Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Retirement plans’ sponsors and other fiduciaries associated with them got some reassuring news in early July when the U.S. Department of Labor stated in an advisory opinion that certain “revenue-sharing” fee payments by plan sponsors to their recordkeepers and other third-party administrators do not constitute plan assets for ERISA purposes. This means that service providers […]
by Dan Oswald I enjoy reading biographies. People’s lives fascinate me and most of the time are much more interesting than any piece of fiction. Over the years, I’ve read dozens, if not hundreds, of biographies of politicians, business leaders, and athletes. I’m not sure what my fascination is with other people’s lives, but I […]
With the unemployment rate at less than 4%, jobseekers are currently in the driver’s seat and are being more selective with their potential job opportunities. And now, employers must turn to more passive candidates and look at long-term goals and strategies if they’re interested in acquiring top talent.
The much ballyhooed National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rule shortening the process leading up to unionization elections is now in force, leaving employers scrambling to figure out how best to protect their interests. One bit of advice: Focus on supervisor training. Supervisors are the employer’s eyes and ears among employees, according to Kevin C. McCormick […]
I’m not much of a golfer. In fact, I’m no golfer at all. But my youngest son has caught golf fever and, as a result, I got to watch the final round of the British Open on television. The golf didn’t interest me as much as the mental aspects of what transpired. If you didn’t […]
Focusing on a common external threat is often an effective way for a company to execute its business strategy, according to a study, “Executing Corporate Strategy: A Global Study.” However, the challenge is to not create a culture of fear in the process, which could stifle innovation and risk-taking.
by Dan Oswald I’m sitting in the airport in Austin, Texas, and the faint and rare sound of a bagpipe can be heard in the background. It seems, at the very least, out of place in a major-city airport. As the sound grows louder, it’s clear that whoever is playing the instrument is drawing closer. […]
These Queen lyrics fit what’s going on with President Obama’s nominees to the Wage and Hour Division: And another one gone, and another one gone; another one bites the dust! President Obama withdrew the nomination of Leon Rodriguez to be Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor on Aug. […]
By Rachel Ravary and Philippe Lacoursière McCarthy Tetrault Earlier this year, we reported on the decision of the Alberta Court of Appeal in Chiasson v. Kellogg Brown & Root (see the January 22, 2008, blog entry titled Ruling helps Alberta employers defend preemployment testing challenges), which upheld an employer’s right to perform mandatory preemployment alcohol […]
In a blow to employers, the California Supreme Court has ruled that three school districts can be sued for giving enthusiastic job references that left out a vice-principal’s history of alleged sexual misconduct with students. This decision highlights the risks of giving reference letters, even when everything you say is positive.