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Oklahoma Employees May Have Misconceptions About New ‘Open Carry’ Law

by Charlie Plumb Effective November 1, 2012, Oklahoma handgun owners will be permitted to carry their firearms more freely than before. Yet contrary to some popular belief, the state’s new “open carry” bill (SB 1733) does have limitations. Though some employees may believe they now will have the right to carry guns while at work, […]

Hang on Loosely … Or You’re Gonna Lose Control

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 […]

NLRB proceeds with ‘quickie election’ rule implementation

by Tammy Binford As the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) controversial “quickie election” rule moves a step closer to implementation, employers are being warned to be ready. On April 6, NLRB General Counsel Richard F. Griffin Jr. issued a 36-page guidance memo that outlines how new unionization efforts will be processed from the time a […]

Mini-Med Health Plans to the Rescue!

If traditional health insurance plan costs have skyrocketed out of sight but you still want to help your workers, mini-med plans may be the answer. Here’s what you need to know about them. Perhaps you’ve seen the TV ad where the actor on-screen says, “I’m thinking of a number. Can you guess what it is?” […]

What is Coaching and Mentoring?

Transformational leadership is the process of gaining performance above expectations by inspiring staff to reach beyond their potential. But what do you use to make that happen in your organization? Do you have a coaching and mentoring program? A coaching and mentoring program can help your employees reach their full potential

‘Let It All Hang Out’ Diversity Training: Blueprint for Lawsuits?

Diversity consultants want to get your managers to bare their true feelings about race, gender, and sexual preference. “That’s a very dangerous approach,” says today’s expert. Beware of diversity training that’s really a therapy session, encounter group, or other forum for employees to “let it all hang out,” says attorney Lindsay Harris. Harris is senior […]

Why Supreme Court transition is important to employers—and the republic

by Mark I. Schickman U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s death marks a landmark in American law. Off the bench, he was avuncular, professorial, funny, and friendly, a mind like a machine gun, dangerous and quick. In last year’s biggest employment case, EEOC v. Abercrombie and Fitch, Scalia was the most aggressive questioner of the […]

Employer’s Guide to Writing Employee Handbooks

by Peter M. Panken An employee handbook tells workers what they’re getting, instills a team spirit, and lets people know what the rules are. It should emphasize the employer’s fair treatment and how it provides significant benefits like vacations, holidays, health insurance, and retirement benefits. It lets the workers know they can grieve to get […]

Working with You Is Killing Me

A review of the book Working With You Is Killing Me: Freeing Yourself from Emotional Traps at Work by Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elster. The Cynic, Boundary Buster, Credit Stealer, Charming Cheating Liar, Fatal Attraction, and Entertainer: Every office has them. The question is what to do about them. In their book Working With You […]

‘Merry Christmas!’ I mean ‘Happy holidays!’ Oh, just have a nice day

by C. Edward Watson Q: Every year, the holiday season seems to get more stressful. On the one hand, I have a couple of employees who want to make everything about Christ. They insist on wishing everyone, including our customers, a merry Christmas rather than happy holidays or not saying anything. They claim that saying […]