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Stand by Me

Litigation Value:  Implementing an antinepotism policy = $800; medical bills for Dwight’s tumble from his secret standing stool = $1,000; applying your “buffalo wings passion” to all aspects of your life = priceless. Last night’s episode contained some interesting revelations about our friends at Dunder Mifflin Sabre.  Indeed, Creed may be part of a secret […]

Supreme Court Affirms Arbitration for Union Member Discrimination Claims

A sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that clearly and unmistakably require union members to arbitrate age discrimination claims are enforceable. While the decision is unlikely to affect many employers, the ruling is the latest in a series of Supreme Court decisions finding arbitration to be […]

Workforce Challenges Impact Growth at Middle Market Companies

Nearly four out of 10 middle market executives say a lack of talent constrains their company’s ability to grow, according to “Help Wanted,” a report by the National Center for the Middle Market (NCMM), in conjunction with the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program.

Why eLearning Is Great for New Hire Onboarding

Back in the “old days,” (before advancements in technology) new employee onboarding used to be a one-size-fits-all affair. Over the past few years, organizations have begun to realize the importance of a holistic approach wielding cutting-edge, technology-based eLearning materials to ease the orientation process and set up new team members for later success.

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 […]

Make These Interview Mistakes at Your Peril

In yesterday’s Advisor, we talked about the importance of making a good impression during the interview—and noted that first impressions go both ways.

Sherlock: the final problem for employers

The series four finale of Sherlock cleverly illustrates the dangers of allowing the inmates to run the asylum. The show regularly covers behaviors that would alarm any employer, such as Sherlock abusing drugs, firing guns indoors whenever frustrated, and generally being delightfully bizarre. These oddities are some of the many reasons that Sherlock is a consultant […]

Shooting Yourself in the Foot—How Employers Make Things Worse

When confronted with lawsuits, employers are often their own worst enemies, attorney Wendy Warner told attendees at a recent Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) conference. Although she usually represents employees, Warner agreed to deliver tips on how employers can avoid lawsuits. Warner is a partner with Moody & Warner, P.C., in Albuquerque, New Mexico. […]

How to Calculate Hours Worked Under California Employment Regulations

California employment regulations often differ from federal regulations. Calculation of hours worked is no exception. In an ERI webinar titled “Wage & Hour Road Rules for HR: Travel Pay in California Explained,” Ron Garrity outlined the basic rules employers must follow when calculating hours worked and also gave some examples of how this differs in […]

Top 10 Potential Perils of Employment Policies

Almost every employer has policies. The question is, where do they come from? They come from HR, right? But where does HR get them? They must get them from somewhere. And what if you don’t have an HR department? Then someone must have to — gasp — write them. We’re talking about your employment policies […]