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interruptions

The Problem of Interruptions at Work

When most of us were children, we probably didn’t dream about having a solid block of 8, 4, or even 2 hours to sit down and really focus on some work. But in today’s modern workplace, such uninterrupted work time truly is a luxury for many people.

You Found Compensation ‘Disparities,’ Now What?

It’s important to recognize that you need to be able to document an employee’s compensation history, not just their current salary, says consultant Judith Mickey. Look at the employment lifecycle:  Start rates (identify overqualified applicants) Pay increase documentation Pay decrease documentation Wage freezes, etc.  Mickey, of HR Consultants, Inc., offered her comments at the recent […]

Navigating DEI Uncertainty During Trump Administration

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs have been a feature in American workplaces for decades. It’s no secret, however, that they have become the most recent target of criticism from a certain segment of the population, including President Donald Trump. In January 2025, the president issued multiple Executive Orders (EOs) taking aim at eliminating DEI […]

Supervisor’s Bottom Line: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

The old maxim “No good deed goes unpunished” is rarely as applicable as when untrained supervisors and managers try to be good bosses. If you have new, or recently promoted, supervisors or managers, see if any of these situations are familiar: “Do you think you might be depressed?” asks the concerned, but untrained, boss. “I […]

commission

Are Contingencies in Commission Agreements Worth the Paper They’re Written On?

Late last year, the Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled that commissions are “due and payable” under the Massachusetts Wage Act at the time an employee resigns or is terminated, even if the employee might not be eligible to receive the payments under the terms of the company’s commission agreement or plan. (See, Commission Structure Doesn’t Justify […]

How Do I Know They’re Not Doing the Laundry?

One of the advantages to telecommuting that many organizations are finding is that it forces managers to manage by results rather than by presence, says Fellows, founder and president of WorkLife Performance, Inc. Fellows offered her flex/telecommuting tips at a recent webinar sponsored by BLR and HR Hero. Flex Program Evolution Flex started in early […]

Simple Rewards Program Yields 48% Drop in Absenteeism

Just My E-pinionBy Nicole Capehart, HR Manager, American Realcorp Use short-term rewards to reap long-term benefits, says HR manager Nicole Capehart. She has achieved a 48% drop in absenteeism for essentially the cost of a few dozen donuts. Fresh out of college with my new degree in hand, I took my first HR job, ready […]