Author: Dan Oswald

Angry Businessman Image

You Can’t Reason with Crazy

Try this one on for size. A number of years ago, four to be exact, we were enjoying a successful relationship with a company we had contracted with since 1995. By all accounts, the firm was doing a good job for us. In 2007, one of the key people employed by the firm decided to […]

Stack of Resumes

Former Employee Keeps Reapplying Despite Rejection Letters

by Reggie Gay Q: We have a job applicant who worked for us approximately six years ago. There’s nothing negative in her file, but there were some issues with her job performance. Neither of her former supervisors wants to hire her back. She has applied several times and has received rejection letters, but she keeps […]

Boldest Applicant is the Best Applicant . . . Sometimes

I find it hard to believe that my fellow bloggers have overlooked the most obvious choice for Michael Scott’s replacement: Fred Henry, played by Will Arnett. After all, who else during their interview promised to deliver a plan that would double the branch’s profits? Undoubtedly, Mr. Henry’s strategy was the boldest and most innovative of […]

Negotiations

4 Keys to Successful Negotiating in Work, Life

To live life is to negotiate. If you’re married, you negotiate daily with your spouse. It might be over what to have for dinner or where to go on vacation. If you have children, you certainly negotiate with them. I’m constantly bargaining over curfews, gas money, and the definition of a clean room. (Are hospital corners […]

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 […]

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 […]

He Creeps Me Out, But He Might Be a Genius

Litigation Value: likely to skyrocket with Robert California’s new sex-fueled approach to paper sales. The word around The Office is that James Spader will be returning next season as Robert California, a character Paul Lieberstein (a.k.a. Toby) has described as “this uber-salesman that has a power to convince and manipulate like a high-class weirdo Jedi […]

California

Employers Whose Employees Work in California Are Subject to State Overtime Laws

By Chris McFadden Employers that require workers to travel to and work within California may be subject to the state’s overtime laws even though their employees are nonresidents. The California Supreme Court decided last week that the California Labor Code applies to the overtime claims of three nonresident instructors who performed work within the state. […]

Older worker

Experienced Workers Have Unique Perspective

Recently, I advised that to engage and retain the young professionals on your team, you must make sure you provide ample opportunity for them. But what about the rest of the team? They’re just as important, and without them there is no team. Let’s face it, it takes a variety of talents, skills, and experiences […]