Tag: news

New Red Cross Research Shows 4 Benefits of Blended Learning

  The most effective safety training method has long been a subject of debate. Is classroom training best? On-the-job learning? Computer-based training? A new white paper from the American Red Cross makes the case for a blended approach that combines online scenario-based simulation learning with in-person classroom training. This blended approach is represented in a […]

Resolve to Freshen Up Your Training in the New Year

  If you get feedback that tells you that your training is boring, you’ve got a problem. Let’s face it: It’s easy to fall into the same monotonous pattern of giving the same training over and over. But if your training is boring it’s not going to be effective. Here are some easy tweaks to […]

Do You Want to Be a Better Trainer in 2015? Try These 4 Methods

  If you had to rate yourself as a trainer, you’d probably give yourself high marks, right? But would your trainees agree with your score? Quality, productivity, safety, and innovation in your organization really depend a great deal on the effectiveness of your training. And, if you are the trainer, you need to be good […]

Nebraska minimum wage increases to $8 per hour on January 1

by Mark M. Schorr Because of the passage of the Nebraska minimum wage petition initiative in the November general election, the state’s minimum wage will increase to $8 per hour on January 1, 2015. Nebraska employers that employ individuals at or near the minimum wage should take steps to ensure compliance with the new requirement. Also, […]

New provisions of New Hampshire’s equal pay law take effect January 1

by Jeanine Poole Eight sections of New Hampshire’s Protective Legislation (RSA 275:37, 38, 38-a, 40, 41-a, 41-b, 41-c, and 41-d) will be modified effective January 1, 2015. RSA 275:37 will prohibit employers and persons seeking employees from discriminating between employees on the basis of sex by paying employees of one sex less than employees of […]

Proposed West Virginia regulations spell change to wage and hour landscape

by Rodney Bean The West Virginia Division of Labor (DOL) has proposed emergency regulations that, if enforced in their present form, could force West Virginia employers to change by December 31 a number of common wage and hour practices that comply with long-standing federal regulations. Although the state DOL’s emergency rules purport to adopt vast […]

New OSHA reporting requirement takes effect January 1

by Judith E. Kramer A new rule from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requiring employers to notify the agency when an employee is killed on the job or suffers a work-related hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye goes into effect on January 1 for workplaces under OSHA’s jurisdiction. The rule also updates […]

NLRB says employees may use company computers for organizing activity

In perhaps one of its boldest moves, on December 11, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) overturned existing precedent and held that employees have the right to use their employer’s e-mail system for Section 7 concerted activity, including union-organizing activities, during nonbusiness hours. The decision obviously affects employers’ policies on employee e-mail use. As background, the […]

NLRB adopts ‘quickie election’ rule

by Tammy Binford The National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) decision to adopt a rule speeding up union representation elections continues to draw fire, as opponents of the change consider legal options. The Board’s action, announced on December 12, represents the second time the controversial regulation—dubbed the “quickie” or “ambush” election rule by detractors—has been advanced. […]

New laws affecting Illinois employers take effect January 1

by Steven L. Brenneman Illinois employers need to be aware of a few new laws taking effect January 1. Ban the box One of the new laws, the Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act, prohibits most private-sector employers and employment agencies with 15 or more employees from asking applicants about their criminal histories and conducting […]