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The Sweet (?) Smell of Workplace Security

You may soon need to ban the use of fragrances in your workplace—even if no one is allergic. Why? Because you may be using your employees’ unique body odors as their security IDs. While biometric security systems based on iris patterns or finger swirls can be breached through computer duplication, it’s more difficult for anyone […]

Train Your Trainers Not To Make These Mistakes

Weiss is director of Seyfarth Shaw at Work, a legal compliance training company associated with the Seyfarth Shaw law firm. His remarks originally appeared in our sister publication, the HR Manager’s Legal Reporter. What Can Go Wrong Weiss suggested that trainers check to be sure they avoid the following common problems: Training from the Bottom […]

Foam Bubbles and Swing Sets … This Could Be Your Future Workplace

When one thinks of the future, it usually involves extremely advanced technology, like hover cars and computer chips in our brains, but usually one never gives the workplace any thought. What would our workplace look like in the future? Would we be sitting at levitating desks? Or possibly communicating with holograms instead of by e-mail? […]

Phantom Ownership: How to Use Phantom Units to Incentivize Star Employees

Businesses often face the challenge of attracting and retaining star employees. It can be tempting to offer star employees ownership in the business to prevent the hardship of losing star employees after investing time, money, and resources into training and onboarding. The main drawback of offering ownership is potentially relinquishing some control in the business. […]

Employee terminations: 3 scenarios where sugar coating can backfire

When dealing with employee performance management and employee terminations, it is paramount to ensure that the documentation is accurate, fair, and consistent with verbal explanations. This seems simple enough, but it's all too easy to get into a situation where a simple omission or a sugar-coated explanation can land an employer in court.

review

Continuous Performance Management vs. Annual Review

Feedback is crucial to employee development, both to reinforce positive behaviors and to address and correct negative behaviors. Additionally, regular feedback is important in helping employees advance in their careers within the organization. Unfortunately, many organizations continue to limit their formal employee feedback to an annual review.

litigation

Communication Surrounding Litigation: Loose Lips Sink Ships!

Most employers are probably aware that communications with their attorneys for the purpose of obtaining legal advice are protected under the attorney-client and work-product privileges. That means if a lawsuit is filed and the employee’s attorney wants to know what advice you received from your attorney about the matter (or what was prepared in anticipation […]

Kevin Sheridan

Engagement: 3 Lessons Learned from Kevin Sheridan’s Native American Sister and Iraq War Veteran

Last summer I went home to the Native American Indian Reservation in northern Wisconsin on which I was raised.  I always find it so grounding to go home to the “Res,” as it is known to the locals.  It was especially grounding this trip because I got to spend 2.5 peaceful hours with my Chippewa […]

rape

The Ninth Circuit Clarifies Employers’ Obligations When Addressing Social Media Posts Affecting Workplace

A recent Ninth Circuit decision clarifies employers’ obligations to address hostile work environment complaints arising out of employees’ off-premises social media activity. In Okonowsky v. Garland, the Ninth Circuit overturned a Title VII sexually hostile environment summary judgment ruling, finding that the court had erred by considering only some of the evidence and by applying incorrect […]