Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Summer is here, and temperatures are rising across California. Are your employees who work outside safe? Just weeks ago, a teenager in Modesto died from heat stress on the job, working in fields. This kind of tragedy doesn’t have to happen, and with proper precautions you can ensure that your workers are safe when they […]
From Dan: As a way to honor the individuals who have taught me critical life lessons about people and business, I’ve invited several to write guest columns to run in this space over the next few weeks. Today’s voice of experience once again is Robert L. Brady, the founder of BLR®—Business & Legal Resources. This […]
In a recent article we looked at the pros and cons of rehiring former employees. Today, we present a few more considerations.
Effective August 13, 2014, San Francisco’s Fair Chance Ordinance prohibits employers from asking about a job applicant’s criminal history, including inquiries on an employment application form. This prohibition, often called a “ban the box” provision, applies to private employers, city contractors, and subcontractors with 20 or more employees. Covered employers may ask about an applicant’s criminal history after the first live interview (in person or via telephone or other technology) or after a conditional job offer. A notice describing the protections provided under the ordinance will be developed by the city’s Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE). Employers are required to post the notice and to send a copy to any labor union with which they have a collective bargaining agreement.
by Burton J. Fishman The sweeping Republican victory in the midterm election promises to have a significant impact on employment legislation and regulations in the next two years. Because of the number of Republican governors and Republican-dominated state legislatures now in place across the country, the most immediate impact may be at the state level […]
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report and congressional testimony concerning its investigation of the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD). The GAO concluded that the “WHD frequently responded inadequately to complaints, leaving low wage workers vulnerable to wage theft.” This article summarizes the GAO’s report, DOL Secretary Hilda […]
By Shane A. Zahrt, JD, Felhaber Larson An employee claimed she was terminated by her employer for taking time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to cope with a back injury. Her employer blamed the termination on her unapproved use of vacation days. Read on to see how a federal judge used […]
For the third time in eight years, a federal district court decision endorsing Xerox’s pension plan interpretation has been reversed, setting aside judicial deference usually granted to these interpretations under ERISA and moving Xerox retirees closer to winning final benefits. The issue in the case is how an earlier lump-sum distribution to some employees affects […]
Amazon keeps a continual tab of what it deems the best books of the year so far in several categories. Here are the online giant’s best business and investing books so far in 2011. 1. Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul by Howard Schultz. The president and chairman of Starbucks […]
A new California appeal court ruling underscores how critical it is to take prompt remedial action when you receive a sexual harassment complaint. The case also addresses co-worker liability for harassment under California law.