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MeToo

#MeToo’s Unexpected Consequence Regarding Sexual Harassment Discussions

The #MeToo movement fundamentally changed the conversation around sexual harassment, misconduct, and assault in the United States and around the world. Before the start of the movement, such behavior was not accepted, but #MeToo brought a heightened sense of awareness to these issues, as well as much greater accountability, particularly for those in positions of authority.

culture

The True Source of Company Culture

Yesterday we began to explore the source of company culture in any organization. Today we’ll look more into where that culture comes from.

Lack of Transparency Regarding Biometric Data Leads to Class Action Lawsuit

Earlier this month, a group of former Wendy’s employees filed a class action lawsuit in a Cook County, Illinois, court against the fast food chain regarding the handling of personally identifiable information. The class, led by Martinique Owens and Amelia Garcia, asserted that the company has broken the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) by […]

cake

Don’t Let Them Eat Cake

Office celebrations are a great time for staff to gather and socialize, but could these celebrations also be bad for your health? Civil service workers in the United Kingdom (U.K.) were recently asked to stop bringing in cake for fear it would put other workers in danger, labeling cake a “public health hazard.”

text message

Texting TA Shares Too Much with Math Students

We’ve all heard about it happening. One way or another, someone sends a message that wasn’t supposed to go out. The thing about technology—text, e-mail, voice mail, and the like—once you send it, there’s no easy way to retrieve it. Sometimes it’s adding the wrong recipient, other times it’s including the wrong content. Take for […]

female

Rookie Blunders: Illegal Interview Questions

The first legal danger zone you encounter with employees is preemployment inquiries. The questions you ask on application forms and during interviews can create significant legal problems. It’s easy to wander into danger, since many questions you might be tempted to ask run afoul of federal, state, and municipal laws.

Navigating Political Waters: Tips for Managing Political Discussions in the Workplace

In 2024, around the world, more voters will be electing leaders of their countries than in any time in history. The temptation to discuss politics in the workplace will probably be at an all-time high, but these conversations are fraught with peril. Here are a few ideas from an experienced conflict resolution professional about how […]

skills

Which Soft Skills Do Your Leaders Need, and How Can You Set Them Up for Success?

When HR departments look for training and development programs for their organizations’ leaders and high potentials, they often focus on industry-specific and job-related tasks. This is because—much more than “soft skills” like communication, teamwork, or critical analysis—these more concrete skills are easier to standardize across departments and titles and simpler to evaluate and teach.

Optimism is a powerful tool in overcoming adversity in the workplace

This week’s Oswald Letter is a guest post from Elizabeth Petersen, BLR’s executive vice president of strategy and revenue. by Elizabeth Petersen Every company has at least one: the employee who finds fault in everything. Her cries of, “The company never does anything for us!” are followed by, “They think they can buy our affection!” […]

Are Your Employees Trained on the Appropriate Use of the Internet?

The material in today’s Advisor is adapted from BLR’s 10-Minute HR Trainer session, “Appropriate Internet Use.” The Situation The Internet is an essential business tool for most organizations today. It not only provides instant access to vital information but it also offers instant communication anywhere in the world at any time of day. Access to […]