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The ‘Unwritten Rules’ of Employment

I like watching baseball. Few things in life beat going to a weekday day game during the summer at Oracle Park (or even the Oakland Coliseum). Yet sadly, due to the coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak, Major League Baseball has canceled the remainder of its spring training games and the 2020 regular season will be delayed by at […]

The DEI Journey—5 Stages of Progress

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have continued to evolve since they swept through the business world a few years ago. They now go beyond any one initiative, program, or single effort. More than just a “thing” we do, DEI is becoming a part of who we are, giving shape to the fabric of our organizations […]

OFCCP Demands Detailed Compensation Analysis in Virtually

Remember, says Desmond, who is a partner in the New Orleans office of national employment law firm Jackson Lewis, OFCCP (Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs) does not enforce a law but an executive order. So, if you don’t want to do business with the government, you don’t have to comply. Desmond’s comments came at […]

Hurricanes, Tornados, and Wildfires: Who Gets Paid When You Close?

If a company opens two hours late because of a snowstorm, should an employer pay employees who show up earlier because they didn’t hear the announcement? What time does the workday end when employees are given the option to go home because an incident such as a gas leak forces evacuation of the building? What […]

Are Hybrid Offices the Future of Work Design?

In part one of this article, we probed the fast rise of the “hybrid office” trend, as more companies—with an eye toward greater innovation and productivity—shift their focus away from “open” floor plans in favor of a mix of work areas that better meet employee needs.

How the Wizard of Oz Can Help Us Be Better Managers

Here’s what Oswald said: Recently, an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz was released. If you’re like me, you grew up watching the 1939 classic. The new film got me thinking about those wonderful characters created by L. Frank Baum. There’s the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and, of course, Dorothy. Each one […]

People Are People, Not Human Resources

Oswald, CEO of BLR®, offered his thoughts on leadership and people in a recent edition of The Oswald Letter. Elvis—only his first name is necessary—is still the second best-selling artist of all time (only behind The Beatles), and he’s been dead for more than 35 years! Somehow we elevate these people to godlike status, but […]

Conducting a Good-Faith Workplace Investigation

Employers all know the importance of investigating allegations of misconduct, discrimination, and harassment in the workplace. But even so, that practice sometimes falls by the wayside when times get busy. Here’s a look at a recent Tenth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision on workplace investigations. Workplace Investigations: The HR Manager’s Step-by-Step Guide Making mischief […]

Quiet Quitting: A New Threat to Office Productivity or a Sign of Needed Change?

A new generation of workers is renouncing hustle culture—going above and beyond workplace expectations—and embracing the philosophy of “quiet quitting.” Any sort of alleged “quitting” can easily cause upper management to feel unsettled. But is this trending phenomenon a sign of employee laziness, or is it a call for workplace reform? With more than 15 […]