Author: Stephen Bruce, PhD, PHR

Web 2.0 in the Workplace—Control or Ignore?

Employers can’t ignore "the juggernaut" of Web 2.0—it’s in your workplace whether you like it or not, says attorney Terry Solomon. But you can manage it. There’s no question about the increasing expansion of the Internet, social networking, and the Blogosphere, she adds. But should you try to control it, or give in? Solomon and […]

10 Tips for Managing Out-of-Control E-Mail

Yesterday’s Advisor covered how to write better e-mails. Today, expert Janis Fisher Chan offers her suggestions for dealing with the sheer volume of e-mail in your inbox every day. In her recent book, E-Mail: A Write It Well Guide, Chan offers the following suggestions: 1. Turn off your computer’s “you’ve got mail” signal. This is […]

California Supreme Court Focuses on Wage and Hour Issues

Already set to decide the troublesome meal period issue (whether employers must “ensure” or “provide” employee meal periods) in Brinker Restaurant Corp. v. Superior Court and Brinkley v. Public Storage, Inc., the California Supreme Court has just agreed to review two other cases involving wage and hour issues.

Do your E-mails Send the Right Message?

Business is all about e-mail these days, yet many managers don’t know how to write an effective e-mail message, says Janis Fisher Chan. Her recent book, E-Mail: A Write It Well Guide, offers help. Check the Tone It’s easy to get the tone wrong in your business e-mails, says Chan. Check these three examples, which […]

At Last! A 3-Year Project Finished

By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady BLR founder and CEO Bob Brady invites you to “test drive” the new and improved Compensation.BLR.com website. Making life easier for our readers Almost 3 years ago, we made a breakthrough discovery that led to the complete redesign of our flagship website, HR.BLR.com. The original site was our […]

Consider the Big Picture Before Terminating Pregnant Employees

An employee takes pregnancy-related medical leave. While she’s out, you discover that she falsified certain time sheets and billing records. On the day she’s set to return from leave, you instead tell her that she’s being terminated. The employee sues for pregnancy discrimination. Should you be worried? You should think long and hard before terminating […]

The Other Wellness: Alcohol, Drugs, Backs, Sleep, and Stress

When we think wellness, we usually think diet, exercise, and stopping smoking. Those are surely the big three, but there are a number of other wellness areas that deserve attention, as well. Yesterday’s Advisor looked at “walking the Iditarod” and other wellness program ideas. Today, courtesy of BLR’s Workplace Wellness, we’ll look at a number […]

In Today’s Economy, Is Wellness Doable?

Budgets are stretched tighter than drumheads—is there still a way to work in a wellness program? National Employee Health and Fitness Day is next Wednesday, and that makes this a great time to focus on wellness objectives. Readers of the Advisor are well aware that wellness programs work and can produce strong returns on investment […]