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.

Sometimes You’ve Gotta Use the “F” Word

By Stephen D. Bruce, PHR A recent Wall Street Journal article—“A Four-Letter Word Schools Won’t Use”—intrigued me, says business and leadership blogger Dan Oswald in a recent edition of The Oswald Letter. The Journal article said that colleges absolutely refuse to use the “F” word. Yes, it’s true. Schools avoid using the word “FIRE” at […]

These Policy Entries Make FMLA Manageable

In yesterday’s Advisor, attorney Stacie Caraway covered requirements for FMLA policies. Today, more recommended policy requirements, plus an introduction to a special checklist-based audit system for HR departments. Caraway is a member of Miller & Martin PLLC in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Her remarks came at BLR’s Advanced Employment Issues Symposium, held recently in Nashville.  [Go here […]

EEOC Receives Record Number of Discrimination Complaints

Employees filed a record number of discrimination charges with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission this year, according to a report released by the enforcement agency. The 99,947 charges received account for all claims of discrimination based on race, sex, national origin, religion, age and disability, as well as claims filed under the Equal Pay […]

Must-Haves for Your FMLA Policy

There’s not much in HR as frustrating as dealing with FMLA leaves. And the new military leave requirements have made it all the more complex. How to cope? Start with a clear and thorough policy, says attorney Stacie Caraway. Communication is the Key Caraway reminds employers that communicating these rules is key to successfully managing […]

6 Best Practices to Minimize Liability for Caregiver Claims from the Sandwich Generation

What is the sandwich generation? You’ve probably heard of Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y, so where does this whole new group fit in? Well, the answer isn’t as simple as a generation defined by birthdates; the “sandwich generation” refers to the group of people (generally between the ages of 30 and 60) who […]

Family Leave: A Different Story Beyond 12 Weeks

Yesterday, attorney Lauren M. Cooper of the San Francisco office of Epstein Becker & Green, PC, explained a new family leave case that’s good news for employers. Read on to find out the details of the court’s reasoning. We’ll also tell you about a California-specific leaves reference you won’t want to be without.

Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Outside Sales Exemption

The Supreme Court today agreed to hear a Fair Labor Standards Act case to decide if drug company reps should qualify for the outside sales exemption. Specifically, Christopher v. SmithKline Beecham Corp. is about whether pharmaceutical sales reps working more than 40 hours in a week are eligible for overtime under the FLSA. A key question […]

NLRB Reports on Active Fiscal Year

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) concluded a busy fiscal year 2011 by reporting that it issued 368 decisions in contested cases while also pursuing two rulemaking initiatives during the year, which ended September 30. The NLRB issued a statement on November 8 summing up the year. Here are highlights: The Board considered 272 unfair […]