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The Positives of Job Descriptions … And How to Get Them Without the Work (Part 2 of 2)

Done right, a solid job descriptions program can bring your company structure and efficiency. Here’s how to get the benefits, while avoiding most of the costs. A recent Advisor article stated the views of an author who believes that job descriptions should be eliminated in preference to having a program that’s poorly done. A haphazardly-built […]

4 Things You Need to Know About Employing Immigrants in the U.S.

Organizations of all shapes and sizes have been hiring immigrants from hundreds of different countries for various types of work for centuries. And right now, immigrants make up about 17% of the entire U.S. labor force, with most immigrants (both documented and undocumented) finding jobs in domestic-related, service-related, construction-related, and farming or agricultural fields.  

Help, They Made Me a Supervisor—Part 2—What to Do

Help, no kidding. New supervisors are in for a great ride, but if you don’t train them well—and fast—they’re going to crash and burn. Here are tips and news about a new audio conference especially for new supervisors. Last issue we posed 9 problem areas for new supervisors and promised that today, we’d offer some […]

Health and Safety: SARS Fears Reach the Workplace; Smart Steps You Can Take to Protect Employees and Steer Clear of Legal Trouble

Concern over Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome has spread around the world, and many employers are scrambling to take precautionary measures to keep SARS out of the workplace. But it’s crucial as you do so to be aware of state and federal antibias, wage-and-hour, medical privacy, and workers’ compensation rules that may come into play. We’ve […]

Caregiver Hearing Postponed Due to Death of Rep. Donald Payne

The House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections postponed its hearing on controversial regulations extending minimum wage and overtime protections to home health aides, scheduled for March 7, due to the death of Representative Donald M. Payne, D-N.J., a senior member of the panel.

Memorandum Extends Benefits to Same-Sex Partners of Executive Branch Employees

On Wednesday, President Barack Obama signed a federal memorandum requiring executive agencies to extend to same-sex partners the employment benefits equivalent to those granted to opposite-sex partners. The memorandum expands benefits previously provided to same-sex partners in an executive memorandum signed last October and is the latest in a handful of government moves to preserve […]

Workplace Introverts: Debunking the Myths

Introverts—they are the new extroverts, right? Quiet, reserved, always sensing and watching. Listening for the next nugget of innovation to grace the lips of a colleague. Or are they tormented by the thought of communication and interaction? Do their extroverted cohorts drive them batty? Or the question that matters, the question I pose is—does it really matter? […]

Strong Documentation Defeats Employee’s ADA, ERISA Claims

Good recordkeeping and documentation is key in defending employment discrimination claims, a recent court ruling illustrates. An employee terminated for performance problems alleged that he was fired in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, because of his wife’s disability. The employer, however, produced evidence showing that: (1) the employee’s performance was subpar; (2) he […]

7 Strategies for Improving Engagement during Open Enrollment

With many employers making changes to their health insurance plans, including accelerated adoption of high-deductible health plans, it’s more critical than ever for companies to strengthen their efforts to engage employees during their open enrollment periods, according to Chris Hill, CEO of Spotlite.