Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
by Anders Lindberg The I-9 process of verifying an employee’s identity and employment authorization can be, as W.C. Fields put it, “fraught with eminent peril.” Failure to comply with documentation, verification, and discrimination laws can result in stiff fines and penalties. And recent settlement agreements between employers and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) indicate […]
There’s nothing like a picnic or a party to boost morale, build teamwork, and reward employees for a job well done. But as with many things HR, there’s a downside: Failure to clarify and enforce policies can lead to unexpected claims, such as claims for workers’ compensation or sexual harassment, or liability. Serving Alcohol The […]
According to a new study by Randstad Technologies and IDG Research Services, two-thirds of IT leaders say they have or are formulating a plan to address Millennials’ technology needs. IT executives across the country report the surge of Millennials in the workforce is reshaping business environments and driving IT departments to adapt their infrastructures with […]
"It’s time to put the performance review out of its misery," says consultant and professor Samuel Culbert. "This corporate sham is one of the most insidious, most damaging, and yet most ubiquitous of corporate activities." Culbert, a professor of management at UCLA, goes on to say that the performance review is "a pretentious, bogus practice […]
With the economy still on shaky ground, many employers are desperate to cut costs. But it’s important not to let financial desperation cause you to make bad business choices—such as going into business with the wrong people. As one employer learned, the consequences can be far more costly in the long run.
It’s always disappointing when a top employee leaves your company. But disappointment can turn to disaster—and a lawsuit—if your former star takes along a group of other key employees. That’s what happened in a recent case in which the California Court of Appeal clarified the obligations of existing employees and competitors regarding attempts to lure […]
I’ve read how, due to the cost of administering long-term care (LTC) insurance, some private-sector vendors are either revisiting that benefit or jacking up premiums — partly because not enough people are signing up to sufficiently spread the risk, and costs, around. Well, the federal health reform law included a lofty goal of establishing a […]
When you ask an employee to sign an employment termination agreement in exchange for severance benefits or other payments, you probably include language making clear that the agreement supersedes any prior understandings there may have been between you and the employee. But a new case suggests this commonly used provision has some significant hidden risks—and […]
As the earthquake that shook Washington, D.C., area today demonstrates, damage to your primary place of business can occur suddenly and without warning. Having a crisis management plan on the ready is essential to minimizing the interruption to your business. The business continuity plan improves the company’s capacity to return to business, thereby minimizing financial […]
Agricultural employers on the lookout for Fair Labor Standards Act’s child labor regulations for their industry can look no more — a new notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would revise those rules will finally be published in the Federal Register tomorrow. Agricultural employers have been awaiting these rules since final child labor rules for […]