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Ideas for Surviving Sitcom Purgatory

I feel like I’m trapped in sitcom purgatory, stuck between The Office episodes of yesteryear and the glorious Scranton Promised Land where James Spader reigns supreme as the new branch manager. If you are like me, and find the combination of August heat and reruns to be oppressive at times, I have the following suggestions. […]

wellness

Community Gardens Grow Employee Well-Being

Giving back to the community can reap multiple benefits for employers, not the least of which is warm feelings from employees. In a recent Boston Globe article, Sara Salinas writes that research shows employees value companies that give back to the community. One increasingly popular way to do so—community gardens—also helps employees’ own well-being.

Employer social media policies and employee off-duty conduct

Employees’ postings on social media have been  called “online water-cooler talk,” essentially comparing it to office gossip. But most HR professionals have had to learn one big difference the hard way. Water-cooler talk doesn’t leave a permanent record, and social media does.  One way the two do compare is the common topic of supervisors. Unfortunately, […]

Communication—Critical in Comp and Everywhere Else

In many national employee attitude surveys, participating organizations were rated lowest on questions related to communication. On the flip side, employees who took the survey said communication was very important to them. In many national employee attitude surveys, participating organizations were rated lowest on questions related to communication. On the flip side, employees who took […]

SHRM Rolls Out a Data-Driven Playbook to Reshape Corporate I&D

For nearly a decade, corporate inclusion efforts were all about signing pledges, building coalitions, and making big promises. But in today’s intense legal and cultural environment, good intentions simply aren’t enough to protect a business or unite a workforce. To meet this high-stakes moment, SHRM has officially launched the SHRM Center for Inclusion and Diversity […]

What Can You Learn About Training from the World of Warcraft?

Professional gaming—that’s not an oxymoron—is gaining legitimacy in the United States. Even U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is on board. Just last year, a professional South Korean Starcraft player received a 5-year U.S. visa reserved for internationally recognized athletes in professional sports—only the second visa of its type to be awarded to a professional gamer. […]

Do Your Supervisors Recognize Alcohol Abuse?

Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that binge drinking (five or more drinks on one occasion for men, and four or more for women) was responsible for over 70% of the costs related to excessive alcohol use. Train your supervisors and managers on how to identify and respond to potential […]

Employers Wise to Limit Job-related Calls to Employees on FMLA Leave

Employers need to know what distinguishes a professional courtesy — let’s say having an occasional job-related phone discussion with an employee on leave — from crossing the line and interfering with an employee’s rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act. In other words, you as employer need to inform your employees about the parameters […]

Clerk’s Discrimination Claim for Sexual Stereotyping Checks Hotel into Court

Brenna Lewis worked part-time as a front desk clerk for Heartland Inns in Altoona and Ankeny, Iowa. She did a great job — at least according to her direct supervisors. She was well liked by customers and fit in well in the position. Based on those accolades, she was offered and accepted a full-time day […]