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We live in an age of -isms. Some communicate community and common interests, like feminism or nationalism. Many signal prejudice, oppression and alienation, like racism, antisemitism, nepotism, and sexism. Others simply categorize, like absurdism, cubism, and socialism. Some are ancient, like Catholicism, while others are newer, like lesbianism or transsexualism. Isms are philosophical categories that […]
by John S. Gannon Employers routinely ask employees to provide adequate documentation demonstrating that they can perform the essential functions of a job. That documentation may come in the form of physical or mental examinations—commonly referred to as fitness-for-duty examinations. However, problems arise when an employer disagrees with the physician who certifies the employee as […]
One of the biggest challenges in stamping out the remaining vestiges of gender inequality in the workplace is ensuring consistency in awareness and motivation for action. To be sure, women have made tremendous strides in workplace equality in the preceding decades; however, that success has come with a bit of a curse: the belief among […]
Yes, I know I went with a Marvel theme in my last column. But I’m the author, and that carries at least some privileges, so I’m going back to Marvel. Marvel does make it easy, as they’ve been pumping out so much content lately. Their latest offering is What If…? an animated series that ponders how […]
Many leaders seek ways to make their employees happier at work yet lack the emotional intelligence (EQ) to understand how to achieve this goal. While problem-solving abilities (IQ) are a vital characteristic in leaders, this EQ is just as (if not more) integral to running a thriving workplace, as this will bring back the human […]
by Marie-Ève Gagnon Theft of merchandise by employees continues to be a recurring and costly problem for Canadian employers. The courts, however, do acknowledge the seriousness of the issue. Dismissal is often found to be an appropriate disciplinary response regardless of the value of the items stolen or whether the theft is repeated—unless mitigating factors […]
Question: How can we discipline a new employee who takes unplanned, unexcused days off for sickness, family emergencies, etc.? We don’t currently have a policy on how many unexcused days off are allowed. Answer: Wisconsin employers have an interest in ensuring employees don’t engage in misconduct, including unplanned, unexcused time off from work. Accordingly, the […]
When HR managers do internal investigations, one of the most common mistakes is to wind up the final report with a legal determination, says attorney Jennifer Brown Shaw. “Don’t do that,” she urges. “Just find out and report what happened.” In California, for example, Shaw says, a legal conclusion reached in your investigation report is […]
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released a private letter ruling (PLR) on August 17 that appeared to give the go-ahead to an employer-sponsored student loan repayment benefit offered through the company’s 401(k) plan.