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Whom Are You Hiring? Looking into an Applicant’s Checkered Past

For good reason, you probably spend a significant amount of time worrying about legal compliance for the employees on your payroll. But what about those who didn’t get the job? Some applicants might have simply lacked the necessary credentials, but others may have been weeded out through background checks. Many of you may consider criminal […]

How to Build a Climate That Encourages Open Communication

A lot of organizations talk about the importance of fostering creativity and openness within their workplaces. Great ideas can come from any level of the company, and these organizations recognize that there is a real danger in leaving decision making exclusively to the upper echelons. However, despite their best efforts, many organizations suffer from company […]

Train Supervisors to Avoid These 10 Sins

For sins 1 through 6, click here. Sin #7. Not Knowing and Not Enforcing Policies We’re busy now. Talk to me about that harassment business next week. If you think the work’s not safe, you’re free to quit at any time. Nobody in this department can talk about salaries or benefits with other employees or […]

Referral bonuses, diversity, and disparate impact liability

by Andy Rodman Q My company is having difficulty attracting qualified candidates for high-tech positions. We’re considering implementing a referral bonus policy, under which a current employee would be paid $500 for referring a candidate who is hired. Is this type of policy legal?  A There is nothing inherently illegal about a referral bonus policy. […]

Two More Reasons HSAs Are Essential for a Healthy Retirement

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) can be used to save for both current and future health expenses, demonstrating their value as a tool for physical and financial health today and in retirement. In addition to the triple tax advantage and investment capability that was discussed in yesterday’s article, here are reasons three and four to consider […]

How to Keep Good Employees When Their Current Roles Are a Bad Fit

by Lindsay Witcher, director of Practice Strategy, RiseSmart Mobility is the new buzzword in HR. The gig economy, a growing Millennial workforce, remote workers, and globalization have all contributed to a change in how companies and employees view the employer/employee relationship. Organizations and HR departments that haven’t found ways to retain talent and leverage the […]

The Vast Majority of Employees Want for Career Opportunities

According to the Corporate Executive Board Company (CEB), a best practice insight and technology company, today’s flat organizational structures mean employees spend more time at each job level—roughly 3 more years than they did in 2010. This stalled progression has caused 70% of employees to be dissatisfied with future career opportunities, leading to potentially massive […]

Exceptions to meal period requirements in California

In California, meal periods for employees must be at least 30 minutes by law, and the employee must be fully relieved of all work during that meal period. The meal period may be unpaid, and it has to be taken within the first 5 hours of the shift. These requirements apply for any workday in […]

Tips to Improve Employee Experience

With unemployment low and turnover high, employers are looking for ways to improve employee retention. One thing employers can do is to focus on the employee experience. Here are some tips for improving the employee experience: