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Ask the Expert: I’ve Got an FMLA Headache!

I have an employee who has FMLA for headaches. She said she can no longer work more than 8 hours a day. She has also requested to be changed to a different shift and department, saying that is easier on her eyes/for her headaches. We do not have any openings on the shift she requested. […]

Perks, Insurance, and Atypical Benefits–How Do You Compare?

Beyond health insurance and retirement benefits (covered in previous surveys), the number one perk provided by the employers responding to our survey was paid holidays, with 91% percent of them offering it. Other highlights: Flextime is offered by 53% of respondents. About 33% relax their dress code in the summer, at least for some employees. […]

The Disconnect in Employee Qualifications

We’ve written extensively on the challenges employers are facing in filling open positions. Whether one attributes those challenges to the Great Resignation, COVID stimulus money, or a skills gap, the fact is that many companies are struggling to find workers they feel can perform the essential functions of their open positions. They just can’t seem […]

Do Your Managers Need Some Refresher Training?

Your managers are the keys to your employees’ productivity and engagement. How well are they doing? A consultant whose opinion we respect—Bill Lee of Lee Resources, at BillLeeOnline.com—recommends a book he thinks is the best manager-improvement product he’s come across. It is The Control Theory Manager, by William Glasser, M.D. (HarperBusiness, 1994), and it’s short […]

It’s never easy, but Oprah delivers layoff news in person

Last week, entertainment powerhouse and former talk-show host Oprah Winfrey announced that Harpo Studios in Chicago will be closing its doors by the end of the year, resulting in the loss of nearly 200 jobs. In typical Oprah fashion, she delivered the bad news to her employees in person, probably ambling around the room, microphone-in-hand, […]

What You Need to Know About Modern Direct Sourcing

Talent has long been an organization’s greatest asset; however, many businesses have only recently come to appreciate the real value of their workers. In light of ongoing talent shortages, more than a few companies have found themselves with bad hires and the consequences that come with them. Loss of productivity is just the first. Loss […]

Are employer codes of conduct meaningless in today’s NLRB climate?

by Michael J. Westcott Based on the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) recent attack on employer codes of conduct, employers need to rethink their approach to communicating to employees the kinds of conduct that are prohibited and expected in the workplace.  Weapon of choice: NLRA Section 7 Many “old school” employers provide employees with work […]