Most Popular

A Work in Progress … the Power of Self-Acceptance

Accomplished artists will often make numerous rough sketches of their final composition before putting brush to canvas. When we look at these sketches, we know they are simply preludes to the final masterpiece. We don’t judge the sketch negatively because it is incomplete. We know that it is a work in progress. The same applies […]

Top 10 tips for dealing with substance abuse in the workplace

by Michelle Lee Flores There is clear agreement that substance abuse—whether it’s alcohol, prescription drugs, or illegal drugs—adversely affects employers and their businesses. Some estimate the loss of productivity for U.S. employers has been as much as $200 billion annually! General concerns for safety at work, injuries on the job, theft, loss of employee morale, […]

Turf War; Smurf War

Litigation Value: Wait, Dunder Mifflin might actually be a plaintiff in an employment dispute? In a surprising turn of events, the company may have claims against Andy Bernard for stealing a major client and against Jim and Dwight for stealing from the company. Not surprisingly, Dunder Mifflin is looking at liability ($150,000+) for Robert California’s […]

Must Exempts Do Exempt Work "Most" or "All" the Time?

With the new year comes the increased likelihood of new regulations that will require employers to maintain written justifications for exempt-nonexempt decisions. Here’s some guidance on how much nonexempt work an exempt employee can perform and still be exempt. For help with this tricky issue, we turned to BLR/HRHero’s Wage & Hour Self-audit Guide: Practical […]

Strong Evidence Needed to Prove Race Bias When Same Person Hired, Fired Worker

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 forbids discrimination based on numerous protected categories (e.g., race) in any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, and any other term or condition of employment. It’s not uncommon for employees to allege discrimination based on a protected category known at the time […]

Take steps to ensure smooth transitions when terminating employees

by Thomas J. Lloyd III One of the most difficult aspects of running a business can be managing the personnel, especially when it comes to terminating employees. Some people say that the three most important things in life are your health, your family, and your job. When the time comes for a business to take […]

How to Prevent or Fix Demoralizing Pay Compression Inequities

Inevitably, Wudyka says, when I evaluate organizations’ compensation, there is pay compression somewhere in some range or grade. Wudyka is managing principal of Westminster Associates in Wrentham, Massachusetts. His tips came during a recent webinar sponsored by BLR. Defining Pay Compression Pay compression occurs when the pay rate of an individual is “uncomfortably close” to […]

2021

Predictions 2021: The Future of the Workforce

Whether you view the world of work through the lens of optimism or pessimism, the future of work is uncertain. And this year, change in the world of work was accelerated by the repercussions of COVID-19.

Sexual

Is Nudity on TV in the Work Lounge Sexual Harassment?

The U.S. district court in Minnesota recently heard a claim from an employee who was exposed to scenes containing nudity on the television in the employee lounge. The employee claims that these scenes were sexual harassment, does she have a claim?