Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Company culture refers to the “personality” of a company. It is made up of a number of factors, including the company’s values and mission, the physical work environment, and the traits, personalities, and engagement levels of the individual employees who work there. Unfortunately, company culture probably gets less attention than it deserves for a couple of […]
Immigration reform appears to have stalled yet again, but the legal implications for employers have not. Back in 2005 and again in 2006 there was a novel case in which legal employees used a law designed to target organized crime to sue their employer over its use of illegal employees. The case bounced around the […]
The Equal Pay Act (EPA) makes it illegal for employers to pay unequal wages to men and women who perform substantially equal work. It allows for differences in pay, but sex cannot be a factor.
Employers would be required to approve leave for domestic violence victims and their families under a bill proposed earlier this month by Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif. H.R. 3151, the Domestic Violence Leave Act, would amend the Family and Medical Leave Act to guarantee unpaid leave to workers needing medical attention or legal assistance following domestic […]
Special from Atlanta–SHRM Annual Conference and Exhibition “I’m on a worldwide crusade to abolish merit increase base pay systems,” says consultant John Rubino. “They are demotivational.” Rubino, who is founder and president of Rubino Consulting Services in Pound Ridge, New York, offered his suggestions at the 64th SHRM Annual Conference and Exhibition, going on this […]
Metadata is becoming an ever-present threat to today’s legal and business interactions. While the concept sounds daunting, it’s important to understand what metadata is, how it can be used against employers, and how to limit the associated risks. Audio Conference: Practical ESI Management for HR: Rules for Controlling Electronically Stored Information Out with the antiquus, […]
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 […]
To recap the situation: Like many other companies, the economic downturn forced Heavy Construction Systems Specialists Inc. (HCSS) to reduce its employee development budget over the last few years. But unlike some other companies, the Sugar Land, Texas, company was able to cut expenses without sacrificing learning for its 100+ employees. Unique Orientation Experience In […]
When you’re faced with the prospect of disciplining or discharging an employee, you may give the worker several different reasons for your decision. However, a new case points out the importance of getting your story straight before you terminate someone. That’s because if you provide conflicting explanations, you may inadvertently give the employee an opening […]
An Oakland jury has ordered Home Depot to shell out almost $1.7 million for retaliating against an employee who complained about sexual harassment and failing to accommodate her under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Denise Restivo, a computer systems coordinator, was demoted and transferred after charging that managers made sexual remarks and mocked the company’s […]