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An EEOC update: Where are we now?

by Christopher J. Pyles The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has been celebrating its own birthday this year, marking its 50th anniversary. In August, the EEOC published “American Experiences Versus American Expectations,” a report documenting changes in employee demographics since 1965 and using data through 2013 as an update to a 1977 report titled “Black […]

States, business groups file suits to halt DOL’s overtime regs

by Kate McGovern Tornone Twenty-one states and several employer interest groups filed lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on September 20 alleging the agency’s new overtime regulations exceed its authority. The suits, however, are not expected to have any success in the near future, and employers would be well served to be in […]

Engagement? Retention? Train and Talk

[ go here for the first three T’s] Training Training is a reward. Top people want to keep their skills up and you need them to believe that the organization cares about keeping employee skills up to date. Development is both a management responsibility and an employee reward. What If We Train and They Leave? […]

HR Director Sentenced to Jail for Facilitating Compensation Scheme Including Backdating Stock Options

by Mark Schickman HR directors usually aren’t the most politically powerful officers in higher-level corporate cultures. The function doesn’t produce product or create sales, so there’s no ready way to judge its value and contribution. Like a solid defensive lineman, an HR director is working best when basking in total anonymity — when no HR […]

Looking to Recruit Nurses? Offer More Training

When we look back at 2018, one thing is clearly obvious: ALL industries are struggling to attract and retain top talent, and within the healthcare industry, nursing jobs are no exception. Just like other industries, there is a gender pay gap affecting nurses, which is surprising when you think of the fact that females make […]

Was Injured Employee Adequately Trained On Safety Procedures?

What Happened “Brendan” worked for National Starch & Chemical Company, now known as ICI American Holding Company, for 30 years before he was injured on the job on October 20, 2007. Brendan, a mechanic, was injured when he and another employee tried to replace three broken drive belts on a “blending blower” in the company’s […]

“Silicon Valley”: Start me up

Mike Judge has done it again. A few months ago, I wrote about one of my favorite workplace flicks, Office Space, and the dangers of pushing off uncomfortable employment issues (specifically Milt Waddams, a mumbly arsonist-to-be). Now I’m hooked on Mike Judge’s latest project, HBO’s Silicon Valley.  Silicon Valley chronicles the ups and downs of […]

Two New Tools from OSHA that Train Workers to Avoid Heat Illnesses

Extreme heat during the summer months poses a risk to outdoor workers, in particular, and creates a potential liability for their employers if steps are not taken to protect workers’ health and safety. The risk is real. Two years ago, there were 31 heat-related worker deaths, as well as 4,120 heat-related worker illnesses, according to […]

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Verbs in Communication

Words matter, and they matter a lot. As Mark Twain purportedly once said, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between a lightning bolt and a lightning bug.” So, I read with interest a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) by @Simons, whose name is Simon Ingari, a […]