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Exit interviews can help employers improve their companies

Exit Signs: Employers Should Learn Lessons from Departing Employees

Job hunters are seeing glimmers of hope as the economy shows signs of rebound. Economic recovery is good news for everyone, but the downside for employers is that they may see some of their valuable employees taking advantage of an improving job market by looking for opportunities in new workplaces. When good people move on, […]

BYOD—Should HR Be the Device Police?

Bring Your Own Device to work? Smartphones, tablets, and minicomputers abound in today’s workplaces, but they bring with them a host of real-world concerns for employers, says attorney Taylor S. Chapman. A majority of businesses now allow employees to bring their own electronic devices to use at work, notes Chapman. With the rapid evolution of […]

Recruiting on LinkedIn: Using Your Network to Your Advantage

Are you recruiting on LinkedIn yet? LinkedIn is the social media site geared toward careers. It claims to have over 100 million professionals using the service to exchange information, referrals, recommendations, ideas and opportunities, so there’s no denying it’s a force HR professionals need to know about and a potential tool in recruiting toolbox. However, […]

Massachusetts Criminal Record Rule Changes Finish Taking Effect May 4

by Tim Murphy In 2010, the Massachusetts Legislature made sweeping changes to the statute governing employers’ use of Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI). In addition to prohibiting employers from asking about an applicant’s criminal history on the job application, the amendments called for additional changes to the way employers access CORI data and how they […]

Background Checks for Employment and Personally Identifiable Information

California has a unique set of rules for background checks for employment that go beyond the other 49 states and the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). If you’re an employer in California, it’s important to follow the rules to the letter, since applicants can sue for up to $10,000 for any violation—regardless of actual […]

Lactation Challenges in the Workplace

In yesterday’s Advisor, breastfeeding consultant and expert Michele Griswold, MPH, RN, IBCLC, helped employers understand their obligations to breastfeeding mothers. Today, questions about refrigeration and sound issues, plus an introduction to the all-in-one HR website, HR.BLR.com. Griswald who is chair of the Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition, shared her remarks during an interview with BLR Editor Elaine […]

Workplace Investigations: Avoiding Litigation

Do you have a formal process for workplace investigations? Do you know how to protect yourself from discrimination claims? Every adverse employment action you take could potentially be the basis of a claim of discrimination. Complaints and investigations are serious and should be treated as such because it’s easier than ever for an employee to […]

Charity Runs Afoul of Canada Revenue Agency

By Gulu Punia and Jennifer Shepherd Deciding to retain a contractor rather than an employee can be the right decision depending on the needs of a business. But there are risks. If a court determines that the relationship is in fact an employment relationship, the employer can be liable. Such was the case in M.A.P. […]

Creating a Breastfeeding-Friendly Environment ‘Not Difficult’

Most employers want to offer support for new mothers returning to work, including those who choose to breastfeed. But finding and providing a private place for expressing milk has been a problem in many facilities. Nevertheless, that private place has to be found, because the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the U.S. […]

Performance Appraisal Cartoon

12 Performance Appraisal Best Practices

Performance appraisals are perhaps the best way to not only let your employee know how she’s doing, but also to get feedback about how your organization is doing, whether your employees are committed to your goals, and what you can do to improve morale. A performance appraisal that is mutually beneficial to both an employee […]