Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
By Kyla Stott-Jess and Katie Clayton Canadian courts have been reluctant to allow random drug and alcohol testing in most workplaces. The issue was recently back before the Alberta Court of Appeal. Oil Company Suncor appealed an injunction against its new proposed drug and alcohol testing policy.
Companies that violate the federal government contractor laws risk not just fines and citations from the U.S. Department of Labor, but also debarment that prevents them from bidding on any other federal contracts for a specified period. For a company that relies predominantly on federal contracts, or that was depending on a financial infusion from […]
by Edward Sisson As an employer, you know that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, or national origin. You also know that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. What you may not know is that those federal […]
Litigation Value: the cost of a new iPod for your office Secret Santa = considerably less now than in Season 2 (depending on the model); potential liability for Scranton holiday antics over the last nine seasons = an obscene amount; the countless hilarious and heart-warming moments of The Office Christmas episodes = priceless. As we are […]
by Al Vreeland I report from the center of the Southeastern Conference (SEC)—where the arrival of winter means it’s firing time. Four of 14 SEC head football coaches have been sacked, and regardless of your tailgating preference, their terminations provide lessons on how to gracefully handle the exit of your top executives. Penthouse to outhouse […]
by Michael G. McCourt We now are fully involved in the crush of festivities and holiday shopping that traditionally mark the beginning of the sprint to New Year’s Eve. This is the season of peace on earth and good will toward our fellow man, right? Not always. A Challenging Season The holidays have the uncanny […]
By Charles Harrison The answer to the question in the title is yes, a Canadian court confirmed recently. Sexual harassment is discrimination. Overturning a decision of the British Columbia Supreme Court, the British Columbia Court of Appeal recently clarified that evidence of unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature is alone sufficient to establish discrimination on […]
Employee pay and privacy are two of the most basic, yet potentially problematic issues for HR professionals, but guidance is available. Recently, questions on those two issues were put to a group of attorneys. To track or not to track The need to keep track of nonexempt employees’ work hours goes without saying, but is […]
HR professionals know they have a lot to offer and deserve “a seat at the table” in the C-suite, but showing top management that their expertise is vital to an organization’s strategic efforts often is a tough sell. Tough, but not impossible. Dan Oswald, CEO of human resources information provider BLR, shared some advice for […]
by Joseph Godwin Company holiday celebrations have a well-deserved reputation for resulting in employer headaches. Alcohol consumption at parties, gag gift exchanges, questionable wardrobe choices, Dirty Dancing moves, excluding spouses or domestic partners, and a host of other factors have made the office party the “most wonderful time of the year” for employees’ lawyers. You […]