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Financially stressed employees pulling down productivity

By Tammy Binford A new employee group has begun showing up vividly on employer radar screens. It’s not defined by race, religion, gender, or any of the other familiar legally protected classes. The new group commanding the attention of employers is made up of workers suffering extreme stress brought on by extreme debt. It’s always […]

An HR Professional’s 5 Biggest Mistakes

An HR consultant who used to be a line manager describes the services he needed most … and least … from his HR partners. In preparing Daily Advisor, we read a lot of material by outside HR consultants. It’s good stuff, but because most have always been HR professionals, their view is largely from one […]

No Punitive Damages for Wage-Hour Violations, Court Says

A California court of appeals has ruled that an employee cannot recover punitive damages for the employer’s violations of state Labor Code provisions governing meal and rest breaks, pay stubs, and minimum wages.1 That’s because those Labor Code provisions include specific remedies, including penalties that are punitive in nature—and those are the only remedies available. […]

Final rule on minimum wage for contractors released

by Tammy Binford Federal contractors can now take a look at the rules they will have to follow when an Executive Order that requires a $10.10 per hour minimum wage for workers on federal service and construction contracts takes effect. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the final rule on October 1. The rule […]

Not ‘Smoking Gun’ … But Nearly As Bad

The worst-case scenario in defending against discrimination claims is the “smoking gun.” (“Too old for this job” written on a candidate’s resume, for example.) In today’s CED, several of the less outrageous mistakes that can still shoot your defense to pieces.

9/11’s Lesson for Business: Have an Emergency Response Plan That Works

The 5th anniversary of that tragic September morning reiterates how important it is to plan for emergencies. Here are some of the basics. With the 5th anniversary of 9/11 approaching, there’s again discussion about whether anything could have lessened the extreme loss of life on that terrible day. Although the terrorists are ultimately to blame, […]

Managers Need Questions—Not Answers

Yesterday, we looked at Dan Oswald’s thoughts on control vs. collaboration. Today, more wisdom from Oswald. He suggests that managers shouldn’t try to have all the answers; the real key to great management is asking the right questions.

New Jersey vote puts minimum wage hikes in state constitution

by Tammy Binford The ballot question making changes to New Jersey’s minimum wage was presented to voters in the November 5 election and passed easily, but many business leaders are uneasy about the change. By a 60-40 percent vote, voters passed Public Question 2, which will raise the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.25 […]

Comparable Worth: Back from the Dead–Again?

By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady Bob Brady gives his take on the new Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and he asks for your thoughts about how the law might affect your organization—and American workplaces in general. Not so fast Even before the Obama Administration took office, Congress was hard at work passing new […]

Is Motherhood Under Attack in the Workplace?

Just in time for Mother’s Day comes news that workplace discrimination based on parental status may be increasing. If your mom hasn’t already reminded you of it (subtly, of course), this Sunday is Mother’s Day. It’s a time when society traditionally extols the values of motherhood. But in the workplace, according to growing numbers of […]