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Race Discrimination: $131 Million Jury Verdict Hits Makers Of Wonder Bread

Yet another dramatic punitive damage award shows how juries can render potentially devastating employment-related verdicts. We previously reported on a pending lawsuit by 21 African-American workers at Northern California Wonder Bread bakeries for race discrimination. Now the verdict is in, and a San Francisco jury has awarded $11 million in compensatory damages and a whopping […]

Sexual Harassment: Court Broadens Your Responsibility For Supervisor’s Misconduct—Even If You Didn’t

You think you’ve done everything by the book. Someone complains that she has been sexually harassed, you immediately conduct aprompt and thorough investigation, and you decide to terminate the accused harasser, a low-level supervisor. But you’re sued for sexual harassment nevertheless, and the court rules against you. Why? Because you can be liable for harassment […]

Disaster Preparedness Checklist for Employers: Part 2

The 2007 hurricane season started June 1, and experts at the National Weather Service’s Hurricane Center predict it’s going to be a busy year. Last week, we examined what employers need to do before disaster strikes. This week, we’ll look at what you need to do during and after a disaster strikes. Even if you […]

Sales Comp Sticky Wickets—Quotas, Cycles, Mega Orders

Special from World at Work, San Diego “I get lots of questions on sales compensation,” says consultant David Cichelli, “but the number one sticky wicket is always quotas, closely followed by long sales cycles, and mega orders.” Cichelli, who is Sr. Vice President at The Alexander Group, offered his tips at World at Work’s Total […]

HR Leadership in Times of Crisis

By Harry Hutson and Martha Johnson Organizations are headed for more crises. Tumult and disruption in the world are more than likely. Some would say they are unavoidable, inevitable, or even guaranteed. For most Human Resources professionals, this is a fact of life. In our experience, HR deserves credit for being watchful and wired, reassuringly […]

Beware the Undead: ERISA Equitable Relief Ruling Brings Cases Back from the Grave

A landmark Supreme Court ruling on relief available under ERISA in employee benefit cases is bringing cases back to life that we thought were dead and gone. In CIGNA v. Amara, the U.S. Supreme Court on May 16 ruled that ERISA’s enforcement provision allowing for “appropriate equitable relief” — ERISA Section 1132(a)(3) — aka Section […]

Infographic: Get Better ROI with In-Person Meetings

Yesterday we began to look at some research from the Meetings Mean Business coalition about the connection between in-person interviews and improved ROI. Today we’ll provide a detailed infographic that goes over the most compelling results of its survey. If you cannot view the infographic, please click here.

Making a Slam Dunk in Hiring and Promotion Decisions

Here in O’Town, we are thrilled that the Magic made it to the NBA playoffs—and at the time of this post, have won their first game against the Toronto Raptors. In basketball, of course, it’s easy to determine who’s the best of the best—just look at the scoreboard. At your business, however, making hiring and […]

Mo’ Money! Statutory Termination Can Lead to Common Law Damages

By Marisa Victor and Sean McGurran Following a recent decision by Ontario’s highest court, employers across Canada may now be on the hook for more termination pay when nonunion employees are laid off for an extended period. In the recent decision of Elsegood v. Cambridge Spring Service (2001) Ltd. (Elsegood), the court concluded that when […]