Most Popular

Massachusetts Criminal Record Rule Changes Finish Taking Effect May 4

by Tim Murphy In 2010, the Massachusetts Legislature made sweeping changes to the statute governing employers’ use of Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI). In addition to prohibiting employers from asking about an applicant’s criminal history on the job application, the amendments called for additional changes to the way employers access CORI data and how they […]

Planning the Learning Management System

It is important that any new training system is thoroughly researched before purchase so that it is as effective as possible. Learning management systems (LMSs) can be costly, so it is important to order or to develop the right one.

EEOC Sues Over Use of Credit Checks, Criminal Histories

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a complaint in the U.S. district court in Maryland against Freeman Companies, a Dallas-based corporate event-planning company. The EEOC claims that Freeman’s use of credit histories and criminal background checks discriminates against black, Hispanic, and male job applicants in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights […]

How Sponsors Can Change Retirement Plans in Wake of DOMA Decision

By Austen K. Townsend The Supreme Court’s decision on Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act in U.S. v. Windsor No. 12-307 (June 26, 2013) raises many issues for employers and other plan sponsors to consider about their qualified retirement plans. Section 3 of DOMA provided that the term “marriage” meant only a legal […]

What Is a Stay Interview?

Turnover is always a hot topic. How can it be reduced? How can you keep top employees from leaving? What makes a good employee want to leave your organization? How can you know if someone is considering quitting?

Avoid Dangerous Terminations

According to the Society for Human Resource Management, 16 percent of all workplace violence is a result of firings. Employers who are adept at preventing such incidents know that steps must be taken long before the termination occurs. In other words, a firing should never be a surprise to the employee. A regular performance review […]

The No-Cost Key to Retention and Productivity?

“Flexible work arrangements provide enhanced employee performance while offering an inexpensive and effective way to motivate and retain top talent,” says Rose Cook, president of FlexPro Staffing in Eagleville, Pennsylvania. What Is Meant by ‘Flexible Work’? Simply put, flexible work arrangements are alternate arrangements or schedules that differ from the traditional workday and workweek. Flexible […]

Politics, negative ads, and business

Politics, negative ads, and losing trust

I’m always intrigued with presidential politics. Specifically, I like to watch how politicians — often with track records in a governor’s mansion, Congress, or even the White House — go about getting elected or re-elected. Maybe it’s the marketer in me, but I’m fascinated by the way the candidates position themselves to win an election. […]

Progressive discipline prevails—even where harassment proven

By Keri Bennett When a long-service costume designer was dismissed following a workplace harassment investigation, a British Colombia arbitrator found the company’s no-hire ban for all future productions to be excessive, since there was a lack of progressive discipline. Despite finding that the fired employee had engaged in longstanding and widespread harassment of junior employees, […]