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Is Your Harassment Training Too Risqué?

Harassment training is always tricky—Discuss the behaviors of harassing managers, and you may be creating an uncomfortable environment just with your training. Here are a few scenarios that should get discussions going without offending. The scenarios below are from training programs in the BLR® Employee Training Center. Gayla’s Dress is “Provocative” Gayla G’s job took […]

Despite Title, New DOJ Anti-DEI Guidance Not Just For Federal Funds Recipients

It’s no secret that 2025 has seen a dramatic shift in the federal government’s view of the value and legal validity of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and initiatives. The latest guidance from the Department of Justice (DOJ) is directed at recipients of federal funding, but all businesses can use it to learn about […]

Rhode Island’s temporary caregiver leave law takes effect January 1

by Timothy C. Cavazza As of January 1, 2014, Rhode Island’s temporary disability insurance program will be expanded to cover employees taking temporary caregiver leave. Leave will be available to employees “to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, domestic partner, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, or to bond with a new child.” An employee who is […]

Reductions in Force: How to Do It the Right Way Without Getting Sued

Sales are down. Expenses are up. You’ve tried everything and it looks as if your only alternative is to eliminate jobs. These not uncommon circumstances can turn into a high-stakes gamble, particularly because the graying of the American workforce puts you at risk for expensive age bias claims. So when you’re facing a restructuring, it’s […]

wage gap

Tech giants exploring gender gap within their ranks

What gives? The number of women graduating from college each year passed the number of men marking the same achievement years ago, but women remain underrepresented in the college majors sought by technology employers. That surely accounts for part of the gender gap afflicting tech employers, but corporate culture also is often seen as a […]

When does post-termination conduct amount to cause?

by Jennifer Shepherd Can a Canadian employer justify an employee’s dismissal for acts committed after he or she has been fired? The answer is: sometimes. In Gillespie v. 1200333 Alberta Ltd., an Alberta court overturned a lower court ruling that permitted an employer to retroactively justify an employee’s termination because the employee removed confidential documents […]

Train Supervisors to Communicate Effectively in Emergencies

The material in today’s issue is adapted from BLR’s 10-Minute HR Trainer session, “Communicating in Emergencies.” Supervisors such as yourself play a critical role in emergency communication. In fact, communicating emergency information is a crucial part of your job. In addition to conveying information to employees, you also play an important role in communications with […]

Don’t Get Tangled Up in Duct Tape: Lessons for Employers

By Ida Martin and Brian Smeenk The City of Mississauga was recently embarrassed by a video of two of its employees duct-taped together. They were squirming around on a table, taped by their hands, torsos, and feet. This was apparently a routine employee hazing. It was leaked to the media by an employee who had […]

Clean slate: Purchaser not bound by poor WCB record of company it acquired

by Hannah Roskey When contemplating acquiring the assets of a company in Canada, the purchaser will engage in extensive due diligence to ensure it is making a sound investment. These searches almost always include inquiries with the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) in the relevant province. A poor result, with outstanding claims and high premiums, might […]

Do Your Employees Need Respirator Training?

The material in today’s e-mail is adapted from BLR’s 7-Minute Safety Trainer session, “Respiratory Protection.” The goals for a training session on respirator safety should include teaching employees to: Understand when to use the different types of respirators. Understand how to fit, inspect, and maintain respirators. The applicable regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health […]