Tag: procedures

4 TIPS for Employers Who Want to Fight Off Unions

Union issues are suddenly on the front burner. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) which enforces the NLRA (National Labor Relations Act) has become particularly proactive in recent months, witness its very strong stand on social media rights of employees. For the legal do’s and don’ts for employers, we turned to attorney Patricia Trainor, SPHR, […]

Employee Review Near FMLA Leave Time: A Slippery Slope

When you must defend your decision to fire an individual based solely on his poor performance, no one likes the idea of having to scale a circumstantial Mount Everest in a court of law. But a cohesive paper trail of evidence is critical when you are asked to establish legal footing and justify your adverse […]

Texting While Driving—Expensive (Not to Mention Dangerous)

Special from Atlanta–SHRM Annual Conference and Exhibition Your employees are doing compensable work on their handhelds after hours, says attorney Joseph Beachboard, and many of then are doing while they are driving. Beachboard, who is a shareholder in the Los Angeles and Torrence, California offices of national employment law firm Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & […]

FLSA Violations Are Out of Fashion, Says DOL in Targeting Apparel Industry

A sweeping new U.S. Department of Labor enforcement initiative targeting California’s apparel industry may highlight wage and hour compliance issues for retailers and manufacturers. The companies that make, ship, market and sell clothing have long faced scrutiny over labor practices but industry proponents argue that they have made great strides. DOL appears to disagree, launching […]

‘Honest Suspicion’ of FMLA Abuse Justifies Firing, Courts Rule

A multibillion-dollar corporation that hired a private investigator to combat excessive employee absenteeism and suspected FMLA abuse withstood an interference and retaliation claim by a fired factory worker in a case brought before the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The case is Scruggs v. Carrier Corp., No. 11-3420 (Aug. 3, 2012). Daryl Scruggs, who […]

It’s WARS Against Arrogant Bosses

By Elaine Quayle Employees who always knew their bosses were egotistical, condescending, and supercilious can now declare WARS on them to prove it! Thanks to joint research at the University of Akron (UA) and Michigan State University, we now have the Workplace Arrogance Scale—or WARS. According to a press release, WARS was presented at the […]

Check Computer Usage Policy Against This Model

Yesterday’s Advisor featured attorney Joseph Beachboard’s take on several key HR policies. Today, his recommended model computer usage policy, plus an introduction to the indispensable “50×50” (Fifty Laws in Fifty States). Beachboard, who is a shareholder in the Los Angeles and Torrence, California offices of national employment law firm Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, […]

‘I’m Just Exercising My First Amendment Rights’

Special from Atlanta–SHRM Annual Conference and Exhibition Employees act like children sometimes, and that puts the employer in the position of parent, says attorney Joseph Beachboard. And managers have to parent with policies, training, and discipline. Beachboard, who is a shareholder in the Los Angeles and Torrence, California offices of national employment law firm Ogletree, […]

Solutions for the Afternoon Slump—Caffeine? Snacks?

In yesterday’s Advisor, Registered Dietitian Jason Muchnick revealed the health dangers of many popular beverages in an exclusive interview with BLR editor Elaine Quayle. Today, more of his wellness tips, plus an introduction to the wellness guide that will help your program to deliver 300 percent ROI BLR: How about caffeine—is that a problem? JM: […]

Can Soda Drag Down Your Wellness Program?

When having a soda beverage, you’re getting 300-500 calories, which is almost as much as a meal for some people, says Registered Dietitian Jason Muchnick. Is one of your biggest wellness challenges in your beverage machine? BLR Editor Elaine Quayle recently interviewed Muchnick about sugar in soft drinks, diet sodas, fruit juices, energy drinks, and […]