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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 […]

News Notes: Ergonomics Proposal Moving Forward Despite Opposition

Fed/OSHA continues to move ahead with its controversial ergonomics proposal, despite pending legislation that would require more time for public comment before the rules are finalized. OSHA’s hearings on the proposal wrapped up May 12 after testimony from over 1,000 witnesses, and the agency expects to publish final regulations by year’s end. But the controversy […]

Pension Plans’ Funded Status Slipped in February

Three monthly measures of defined benefit pension plans’ funded status slipped or remained flat in February after a strong start to 2013, due mostly to weakening interest rates. The Milliman 100 Pension Funding Index, which monitors funding for the U.S.’s largest corporate DB plans, posted a decrease in funded status for the month to 81.5 […]

What Will 2012’s Biggest Wage-Related Issue Be?

“Paying to market” and “Four years of freezes” are the biggest issues for many respondents to a recent survey conducted by the HRhero division of BLR last December. Other responses to the question, What do you think your organization’s biggest wage-related issue will be at the end of 2012? included: A sad one: “We’re just […]

DOL Nixes Salary Deductions When Exempt Worker Damages Equipment

If an exempt employee damages or loses company-issued equipment, and you decide to dock the person’s salary to pay for the loss, you risk the employee’s exempt status. That’s the conclusion of a new opinion letter from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The opinion was requested by an employer that issues cell phones and […]

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DOL Tip Pool Regs Can Stand, Split Appellate Court Says

By Kate McGovern Tornone, Editor The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) limits on tip pools are valid, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals—which covers Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington—reaffirmed September 6, denying a request for it to reconsider its opinion on the issue.

Supreme Court Rules on Employer-Employee Arbitration Dispute

Today, in a 5-4 opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court outlined a new rule that employers must consider in disputes over the validity of arbitration agreements. More specifically, the Court had to determine whether under the Federal Arbitration Act, an arbitrator or a court has the authority to determine whether an arbitration agreement is enforceable, and […]

The Truth About Juries: Court in the Real World

Are juries worried about whether the facts meet the second prong of a prima facie case? asks attorney Edward M. Richters, No, they get to the jury room, and someone says, “Boy, did that guy get hosed.” Or, maybe, “She had it coming to her.” Bottom line, says Richters, “How would I want to be […]

Mentoring: Helping Supervisors “See”

Supervisors don’t just need to understand the challenges faced by minorities and the legal ramifications, they must also experience what it’s like to be a minority within the organization, says Rene Petrin, who, as president of Boston-based Management Mentors, sets up corporate mentoring programs for clients. “One of the most effective ways to translate theory […]