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Dental Plans—A Little Long In the Tooth

In the 1950s, life may have been simpler—but dental care certainly wasn’t. Some people saw it as a luxury that they couldn’t afford. Most people suffered from tooth decay, and dentures became common. Then employers started to offer a new benefit, the dental insurance plan, to help employees take care of their teeth. Five decades […]

Liability for Employees’ Acts: New Case Limits Your Responsibility to Customers

Employers are generally held legally accountable for their employees’ conduct. But one employer recently persuaded the California Supreme Court to limit this rule. The case involved the question of whether an employee of a fast-food restaurant acted properly during an armed robbery. Although the Supreme Court let the employer off the hook, the case points […]

I believe you have my stapler

Ever flip through the channels on a lazy Saturday afternoon and come across an oldie but goodie? This happened to me recently with the movie Office Space, a workplace classic. While I can’t imagine a world where everyone hasn’t seen Office Space, here is a quick plot summary. Peter Gibbons (played by Ron Livingston, pictured […]

Great Incentive Plan + Poor Communication = Poor Incentive Plan

Communicating the Sales Incentive Plan Sometimes Pasteris sees the situation in which there was a great sales plan design but it failed because it was not well understood and appreciated by the salespeople. To avoid that situation, make sure that you: Send an announcement letter, particularly with the new plan that spells out its features. […]

Indefinite protection for federal employee disabled by work-related injury

by Nicola Sutton When the employment relationship becomes impossible to perform because of a factor outside the control of a Canadian employer or employee, the employee’s employment can be terminated by virtue of frustration of contract. When an employee won’t be able to return to work because of injury or illness, the same applies. But […]

Workplace Protections for the Working Mother

Many working mothers strive to attain some form of work/life balance but may find their jobs don’t provide the flexibility and autonomy they need to reach this goal. As women, we often feel like we’re spinning one plate too fast and one plate too slow and will eventually drop them all. While many employers voluntarily […]

language

Why Your Employees Need to Boost Their Language Skills Right Now

Training employees in soft skills—including communications-based skills—boosts productivity and retention levels by 12% and delivers a 250% return on investment based on higher productivity and retention. And studies have also concluded that language-based skills are particularly better for employees inside the workplace. Keep reading to learn more about why.

How to Support Employees Suffering from Seasonal Depression

For the millions of people who suffer from seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), the winter months can be especially difficult. But did you know SAD can also influence workers in the workplace? Employers therefore need to be aware of this problem and do their part to help employees who may be […]

Find quiet time alone to think

by Dan Oswald You don’t spend nearly enough time simply thinking. Before you take offense to that statement, consider how much time you spend talking, responding to e-mail, even reading—my guess is that you spend more time doing any one of them than you do thinking. Why do so many people claim they have had […]