR Risks in a Down Economy

By Patricia M. Trainor, J.D.BLR Legal Editor In this down economy, HR faces serious risks from employees who are worried about money and the possible loss of their jobs. HR managers must be proactive to protect their companies from harm, asserts attorney Allison West. With a good dose of humor in her keynote address, West […]

Feds Are Knocking—Are You Ready?

By Patricia M. Trainor, J.D.BLR Legal Editor In yesterday’s Advisor, attorney Marc L. Jacuzzi pointed to the surge in wage and hour lawsuits and gave tips for preventive audits. Today, we’ll finish his tips and take a look at a unique HR audit system. Jacuzzi, a partner in the law firm of Simpson, Garrity, Innes, […]

Wal-Mart Layoffs Declared Illegal by Quebec Arbitrator

As we have reported before (January 6, 2009, December 2, 2008, and August 26, 2008), Wal-Mart has repeatedly been dealt blows by Canadian courts and other decision-makers. Most recently, an arbitrator in Quebec has weighed in – and it’s more bad news for Wal-Mart in Canada. Wal-Mart’s store in Jonquiere, Quebec, was certified by the […]

Hot List: New York Times Bestselling Paperback Business Books

The following is a list of the bestselling paperback business books as ranked by the New York Times on November 9. 1. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (P.S.) by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. A maverick scholar and a journalist apply economic theory to everything from cheating sumo […]