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BusinessWeek ranks paperback business books that are the most recent bestsellers and provides a short summary. 1. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. Author Malcolm Gladwell says snap judgments deserve careful consideration. 2. The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century. Author Thomas L. Friedman says globalization is great — […]
Downsizing is dangerous for morale, for productivity–and for lawsuits. Today’s expert untangles this treacherous territory. Fear and insecurity experienced as a result of downsizing, layoffs, or any type of significant restructuring spawns a “retaliatory wave” of lawsuits, as well as affecting morale, which results in poor productivity, says Diana Gregory. So, employers need to identify […]
by Robert P. Tinnin, Jr. Q: I’m the owner of a business that sells big-ticket home furnishings. While reading the paper today, I discovered that my credit manager has filed for bankruptcy. Obviously, when the word gets around, it will really make me look like a fool! I want to fire him immediately, but a […]
Our subscribers often ask us if they can split up an employee’s meal break. For example, if an employee has a meeting or training session that interferes with the 30-minute lunch break, can you as an employer have the person take 15 minutes after five hours worked, and then take the other 15 minutes later […]
Widespread among employers today is a “neutral reference” strategy in providing employment references for current or former employees. In fact, many attorneys have urged clients to adopt this policy to decrease exposure to liability. Of course, when you’re the one seeking a reference on a job applicant, this type of policy severely limits the information […]
By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady A warm “Thank you” to the 2,800 HRDA readers who responded to our recent survey concerning the effect of the economic slump on your organizations and your departments! Here’s a summary of the results. Smaller Businesses Hit Hardest While the slumping economy is hurting businesses of all sizes, […]
Labor Day has come and gone. Our summer vacations are over, and it’s almost time for things like the NFL (your company isn’t sponsoring a betting pool, is it?) and the fall TV season, including The Office. In advance of the new season, now might be a good time to review your HR policies and […]
In yesterday’s Advisor, we shared results from a recent Vault survey on recruiter and applicant etiquette. Today, questions about actions after the interview, and a look at a training system to help your supervisors with interviewing and other critical skills. Here are some additional responses to Vault’s 2008 Interview Etiquette Survey: Question for recruiters: How […]
Aug. 31 was the last day for California legislators to pass bills, and the governor has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto them. But the current budget standoff in the legislature could mean that few, if any, bills will become law this year. That’s because Gov. Schwarzenegger has pledged that he won’t sign any […]
Sarah McAdams reviews the book The Age of Heretics: A History of Radical Thinkers Who Reinvented Corporate Management by Art Kleiner. Review gives history of managers and HR that challenged the corporate norm. Arguably, the corporate world has never needed heretical thinking more than it does today. Read Art Kleiner’s The Age of Heretics: A […]