Author: Heather Hunt

It’s Time for Time Management Training

The information in today’s Advisor is adapted from BLR’s 10-Minute HR Trainer session, “Time Management for Supervisors.” One big obstacle to efficient time management is dealing with interruptions, which are inevitable and unpreventable. Remind your supervisors and managers that dealing with people and problems is part of their jobs, so they have to expect interruptions—but […]

FMLA—The Tricky Issue of Retroactive Designation—3 Scenarios

Yesterday’s Advisor featured attorney Julie Athey on the challenging issue of retroactive designation of Family and Medical Leave (FMLA). Today, she offers three scenarios to help HR managers understand the possible pitfalls, plus we announce a timely webinar on leave management and PTO. When you find out about a possible FMLA qualifying leave after it […]

Fired Chef Takes to Twitter on Company Account

Twitter has been a hot topic in our HR Strange But True! column lately. In most cases, it was about employees—or should we say ex-employees—posting something they shouldn’t. Take, for example, the employee who tried to buy drugs via tweet, or congressional aides who were fired for tweeting about drinking on the job. And how […]

Social Media Heavyweights Land Top Spots on 2014 ‘Best Companies to Work For’ List

Glassdoor has announced the results of its annual Employees’ Choice Awards, releasing its lists of Best Places to Work in 2014. According to the site, winners were determined by the people who know these companies best—their employees. Not surprisingly, three social media heavyweights were in the top five. Facebook, which was number 1 last year, […]

Martha Stewart’s Company Terminates Employees Before Holidays, but They Look Good Leaving

No, it’s not “a good thing.” The new CEO of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has given layoff notices to a sizable percentage of its staff right before the holidays. The cuts have been reported to involve 70 to 100 employees, or about 15 percent of the company’s workforce, including some from upper management. The company […]

Is It Time for Time Management Training?

The information in today’s Advisor is adapted from BLR’s 10-Minute HR Trainer® session, “Time Management for Supervisors.” The first step to tackling more-effective time management is to understand why supervisors have trouble managing their days. Here are several factors that interfere with a well-planned schedule: Reacting to others’ demands instead of deciding how your time […]

Proposed Law Would Institute Paid Family/Medical Leave

Congress has proposed a bill that would provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave each year to qualifying workers for the birth or adoption of a new child, the serious illness of an immediate family member, a worker’s own medical condition, and/or for specific military caregiving and leave purposes. The Family and Medical Insurance […]

Medical Clinic Cited for FMLA Violations, Ordered to Pay Back Wages

The U.S. Department of Labor has cited Houston Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic, LLP, for multiple violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act, and has ordered the clinic to pay $17,390 in back wages and other expenses. A DOL investigation found that when an eligible HENTC employee returned from FMLA leave, the company placed […]

Work with Your Community to Train the Next Generation

Strong partnerships between employers, educational institutions, and local communities are essential for effective workforce training programs, according to a blog from the U.S. Commerce Department. Secretary Penny Pritzker had recently announced a strategic vision for the Department of Commerce, which includes a focus on ensuring that workers are prepared with the skills that employers need. […]