Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Will the day come when you either join your company’s workplace wellness program or be disciplined or terminated? A new report says Yes. Make a list of your company’s assets. It will certainly include your facilities and equipment, your in-house talent and proprietary knowledge, and your goodwill. And these days, there is likely to be […]
In many parts of California, the temperatures are heating up, which means it’s a good time to take a look at your workplace practices to make sure employees who work under the summer sun are safe—and that you’re complying with Cal/OSHA’s heat illness regulation.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has unveiled new guidance for healthcare workers and their employers on preparing for and responding to a pandemic flu, such as the avian influenza. Avian influenza—also known as bird flu—is caused by a virus that attacks wild birds and domestic poultry. A dangerous strain is rapidly infecting […]
Wireless firm Sprint Nextel has agreed to shell out $57 million to settle a class action lawsuit charging the company with age discrimination in connection with layoffs. The employees charged that Sprint violated the federal age discrimination law by moving older employees into positions that were then eliminated during corporate downsizing. The settlement covers approximately […]
Studies show that a short nap during the workday may improve both health and productivity. What lesson do Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Napoleon, and Al Kirschbaum all have for business? That a short “power nap” in the afternoon helps you achieve. Since you probably already know about the world leaders mentioned, let’s take Al […]
The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed big changes to the child labor regulations under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. The DOL’s proposed rules would expand the list of jobs considered to be “particularly hazardous”—and off-limits—for 16- and 17-year-olds (and younger workers) to include working at poultry slaughtering plants, riding as passengers on forklifts, […]
For issues such as discrimination … and virtually anything else that’s compliance-related … leave the HR policy writing to the experts. If you read yesterday’s Advisor article on “unconscious discrimination,” it may have raised the same question in your mind as it did in ours. Assuming that recent social research is correct—that managers of good […]
EEOC has begun E-RACE, a program to root out managers who discriminate in hiring or promotion while possibly being unaware that they’re even doing it. HR managers at two of America’s largest retailers, Walgreens and Wal-Mart, must be in a state of shock these days. After years of what they believe was compliance with both […]
Here’s an interesting twist on a question we get all the time. We’re often asked, “Can I have an English-only rule in the workplace?” The answer is generally no, unless there are very strong business reasons dictating it. In this case, the question was, “Can I require a bilingual workforce?” The court said the answer […]
As the 2007 hurricane season starts today (June 1), it’s time for employers to review and update their disaster preparedness and response plans. And it’s time to review our updated checklist, originally prepared following our own and others’ experiences from the 2005 hurricane season, including Hurricane Katrina. The time is right for all employers to […]