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‘Jobocalypse’ Will Make Most (Human) Workers Obsolete

Robots and androids will replace the majority of human jobs in the next few decades, according to the new book, Jobocalypse: The End of Human Jobs and How Robots Will Replace Them, by British author and futurologist Ben Way.  Where will that leave “human” resources? Even jobs that were considered “safe” from outsourcing may be […]

Micro-units: fermenting new labor problems

by Martin J. Saunders The cornerstone of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) is employees’ right to self-organize in a unit appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining. The NLRA confers on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) wide discretion to determine in each case whether the unit appropriate for purposes of collective bargaining is […]

Yes, It’s Possible to Do Meaningful Appraisals

No Surprises, Please One of the most cited problems with performance appraisals is the blow to morale and productivity in the time leading up to—and for months after—when the information is delivered. Why? Because employees don’t know what to expect and managers are reluctant to deliver bad news. But, to every extent possible, the contents […]

Train Supervisors to Avoid These 10 Sins

For sins 1 through 6, click here. Sin #7. Not Knowing and Not Enforcing Policies We’re busy now. Talk to me about that harassment business next week. If you think the work’s not safe, you’re free to quit at any time. Nobody in this department can talk about salaries or benefits with other employees or […]

Not ‘Discipline’ … but ‘Opportunity to Improve’

Yesterday, we presented attorney Jathan Janove’s suggestions for dealing with employees who say, “My aberrant behavior was caused by my disability.” Today, we’ll give you more of his tips—plus an introduction to an upcoming California-specific ADA/FEHA training session.

Appraisals—Worth Doing Right (Yes, It’s Possible)

In a yesterday’s Advisor, BLR Legal Editor Holly Jones, JD, explored why the performance review has become so unpopular. Today, her practical advice on making your performance reviews more meaningful, plus an introduction to a unique guide just for smaller—or even one-person—HR departments. No Surprises, Please One of the most-cited problems with performance appraisals is […]

Getting your staff to work as a team is tough but essential

by Dan Oswald The other day my 19-year-old daughter told me, “It takes teamwork to make the dream work.” I’m sure she didn’t come up with that on her own, but it was new to me. Teamwork is defined as a “cooperative or coordinated effort on the part of a group of persons acting together […]