Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Illinois’ same-sex marriage law, which was passed last fall, is set to take effect June 1. The new law will affect Illinois employers in various ways. Employers will need to treat same-sex spouses the same way they treat opposite-sex spouses. This will have ramifications for employer-sponsored health plans with spousal coverage and retirement plans. Also, […]
Another Thursday in August, another Office rerun. Rather than revisit “The Inner Circle” — ably covered by my Colorado colleague Matt Rita on May 6 — I thought I’d visit The Office website for some ideas. I came across a multiple-choice quiz designed to determine whether you have what it takes to be the boss […]
As the new year progresses, it’s a perfect time to reflect and reassess personally and professionally. Businesses use strategic planning and budgets to reflect that same thinking at an enterprise level. However, all too often those choices are rushed—and even forced—based on constraints and lack of time. More importantly, people tend to be considered last […]
The National Mediation Board (NMB) has finalized a new rule that is expected to make unionization easier for airline and railroad workers, but an airline industry group has filed a lawsuit to try to stop the change. The NMB, which regulates labor issues at airlines and railroads, changed its rules so that unions will need […]
Properly classifying someone as either an independent contractor or employee is one of the biggest problems employers have when adhering to FLSA requirements. Do you know when it is okay to classify someone as an independent contractor and when they should be classified as an employee instead? DOL Focus: Independent Contractor or Employee "One of […]
Web-based providers of salary information, such as Compensation.BLR.com, allow job seekers or workers lobbying for a raise to tell you “what I’m worth” even before you make an offer. Here’s what to do to counter the trend. It used to be that, when buying a car, the dealers held all the cards. They alone knew […]
Amazon.com updates its list of the bestselling books every hour. Here is a snapshot of what is hot right now, this Monday morning, April 5, in the “Skills” section of the “Business and Investing” category. 1. The Art Of War by Sun Tzu. A seminal work on the philosophy of successful leadership that is as […]
Thomas Davenport worked for Michael Faeth Cleaners (MFC) under its contract with Camp Pendleton to dry-clean military clothing. He lived in a hotel on the base and MFC paid for his room and board. One day, while Davenport was cooking in his hotel room, a grease fire started and Davenport was burned on his arms, […]
It takes a lot of time and effort to deal with Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) issues, especially intermittent leave, says HR Manager Barbara Dahlen. Her pragmatic approach works, although she says she’s "not the most popular person" in her workplace. Dahlen says she’s "not a lawyer and doesn’t play one on TV." But […]