Author: HR Hero

Trump administration discontinues ACA’s CSR payments

On October 12, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Acting Secretary Eric Hargan and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma released a statement announcing that cost-sharing reductions (CSR) payments were to be immediately discontinued based on a legal opinion from the attorney general. In part, the statement noted that “we believe that […]

Think before you joke so you don’t have to litigate what’s ‘funny’

Studies show that laughing boosts immunity, eases anxiety and stress, improves mood, decreases pain, and can even prevent heart disease. Socially, laughing strengthens relationships. In addition to the value of humor in our personal lives, we cannot underestimate the power of humor at work. Humor aids in learning and memory retention, increases our ability to […]

teams

13 characteristics of a great teammate

by Dan Oswald We all have worked side by side with people we have enjoyed and respected—the type of teammates who make work fun. And we all have worked with people whom, well, we didn’t enjoy or respect—the type of teammates who suck all the joy out of work for everyone around them. So, there’s […]

Recent B.C. decision on secondary picketing at non-striking facility

by David T. McDonald About 15 years ago, the Supreme Court of Canada changed the law on secondary picketing in Canada. That decision, RWDSU Local 558 v. Pepsi-Cola Canada Beverages (West) Ltd., 2002 SCC 8, ruled that secondary picketing was generally lawful unless accompanied by wrongful conduct such as violence or blockading. This meant that […]

Boss

Rooting out bullying a necessary step in promoting diversity

Employers looking to advance diversity in the workplace often focus on recruiting diverse groups of potential employees, but recruiting is just one part of the process. Those recruiting efforts won’t be effective if management is blind to a culture that condones workplace bullying.  October is a time when attention turns to bullying in a variety […]

Office politics: preventing disruptive discourse

by David L. Johnson Recently, a Pennsylvania YMCA stopped showing cable news shows on the TVs in its gym because they were prompting political squabbles among its members. When filtered into the diverse workplace, passionate opposing political viewpoints can harm productivity and morale and even create liability issues for employers. Sometimes political discussions can morph […]

How non-Hispanic supervisors can lead Hispanic employees

by Jim Davis Between potential language barriers, cultural differences, and a political and social landscape rife with discrimination, it’s important that any employee be able to navigate whatever challenges may arise while leading a diverse workforce. Glenn Llopis, a best-selling author, columnist, and senior advisor to Fortune 500 seeks to show how non-Hispanic employers and […]

Employers, beware: Facility issues may result in violations of Title VII

by Jacob M. Monty Many employers are aware of the serious problems that can arise if workers and supervisors engage in racially or sexually motivated taunts and speech. However, few employers realize that they may need to worry about the design and condition of their facilities. The facilities of a now-closed Sara Lee factory in […]

Labor looks for love

by Richard I. Lehr —“I was lookin’ for love in all the wrong places, lookin’ for love in too many faces, searchin’ their eyes and lookin’ for traces of what I’m dreamin’ of.” The song “Looking for Love,” written by Wanda Mallette, aptly describes the circumstances of organized labor. Despite labor’s political expenditures and substantial […]

New Executive Order seeks to expand health insurance options

After several failed legislative attempts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), President Donald Trump is now taking matters into his own hands. On October 12, Trump signed a new Executive Order (EO) designed to “expand choices and alternatives to Obamacare plans and increase competition to bring down costs for consumers,” according to […]