Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
PTO (Paid Time Off) has been plugged as the new, better way to manage time off. Is it? Maybe, but there are pitfalls. Two experts explain how to implement a program that appeals to employees, encourages productivity, and doesn’t violate the law. Vacation time, sick time, personal time—who’s got the time … to keep track […]
The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and California law exempt certain administrative employees from overtime; the requirements for the administrative exemption under California law are stricter than the FLSA. To qualify for this exemption in California, an employee must: 1) earn a salary equal to at least twice the state minimum wage; 2) perform […]
At this time of year, we remember King Wenceslas, the 10th-century monarch who took food and firewood to the poor. That small decency was long ago, but author and company CEO Steve Harrison reminds us that small decencies, day after day, still build great companies. A CEO is the business leader, but a CEO is […]
The issue of how employers should handle same-sex marriage got a bit murkier November 6 as a divided appeals court panel broke with rulings from four other U.S. circuit courts of appeals by upholding state bans on same-sex marriage. A three-judge panel from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued the 2-1 decision, which […]
The current recession has taken its toll on the United States, and many Americans are still fighting to stay financially afloat. Consumer confidence is down. According to the American Bankruptcy Institute, consumer bankruptcies rose by 24 percent nationwide in August from the same period a year ago, and during the first six months of 2009, […]
Organizations of all shapes and sizes have been hiring immigrants from hundreds of different countries for various types of work for centuries. And right now, immigrants make up about 17% of the entire U.S. labor force, with most immigrants (both documented and undocumented) finding jobs in domestic-related, service-related, construction-related, and farming or agricultural fields.
Special from Atlanta–SHRM Annual Conference and Exhibition Yesterday’s Advisor featured consultant John Rubino’s plea for employers to eliminate merit base pay increases and replace them with lumpsum pay-for-performance awards. Today, more of his tips, plus an introduction to a new, reasonably priced, total training resource. Rubino, who is founder and president of Rubino Consulting Services […]
By: Beth A. Kahn and Hubert T. Lee Arbitration agreements are popular among California employers, but in many instances the employer has to go to court in order enforce the agreement. Recently, the California Supreme Court upheld an arbitration provision in a sales agreement, even though quite a few of the terms were arguable—but also […]
In a pair of important new decisions, the U.S. Supreme Court has for the first time clarified the rules about when you can be liable for harassment that you didn’t know about or that didn’t cause the victim a loss of job benefits. The rulings offer something for everyone. They make it easier for employees […]
Some gay rights advocates are calling for “A Day Without a Gay” protest and boycott across the United States on Wednesday, December 10, to show opposition to California’s Proposition 8 and to show the power of the gay and lesbian community. Organizers are encouraging people to strike by “calling in gay” to work, taking the […]