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Workplace Investigations: Finding the Truth

by Toby Tiner, Jr. Editors’ note: This week we feature a guest article. The editors of Maine Employment Law Letter think you will benefit from the practical insights of their colleagues. They have worked alongside Toby on many tricky employee-relations cases, and his ability to find the truth while treating employees respectfully has impressed them. […]

Pay

Pay Actions: An Introduction for HR Professionals

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about compensation practices that included a brief look at pay approaches including single-rate pay, step-based pay, and a slew of pay differentials. Taking it a step further, this article is about pay actions and explains the types, why they occur, and how they’re communicated to employees.

sponsor

Giving Junior Staff Sponsorship Responsibilities

Few initiatives, big or small, succeed without the help of a champion or sponsor—someone who takes ownership over the process and keeps the other stakeholders and team members focused in the midst of other responsibilities.

Leaders, Your Lack of Self-Awareness Is Affecting Your Employees

The return to now hybrid workspaces comes with a new reality that could undermine employee morale. For some, the ubiquity of Zoom windows introduced a desirable new flatness to workplace hierarchies. But the reopening of three-dimensional workspaces is making some employees worry that those old hierarchies might also spring back up alongside the office desk […]

Offer

Employees Using New Job Offers as Bargaining Leverage

One of the most common sources of anxiety in the world of work is asking your boss for a raise or promotion. Many are hesitant to ask for things, especially money, because it feels uncomfortable and there’s a power dynamic. “Will I upset the employer I depend upon by asking for more?” Employees Today Wield […]

solar eclipse

Eclipse Overshadows Workday, Costs Employers Millions

August 21, 2017, was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a solar eclipse for some and—since it occurred on a Monday—a loss of profit for others. Did your company hold a solar eclipse viewing party, or did you simply allow your employees to view the eclipse on their own? Either way, if your employees weren’t working […]

Reviewing the review: Avoid legally risky mistakes in performance evaluations

The end of the year is a time that’s both hectic and reflective, and it’s that reflective thinking that’s put to use in evaluating employee performance. Whether evaluations are done at the end of the year, the beginning of a new year, or at various times, it’s important to keep the basics of legally sound […]

Overtime: What Do We Do with Employees Who Work Extra Minutes?

We have several employees who punch in early or late, anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes at either end. They say they are “getting their workstations ready” or “finishing up.” Their supervisors have informed me that the overtime is not authorized and should not be paid. But I think I have to pay it if […]

Diversity

Developing a Diverse Workforce Takes More Than Recruiting

Recent years have seen organizations focus their diversity efforts on recruiting, as high-level executives have come to see how diversity benefits the bottom line, and—perhaps even more importantly—is the right thing to do. But recruitment alone isn’t the answer. Recruiting and hiring are the first steps to developing a diverse workforce, but they won’t do […]

HR Should Play a Key Role in Incident Response

Cybersecurity and the crucial role HR professionals play are more urgent topics than ever in today’s digital landscape. You may think cybersecurity is solely an information technology (IT) department concern, but think again. While IT handles the technical aspects, HR can make or break the human element by educating staff, enforcing policies, and communicating effectively. […]