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State Legislation 101: A Guide for Employers

Every U.S. state has a legislative body. From this point, the similarities end. The state retains the discretion to determine the specific details of how its government, including the legislative branch, will operate, and these specifics are typically set forth in that state’s constitution. Thus, just as the political issues affecting one state may be […]

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What Job Types Are Likely to Be Safer from Automation?

The prospect of greater automation in a variety of industries understandably has many workers worried about their long-term employment prospects. What is the likelihood of a given employee’s job being rendered obsolete by advancing technology? Even if the role doesn’t disappear entirely, the need for human labor could be drastically reduced.

Expedited union elections: The Canadian experience

By Brian P. Smeenk Many Canadian provinces have in recent years transitioned to an expedited union certification vote system. Votes typically take place within five or 10 business days of a union application. From the perspective of Canadian employers, this is better than the previous “card check” system that was in place in most jurisdictions […]

Resuscitate COBRA Premium Subsidies to Help Unemployed, Commonwealth Fund Says

In the waning days of the COBRA premium subsidy, The Commonwealth Fund is calling for the program to be resuscitated as a way to help unemployed and uninsured workers until health care reform is fully implemented. In an Aug. 24 issue brief,  the Fund noted that “the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression has […]

Health and Safety: Preventing Toxic Mold in the Workplace

One of the fastest-growing concerns for employers is toxic mold in the workplace. According to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), toxic mold can affect indoor air quality and cause serious health conditions. These problems are fueling an increase in litigation over the presence of mold, and big-money settlements and judgments in the […]

Learning About the Job

On April 26, thousands of your future job candidates learned about career opportunities by participating in Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. While it is a once-a-year event, the program can serve as a model for encouraging young people to explore careers.

Nine Ways NOT to Hire the Brightest and the Best

Hiring is such a critical role for managers and supervisors, yet many of them take a casual or mistaken (read legally dangerous) view of the job. In today’s Advisor, we share a few of the worst interview approaches we’ve come across. 1. Great Interview—Fascinating Person We had great rapport—we talked baseball (she’s also a Sox […]

An employment defense lawyer’s holiday wish list

by Craig M. Borowski Employment-related claims remain at near all-time high levels, and most employers face them from time to time. Many attorneys would agree they have a “wish list” of things they would like to receive with their next employment lawsuit to help them successfully defend the case. Unfortunately, to the detriment of an […]

New voluntary standards for psychological health in the workplace

By Marc Rodrigue Increasing public attention has been given to mental health awareness. And Canadian employers are not exempt. Today’s employers have many employees who are affected by, directly or indirectly, psychological illness or are at risk of psychological hazards on the job. Sometimes these hazards can create human resources challenges, including extended employee absences […]