Bowing to Demands of Wall Street, Walmart Cuts Hours to Trim Costs
After raising the minimum wage for its lowest compensated workers, Walmart is now cutting some workers’ hours to try to trim costs. Click here to read more.
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Fasken Martineau adds to its leading Labor, Employment, Human Rights, Pensions and Benefits Client Service Team
by Brian Smeenk Regular readers of Northern Exposure are well aware of the breadth, depth, and strength of Fasken Martineau’s Labor, Employment, and Human Rights Group. Well, our Group just got even broader, deeper, and stronger. And thus even better in our ability to serve any client’s needs, no matter the complexity, urgency, or scope. […]
Court Says Employee Stock Ownership Plan Doesn’t Violate Labor Code
In recent years, many employers have begun offering employees stock ownership in the company either in lieu of bonuses, or as deferred compensation—often called Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs).
DOL: Employer Liable for Staffing Company’s Illegal Pay Scheme
An employer and a staffing agency have agreed to pay $1.4 million in back wages and damages to resolve U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) allegations that the staffing agency created multiple companies in an effort to skirt overtime requirements.
Straight Talk About Managing the Impact of New Standards for Paying Overtime
By David W. Jones, CCP, principal and director, Matthews Young — Management Consulting Students of American history know that this change in the minimum pay threshold for exemption from overtime pay revisits the complexities of the hourly versus exempt relationship established by the Fair Labor Standards Acts (FLSA) in 1938.
Standing Desks May Help Improve Employee Moods
Last month, we discussed criticisms surrounding claims that standing desks improve the health of users. Supporters of standing desks often point to studies that claim remaining seated for prolonged periods of time—as most office workers do—has negative impacts on our health.
Ontario Adds to Broad Canadian Harassment/Violence Laws
By Alix Herber Canada’s two largest provinces — Ontario and Quebec — now have laws requiring employers to seek to provide workplaces free of “harassment.” No longer limited to human rights-related harassment, the term is broadly defined in these laws. Further, Ontario’s new law extends beyond harassment. It, like the federal law, also will require […]
Deductions from Pay: When Exempt Employees Take Time Off for Personal Reasons, Can We Deduct from Their Pay?
When employees take time off of work for doctor’s appointments, we expect them to make up the time. If they don’t, we deduct from their paychecks for the hours they are gone. Some exempt employees have complained about this practice. I thought if they take personal time, we could deduct. Are our deductions legal? What […]
Train Your Supervisors to Be Better Job Interviewers
Supervisors need to learn to “talk the talk” as job interviewers. Here’s a tool to teach them what to say … and not say. However much we may surround it with applications, resumes, and tests, hiring is a very human transaction. In the end, it usually comes down to two people… the hiring manager and […]
Eight Basic Mistakes in HR Management
There are three “legs” that support managers and supervisors in doing their jobs—policies and practices, performance management, and job descriptions. Unfortunately, in many companies, each leg is weakened by basic mistakes that make compliance difficult Here are the most common mistakes: Policies and Practices Mistakes Mistake #1: No policies at All The no policies approach […]