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OFCCP issues new compensation directive

by Melineh Verma The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) formally rescinded the Bush-era guidance on pay discrimination in February, criticizing the 2006 “Voluntary Guidelines and Compensation Standards” as improperly limiting its ability to conduct full investigations of compensation matters. The OFCCP replaced the 2006 voluntary guidelines with Directive […]

National origin discrimination and race discrimination aren’t the same thing

by Kevin McCormick In a recent decision, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland affirmed the notion that discrimination on the basis of race and discrimination based on national origin are distinct legal claims. Moreover, because 42 USC § 1981 only prohibits discrimination based on race, a claim alleging national origin discrimination under […]

‘No Fair, I’ve Got Free Speech Rights!’ (Sorry.)

Special from Chicago—SHRM Annual Conference and Exhibition In private employment, the employer determines whether there is an expectation of privacy, says attorney Jonathan Segal, but unwary employers may create the right if they are not careful. (Government employees generally have a constitutional right to a higher level of privacy than those in the private sector.) […]

What Metrics Should HR Be Using? Q&A Session

What financial metrics should HR be using? What is most important to track? Which metrics measure effectiveness? Should the metrics vary depending on what industry your organization is in? Teri Morning fielded all of these questions and more in a recent BLR webinar. Check out the sample questions and answers below to learn more. Q. […]

Make Your Safety Training Program OSHA-Compliant

Many industrial jobs require employees to have specialized knowledge and skills, and to be prepared to deal with a special set of serious hazard exposures. OSHA-mandated specialized training requirements are found in a number of standards. For example: Hazard communication of chemical, carcinogen, and radiation hazards (29 CFR 1910.1200) Combustible dust (29 CFR 1910.22, 269, […]

How HR Can Earn a Seat at the Table: Understanding Cash Flow Statements

For HR to be most effective, you should understand how the business side of the organization works. HR won’t earn a permanent seat at the decision-making table without a clear understanding of what’s behind the finance team’s decisions and strategies—including basic financial reports. Let’s take a look at the cash flow statement as an example. […]

Q&A on Doing Business in Canada

Doing business in Canada requires understanding how Canadian employment law differs from US. For example: Are hourly employees in Canada required to be paid overtime after 40 hours of work in a week, just like in the US? Is there paternity leave in Canada? What notice must an employer give an employee before terminating them? […]

Depression and other mental disabilities: Beware of assumptions

Dealing with depression and other mental disabilities in the workplace can be challenging. This is especially true if an employer also has to combat negative attitudes towards the affected employees that hinder compliance with the law. California employers need to be aware of assumptions and attitudes about emotional or mental disabilities that can lead to […]

HR Trends–What’s Hot and What’s Not

Dear Readers, With the constantly changing scope of social media, engagement, and analytics, it’s hard to stay on top of the latest trends in HR. How are your colleagues—and competitors—handling things out in the field? Please take a few minutes to complete this brief survey and help us (and you) find out what’s happening in […]

Do You Know How to Create an OSHA-Compliant Training Program?

Boost Compliance and Prevent Injuries,” speaker Michael Lawrence gave guidance on creating an OSHA-compliant safety training program. In the webinar, Lawrence suggested that an effective approach to creating an OSHA-compliant, injury-reducing safety training program involves four basic steps: Define the problem that you’re trying to correct through training. Identify the risks and protective measures. Develop […]