Tag: BLR

Perks More Cost-Effective than Pay Raises for Tech Workers

For many employers, he says, perks and benefits—from healthcare to club membership to financial advising to concierge service— offer the greatest room for growth and the most flexibility for use as retention tools in 2012. The primary reason? They’re much more cost effective than straight-up pay raises, Wudyka says. Wudyka is the founder and managing […]

6 Tips for Inspiring Innovation Among Work Teams

The biggest roadblocks to organizational breakthroughs are a shortage of fresh thinking and too much red tape, according to executives interviewed for a recent Robert Half survey. More than one-third (35 percent) of the 1,400 chief financial officers surveyed said a lack of new ideas is the greatest barrier to their company being more innovative. […]

How to Balance the Power of Leadership

Sometimes people confuse leadership with power. Leaders are often portrayed as hard-driving, hardnosed, and headstrong. And many good leaders have those qualities to be sure. But it takes both force and influence to lead others effectively. The two approaches complement each other and create a powerful, yet adaptable force for action. Good leadership always balances […]

What Makes an Effective Leader?

In today’s Advisor, we’re going to look at what it means to be an effective leader. First, let’s define leadership—with the help of some historical figures. Leadership is: Guiding people to take appropriate initiative, General George Patton said, “Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you […]

ISS Losing Influence on Say-on-Pay? Not So

During the 2011 proxy season, shareholders seemed to be less influenced by ISS on say on pay, says Fichthorn, vice president in the Philadelphia office of Hay Group. He was joined in his presentation at a recent BLR/HRhero webinar by Martin Somelofske, a senior principal in Hay Group’s Metro New York office. Only a handful […]

DOL Test for Classifying Interns as Unpaid

Unpaid internships can be mutually beneficial for students and employers: students receive invaluable workplace experience and employers benefit from the opportunity to begin training the next generation of talent. However, you must be aware of the distinction between paid and unpaid internships. Internships in the for-profit, private sector will most often be viewed as employment […]

Critical HR Policies—What Are Best Practice Companies Doing?

For years, BLR® has surveyed HR and compensation/benefits professionals to find trends in policy and practice. We appreciate your participation in our series of brief, targeted surveys. Today’s survey topic: HR Policies. (We’ll publish the results in a future issue.) Please participate in this brief survey and we’ll determine what employers are doing with this […]

Could taking on unpaid summer interns lead to trouble under the FLSA?

Unpaid internships are viewed universally as great opportunities for students to acquire valuable job skills and experience. In fact, experiential learning opportunities provide students with a leg-up on those competing for jobs right out of college. However, warns Evelyn Gentry, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, there are downsides for employers that use unpaid interns, the most […]

Wait … I Have to Pay Unauthorized Overtime?

Lott, who counsels employers on policy building and lawsuit avoidance from www.Hunterlott.com, offered his suggestions at SHRM’s Annual Conference and Exposition, held recently in Atlanta Georgia. Personal Relationships Policy Lott is fascinated by personal relationship policies. They typically read about like this, says Lott: “Personal relationships in the workplace are strongly discouraged. A company employee […]

Alice is Smoking in the Dynamite Shack

Lott, one of SHRM’s most popular speakers, counsels employers on lawsuit avoidance from www.Hunterlott.com. Alice is Smoking in the Dynamite Shack Here’s the typical progressive discipline policy that I see, says Lott: “To insure that business is conducted properly and efficiently, you must conform to certain standards of attendance, conduct, work performance and other work […]