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‘Tis the season: resolutions for the new year

by Leslie Bakken Oliver It’s that time again, when many of us take inventory of the past year and make resolutions for the coming year—for example, to do better, work smarter, become more efficient, or waste less time. For some of you, focusing on aspirations for the coming year may be part of a formalized […]

Reward Top Performers with Reverse Robin Hood Approach

Rob from the poor, give to the rich, says consultant Joseph DiMisa, and you can structure your incentive program so it really rewards top performers. You have to lower incentive payments to poor performers to liberate funds to give bigger rewards to your top performers, says DiMisa. Rewarding performance is the first of his Incentive […]

Has Your Company Considered Youth Mentoring?

Many companies across America and internationally have embraced the concept of engaging in youth mentoring programs. Larger companies include Eli Lilly, Allstate Insurance Company with its extensive Helping Hands project, and General Electric Corporation. Much smaller companies such as Webster Bank with branches in CT, RI and MA are involved in releasing employees to serve […]

Appearance Policies: Physical Restrictions And Appearance Rules May Prompt Bias Suits; Guidelines On What You Can Require

You can impose height or weight restrictions for certain jobs as long as they’re necessary to the normal operation of your business and don’t burden one sex more heavily than the other. And it’s OK to set standards governing appearance and dress if they’re applied fairly to both men and women.

Genetic information is off limits!

by Michael Adams Medical examinations of future and present employees are commonly required by Canadian employers to verify a person’s capacity to do the work. However, Since May 2017, however, federally regulated employers can no longer require that future and present employees undergo genetic testing or disclose the results to determine, for example, whether they […]

A How-To List for Building a Culture of Respect

By Susan W. Kline Experienced HR professionals know that, generally speaking, an employee has no viable claim for sexual harassment unless her workplace has become “hellish.” Nonetheless, savvy employers will take action long before offensive behavior adds up to an actionable claim of sexual (or racial or religious) harassment. By focusing on inappropriate behavior and […]

Reference Checks Without Legal Repercussions

In yesterday’s Advisor, we covered the first three steps for successful background checks. Here are steps 4 and 5, along with an introduction to a unique program to help with policies from reference checks to termination. (Click here for steps 1, 2, and 3.) Step 4: Verify Credentials Many employers require applicants to have a […]

Where Are You on Your Warehouse Safety Training?

Make sure your safety training for warehouse workers includes these important points from 7-Minute Safety Trainer’s “Safety in the Warehouse” training session. Materials Storage Make sure shelves and racks are sturdy, in good condition, and can bear the weight. Place heavier items close to the floor and lighter/smaller ones higher. Don’t block sprinklers or store […]

Some Owed Enhanced Benefits After Corporate Takeover, 6th Circuit Rules

A recent court decision reminds plan sponsors that mergers and acquisitions can trigger unexpected or complex changes to participant benefits that rely on careful plan language interpretation. In the case, some former employees of an Anheuser-Busch subsidiary were granted enhanced pension benefits as a result of the controlling company’s purchase by InBev because their employment […]