Author: Tammy Binford

Who’s lying? Avoiding retaliation claims can be tricky

It’s tough to make employment decisions when you can’t be confident that the facts are known. And facts are often hard to figure out with absolute certainty. Recently, a group of attorneys focusing on employment matters tackled a question from an employer about how to handle an employee who accused his manager of disability discrimination […]

Maryland county passes $15 minimum wage

by Kevin C. McCormick On November 7, the Montgomery County (Maryland) Council unanimously approved Bill 28-17, Human Rights and Civil Liberties—County Minimum Wage Amount—Annual Adjustment, which will increase the minimum wage for all employees in the county by 2024. The legislation will increase Montgomery County’s minimum wage to $15 per hour for employers with 51 […]

New General Counsel expected to set new probusiness agenda for NLRB

A much more business-friendly atmosphere is expected at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) now that the U.S. Senate has confirmed Peter B. Robb as the Board’s General Counsel. Robb, a management-side attorney with a Vermont law firm, won confirmation on a 49-46 party-line vote on November 8. He is President Donald Trump’s choice to […]

More than a hunch: making better hiring decisions

by Tracy Lindow Recently, I overheard a conversation between two department managers in the hallway of a client organization:  Manager A: “I will not be in our staff meeting today because I have to interview a candidate for the vacancy in my department at 9:00 a.m. If she shows up on time and has no […]

Workplace romances: Do they ‘Suit’ your company?

Like almost everyone I know, I love the ability to binge-watch television series these days. In fact, it is a rare occurrence that I ever watch any show at the time it actually airs. (This Is Us is a notable exception for me.) Instead, I enjoy delving into these characters’ lives several hours at a […]

women

The power of an authentic you

This week’s Oswald Letter is a guest post from Elizabeth Petersen, Simplify Compliance’s executive vice president of strategy and revenue. by Elizabeth Petersen At a conference earlier this year, I had the honor of moderating a lively, open, and engaging roundtable on women’s leadership. I opened the session by asking the participants whether they felt […]

Avoiding liability risks when you fire a sexual harasser

by Theodore Fong The risks to employers in sexual harassment cases can be big. Potential liability can arise from any decision. Employers may then find themselves having to make tough decisions on tight timelines. The key to ensuring an appropriate response is to be prepared. Preparation will permit an employer to take a proactive approach, […]

Heaps of paper or storehouses of data? Exploring ways to keep HR records

No one disputes the importance of proper recordkeeping in the workplace. But what’s the best way to keep that information? In bulky paper files kept on-site or maybe entrusted to a vendor to be kept off-site? Perhaps an employer’s information, both routine and sensitive, should be kept in a digital format. And if electronic storage […]

Conducting unbiased investigations: tips from the Russia probe

With the recent indictments of Paul Manafort and Rick Gates, special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian influence in the 2016 election is front-page news once again.  While most of the press and President Donald Trump’s initial tweets focused on whether Mueller could be fair and unbiased in his investigation, the most recent attacks on […]

Halloween at work: Don’t get BOOed by your employees!

Halloween can be such a fun holiday for kids of all ages. When October 31st falls on a weekday, as it does this year, ghoulish fun will certainly creep its way into the workplace. How can you, as a human resources professional, ensure that the day is more fun than it is scary? Simple. Just […]