Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
With the economy still on shaky ground, many employers are desperate to cut costs. But it’s important not to let financial desperation cause you to make bad business choices—such as going into business with the wrong people. As one employer learned, the consequences can be far more costly in the long run.
HR time is precious. You don’t want to waste it reviewing résumés of unqualified candidates. You need a system to keep all those unqualified candidates’ credentials off your desk and off your computer desktop as well. Of course, in the real world, you can’t avoid all unqualified candidates, but there are steps you can take […]
Today we continue our look at taming TOTs—Terrible Office Tyrants—and we’ll take a look at an invaluable source for prewritten job descriptions. (Should all HR job descriptions list taming TOTs as an "essential function"?) Dealing with tyrant bosses is "a little like parenting minus the diapers and spitting up," says Lynn Taylor, whose tips were […]
Dealing with the boss got you down? Whether it’s whining or bragging or bullying, Lynn Taylor has tips for handling your Terrible Office Tyrant (TOT). Taylor is the author of newly published Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior. Here are some of her suggestions: The Bragging Boss Got a boss […]
California law requires that employers provide female employees who wish to express breast milk for nursing infants with: A reasonable opportunity to take breaks for the purpose of expressing breast milk, which can be timed with the employee’s regular break schedule; and Reasonable access to a private location to express breast milk, other than public […]
Last month, we published a guest E-pinion by Maurizio Morselli in which he talked about HR’s role in curing “fiscal decadence disorder” and ensuring that reductions in force don’t cut any deeper than necessary. His column generated some interesting feedback, which we share today. I like the article on HR’s role in curing the Fiscal […]
Furloughs are appealing solutions to cash shortages, but they are not simple to implement, says Doug Christensen, a partner in Dorsey & Whitney’s Labor and Employment law practice group in Minneapolis. In a recent article in USA TODAY, Christensen explained that there are a number of complex legal issues that companies must navigate, such as: […]
By now, most employers have at least heard that California prohibits “use it or lose it” vacation policies—meaning that once an employee earns vacation time, that time can’t be forfeited for any reason. But can an employer decide not to award vacation time right away to new employees? The answer is yes—according to a recent […]
Jennifer Scott was the director of the Rocklin (near Sacramento) campus of Phoenix Schools, Inc.—a franchise of private preschools.
In these tough economic times, mandatory furloughs may be an attractive alternative for many employers. However, while furloughs don’t create many of the risks of termination, there are legal pitfalls to avoid. Law firm Littler Mendelson P.C.’s blog Insight offers advice for employers contemplating furloughs. Littler attorneys Alison S. Hightower, Eric C. Bellafronto, Barry Y. […]