Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
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.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) observed the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) on February 4 by releasing a survey on its use and impact. The survey, conducted in 2012, follows previous assessments in 1995 and 2000. Both employees and worksites were surveyed. Here are some of […]
Effective and fun safety training is possible even for the safety director of a small company, who manages to deliver quality, cost-effective training that lives up to his company’s slogan “Safety Always.” For Jerry McGlynn, safety director for McWilliams Electric Co., bringing training in-house was a strategic decision. The family-owned business of about 90 employees […]
February 14 approaches and we’re filled with thoughts of love and romance … and lawsuits. Unfortunately, when the romance wears off, the retaliation and harassment charges begin. Why Does Love Matter to Employers? Joan Farrell, BLR Legal Editor, says it matters to employers because they are exposed to potential legal liability if a relationship goes […]
Yesterday’s Advisor offered insights into flextime successes from DOL’s website; today, more about flex in financial organizations, plus an introduction to the all-HR-in-one website, HR.BLR.com. Who Has Access to Flex Options? In the financial services companies questioned, professional-level and non-exempt staff usually have access to the same array of both regular flexible work arrangements (including […]
In the case of Freitick v. SMS Rail Lines, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania had to determine whether the company was negligent and, if so, whether negligence caused the employee’s injuries. In addition, the court had to decide whether the employee knew before the accident that he was required to […]
A worker, who was not wearing work gloves when he was injured, sued his employer, claiming that the employer did not instruct him that wearing leather gloves was a mandatory safety precaution. The employee started working for SMS Rail Lines in February 2006 as a boom truck operator and railroad track laborer. As required, he […]
Social media policies may seem like an odd choice for investigation by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). However, the two have become increasingly intertwined because the NLRB has become very aggressive with social media policies in recent years. The NLRB is particularly concerned with any policies and disciplinary actions that infringe on employees’ rights […]
You may access the website here: http://www.dol.gov/odep/workplaceflexibility/ How Does Your Organization Rate? Where does your organization sit on the “flex spectrum”? This Corporate Voices for Working Families graphic helps you see where you stand: The Flexibility Spectrum No Current Use of Flexibility No flexible work options currently being used ↓ Individual Accommodations Special arrangements or […]
The Obama administration released a compromise plan February 1 on how contraception is covered under the healthcare reform law, but it’s not clear whether foes of the original requirement will approve. Under President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, contraception is included as a free preventive service. The original rule exempted religious groups that employ mostly […]
Yesterday, we discussed how to quell the discomfort many feel about facing new challenges and how to set up an effective training environment, followed by opportunities to put the new knowledge quickly to work. Now let’s cover the training itself. How do you structure a lesson that will be both understood and retained? For answers, […]