Most Popular

Rhode Island’s frequency of wage payment law changing

by Timothy C. Cavazza A new law going into effect January 1, 2014, allows private-sector employees to be paid every other week or twice a month provided certain conditions are met. Rhode Island’s Payment of Wages Act was amended so that private-sector for-profit employers can pay employees less frequently than weekly after gaining approval from […]

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. […]

“The Coup” Revisited

Litigation Value: $65,000 (but could have been much more) Having Dwight stand on his desk with the word “liar” hanging from his neck is not what I would consider the most effective method of employee discipline. Nor was tricking him into believing that he got Michael fired. But, without more, Michael’s actions may not be […]

8 Tips for Promoting Employee Mental Health

Mental illness is a prominent issue in today’s society, and employers should do all they can to address this in the workplace. After all, many people spend most of their time at work—and author Graeme Cowan says that employers are in a prime position to make a difference with America’s collective mental health.

Keeping an open mind during workplace investigations

by Peter Lowe Internal workplace investigations turn sour for a variety of reasons, including haste, poor preparation, ineffective documentation, and a lack of investigatory skills. But in my experience, the biggest obstacle to fair and thorough investigations is the bias of the investigator. When an investigator starts out with a preconceived notion of guilt or […]

Performance Appraisals: Do’s and Don’ts from the Real World

Makris, senior counsel at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, and Rhoma Young of the HR consulting firm Rhoma Young & Associates offered tips for ensuring that performance appraisals are used legally and effectively. Their suggestions came in a recent BLR®/HR Hero® audio conference. From a legal perspective, performance appraisals are important because they can help defend […]

Hiring Goals for Individuals Disabilities—New Affirmative Action Requirement

The changes are to the regulations implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits employment discrimination against individuals with disabilities. BLR Senior Legal Editor and affirmative action expert Susan Schoenfeld explains how the new regulations will impact government contractors. Effective Date in March 2014 According to the OFCCP, the new rules will […]

gamification

Up Your Productivity with Gamification

According to a 2015 Gallup poll, only 31.5% of U.S. workers are engaged in their jobs—less than one-half. The good news is, gamification has gone mainstream, and the trend is moving upward as Millennials are becoming a more dominant force in the workplace. In 2030, they will count for 75% of the workforce.