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Maryland governor signs transgender rights bill

by Kevin C. McCormick Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley has signed a bill that prohibits discrimination against transgender citizens in employment, housing, credit, and public accommodations. The Fairness for All Marylanders Act, which was passed by the legislature on March 27 and signed into law on May 15, adds “gender identity” to the Maryland laws that […]

10 Tips for Spring Safety Training

Here are 10 tips to share at an upcoming safety meeting—they may also serve as valuable reminders to workers who plan to spend the weekend gardening or doing other yard work. Follow these safety tips for outside hazards—machinery, insects, heat, and more: Wear safety goggles, sturdy shoes, and long pants when using lawn mowers and […]

Where Are Your Pants?

The dress code was relaxed at a Canadian Google campus when staffers decided to lose half of their wardrobe for No Pants Day.

GINA violations: Acquiring, using, or disclosing employee genetic information

How does the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) protect genetic information? "Under GINA, under Title II, it is unlawful for an employer to acquire, use, or disclose an employee's genetic information." Ruth N. Mackey explained in a recent BLR webinar. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the ways an employer can […]

Telecommuting and Dress Codes (Survey of 2,000 HR Pros)

In yesterday’s Advisor, we featured survey results (from 2032 participants) on standard and nonstandard perks. Today, data on telecommuting and dress codes, plus demographic data concerning survey participants. [For the beginning of the survey report, go here.] Telecommuting Formal telecommuting guidelines are in place and employees are required to sign a formal agreement for 23.8%. […]

Performance Appraisals—What’s Really Happening?

Please participate in our brief survey and see how what you are doing stacks up against what other successful companies are doing. We’ll get answers to these questions and more: How often are appraisals conducted? What specific characteristics/abilities/behaviors do you measure? If you use software, which software program do you use? How is your performance […]