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English-Only Rules: Employer Ordered To Pay Over $700,000 To Telephone Operators Hired—And Fired—For Speaking Spanish; Creating Language Policies That Work

By Jennifer Carsen Jan 1, 2001 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: May 18, 2015

A record damage award levied against a telephone company that tried to prevent operators from speaking Spanish to each other in the workplace underscores the risks of enforcing English-only policies. Faced with this increasingly common type of bias case, a federal court has concluded that the language restriction amounted to illegal discrimination based on national […]

“The Supremes” Take Heat over Sex Discrimination Pay-Bias Case

By Bob Brady Jul 13, 2007 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: Jul 13, 2007

By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady The Supreme Court says that if you haven’t filed a claim of sex discrimination in pay within 180 days of when it first happened, don’t bother. Some call this good news for employers. Others have cried foul. Here’s what our founder thinks. America’s Supreme Court justices are taking […]

Donald Sterling: SMH

By Matt Gilley, FordHarrison May 6, 2014 EntertainHR

Updated: Jan 7, 2018

I learned something last week. If you read a youngster’s text messages, you’ll notice a complicated system of abbreviations, symbols, and symaphores that, when translated with your 7-year-old’s assistance, become more-or-less coherent English sentences. Anyway, I learned “SMH” means “shaking my head,” which is exactly what I do these days when I hear the words […]

Who let the dogs out?

By Florida Employment Law Letter Oct 14, 2012 Diversity & Inclusion

Updated: Oct 14, 2012

by J. David Kutch A Palm Beach State College (PBSC) student received permission from the school to use a service dog trained to help her deal with the effects of her psychiatric disorders. However, she failed her classes and was escorted off the campus at times, apparently because two offices at the school had different […]

Washington D.C. Earthquake! HR Managers at ‘Epicenter’ of Emergency Planning, Response

By Todd Leeuwenburgh Aug 23, 2011 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: Aug 23, 2011

As the earthquake that shook Washington, D.C., area today demonstrates, damage to your primary place of business can occur suddenly and without warning. Having a crisis management plan on the ready is essential to minimizing the interruption to your business. The business continuity plan improves the company’s capacity to return to business, thereby minimizing financial […]

Workplace Violence—Steps You Should Take to Prevent It

By Stephen Bruce, PhD, PHR Aug 8, 2010 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: Aug 8, 2010

Workplace violence can range from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and homicide, one of the leading causes of job-related deaths. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of violence in your workplace. Who Is Vulnerable? According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), some 2 million American workers […]

Rose-colored Glasses: Self-funding Is Looking Better for Smaller Firms

By Todd Leeuwenburgh Aug 11, 2011 Benefits and Compensation

Updated: Aug 11, 2011

If you run a smaller firm and pay an insurance company to cover your workers’ health, one of your top concerns is probably how to control spiraling health insurance expenses. Just two or three major health expenditures can cause your insurer to radically increase your premiums. And if you’re located in a part of the […]

Database hazards: What’s safe when conducting background checks?

By Tammy Binford May 1, 2013 HR Hero Line

Updated: Jan 7, 2018

No one wants to get burned by hiring a bad apple, so it’s common for employers to conduct background checks to lessen the chance of bringing a dishonest employee into the workplace. But as hazardous as it is to have shady employees, it also can be dangerous to step out of line when checking people […]

Workplace Violence Is Not Beyond Your Control

By Stephen Bruce, PhD, PHR Apr 14, 2009 HR Management & Compliance

Updated: Apr 15, 2009

Because most people follow the rules, and because most violent people give ample signs before they act, employers can be successful at preventing workplace violence, says expert Dennis A. Davis, Ph.D. Davis, director of client training for Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Steward, P.C. in Vista, California, delivered his comments at the recent SHRM Employment […]