Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
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, […]
By Susan G. Fentin, Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C In another of what promises to be a long line of cases in which courts consider whether working managers have been properly classified as exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit—which covers Maine, Massachusetts, […]
by Jim Brown California employers will have several new laws to deal with as of January 1, 2013. Of particular interest are measures affecting social media passwords, religious dress and grooming standards, and commission agreements. Social media passwords Assembly Bill 1844 prohibits employers from requiring employees or applicants to disclose usernames or passwords for the […]
In yesterday’s Advisor, we offered tips for reducing turnover and increasing productivity. Today, the rest of the story, plus good news about job descriptions. [Go here for steps 1 to 5] Step 6: Communicate with your employees Communication is critical for reducing turnover. Remember that communication needs to go both ways. You need to share […]
We’ve got issues regarding nonexempt travel pay. Many of our nonexempts travel, typically leaving their homes on Sunday afternoon for an all-day Monday meeting, and then returning home late Monday night. In addition to reimbursing their travel expenses, what pay do we owe them for the travel on Sunday afternoon and Monday night? Is it […]
Employers’ HR and benefits teams are facing the question of what to do in response to pending health care reform. Competing health care proposals are being hotly debated by Congress and the White House in Washington, D.C., and by legislators and their constituents around the country. The debate presents the full range of options, from […]
The answer is “yes,” if you’re one of the 647,000 minimum wage earners in Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont, or Washington. These seven states are all raising their 2011 minimum wages, according to Consumer Affairs. The raises themselves aren’t much: Washington boasts the highest increase of 12 cents to $8.67, which will add some […]
A jury in Los Angeles awarded $5.16 million to a former financial manager for Nestle who claimed the company denied him promotions that went to junior employees. The manager was in his mid-40s. He complained to the human resources department and a senior executive but never got a satisfactory response about whether his age was […]
Yesterday’s Advisor covered the first three conditions that must be met to invoke an “affirmative defense” against harassment claims. Today we move on to the fourth condition, and bring you news about a unique tool that helps smaller HR departments with harassment—and the rest of HR’s major challenges. The fourth condition that must be met […]