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News Notes: Big Lots Announces Overtime Settlement

Big Lots Inc. has signed off on a $10 million settlement of a lawsuit charging that more than 1,400 managers and assistant managers at the Ohio-based retailer’s California discount stores, including Pic ‘N’ Save and MacFrugals, were misclassified as exempt. The employees charged they spent the bulk of their time performing nonmanagerial tasks such as […]

Employment Law Tip: Four Cures for Workplace Stress

Employee job stress can take a heavy toll on your business—in high turnover, frequent illness, increased workers’ comp premiums, and reduced productivity. Fortunately, there are steps employers can take to ease job stress. The solution often lies in making organizational changes that will improve working conditions. Here are four ideas:

Employment Law Tip: Watch Out for Weingarten Rights

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) allows employees, both union and non-union, to engage in “concerted activities for the purpose of mutual aid or protection.” This includes an employee’s right to have a union representative present at an investigatory meeting that the employee reasonably believes could result in discipline.

New Research Finds Balance Is the Key to Effective Leadership

Skyline Group International (a global provider of scalable coaching solutions) has released new research that finds female leaders need more support—especially from other women—to develop a more balanced approach to leadership.

Is The Company Responsible When an Employee Is Stalked by an Ex-Employee?

This content was originally published in January 2000. For the latest in HR management, visit our archives or try our online compliance portal, HR.BLR.com. Supervisor Erin Slade felt she had no choice but to fire Bruce Makin after he threatened a co-worker with a gun in the employee break room of Main Property Insurance Company. […]

EEOC to Discuss Leave as an Accommodation

Want to learn more about the use of leave as an accommodation under the Americans With Disabilities Act? The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity will discuss the topic at a meeting next week. In implementing and enforcing the ADA, the commission makes clear that leave may be a required workplace accommodation for employees with disabilities. In […]

Employee Privacy: New Decision Spotlights Limits On Your Right To Discipline Workers For Off-The-Job Activities

John Strahan, a sergeant for the Washoe County, Nev., Sheriff’s Department, was a member of a motorcycle club called Blind Justice. He allegedly attended motorcycle events, wore Hell’s Angels T-shirts and hung out with other bikers, including some who were convicted felons. When Strahan was demoted to deputy sheriff, he filed a lawsuit contending he […]

In Spite of Review Flaws, Court Sees ‘Sufficient’ Appeal Process and Reasonable Benefit Cut-off

Because an employer health plan gave a full and fair review resulting in a reasonable benefits decision, a federal court upheld the plan’s lifetime limit on obesity services and its prohibition on payments to treat complications from earlier gastric bypass surgeries. The plan also weathered an allegation that it was not properly segregating plan funds. […]

Study Lists Abilities HR Must Have for Success

A study of senior executives lists the skills and qualities human resources leaders must gain to reach full strategic partner status in their businesses, starting with “credible activism.” There’s good news and bad news in the world of human resources. The bad news is that according to a study of more than 468 companies worldwide […]