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Calling Boss ‘Pervy Wanker’ on Facebook—Terminable Offense?

Careless employees end up getting terminated over their social media indiscretions; but HR managers can also wind up unemployed if they don’t handle social media issues carefully. Attorney Thomas Deer shares the risks on both sides of the coin. TAs a general matter, he says, employers face two sorts of risks relating to employee usage […]

Why Employees Matter More Than Mission Statements

Company culture is often described as something driven from the top. But real culture—the one employees live every day—is built, reinforced, and sometimes broken by the people who make up the organization. Leaders can cast a vision, but it takes employees to bring it to life—or let it fade. As John Jones, Managing Director and […]

Will a Smartphone Call Count as Overtime? DOL Is Exploring the FLSA Issues

Smartphone use has complicated employer calculations of working time and overtime for years, and it now appears to have caught the interest of the U.S. Department of Labor, which recently announced plans to collect information on how the use of smartphones impacts hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act. In its spring 2015 regulatory […]

unemployment

Unemployment Compensation Basics

In this time of uncertainty, many employers are forced to make difficult staffing decisions. Already, thousands of employers have had to let employees go, as they find themselves without enough income to support their previous staffing levels.

4 Keys to Effective Equity-Informed Policies

A growing number of organizations have begun to view diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as an important investment in their long-term success. We have seen an unprecedented number of equity commitments from industry-leading organizations. From public statements to community initiatives, companies are pouring dollars and hours into DEI. These efforts are commendable, but they aren’t […]

Creating Sustainable Change Through Ripples of DEI: Calling People In, Instead of Calling People Out

Anu Mandapati is Vice President, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Talking Talent, an organization focused on “creating workplaces where everyone can belong and grow.” It’s proven to be a perfect fit for Mandapati who says: “I create communities so people feel included. I’ve always brought people together, personally, and professionally.” Mandapati has 20 […]

ditch digging

‘Ditch Witch’ Ordered to Pay Nearly $200K in Restitution to Profit-Sharing Plan

Based on an investigation conducted by the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the U.S. Secretary of Labor filed a civil complaint against Ditch Witch Equipment of Tennessee Inc., an underground utility construction equipment company, and Aubrey Needham, trustee of the company’s profit-sharing plan on April 29, 2014. According to a Department of Labor (DOL) press […]

mental health

Addressing the Second Pandemic: Employee Mental Health

Two years into the pandemic, employee burnout continues to rage on.  According to a 2021 American Psychological Association survey of over 1,500 U.S. workers, 79% of them experienced some form of work-related stress a month before the survey was conducted. Almost 3 in 5 respondents said they’ve suffered symptoms of burnout, such as loss of […]