Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
By Kyle Emshwiller Half (51 percent) of workers reported that they swear in the office, according to a recent CareerBuilder survey. The majority of those (95 percent) said they do so in front of their coworkers, while 51 percent cuss in front of the boss. However, workers seem to clean up their language in front […]
A California trial court recently held that a partner doesn’t have the right to file a claim for retaliation for reporting sexual harassment of employees under the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). That decision was appealed. But a California appeals court reinstated the case; read on to find out more.
by Jennifer Shepherd Can a Canadian employer justify an employee’s dismissal for acts committed after he or she has been fired? The answer is: sometimes. In Gillespie v. 1200333 Alberta Ltd., an Alberta court overturned a lower court ruling that permitted an employer to retroactively justify an employee’s termination because the employee removed confidential documents […]
ISS (Institutional Shareholder Services), which rates executive pay for shareholders, might seem to be losing influence, says consultant Kurt Fichthorn, but every compensation committee in America continues to be aware of the ISS standards around executive pay. During the 2011 proxy season, shareholders seemed to be less influenced by ISS on say on pay, says […]
By Kyle Emshwiller Is your job harmful to your health? According to recent reports, if you sit at a desk all day, yes. A recent article in the New York Times , fittingly called “Is Sitting a Lethal Activity?” looked at several studies on the health effects of leading a sedentary lifestyle. One study cited […]
A Midwestern farm company that fired a manager on the day he was due to return from FMLA leave has withstood the ex-employee’s allegations of FMLA retaliation and interference in a 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling affirming a district court decision. The case is Winterhalter v. Dykhuis Farms, Inc., No. 11-1743 (July 23, […]
Potential Litigation Value: “Priceless” We are well into the summer re-run season and this week’s episode was no exception. The gently viewed episode of “Angry Andy” allows us to revisit the importance of having a strong and dependable HR department. The following quote encapsulates Dunder Mifflin’s HR department and also may explain why there are so many […]
Are all your employees accurately classified as exempt or nonexempt? Are you sure? The costs of misclassification can add up quickly, and the DOL estimates that nearly 70 percent of employers are not in compliance. You shouldn’t risk it. By learning how to conduct an internal payroll self-audit that evaluates your current policies and practices, […]
Does this scenario look uncomfortably familiar? If so, here are several actions you can take to get your safety committee excited, involved—and committed—to complementing and strengthening workplace safety and training. Safety Planning If you don’t already have a safety program, or you have one but need to update it, you can use your safety committee […]
Not so many decades ago, a vocal segment of the youngest members of the adult population warned their peers to never trust anyone over 30. They were eager to leave the nest and make the world their own. But today, not so much — at least among a noticeable group. Human resources professionals are noting […]