Tag: Employment law

Don’t skimp on preparation when arbitrating with a union

by Gary S. Fealk Almost every union contract has a provision that requires that disputes be settled by final and binding arbitration. Preparing for arbitration is essential. Here are some pointers on arbitration preparation and procedures.   Grievance answers and choosing an arbitrator Always answer grievances with an eye toward arbitration. Answer the merits of the […]

HR sports roundup: football, futbol, and fireworks

As we head into the July 4 weekend, your EntertainHR sports reporters cover America’s favorite pastime–litigation! The women who cheer football got a boost this week when the Oakland Raiders announced they would pay their Raiderettes the California minimum wage of $9 per hour beginning this coming season.  This blog first covered the story back in […]

Productivity vs. distraction: What keeps workers on and off track?

Employers are always on a quest for higher productivity. They examine what kind of technology, office design, organizational structure, time management training, etc. will boost performance and the bottom line. But no matter how careful an organization is, distractions can derail even the best laid plans. CareerBuilder recently released a study on what it calls […]

Lactation intolerance

When Karlesha Thurman got ready for her college graduation ceremony, she probably had no idea that she would be picking up international news coverage along with her accounting degree. Thurman’s three-month-old daughter became hungry during the festivities and Thurman did what countless other mothers have done–she nursed her hungry baby. A friend snapped a photograph […]

When Harry left Sally: employers’ obligation to offer insurance postdivorce

by Kathryn M. Grigg Although employers may want to avoid the uncomfortable topic with employees, you can’t avoid your legal obligations to an employee’s former spouse postdivorce. For a period of time after a divorce, you’re required to offer health insurance continuation and conversion benefits to an employee’s former spouse and dependents. Here’s a summary […]

Boosting retention as turnover threat looms

2014 dawned with reports that employee turnover would reach critical mass during this year. Salary.com’s annual “January Job Hunters” survey claimed that employees were in many ways more satisfied with their jobs than in years past, but a whopping 83 percent of the people surveyed said they planned to look for a new job during […]

What HR pros can learn from Casey Kasem

If you were a teenager in ’70s or ’80s who loved pop music, you undoubtedly recall huddling next to your AM transistor radio, maybe with your cassette recorder on standby so you could hit “record” at the just the right time, listening to “American Top 40” with its mellifluous host Casey Kasem. Each week, Casey […]

Keeping an open mind during workplace investigations

by Peter Lowe Internal workplace investigations turn sour for a variety of reasons, including haste, poor preparation, ineffective documentation, and a lack of investigatory skills. But in my experience, the biggest obstacle to fair and thorough investigations is the bias of the investigator. When an investigator starts out with a preconceived notion of guilt or […]