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Retaliation Roulette (a game we don’t want to play)

Most employment laws include provisions protecting employees from vindictive managers who would otherwise punish them for exercising their rights. The Fair Labor Standards Act is no exception. The Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division takes the anti-retaliation provisions of the FLSA seriously enough that it released a fact sheet (WHD Fact Sheet #77A) in December […]

Ask the Trainer: Reinforcement and Recognition

A: Content and delivery are not necessarily to blame when training fails to drive long-lasting behavioral change. More often, the blame rests with a lack of reinforcement back on the job, says Mike Ryan, senior vice president of Marketing and Strategy for Madison Performance Group (MadisonPG.com). “Training is a key business imperative, but the long-term […]

FLSA Violations Are Out of Fashion, Says DOL in Targeting Apparel Industry

A sweeping new U.S. Department of Labor enforcement initiative targeting California’s apparel industry may highlight wage and hour compliance issues for retailers and manufacturers. The companies that make, ship, market and sell clothing have long faced scrutiny over labor practices but industry proponents argue that they have made great strides. DOL appears to disagree, launching […]

NLRB Recess Appointments Draw Fire

President Barack Obama’s decision to use recess appointments to keep the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from losing its quorum has ignited a firestorm of opposition among lawmakers and business groups. Obama announced his intent on January 4 to use recess appointments to fill three open NLRB seats. The Board, which is supposed to have […]

Case Demonstrates Importance of Training on Same-Sex Harassment

What happened In April 1990, “Kerry” was hired as a parole officer by the New York State Division of Parole. In February 2005, “Shannon,” a female area supervisor, was transferred to oversee the Queens, New York, office where Kerry worked. Kerry alleged that on three occasions between mid-April and mid-September 2005, Shannon sexually harassed her […]

3 Things to Focus on When Hiring Workers with Disabilities

In 2017, less than 19% of Americans with a disability were employed. However, with the existing low rates of national unemployment and a job market that’s favorable to jobseekers, more organizations are starting to hire individuals with disabilities. And if your organization is one of them, here are seven things you should do.

Pay Budgets and Variable Pay—What’s Really Happening?

Increases. Budgets. Bonuses. Variable Pay. Compensation is never a simple issue, but it’s an important cornerstone of employee engagement and satisfaction, as well as talent acquisition. What’s happening with pay budgets and variable pay in the real world? What are your competitors up to? Help us find out!

Ruling Underscores Limits to Plan Participant Remedies

Sometimes an employer may delay transfers of payroll deductions to employees’ retirement accounts. That’s a breach of fiduciary responsibility, but a recent decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts may offer them some comfort. Managing retirement plan administration can be a burden for busy small business owners who aren’t financial professionals. […]