Author: Stephen Bruce, PhD, PHR

Consumer Cost Negotiation: Holy Grail of Health Care Cost Control

Yesterday’s Advisor presented  Andrew Ceccon’s first five steps for helping employees be better ( and less expensive) healthcare consumers. Today, steps six and seven, plus an introduction to the program that helps companies set up wellness programs with great ROIs. Ceccon, former chief marketing officer at A.D.A.M., a provider of healthcare content and benefits tools […]

Wellness: What Can HR Do to Educate Employees (Read ‘Save Money’)

Health care reform passed, but that doesn’t mean your health care costs are going down anytime soon. Healthcare inflation is still forcing companies to find alternatives. Consumer-driven health care (CDH) seems to be the only option gaining real traction, says Andrew Ceccon. Ceccon, former chief marketing officer at A.D.A.M., a provider of healthcare content and […]

Nappers Respond—’Bravo!’ and ‘You’ve got to Be Kidding!

By Stephen D. Bruce, PHR Editor, HR Daily Advisor Four weeks ago our e-pinion featured tips for napping at work. Our readers responded quickly. Two brief responses sum up the views on napping: 1. “We do not permit napping. You’ve got to be kidding me!” 2. “Bravo! I love your topic—it helps me feel better […]

You’re Never Safe from Discovery of Improper Conduct

You are not alone, says attorney Jean Johnson. Write as if you’re being published, speak as if you’re being recorded, and act as if you’re being videotaped. Never expect that there is a secure place to engage in improper conduct, she says. Yesterday’s Advisor presented Johnson’s tips for lessening the danger of discovery. Today, more […]

Discovery Is Dangerous—How to Reduce Liability

Discovery—the right of your employee’s lawyer to seek information from your company—has always been dangerous, and the advent of electronic communications has just made it that much worse. In today’s Advisor, attorney Jean Johnson offers suggestions for reducing liability This article focuses on the “request for production,” which is a request for documents and other […]

Tuition Assistance: Do Your Benefits Measure Up?

By Stephen D. Bruce, PHR Editor, HR Daily Advisor Eighty-five percent of employers report offering tuition assistance to employees, according to a recent survey of tuition assistance plans by BLR®‘s HR Daily Advisor. This is a significant increase over the 52% of employers who reported having such a plan in late 2007. A quick review […]

‘Your Honor, the Real Reason Was Performance’ (and I’m a Liar)

In yesterday’s Advisor, we looked at five things you never want to have to say in court; today, three more, and an introduction to the all-in-one solutions website for HR managers. ‘No, really it was performance’ This is the standard “now I’m changing my story” line. Here’s the scenario: you fire someone whose performance has […]

9 Things You Don’t Want to Have to Admit in Court

Many times, the easiest way to train managers about HR issues is to ask them to imagine themselves on the witness stand. When they realize what they will have to admit to, they learn fast. “I fired him for no reason” This is the statement that “at-will believers” will have to make on the witness […]