Category: HR Management & Compliance

There are dozens of details to take care of in the day-to-day operation of your department and your company. We give you case studies, news updates, best practices and training tips that keep your organization fully in compliance with ever-changing employment law, and you fully aware of emerging HR trends.

Never Say Never, and Never Say This

Yesterday’s Advisor featured the first six of author Darlene Price’s 10 phrases that kill your pitch; today, killer phrases 7 through 10, plus an introduction to the all-HR-in-one-place website, HR.BLR.com. [Go here for killer phrases 1 to 6.] 7. AVOID: “…don’t you think?”  or, “…isn’t it?” or “…OK?”  To convey a confident commanding presence, eliminate […]

Key Wage-and-hour Language to Have in Your Employee Handbook

To prevent the consequences from imprecise employee handbook language,  employers should regularly review their handbooks and written policies. Since wage and hour lawsuits make up a significant part of  litigation, W&H provisions can make a difference as you draft or review your employee handbook. Wage-and-hour related provisions should include pay details, safe harbor and state […]

10 Persuasion-Killing Phrases You Should Never Use

Whether you’re making a formal request, wooing an applicant, or proposing an idea, the wrong phrase can ruin your pitch, says author Darlene Price. She offers 10 phrases that kill any hope of success. Price is the author of recently published Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results. Of course, you’ve got to know […]

EEOC Takes Aggressive Pill from NLRB

We’ve been writing about a newly aggressive NLRB, and now here comes the EEOC. EEOC.gov’s home page now features lawsuit summaries that close with an appeal for wronged applicants or employees to contact the agency and, presumably, join the class of litigants. Here are three typical pleas from eeoc.gov: Texas Roadhouse Litigation “The EEOC has […]

Employee depression and work accommodation Q&A

Dealing effectively with employees who have depression and work restrictions can be challenging. This is especially true when the doctor’s note implies that an accommodation is needed that seems unreasonable. What can an employer do? In a recent CER webinar, Patricia Eyres gave us some guidance on how employers can react in these situations. Here […]

Super Safety Training Sessions Part 2: Techniques

To liven up that safety meeting, remember this refrain: Personalize, relate, repeat, rephrase, and for goodness sakes, be enthusiastic! “How do I make my safety training meetings more effective and memorable?” That’s the question our training experts get repeatedly. Yesterday, we began to answer it, using guidance provided in the BLR® program, Safety Meeting Repros, […]

H-1B visa deadline looms

by Elaine Young Employers wanting to hire foreign workers through the H-1B visa program need to be ready to file petitions with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on April 1. U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields. The first […]

Colorado civil union law means change for employers

The Colorado Civil Union Act, which takes effect May 1, requires changes in employer-provided insurance plans and makes changes to the state’s workers’ compensation law. Effective for plans issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2014, a party to a civil union may cover his or her partner as a dependent. Employers providing […]

Super Safety Training Sessions, Part 1: Preparation

Imagine two training rooms, side by side. Both host safety training meetings. In Room A, the instructor drones on and on, doing all the talking, while trainees check their watches, look longingly at the exit, or just slouch at their desks with a 10,000-yard stare in their eyes. When the session breaks, there’s a dash […]