Author: Stephen Bruce, PhD, PHR

Fired for Cause—It’s a Process

In yesterday’s Advisor, Attorney Julie Moore offered do’s and dont’s for layoffs. Today, her tips for “for cause” terminations and an introduction to a webinar specially designed for managers of small, or even one-person, HR departments. Moore’s suggestions for handling terminations came at BLR®’s National Employment Law Update held recently in Las Vegas. Moore is […]

Small Business Confidence Encourages Hiring

While large businesses’ profits have steadily increased since mid-2009, smaller companies have faced a tougher road. However, there may be signs that small businesses plan to ramp up hiring in 2011. The optimism index of the National Federation of Independent Business measures small business confidence, and is often an indicator of the sales growth, market […]

January 31st Deadline for Tax Rate Update

It has only been a month since the new federal Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act was signed into law, but the new tax cut rates are already in effect…and employers must race to adjust their payrolls. As of January 1st, the Social Security Tax withholding rate has been reduced from 6.2% […]

5 Steps to Increase the Payback on Your Training Dollars-HR Daily Advisor-BLR

Here are the steps you need to take to make sure your employee training is always successful and cost-effective: Make training an ongoing process, and reassess training needs frequently to make sure you’re meeting today’s needs, not yesterday’s. Encourage employees to talk about their training needs and request additional training. Provide employees with opportunities to […]

‘You’re Fired’—How to Say It Without Getting Sued

Terminations—they are never going to be an easy job, but no HR manager is going to go long without doing one. At least, says Attorney Julie Moore, you can do them without inviting lawsuits and in a way that makes it easier on you and the employee. Moore’s suggestions for handling the termination talk came […]

Employees Don’t Leave Jobs-They Leave Managers

Employees don’t leave jobs, they leave managers. It’s an old saw, but it’s true. Wouldn’t it be great if all your managers could motivate employees as well as your best managers do? We think they can. BLR Announces … the New Way to Train Your Managers Offering leadership training for your employees has tremendous ROI […]

3 Tips To Ring in 2011 the Right Way

Yesterday, we looked at 3 New Year’s HR tips from James J. McDonald, Jr., managing partner of the Irvine office of Fisher & Phillips, LLP (www.laborlawyers.com). Today, 3 more tips from McDonald, and an invitation to a can’t-miss webinar on California recordkeeping.

FMLA —Never Easy, But These Pre-Written Forms Will Help

In yesterday’s Advisor, we covered FMLA fitness-for-duty certifications and offered a handy form for requesting the certifications. Today, two more FMLA forms plus an introduction to the “FMLA Bible.” FMLA is never going to be easy, but with forms ready to go for most FMLA situations, you can make it a little easier. Here are […]

New Year, New HR Ideas

The start of a new year is a good opportunity for you to implement changes in policies and procedures in order to reduce your potential exposure to legal claims and make your business more competitive.

Can You Demand FMLA Fitness-for Duty-Cert? Sure, BUT …

Many employers want a fitness for duty certification when employees return from FMLA leave, especially for those “certain employees.” You can require a certification, but not just for certain employees, and not without carefully following several procedural steps. First of all, the law says that as a condition of restoring an employee who has been […]