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Readers’ Stories: Work Parties Gone Bad

In a recent HR Strange but True column, we reported on a survey that gathered responses on strange sightings at company parties. Apparently our readers’ had a few odd experiences of their own. In the first story, an SBT reader said he received a complaint from the establishment where the winter work party was being […]

Employees Flyin’ High for Going ‘Above and Beyond’

Ten US Airways employees are flyin’ high this holiday season—and no, it’s not from imbibing at the company party. These employees went “above and beyond” delivering outstanding service to not only the airline’s customers, but to fellow colleagues—and some took home $10,000! According to a press release, the Above and Beyond (A&B) program allows US […]

Have You Ever Found Out a Reference Was a Fake?

Do you check up on applicants’ references? If you don’t, you may want to start. According to a new survey, nearly 30 percent of employers reported that they have caught a fake reference on a candidate’s application. Do you check up on applicants’ references? If you don’t, you may want to start. According to a […]

‘Tis the Season for a Slice of Wellness Training

In order to get the nutrition they need every day to stay healthy, employees must develop and maintain healthy eating habits. Here’s a video that takes a light-hearted approach towards providing facts about nutrition and the important employee wellness topic of having healthy eating habits. Click to view video. Trying to get your employees trained […]

Our Motto: ‘Customer Service Is Job 2’

Oswald, CEO of BLR, offered his thoughts on customer service in a recent edition of The Oswald Letter. Recently, my wife and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary, says Oswald. My gift to her was a trip to the Caribbean for a few days. That’s 5 days without kids! In our world, that doesn’t happen […]

Proposal Would Speed Bankruptcy Retirement Asset Distributions

To expedite distribution of retirement assets from companies in Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings, the U.S. Department of Labor wants to allow bankruptcy trustees to use its Abandoned Plan Program. This program establishes a process to terminate abandoned plans so that plan participants and beneficiaries gain quicker access to their benefits; currently, however, bankruptcy trustees do […]

New Maine law on independent contractors goes into effect December 31

by Peter D. Lowe Maine employers need to pay attention to a new Maine law on the definition of “independent contractor” that goes into effect December 31. Legislative Document 1314, passed in Maine earlier this year, outlines two sets of conditions that must be in place for an individual to qualify as an independent contractor […]

Is Leadership Training a Priority?

Truly successful supervisors and managers don’t “boss” their employees, they lead them. It’s through effective leadership that employees are motivated to perform at their best. It’s through effective leadership that goals are achieved and departments meet productivity, quality, service, and safety standards. In short, developing effective leaders among your managerial and supervisory staff is essential […]