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Use summer as a chance to focus on what’s really important

by Dan Oswald Last week, we celebrated the first day of summer. With kids out of school for a few weeks now and the high temperatures we’ve experienced already, it seems like summer started quite a while ago. Either way, summer is here. It’s time for family vacations, afternoons at the ballpark, and concerts in […]

Quick Hiring Decisions Can Backfire on Employers

At the risk of falling into a male gender stereotype, we’re not shoppers; we’re buyers. We don’t browse. We know what we want, go directly to it on the store shelves, grab it, and head for the cash register — almost always without trying it on. Most employers feel the same way about hiring. No […]

Rules need not apply

by Dan Oswald Last month, Ryan Braun, the Milwaukee Brewers star who was the 2011 National League MVP, was hit with a 65-game suspension that ended his season for his use of banned substances provided by a Miami clinic accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs to Major League Baseball players. This was after he had […]

How Entrepreneurs Use Flexibility to Attract Top Talent

We talk a lot about the importance of thinking beyond salaries and bonuses to attract top talent. Employees want to have top-notch benefits, as well as a comfortable, friendly work environment. Part of that includes flexibility, such as working from home, generous paid time off (PTO), and more.

Of Acorns and Oaks

Litigation Value: No liability (or sales leads) “per se.” However, the seeds of workplace discord have been planted, leaving open the possibility that they will take root and blossom into future legal problems. Sales personnel are lording it over their non-sales counterparts; protégés are maligning their once-valued mentors; and even the simple act of borrowing […]

Train Your Managers to Be Winning Coaches

To recap the coaching training exercise: This exercise is intended for all supervisors. Its objective is to review basic information about coaching. Instruct trainees to complete the work sheet below. Then discuss the results as a group and answer any questions. 1. Briefly define “coaching.” __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ 2. Identify three purposes of coaching. __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ […]

Reducing Pension Costs in Canada During Hard Times

The recent decline in financial markets has caused Canadian pension plans to become significantly underfunded. For instance, in Québec close to 97 percent of all defined benefit pension plans are currently underfunded. As this continues, many employers may look for ways to reduce pension costs or at least offset increases of those costs. Such losses […]

Curbing FMLA/CFRA abuse: Recent legal developments

Curbing FMLA/CFRA abuse is complex. Employers must continue to meet their obligations to employees under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), yet they often fear claims of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation when rightfully trying to cut down on employee FMLA/CFRA abuse situations. Additionally, the case law […]

Unleashing Gen AI Success Through Team Collaboration

The emergence of generative AI (Gen AI) has ushered in a transformative era, presenting organizations with unprecedented opportunities to optimize operations, drive innovation, and gain a significant competitive advantage. However, simply acquiring cutting-edge Gen AI tools is insufficient to realize its full potential. True transformation requires a fundamental shift in organizational culture—one that actively empowers […]