Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Terminations—where the rubber meets the road in HR. The most angst, the most tears (or screams), and the most lawsuits. Your terminations policy is critical. Today, courtesy of BLR’s SmartPolicies® program, we’ll review the key elements your policy should cover. Compensation, Benefits, and Financial Issues Severance pay. What are your guidelines (e.g., how many years […]
One of the peskiest jobs managers have is responding to requests for time off from work. Today, more of Bob Gilson’s expert tips on that topic, plus an introduction to one of the best ways to avoid employee lawsuits—turnkey training for your managers. Gilson, an expert on employee relations, offered these tips on FedSmith.com, where […]
Yesterday’s Advisor featured questions and answers from a recent OFCCP-sponsored chat. Today, more answers from the agencies plus an introduction to a highly practical collection of prewritten, ready-to-use HR policies. Pat Shiu, director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), was joined for the chat by Latifa Lyles, acting director of the Women’s […]
Thank goodness for small favors! With The Office on summer break, we didn’t have to face Thursday night with trepidation, fearing that Michael would, in his affable way, fling impertinent comments about the Iranian election crisis around for all to hear. We are probably not the only ones breathing a sigh of relief either. After […]
The U.S. Supreme Court ended its 2008-2009 term in dramatic fashion when it released its decision in a highly anticipated and controversial reverse discrimination case. Although the case had been in the media since it reached the Supreme Court, it became even more intensely scrutinized once President Barack Obama chose Judge Sonia Sotomayor as his […]
How your workers’ compensation insurer manages your claims can have a big impact on your premiums. In a recent case, an employer whose premiums skyrocketed and dividends dropped for several years sued its insurer for overestimating the amounts needed to be held in reserve to pay claims—and won. This case underscores that keeping an eye […]
Seventy percent of U.S. office workers and managers report working more than 40 hours a week, and the majority consider the office the most productive place to get work done. But employers need to take action to ensure it remains an inspiring, motivating environment. This, according to the second annual Workplace Index conducted by Staples […]
State and local governments spend billions of dollars annually on economic development subsidies given to companies for moving existing jobs from one state to another, according to a study released today by Good Jobs First, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center based in Washington, D.C. The report is titled The Job-Creation Shell Game. Greg LeRoy, executive […]
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has published a new resource to help workers calculate the financial resources they’ll need to ensure a secure retirement. The new publication, “Taking the Mystery Out of Retirement Planning,” is specially designed to assist workers who are within 10 years of retirement to calculate their […]
A county government in Washington state agreed to pay $215,000 in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, after its report of a minor breach led to an HHS investigation that found “general and widespread noncompliance” with HIPAA privacy and security rules. The incident originally reported by Skagit County, Wash., in […]