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Your Telecommuters are Working…Aren’t They?

Telecommuting allows employees to work part or all of their standard workweek from a remote location, “seamlessly commuting” by e-mail, cell phones, and virtual private networks. (Editor’s note: It’s not always “seamless.”)

Metrics—6 Steps to Success

In yesterday’s Advisor, Noelle Nitz and Linda Duffy helped us break through the metrics language barrier between HR and management. Today, their tips for managing metrics, plus an introduction to the webinar that makes your managers leaders. Nitz, President of the Institute for Financial Mastery, and Duffy, President of Leadership Habitude, made their remarks at […]

Personal Liability Of Supervisors: New Ruling Leaves Supervisors Vulnerable To Retaliation Suits; Get The Word Out

The question of who can be sued for work-related actions has become a hot topic in recent years. The California Supreme Court clarified that supervisors couldn’t be held individually responsible for workplace discrimination claims. But the California Legislature recently said any employee can be sued for harassment.

New Illinois law protects social networking passwords

By Steve Brenneman Illinois has joined a growing trend to protect workers from employers that want access to their Facebook or other social networking accounts. On August 1, Governor Pat Quinn signed into law an amendment to the Illinois Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act. Under the law, which is effective January 1, 2013, […]

Will You Pay a Penalty Under PPACA?

In yesterday’s Advisor, we offered Michael P. Aitken’s suggestions for employers reeling from the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Today, more of Aitken’s tips, and an introduction to an extraordinary policy development program. Aitken’s advice came during the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM) recent annual Conference and Exposition in […]

Avoid the Hazards of E-Cruiting

Recruiting online is fast, easy, cheap, and even fun, but dangers lurk within. This article, and a special May 1 BLR audio conference, will teach you how to navigate around them. Have you done any e-cruiting lately? No, not recruiting. That’s old hat! E-cruiting. E-cruiting, of course, is the buzz word flying around HR these […]

‘No Fair, I’ve Got Free Speech Rights!’ (Sorry.)

Special from Chicago—SHRM Annual Conference and Exhibition In private employment, the employer determines whether there is an expectation of privacy, says attorney Jonathan Segal, but unwary employers may create the right if they are not careful. (Government employees generally have a constitutional right to a higher level of privacy than those in the private sector.) […]

California Supreme Court Issues Meal and Rest Break Ruling

By Mark I. Schickman California employers have been waiting since October 2008 for the California Supreme Court to issue its ruling in the Brinker Restaurant case, clarifying whether employers must “ensure” that employees take meal and rest breaks or simply “provide” those breaks. Today, the court unanimously served up a major victory to California employers […]

Health Reform Will Spawn More Audits, Lawsuits and Liability, Expert Predicts

Government audits, participant lawsuits and the dreaded play-or-pay rule could heap liability and risk on employer plans, all as a result of the reform law that was just affirmed by a majority of the U.S. Supreme Court. Employers must take into account new liabilities when they move workers to part-time status or divert retirees into […]