Author: Stephen Bruce, PhD, PHR

GE Brightens Up Women’s Leadership Program

When GE execs wanted to brighten up their black-and-white training materials for their Leadership Practices Program for Women, they did so literally—with color. The program, administered by two women executives (who job share), seeks to address and provide insight into the unique concerns of talented, “high-potential” female employees. The facilitators, Nancy Schumann and Sandy Sullivan, […]

Accommodations Are a Pain, but Litigation Is a Bigger Pain

Reasonable accommodations are a pain and are subject to abuse, says Attorney Lawrence Postol, but litigation over the failure to provide accommodations, with a trial by jury, is a bigger pain and subject to greater abuse. Postol, who is a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Seyfarth Shaw, LLP, offered his Americans with Disabilities […]

Reader’s Story: The Creepy Coworker

We recently ran an article about a survey on odd desk décor. Among examples were a live pig, a lava lamp, and paper dolls. One SBT reader wrote in about an employee who had his own weird way to personalize his workspace. Here’s the story: “We had an employee who was apparently granted a bit […]

Skinny Plans: Adhering to the Letter (But Not the Sprit) of Health Reform

An increasing number of employers are examining providing a low-benefits health plan that covers only preventive health services but not high-price major medical claims. Offering this type of low cost or “skinny” plan is allowed under the health reform law. The question is: Will skinny plans trigger a large-employer exodus to de minimis coverage, and if so, […]

2 More Offenders to Train Your Leaders to Avoid

To recap: Without even realizing it, most leaders do and say things that send employees into their “Critter State” where every decision they make is driven by fear, says Christine Comaford, author of the new book Smart Tribes: How Teams Become Brilliant Together (Portfolio/Penguin, June 2013). And the consequences are more dire than you might […]

Employers Can Write PCORI Fees Off Their Federal Taxes

Health reform fees that health insurers and self-funded plans must pay in order to fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute are “ordinary and necessary business expenses,” and therefore qualify as deductible from federal taxes, a recent IRS memo states. Insurers and health plans will pay the $1 (soon to become $2) per covered life fee […]

Top Talent Premium Should Be 200%, not 50%

In yesterday’s Advisor, WorldatWork’s Kerry Chou offered the four top reasons that key talent leaves organizations. Today, what strategies are working, plus an introduction to a highly practical collection of prewritten, ready-to-use HR policies. What Strategies Are Working? WorldatWork surveys have shown the following percentages of respondents who said the tactic was “very effective” or […]

Do You Train Leaders to Avoid These 3 Scary Offenders?

Without even realizing it, most leaders do and say things that send employees into their “Critter State” where every decision they make is driven by fear, says Christine Comaford, author of the new book Smart Tribes: How Teams Become Brilliant Together (Portfolio/Penguin, June 2013). And the consequences are more dire than you might realize. Most […]

The 4 Reasons Your Top Talent Is Thinking About Leaving

The job market is always hot for key talent, says WorldatWork’s Kerry Chou, and with the economy improving, it’s just going to get worse. Chou, who is Senior Practice Leader, Compensation, at WorldatWork, offered his tips at WorldatWork’s Total Rewards 2013 Conference and Exhibition, held recently in Philadelphia. Why Key Talent Leaves Employers are always […]