Category: HR Management & Compliance

There are dozens of details to take care of in the day-to-day operation of your department and your company. We give you case studies, news updates, best practices and training tips that keep your organization fully in compliance with ever-changing employment law, and you fully aware of emerging HR trends.

Teaching the C-Suite About Turnover

We say we care about turnover of top producers, yet we spend our time with the worst performers, says consultant Karl Ahlrichs, SPHR. Today’s Advisor features his tips for talking to the C-suite about turnover. Start with this simple distribution chart, says Ahlrichs, who is owner of ExpertSpeaks, and a consultant and business developer for […]

Final pay in California: Beware of improper deductions

Inappropriate deductions from final pay can get California employers in trouble. Whether an employee quits unexpectedly or departs after a well-planned termination process, the clock is ticking on the delivery of the person’s final pay, which forces employers to act quickly and can unfortunately prompt mistakes made in haste. Getting the final paycheck delivered on […]

Starbucks Gets a Triple Shot of Damages as $14.1 Million Wage-and-Hour Award Upheld

The penalties for noncompliance with state wage-and-hour laws can be more onerous than that under federal law, which coffee company Starbucks learned the hard way. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently rejected the company’s appeal of a $14.1 million judgment, finding it had misclassified its shift supervisors under a Massachusetts law and upholding […]

What Would Mindfulness Training Look Like?

In addition to their work mentioned in yesterday’s Advisor, Marc Gomez and Jessica Drew de Paz discovered that mindfulness was at the heart of stress-reduction work going on at the UCI Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine. The Center’s courses may be integrated into the EHS training. Another resource is the University of Washington, which […]

Textbook on How NOT to Deal with Racial Harassment

The “N word” was in common use at Utah construction company Holmes & Holmes, and management—and unfortunately HR—not only permitted it, but participated. The judge called at least four strikes. The judge in the case wrote that the conduct was “constitutionally offensive in any setting” and concluded that this “is a rare case where there […]

Are Your Employees Minding Their Own (Safety) Business?

As a 30-year veteran of the safety profession, Marc Gomez, assistant vice chancellor for facilities management and environmental health and safety at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), has given plenty of thought to the causes of injury. “We do follow-ups and look closely at the root causes. And we see the main cause of […]

So What Are You Doing Later This Week?

Maybe you’ve got the usual lined up: a few (probably more than a few) meetings, some “repeat offender” employees who need to be whipped into shape yet again, piles and piles of paperwork, questions from above and below about all kinds of matters big and small.

Transgender Bathroom Battles–Coming Soon to Your Workplace

Yesterday’s Advisor covered many of the issues around bathrooms and transgender employees. Today, some guidelines and tips, plus an introduction to the all-HR-solution-in-one website, HR.BLR.com. Bloomington, Indiana’s Human Rights Commission issued guidelines regarding gender identity, restrooms, and dressing rooms. (See yesterday’s issue for details.) Here’s what they say: If you have single occupancy restrooms, designate […]

How do You Train Employees To Stay Focused on Safety When Their Work Becomes Routine?

Gomez is assistant vice chancellor for facilities management and environmental health and safety at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). The university is known for a strong commitment to undergraduate education and top research and graduate programs. Its new school of law graduates its first class this year. According to Gomez, safety is increasingly integrated […]