Blogs
Is Happiness the Key to Success at Work?
The other day, a colleague shared a video from TEDx. If you’re not familiar with TEDx, it’s a video site developed by TED, a nonprofit devoted to what it calls “Ideas Worth Spreading.” Anyway, I found the video — which had been forwarded from another person inside our company — quite intriguing. The video is of a...
Caught Red-Handed and Breastfed
Last night’s episode, Jury Duty, involved scandalous improprieties, shrewd cover-ups, relentless investigations, and dramatic public confessions. Agatha Christie would have been proud, although Scranton’s twist on these themes might have left her a little confused. It took Dwight only a few minutes to dismantle Jim’s lie about having been on...
HRHero 2012 Health Insurance Benefits Survey Results
Nearly 65 percent of respondents to a recent HRHero survey on health insurance benefits said they expect their health insurance costs to rise because of health care reform. Half of respondents said they were not sure if their organizations would eliminate health care plans in 2014, when it may be easier for workers to get coverage in the individual...
Go Beyond the Social Media Policy
By now, all HR professionals know a comprehensive employee handbook includes a social media policy (you know that, right?). But that one policy shouldn’t be the only mention of social media in a company handbook. Employment law attorneys Sharee Eriks and Bruce Cross of Perkins Coie LLP maintain that social media concerns overlap into...
White House Proposes Expanded Military FMLA Leave Provisions
The Obama administration is proposing expanded leave provisions under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for military families. The proposed rule would extend the entitlement of military caregiver leave to family members of veterans for up to five years after the veteran leaves the military. At the present time, the law covers family members...
New York Employers Must Turn in Notice of Wage Payment Forms by Wednesday
A reminder for New York employers: If you haven’t already completed the Notice of Wage Payment forms required under the New York Wage Theft Prevention Act (WTPA), time is running out. The law, which took effect on April 9, 2011, requires covered employers to give written notice of wage rates to all new hires at the time of hire and...
Enough is Enough: You Can’t Make Progress Without Action
They say to never talk about religion or politics, but I’m going to risk it today. The President gave his State of the Union speech last Tuesday night. I was at a dinner event and missed it. And, I’m sad to say, I really don’t care that I didn’t hear it. You see, I’m incredibly frustrated by what’s going on in...
Employers Beware: EEOC Making New Strategic Plan
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is seeking comment through February 1 on a four-year strategic plan, and it’s important for employers to know what that plan means to them. The draft of the 2012-2016 plan calls for the agency to: fight employment discrimination through law enforcement; prevent discrimination through education...
Some Friendly Advice
Litigation Value: Nada, Zero, Zilch. Interview Advice: Priceless. No “Office” last night, fellow Scrantonites! (Scrantonians?) I didn’t know what to do with myself all evening. And since we don’t have a new episode – or even a rerun – to discuss, I did what I do best and made a list. Top 10 Things NOT To Say...
The Policy that Passed the NLRB Test
By Tammy Binford Yesterday, we wrote about the new report issued by National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) Acting General Counsel Lafe Solomon. Included in the Operations Management Memo, Solomon’s report explains his reasoning in 14 recent decisions on cases involving social media. Of those 14 cases, the employer’s social media...
NLRB Offers New Social Media Insight
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Acting General Counsel Lafe Solomon has released a report detailing social media cases his office has reviewed. The report — a a follow up to the first report concerning social media in the workplace, which was released August 18,2011 — details decisions in 14 cases reviewed by Solomon’s...
OFCCP’s Proposed Hiring Goals: What’s the Latest?
February 7 marks the end of the public comment period on the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs’ (OFCCP) proposed rule that would set a goal for federal contractors to have seven percent of their workforce be made up of people with disabilities. With the calendar nearing the comment deadline, it’s time for employers with...
Going Paperless: Practical Considerations for Electronic Personnel Documents
Last week, we listed the federal agencies and their regulations for electronic personnel document retention. But if you are ever confronted with employment litigation, just knowing the rules won’t be enough. Now, employment law attorney Joseph C. Pettygrove offers insight into other issues involved with electronic recordkeeping. There are...
NLRB Foes Marshaling Forces Against Obama’s Recess Appointments
Will President Barack Obama’s recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) stand? Some in the business community and Congress hope not, and they’re taking action. Two House actions have been filed in opposition to the appointments: H.R. 3770, sponsored by Representative Jeff Landry (R-LA.), would amend federal law...
Loyalty Unchecked Leads to Headaches and Heartache
Legendary college football coach Joe Paterno died on Sunday after a battle with lung cancer. But by many accounts, some people who knew him well say the 85-year-old died of a broken heart. I think Joe Paterno’s career at Penn State University is worth closer examination because there are lessons for employers and employees alike. Joe Paterno...
Going Paperless: Regulations for Electronic Personnel Documents
Employment law attorney Joseph C. Pettygrove takes a look at federal agency regulations for electronic personnel document recordkeeping. Employers are increasingly looking at the feasibility of scanning hard copies of various types of employment documents and retaining only the electronic copies in the routine course of business. Generally...
A “Get-Together”
Litigation Value: Call it what you will — a get-together, party, or bacchanalia. By any name, tonight’s gathering at the soon-to-be-former home of Robert California could prove costly for both Dunder Mifflin Sabre and its chief executive. “Are you ready for some meatballs?” At night’s end, The Office‘s...
California Public-Sector Employers Facing Challenging New Laws
Public-sector employers in California are facing an array of challenges in 2012 — declining revenues, out-of-control costs, fading reserves, and “a slew of bills further hobbling public agencies’ ability to control costs,” according to Jonathan Holtzman, a partner with Renne Sloan Holtzman Sakai LLP in San Francisco....
Lessons from Martin Luther King, Jr.
On Monday, our nation celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It’s appropriate that we celebrate the life of this great American for all he did to positively impact life in our great country. A peek into Dr. King’s life and his pursuit of civil rights reveals that he can be a great role model for any manager. Let’s take a look at...
Employing People with Disabilities: What Does New Proposed Rule Mean?
By Tammy Binford Government statistics show that unemployment among people with disabilities is far higher than unemployment for people without disabilities. Year-end figures for 2011 are not yet available, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has figures revealing that the 2010 unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 14.8 percent....
