Most Popular

Clarify and Coach, the Two Cs of Performance Management

Too often, managers avoid giving honest evaluations. Maybe they fear causing hurt feelings or maybe they don’t know what to do, but the result is the same—a lost lawsuit. The solution? The two Cs—Clarify and Coach. You know you should be coaching Terry, but you’re busy, and Terry’s doing OK. Well, OK is overstating it, […]

Unemployment rate for veterans at lowest point since 2008

On March 24, 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released unemployment numbers showing that the 2014 unemployment rate among military veterans dropped to its lowest point since 2008. Employers’ recognition of the strengths that veterans bring to the workforce is at least one factor for this drop in unemployment. […]

Age Discrimination Filings Jump During Recession

Highlighting what it says is the “devastating impact” of age discrimination, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) held a public hearing on July 16 addressing recent developments under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), including the effect of widespread layoffs on older workers, threats to employee benefits, and recent controversial U.S. Supreme Court […]

For Long-Term Medical Leaves, Communication Is Key

You must be careful when you craft and enforce policies addressing prolonged absences. Even when an employee has exhausted her statutorily protected leave, you should consider offering additional leave as a reasonable accommodation unless you can demonstrate that you would suffer an undue hardship because of the continuing absence.

Going for Gold

In honor of the Olympics, I have decided to hand out some well deserved medals to our Dunder Mifflin friends for keeping us laughing all these seasons.  I’ll only be handing out gold medals, because that’s the only color on my yogurt lids and I have run out of paperclips for the chains.  Without further […]

Detroit bankruptcy: a new path

by Robert M. Vercruysse Detroit is leading the pack again. Unfortunately, the ignominious trail the Motor City is blazing leads to federal bankruptcy. Although Detroit is the largest U.S. city to take this path to date, the financial difficulties it hopes to solve are hardly unique in recent years. Detroit’s experience could establish a workable […]

Reassigning All Duties Is Not a Reasonable Disability Accommodation

While the Americans with Disabilities Act may require an employer to remove marginal job functions as an accommodation for an employee with a disability, it does not require the reassignment of all duties. An employee who can do nothing but show up for work is not qualified for ADA’s protections, a recent opinion from the 5th […]

Nonreligious observance may require religious accommodation

by Maggie LeBato and H. Mark Adams Both federal and state laws prohibit employers from discriminating against employees because of their religion. The courts have further ruled that the prohibition against religious discrimination requires you to accommodate your employees’ sincerely held religious beliefs unless it would cause undue hardship to your business. You might assume, […]

Developing a Recruiting Strategy? Don’t Forget Employer Brand

It’s comes as no surprise that HR professionals consistently name recruiting top talent and retaining valued employees among their toughest challenges. Developing a strategy to meet those challenges may entail a number of elements, but establishing and communicating the employer’s “brand” should never be overlooked.

‘Mr. Oswald, Thank You’ (WWII Vets Honored)

Honor Flight Sir, the event you no doubt witnessed was one of the several “Honor Flights” that are being done to pay homage to our World War II veterans. If anyone knows of a soldier who participated in WWII who wishes to be a part of this one-day trip to D.C. with special honors, please […]