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Are Your Employees Trained to Avoid Shocking Situations?

The following training points are brought to you courtesy of today’s featured BLR® safety training product, 7-Minute Safety Trainer®. Shock Prevention Inspect electrical equipment before use to be sure insulation is in good condition. Check that plugs have a good, tight connection. Use only wiring that is approved for use outdoors or wet areas, and […]

Asking the Right Questions

Before I headed to the airport today, the president of our company, Bob Brady, handed me a book and said something like, “This is a quick read and I really think you’ll enjoy it.” The book he gave me was The Corner Office: Indispensable and Unexpected Lessons from CEOs on How to Lead and Succeed, […]

DOL issues updated FMLA forms

by Amanda Shelby The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issues forms for employers to use in the administration of Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave. On the heels of the old forms expiring earlier this year, the DOL has issued new forms. The revisions update the expired forms to reference the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination […]

Independent Contractors: IRS Issues Employer-Friendly Rules For Resolving Classification Disputes

An IRS audit claiming you misclassified workers as independent contractors rather than employees can be frustrating and expensive to resolve. But recent changes in IRS procedures for handling independent contractor classification problems may take some of the sting out of dealing with the government. New Rules For Independent Contractor Disputes Under the prior rules, if […]

Steps to Take When Legal Actions Threaten

As soon as you sense that action is being taken against your organization by an employee or former employee, it’s time to swing into action, says attorney Stephen Harris. When you delay, you increase risk. Harris, of the law firm Wiggin & Dana in Hartford, Connecticut, delivered his suggestions at a Society for Human Resource […]

perks

How to Boost Employee Morale with Office Perks

By Kerry Anne Carter, vice president, Staples Business Advantage It’s probably no surprise that surveys show employees are overworked, burned out, and just plain stressed. While it may be an accepted reality, this burnout is bad news for organizations’ recruitment and retention goals. Staples Business Advantage’s 2016 Workplace Index found nearly half of employees acknowledge […]

NLRB says employees may use company computers for organizing activity

In perhaps one of its boldest moves, on December 11, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) overturned existing precedent and held that employees have the right to use their employer’s e-mail system for Section 7 concerted activity, including union-organizing activities, during nonbusiness hours. The decision obviously affects employers’ policies on employee e-mail use. As background, the […]

Workers’ Compensation: Tips for Protection from Retaliation Claims

How can employers protect themselves and reduce the likelihood of retaliation claims when disciplining or terminating an employee who has previously filed a workers’ compensation claim? If a claim of retaliation is feared, what evidence will help prove the employer acted legally? Avoiding Retaliation Claims: Tips When Terminating a Prior Workers’ Compensation Claimant Most employers […]