Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Like many other companies, the economic downturn forced Heavy Construction Systems Specialists Inc. (HCSS) to reduce its employee development budget over the last few years. But unlike some other companies, the Sugar Land, Texas, company was able to cut expenses without sacrificing learning for its 100+ employees. Doing More with Less With a little creativity, […]
You won’t find it on a best-seller list, and it may not offer a respite from a busy world. Nevertheless, if you’re a recruiter or hiring manager, you’ll want to read your company’s employee handbook.
Although some parts of the country still feel like summer, this week we officially begin the fall season. The Farmers’ Almanac recently released its winter forecast for 2009-2010 predicting that three-fourths of the United States will experience colder than normal temperatures on average. When temperatures plunge, what can human resources do to reduce energy bills […]
You might think the law’s behind you when you discipline workers, but human factors can change the equation. Employment-at will is a bedrock concept of American business, allowing employers, with few exceptions, to fire anyone, at any time, for any legal reason. No documentation is legally required. But take that concept too literally and you […]
In his e-pinion on this page a few weeks ago, Dan Oswald suggested that when two employees hate each other, the best course may be keeping the most valuable employee and firing the other one. Most readers didn’t agree. Oswald’s original story is found here in The Oswald Letter. The full text of all the […]
Many employers try to combat workplace bias with diversity programs that emphasize the company’s commitment to respecting differences, such as sexual orientation. But suppose an employee with strong religious beliefs posts messages offensive to a protected group. What are your obligations—to the employee and co-workers—in this situation? A new case addresses this problem.
The First Gentleman To a big round of applause, in response to a question about how she figured out what the first lady should do, she said, “It won’t be long until you’re asking what the first gentleman should do.” Clanking of the Gears How did you stand the constant wave of invective and strange […]
Being a good manager is a delicate balancing act, says business and leadership blogger Dan Oswald. You have certain responsibilities, and the buck often stops with you. Assigning tasks, monitoring progress, and measuring results come with the territory. Oswald, CEO of BLR, offered his thoughts on “loose” control in a recent edition of The Oswald […]
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 […]
With 50 states, there can be 50 different sets of requirements on any employment law. Here’s a way to quickly scan them all. The recent Advisor article on “data breach” noted that there are 22 different state laws on protection of records, not to mention New York City having its own law. What’s more, the […]