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How HR can help employees overwhelmed by holiday stress

by Michael G. McCourt We now are fully involved in the crush of festivities and holiday shopping that traditionally mark the beginning of the sprint to New Year’s Eve. This is the season of peace on earth and good will toward our fellow man, right? Not always. A Challenging Season The holidays have the uncanny […]

Chicago Sleeps Off Stanley Cup Celebration

Sporting events have been known to take a hit on companies. Some employers dread the Super Bowl, March Madness, and the World Cup. From gambling, to bandwidth issues, to increased absences, sporting events can be a serious disruption to businesses. The latest to learn this lesson—Chicago. According to CBS Chicago, the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup victory […]

Wal-Mart Allowed to Close Unionized Store: Supreme Court of Canada

By Marc Ouellet and Louise Béchamp On November 27, 2009, in two cases involving Wal-Mart (Plourde v. Wal-Mart Canada Corp. and Desbiens v. Wal-Mart Canada Corp.), the Supreme Court of Canada rendered its much-awaited decision on an employer’s right to close operations for alleged antiunion reasons. The Supreme Court decisions rule that Wal-Mart could close […]

Measuring Employee Engagement

Companies often struggle with how to measure employee engagement. Employee surveys and online reviews are frequently recommended.

Rise in Mental Health Parity Enforcement Calls for Review of Plan Documents, Practices

By David Slaughter, JD, Senior Legal Editor Enforcement of mental health parity requirements is on the upswing, so plan sponsors and administrators need to be reexamining their plan documents and claims review processes for signs that mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits are being handled differently from other coverage.

Nine Reasons You Should Keep No Secrets from Employees

By Quint Studer Just My E-Pinion Do your employees really know what’s going on with your company? "Don’t be worried that they can’t handle the truth," says bestselling author Quint Studer. He offers convincing reasons for creating a culture of transparency in your company—starting now. The economy may be improving, but employees are still worried: […]

Gauge Your Midyear Progress with These 5 Questions

Believe it or not, as I write this, the first half of 2015 has come to an end. That’s right, the year is half over, and it’s a good time to mark your progress. Are you well on your way to achieving the goals—both personal and professional—you set for yourself this year? We have flipped […]

Sexual Harassment: Supreme Court Says Single Crude Remark Didn’t Amount To Harassment; Practical Advice

The U.S. Supreme Court has handed down a new ruling that provides some guidance on when a single remark can amount to sexual harassment. The court also looked at when the timing of a punitive action against a complaining employee does and doesn’t support a retaliation claim. As we’ll explain, the decision suggests that your […]

U.S. Departments Release Guidance on ACA Implementation, Mental Health Parity

By Benjamin J. Conley, JD In late October, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a series of informal frequently asked questions (FAQs) addressing various unanswered questions under the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) preventive service mandate, the Mental Health Parity, and […]