Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Last weekend, we experienced one of the worst disasters ever to hit Middle Tennessee as historic floods ravaged the state. M. Lee Smith Publishers, the company that produces HR Hero and other HR products including the state Employment Law Letters, is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, just south of Nashville. On May 1 and 2, record […]
The U.S. Supreme Court has handed down two new rulings that give employees more leeway when suing employers for retaliation based on race and age.
No longer limited to back injuries and broken bones, workers’ comp claims have taken on new meaning over the past decade as stress-related claims have become commonplace. While some employers throw their arms up in frustration, a new California Supreme Court ruling demonstrates how handling this kind of claim wisely can limit your exposure to […]
by Michael P. Maslanka I spend a lot of time thinking about corporate communication, both internal and external. And here is a bold statement: There is nothing more important. Work gets performed, sales are made, and brands are created, all through communication. Here are some keys. Basic Training for Supervisors Say first what it’s not […]
The Obama administration’s proposed U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) budget for fiscal year 2015 stresses a continuation of enforcement initiatives from previous years as well as new job training and assistance initiatives. Released on March 4, the budget proposal includes $11.8 billion in discretionary funding for the DOL, $300,000 less than the request in the […]
The California Industrial Welfare Commission has finalized the draft Interim Wage Order we reported on in February. The order takes effect March 1, 2000, and contains important new steps for complying with the overtime requirements of A.B. 60, including changes in how you pay certain exempt employees and a new posting rule.
To recap: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is encouraging retail employers to implement safety measures to prevent such incidents. According to OSHA, crowd management planning should begin in advance of events that are likely to draw large numbers of people. The agency recommends a two-part plan: Planning Pre-event setup Think you have […]
Research shows that workers come on the job already motivated, and common business practices rob them of it. The researchers offer some tools to reverse this process. “Most companies have it all wrong. They don’t have to motivate their employees. They have to stop de-motivating them.” With this one attention-getting statement, three researchers recently demolished […]
Governor Gray Davis has just signed new legislation that requires employers to allow workers to use sick leave not only when they are ill, but also to care for a sick child or other family member. The law means many workers can now take paid time off – without being sick themselves – when, for […]