Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
by Dan Oswald If you’ve been around a while like I have, you might remember the 1980 Olympic “Miracle on Ice,” where the upstart American men’s ice hockey team defeated the heavily favored Soviet Union team. As the clock wound down to the final seconds of the game and it became apparent that the U.S. […]
by Mikael Maher In a recent arbitration case, Tshiuetin Rail Transportation Inc. v. Steelworkers, Local 7065-75, the arbitrator, Bruno Leclerc, and the Superior Court of Quebec challenged a well-established principle in labor relations, which is that an employer retains managerial rights in the absence of limiting provisions in the collective agreement. In this case, the […]
Sexual harassment—the subject has exploded in recent weeks as people from all walks have spoken up about a menacing workplace problem. Even though antiharassment efforts are a priority in human resources circles, recent revelations about the actions of some high-profile executives are likely to cause employers to ask the question, “Are we doing enough?” And […]
by Brian Bouchard As you may have heard, we recently received some good news regarding the EEO-1 pay data collection that would have gone into effect in March 2018. On August 29, acting chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Victoria Lipnic issued a statement indicating that the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs […]
It seems that every day the news is full of stories about employees (whether they are NFL players or Hollywood starlets) protesting unfair treatment. Usually, when an employee complains about discrimination, harassment, equal pay, or other work-related topics, he or she is protected from discipline or termination because the conduct is considered “protected activity” under […]
by Dan Oswald I often repeat the old saying, “Find something you love to do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” I believe in the spirit of that quote, if not its literal interpretation. That is, sometimes work feels like, well, work. Some days you’re not going to love what you do, […]
by Jackie VanDerMeulen Organizations’ use of independent contractors (often also referred to as consultants) as opposed to actual employees has grown significantly over the years. This trend comes as no surprise in a changing economy where particular skill sets are required at specific times and where flexibility is a key driver of success. In some […]
Good training has always been important in the workplace, but today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world of work makes training more important than ever. Changing technology requires frequent skill updates for employees at all levels of an organization. And certainly supervisors need training on new laws affecting the workplace and refreshers on old ones. But just […]
by Molly DiBianca Humility is a virtue. For most of us, it doesn’t come easily. Owning up to a mistake at work can be a difficult task, particularly for employees who want to be good at their jobs and please those they report to. Nonetheless, apologizing is a reality of professional life and a recognition […]
Pay equity, parental leave, and criminal history are hot topics that have been grabbing attention for some time, and employers in California now need to prepare for three newly signed laws addressing those issues. The new laws include restrictions on employers asking applicants questions related to salary history and criminal history and impose new parental […]