Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Employers worried that they may have misclassified independent contractors may find relief in a new program from the IRS. The Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (VCSP) was announced September 21 and offers employers the opportunity to get into compliance by making a minimal payment covering past payroll tax obligations rather than waiting for an IRS audit. […]
by David S. Fortney At the end of his first full week in office, President Barack Obama took swift action to change employment and labor law. On January 28, he signed the Lilly Lebedetter Fair Pay Act, which relaxes the statute of limitation within which workers can file pay discrimination claims. On January 29, President […]
Failure to carefully document discipline remains one of the biggest legal problems that employers face, says attorney Jonathan Segal. Lawsuits that should never have been brought appear on your desk, and lawsuits that should have been dismissed become hard to fight. Segal is a partner with the Wolf Block law firm in Philadelphia. His tips […]
Trainers might inadvertently send the wrong message based on their “hand behaviors” (i.e., how they hold their hands and what they do with them during training), says Guila Muir, a trainer of trainers, facilitators, and presenters and author of Instructional Design that Soars: Shaping What You Know into Classes that Inspire (www.guilamuir.com/kite-book). “The good news […]
by Lauren Moak Russell We have addressed the issue of gender identity discrimination several times. As transgender individuals enter the mainstream of popular culture and employees become more comfortable disclosing their gender identity, employers can expect to see this issue arise with increasing frequency. The following is some guidance on how to stay out of […]
HR writer Sarah McAdams reviews the book Straight Man by Ricard Russo. Review highlights real-life business lessons that can be learned from the fictional book. Straight Man: A Novel isn’t your standard business book—hell, it isn’t any kind of business book. But the 1997 novel by Richard Russo (you may know him better for his […]
by Richard L. Rainey, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC The “throw the bums out” wave that was prevalent in many states was a mere ripple in North Carolina. Incumbents on both sides of the aisle held onto their seats in all of the congressional contests except one — in House District Two, where Republican […]
by Caren W. Stanley Q We have an employee in a high-risk, safety-sensitive position who recently admitted to extreme alcohol abuse. We are now concerned that he, his colleagues, and our company are at risk because we can’t depend on his work. We’d like to discharge him, but we’re unsure of the legal risks. A […]
Generation Z entered the workforce last year. This means some of its oldest members—those born as early as 1997—are already embedded as our colleagues.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing a Killeen, Texas branch of the fast food franchise Wendy’s for turning down a job applicant because he is hearing-impaired. The EEOC charges in its suit that the restaurant’s general manager refused to hire Michael Harrison, Jr. for a cooker position, despite his qualifications and experience, upon learning that […]