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Pay-for-Performance—Is Management Willing?

Pay-for-Performance is the hot new approach to compensation, says expert Brooke Green; however, you shouldn’t attempt it if management isn’t willing to do its job in performance evaluation. Green, who is a principal at Hay Group, offered her tips at a recent webinar sponsored by HRHero/BLR. In yesterday’s Advisor, she suggested that HR managers ask […]

Employers face uncertainty over ‘less disruptive’ new travel ban, H-1B delay

The Trump administration recently implemented two major changes to its immigration policies, and the full effect for employers remains to be seen. Between a replacement Executive Order (EO) on immigration and the suspension of the fast-track process for H-1B (highly skilled) worker visas, employers and foreign employees may soon face new hurdles, albeit fewer than […]

When Can New Workers Recover for Psychiatric Injuries?

When a worker sustains an injury at work, it’s not always just the body that gets hurt—you may also be facing a claim for psychiatric injury. Today and tomorrow, we’ll look at a new case that helps clarify exactly when you may be liable for these sorts of injuries for new workers.

Nontraditional Candidates: Hire the Unexpected

STEM programs might produce candidates with strong technical skills, but they often lack transferable ones. While it’s vital to know the technical ins and outs of the field, candidates without the ability to communicate efficiently, lead teams, or resolve conflicts are simply less desirable. For instance, costly communication blunders are a major reason new employees might be fired early on, and a lack of strong communication skills during the interview process might make candidates seem less qualified than they are. But a lack of transferable skills in candidates isn’t the only reason HR professionals are struggling to fill positions. Sometimes, the problem is in the hiring process itself.

Clothier Settles Employee “Uniform” Class Action

Fashion retailer Polo Ralph Lauren has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle a class action lawsuit charging that the company violated California law by requiring employees to buy and wear Polo Ralph Lauren clothes on the job or face disciplinary action. The settlement consists of $1 million in cash and $500,000 in gift cards. […]

HATFA Will Cause Largest Pensions to Cut 2015 Plan Contributions

The renewed decline of funded status for defined benefit retirement plans this year has not led the largest U.S. DB plan sponsors to contribute from their coffers to compensate, a phenomenon that one investment advisory firm attributes to temporary interest rate stabilization. Until this year, corporate contributions to DB plans typically correlated with the plans’ […]

NLRB puts employees on the spot

by Burton J. Fishman In a ruling that could make workplace investigations at unionized facilities all but impossible, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) reversed a 37-year-old precedent that protected employees from retaliation.    Under the prior Anheuser-Busch standard, employers did not have to hand over witness statements, particularly from employees, to unions in discipline cases. […]

Illinois same-sex marriage law will spawn employment issues

by Steven L. Brenneman On November 5, both houses of the Illinois General Assembly passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriages. Governor Pat Quinn is expected to sign the bill into law. If he does, it will take effect in June 2014. The new law will affect Illinois employers in several ways. Regarding employee benefits, employers […]