Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Workplace safety is a top priority for any business, particularly those involved in inherently dangerous activities. For office-dwellers, the risk of serious bodily harm or death may seem remote. Even for those engaged in dangerous work, these risks are not always top of mind. However, recent data point to an alarming increase in the number of […]
by Kevin J. Skelly Every year, employers must publicly report specific transactions or arrangements relating to unionization or the threat of unionization. The report must be made within 90 days after the end of the employer’s fiscal year. For employers whose fiscal years coincide with the calendar year, the reporting deadline will be at the […]
by Lisa Berg On February 1, 2016, the World Health Organization declared an international health emergency associated with the spread of Zika virus, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began advising pregnant women or those considering becoming pregnant to avoid travel to places with Zika outbreaks. To date, more than a […]
Employer-sponsored training is often seen as the primary way for employees to advance their careers, but an expert says training will become more of a shared responsibility starting in 2015. However, leadership development will remain a top priority. Nearly half of senior human resources leaders globally identified leadership development as their top priority in a […]
A severance agreement isn’t just a payment document—it’s a legal exchange. The employer offers new compensation or benefits, and the employee typically releases potential legal claims and accepts certain post-employment obligations. Both sides should understand that trade-off before signing. These agreements often arrive at a difficult moment. The employer wants finality, and the employee may […]
The latest National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision reversing actions by the Obama-era Board hands employers a win against an organizing tactic that gave unions the upper hand in determining what constitutes an appropriate bargaining unit. As was the case with other mid-December decisions, the Board turned the old standard into the new standard. On […]
by Robert Kaiser There is a common belief in the marketplace that it’s harder to find a job if you are over 50. However, it’s difficult to establish whether that’s true, and there are many advantages to hiring a mature employee. But a recent case decided by the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose […]
By John S. Gannon, JD, Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C As employment litigation becomes more and more prevalent, employers are left wondering whether it’s ever safe to fire employees who violate company policy. Courts and administrative agencies have ruled against employers that have fired employees for improprieties such as shouting obscenities in the workplace or […]
By Lorene A. Novakowski Another recent Canadian case dealing with collection of personal information about employees, this time through surveillance, emphasizes the importance of good employment policy language for Canadian employers. In Toronto Catholic School Board v. Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 1280, [2011] O.L.A.A. No. 180, the question was whether surveillance tape evidence […]
HR Isn’t About Compliance We spend a lot of energy worrying about regulations and compliance, says Schooling, but that’s not HR. We professionals in HR: Pay attention to changing conditions, constantly scanning the environment. Explore and stay tuned in to human dynamics. Understand theories of motivation like push/pull and Maslow. Are empathetic and tuned in […]