Author: Celeste Blackburn

HOT LIST: Bestselling Business Books on Amazon.com

Amazon.com updates it’s bestselling business book hourly. Here is a snapshot of what books were hot this morning — Monday, May 12. 1.The Post-American World. “This is not a book about the decline of America, but rather about the rise of everyone else.” So begins Fareed Zakaria’s important new work on the era we are […]

Unions, Politics, and Money: Campaign 2008

In a democracy, social issues regularly become political issues, and solutions (including compromises) are worked out through public elections. Since employers and unions are frequently on opposite sides of key issues, both attempt to involve the public and spend extensively to support their respective positions or solutions. Both the short- and long-term ramifications of this […]

HR Director Sentenced to Jail for Facilitating Compensation Scheme Including Backdating Stock Options

by Mark Schickman HR directors usually aren’t the most politically powerful officers in higher-level corporate cultures. The function doesn’t produce product or create sales, so there’s no ready way to judge its value and contribution. Like a solid defensive lineman, an HR director is working best when basking in total anonymity — when no HR […]

Pimping Out Pam

HARASSMENT CLAIMS: $200,000 – $300,000. NEGLIGENCE/PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS: $50,000 – $75,000. WATCHING ANDY EAT IT IN THE SAND PIT: Priceless. It is truly my honor to take over this blog for my good friend, Julie Elgar. She has provided us all with great practical and legal tips over the past year, and we will miss […]

The Three Signs of a Miserable Job: A Fable for Managers (And Their Employees)

HR manager Paul Knoch reviews the book The Three Signs of a Miserable Job: A Fable for Managers (And Their Employees) by Patrick Lencioni. Review highlights book’s examples of why some companies’ cultures are attractive to employees while other companies struggle with low morale and high turnover rates. I first became interested in reading The […]

Be Prepared If an Inspector Knocks at Your Door

by Daniel Pugen of McCarthy Tetrault and Karen Sargeant formerly with McCarthy Tetrault In most Canadian provinces, occupational health and safety legislation provides for government inspections. Besides random or regular audits, workplace accidents often will prompt inspections, and especially where an accident has taken place, prosecution of the employer and managers is a potential outcome. […]

BusinessWeek’s Bestseller List

BusinessWeek ranks business books that are the most recent bestsellers and provides a short summary. 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 that you are both a person who gets […]

Strict Safety Requirements for Teen Workers

Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, is just a few weeks away and many employers have started thinking about adding students to their workforce. Here are some issues to consider as those eager, money-hungry youngsters join your workplace. Safety first The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) […]

Corporate Social Responsibility and HR

by Sarah McAdams When it comes to corporate social responsibility (CSR), HR departments have a particularly crucial role to play. “When you strive to be a more responsible company, you are relying on people to make sure you stay true to your values, and HR’s expertise is people,” explains Marcy Scott Lynn, CSR manager at […]

Did I Stutter?

LITIGATION VALUE: $450,000 (if Stanley ever quits or is fired) It is with great sadness that I announce that I am leaving “That’s What She Said.” I have taken a new job and am leaving the private practice of law. But don’t despair. Our beloved blog will continue. I have passed the torch to my […]