Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Employment law attorney Dominic Verstegen discusses Dunder Mifflin’s liability for its employees’ actions when Michael, Dwight, Kevin, and Oscar all cross the line and invade the privacy of their coworkers on the “Lecture Circuit, Part II” episode of The Office. Litigation Value: $45,000 On the “Lecture Circuit, Part II” episode of The Office, there were […]
Talent Management We’ve talked a lot about job loss. With U.S. companies slashing nearly 600,000 jobs in January, it has been top of mind for most of us. Here’s the upside in what is an otherwise very dismal situation. Layoffs can give a company the opportunity to cull its lowest performers, resulting in a leaner, […]
For the third week in a row, Congress and President Barack Obama have made changes to federal employment laws or regulations. First, it was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The next week, President Obama signed executive orders affecting federal contractors and unions. And this week brings us the stimulus plan with changes to COBRA […]
Our thanks to the 334 readers who participated in Bob Brady’s survey on the vexing problems with overtime laws and high-end inside salespeople. Here’s a compilation of your responses. (Go here to see original column.) In the January 9, 2009, column, I wrote about high-earning, “nonexempt” employees and their overtime eligibility. At BLR we have […]
Do your employees “tweet”? If your response to this question is something along the lines of “huh?” it means you probably weren’t born in the 1980s or 90s. But for Millennials (a/k/a Generation Y) and other technophiles, Twitter is quickly becoming an omnipresent form of communication available any time of day—including during the work day.
When plumbing products’ manufacturer Moen Incorporated opened a fitness center at its headquarters more than a decade ago, it was a “feel-good” type of service for employee morale, retention, and recruitment. Since that time, however, its wellness initiatives have had a significant impact on the company’s bottom line. One internal study found that for every […]
Cheryl Stone, SPHR, reviews Margaret Morford’s book Management Courage: Having the Heart of a Lion. She finds the book a quick read that will be useful to human resources professionals. In her book, Management Courage: Having the Heart of a Lion, Margaret Morford sets out six principles to guide managers through tough workplace decisions. The […]
Can a workplace wellness program actually result in a return on investment in your workplace? Can you really change your employees’ behavior and overall health and wellness? There are ample reasons to be skeptical: Wellness programs cost money and time. They are preventive and preemptive, which can be tricky when it comes to proving cost […]
It’s nearly impossible to go even a day without seeing news headlines about the latest layoffs. Many employers find themselves desperately brainstorming how they can reduce expenses without having to reduce their workforces. Reducing the number of hours for exempt employees is one option that can provide budget relief, but employers should take care that […]
by Derek Knoechel Morley Shafron sold his Vancouver-based insurance agency business in 1987 for $700,000 in cash and shares. He became a shareholder and director of the surviving company and agreed to provide management services. The agreement included a non-competition clause that would take effect if he left the company. The clause would prohibit him […]