Author: Dan Oswald

Good People Are Good People to Know

Last week I spent a few days with members of the Employers Counsel Network, a group of people that our company works with closely on a regular basis. We tend to get together formally as a group once each year to catch up, discuss business, and strengthen our bonds. It’s a great meeting that mixes […]

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 April 2. 1. The Millionaire Messenger: Make a Difference and a Fortune Sharing Your Advice by Brendon Burchard. How everyday people can make money sharing their advice. 2. The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by […]

Time to Say Goodbye

Litigation Value: Michael asking Angela if she had thought they would have sex and Gabe accosting Erin in the women’s room = additional fodder for sexually hostile work environment claims; finding out Phyllis regularly buys erotic cakes = thousands of dollars in therapy for the party planning committee to forget that disturbing mental image; Michael […]

Is Your Workplace Bulletin Board Up to Date? A Bulletin Board ‘Top 10’

A well-maintained company bulletin board can be an effective method for management to communicate new policies and procedures to employees and boost employee morale. Additionally, bulletin board postings may serve as valuable evidence in the event of a lawsuit or grievance. A neglected bulletin board, however, is a trap for the unwary and a tool […]

Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions

Employment law attorney Michael P. Maslanka reviews Guy Kawasaki’s book Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions and shares some key points on persuasion that can easily be adapted to your business. Less Is More First off, keep it short. Kawasaki suggests looking at the best slogans (e.g., “Got milk?” or “Just do […]

Catching Life, Business Lessons from Legendary Fishing Guide

I read a fascinating article about a fishing guide by the name of Steve Huff. Huff has been a fishing guide for 43 years and is considered one of the best in his profession. Last year, he was inducted into the International Game Fish Association’s Hall of Fame and, the editor and publisher of one […]

Canadian Court Trims $500K Dismissal Damages, Upholds Arbitrator’s Broad Authority

by Julia Kennedy A Canadian court recently upheld most of a more than $500,000 arbitration award involving a unionized employee of the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA). But it ordered the arbitrator to reconsider the mental distress and punitive damages awards. In doing so, the court clarified the broad remedial authority of arbitrators to award […]

New Form I-9 Rule Takes Effect May 16

A new final rule on verifying employment eligibility through the Form I-9 process has been adopted and is to take effect May 16. Identical to an interim rule that has been in effect since April 3, 2009, the new rule makes changes regarding documents used to verify eligibility for employment in the United States. As […]

Social Security Administration No-Match Letters Back On Again

The Social Security Administration (SSA) resumed sending “no-match” letters to employers this month, three years after discontinuing the practice in response to litigation. The SSA posted a notice on its Program Operations Manual System website saying letters are to go to employers for data received for tax year 2010. The SSA won’t send letters it held […]

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. Change Anything: The New Science of Personal Success by Kerry Patterson. Shows how individuals can come to understand these powerful and influential forces, and how to put these forces to work […]