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Training Can Help Close Economy-Related Skills Gaps

In a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) poll, 66 percent of respondents reported having a hard time recruiting for specific job openings, up from 52 percent in 2011. “The Ongoing Impact of the Recession—Recruiting and Skills Gaps” found that recruiting challenges vary by industry, but highly skilled positions—scientists, engineers, technicians, programmers, nurses, doctors, and […]

Illinois court makes noncompete agreements harder to enforce

by Steven L. Brenneman In a decision handed down June 24, the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, found a restrictive covenant unenforceable because of a lack of adequate consideration (something given in return for the employee’s agreement not to compete). The court ruled there must be at least two years of continued employment to constitute […]

Are You ‘Cost of Sales’ or ‘Cost of Labor’?

DiMisa, who is senior vice president, Sales Force Effectiveness, at Sibson Consulting, clarified the difference between the two approaches during a recent webinar sponsored by BLR® and HR Hero®. “Cost of Sales” or “Cost of Labor” Philosophy? Approach Concept Example Market Cost of Sales Payouts are based on a percentage of volume or $ per […]

U.S. Supreme Court finds DOMA provision unconstitutional, dismisses Proposition 8 case

It came as no great surprise that the U.S. Supreme Court withheld its opinion on two landmark decisions on same-sex marriage rights until the last decision day of the 2012-2013 term. This, however, would be the only lack of surprise of the day, as the Court delivered two opinions that significantly change the landscape for […]

WHD clarifies definition of ‘son or daughter’ under FMLA

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) issued Administrator’s Interpretation (AI) No. 2013-1, which can be found at  www.dol.gov/whd/opinion/adminintrprtn/fmla/2013/fmlaai2013_1.htm. The AI clarifies that the age of onset of a disability is irrelevant when determining whether an employee is entitled to take leave to care for an adult son […]

Fair Labor Standards Act Celebrates 75th Anniversary

The Fair Labor Standards Act turns 75 today, June 25. When the law was enacted as part of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal policies it established the minimum wage, overtime and other labor standards that still govern today’s workplaces. Those standards turned out to be just the “baby steps” of a law that has grown to […]

Feds Push to Publicize Exchanges in Wake of Unpreparedness Charges

More than a month after Max Baucus, D-Mont., an early proponent of health reform, said the implementation of state-based health insurance marketplaces was going so poorly that a “train wreck” would ensue, the Obama administration is now launching a public relations effort aimed at teaching consumers how to buy marketplace coverage. Marketplaces are supposed to […]

The Voice: CEO Edition

According to new research, a lower voice could mean a higher paycheck. The study, from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, found that male chief executive officers with a deeper voice tended to manage larger companies, make more money, and be retained longer. “Our research is one of the first attempts to assess whether voice […]

Why Not Stay Interviews Instead of Exit Interviews?

Retention and engagement depend on knowing who might leave and why, says consultant Leigh Branham of Keeping the People, Inc., and one of the keys is the “Stay Interview.” Who should you conduct stay interviews with? Set your priorities by putting your employees into a table like this one, says Branham. Then start with your […]

Small Retirement Plans Lead Adoption of In-plan Lifetime Income Guarantees

If your plan has been considering adding “in-plan guarantees” to the menu of retirement savings options you offer, new research finds an appetite for them among U.S. defined contribution plan participants. Although the actual market for these instruments in the United States is still limited, the guarantees, which give employees an opportunity while still working […]