Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady Faced with the seemingly endless tide of gloomy economic news, how can you stay in control? BLR CEO and founder Bob Brady says the answer is simple—but not easy. Waiting for 2009 to Be Over The presidential election may be over, and 2008 may be ending, but the […]
Despite the passage of Proposition 8 earlier this month, the issue of same-sex marriage is still very much alive in California. The California Supreme Court announced yesterday that it will address the issues raised by the initiative at the request of advocates on both sides: (1) Was Proposition 8 legally valid, or must it be […]
Yesterday’s Advisor offered advice for HR managers on what to do when there’s a hint of trouble, like harassment or racial teasing. Today, a look at the bigger question—why the problems weren’t reported. Situations such as those mentioned in yesterday’s Advisor — a boss hitting on a subordinate or racial teasing— should have been formally reported […]
HR manager Paul Knoch reviews the book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni. The review counts this business fiction as a quick, informative read that would be of use to almost any HR practitioner who must work with a team of employees. Have you ever wondered why your team of smart, competent, […]
To address California’s dire budget situation in light of deteriorating economic conditions, Governor Schwarzenegger has called a special session of the legislature and announced a plan to get the state budget on track, invigorate the state economy, and generate jobs for the unemployed here. The governor’s proposal calls for tax increases and spending cuts—plus changes […]
When you get hints of inappropriate activity (e.g., a boss “hitting” on a subordinate or racial teasing) but no evidence, no corroboration, and no complaint, should you act? Yes, says today’s expert. The bottom line is that, when faced with a “hint” of inappropriate activity, you absolutely should act, says attorney Thomas N. Makris, SPHR. […]
by Brian Smeenk TFI Transport (doing business as Canadian Freightways) had a bit of a theft problem in its Calgary terminal in 2005 and 2006. The company was losing television sets and generators. It conducted an investigation and was able to prove that one of its employees, Wayne Spence, had either stolen or was knowingly […]
Today we look at misclassification—the third of “The Big Three” compensation challenges (see yesterday’s Advisor for the other two)—and a new in-depth audio conference series that will answer the tricky technical questions about exemptions. Misclassification can lead to big-bucks fines and lawsuits. First, if you’ve misclassified one employee as exempt, you’ve probably misclassified many others […]
Amazon.com updates its list of the bestselling business books every hour. Here is a snapshot of what is hot right now, this Monday morning, November 17, in the “Management and Leadership” category. 1. The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. You probably don’t realize it, but life is a […]
Wage and hour just shouldn’t be that hard, but the lawsuits keep coming, and the dollar amounts are staggering—especially when class actions amplify fees, fines, and judgments. What’s the problem? A number of factors make wage and hour a challenge: Many of the decisions about overtime, break time, meal time, and hours of work are […]