Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
The headlines have been full of stories about unemployment, the so-called “jobless recovery,” and lately we’ve been hearing about a potential double-dip recession. So when a colleague suggested I tackle the subject of why businesses aren’t hiring, I figured I could throw in my two cents. First let’s talk about unemployment. As of July 2010, […]
I was speaking with a friend recently. He had worked for a large financial services company and had lost his job the day before our conversation. My friend told me that he hadn’t been surprised by the announcement. In fact, he knew it was coming for some time and was just waiting for his “package.” […]
A plan participant cannot pick definitions from various state or federal statutes and impose them on an employer-sponsored health plan where the plan left terms undefined, if the plan applies a common and ordinary meaning to those terms when asked to justify a claims denial. Applying this rule, a Michigan appeals court affirmed a lower […]
Whenever the White House switches from one party to the other, there are risks because new appointments to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) mean changes will occur in how it interprets and enforces the National Labor Relations Act (Act). Based on a recently issued notice and invitation to file briefs, all signs indicate we’ll […]
There was big news earlier this week when Major League Baseball (MLB) handed down punishment after investigating a systematic method of cheating on the part of the Houston Astros. Just as the Astros were stealing vital information from their competitors, your competitors or detractors might be looking to steal critical information from you. Are you […]
Succession planning is a great strategy for filling roles left by retiring employees, but due to a skills shortage across many industries, employers are using succession planning to help fill their immediate talent shortage needs.
One of the primary functions of a Human Resources department is to be aware of and ensure compliance with a wide range of laws and regulations involving workplace conduct, such as sexual harassment and various forms of discrimination.
It’s no secret that the key to living a happy, healthy, and long life is to foster a sense of community and quality relationships with friends, family, and loved ones. This approach was described in a recent New York Times piece from U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in which he opined on the loneliness […]
The National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) ruling that graduate student assistants at private colleges and universities are entitled to unionize is the latest Board action seen as a boon to union interests. In a 3-1 decision issued on August 23, the Board ruled that graduate assistants at Columbia University are employees as well as students […]
There is a problem twice a year that could be worse for your employees than their 6-month performance reviews—and has them in physical danger! With workstations in cube farms often out of view of an outside window, you know that proper lighting is essential to productivity and wellness. However, what your employees go through when […]