New L-1B Policy Takes Effect Aug. 31
Archive
August 2015
Being a parent can be one of the best experiences. Children are a blessing and they provide so many positive opportunities in the life of their parents. I have to admit there are also times when being a parent can be a challenge, but we learn much more from these challenges than we do from the good times.
Wage Secrecy Prohibitions Require Caution by Employers
What Do Workers Want? It Varies by Workforce Generation
Paid Leave, Reduced Travel, Breast-Milk Shipping: Companies Raise the Ante in Deals to Keep Parents at Work
EAPs May Not Be Best Route for Angry, Threatening Employees
Union Organization Eased Under NLRB's Broader Definition of 'Joint Employer'
The California Legislature reconvened on Monday, Aug. 17, to finish its work for the 2015 regular session, which must end by Sept. 11. The following bills are of particular interest to California private sector employers…
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Not everyone pulls their own weight in a team effort.
'Sandwich in' a Lunch Break to Boost Productivity
Want a Promotion? Go Light on Lipstick, Stop Smoking, Lose the Nose Ring
Cities, States Increasing Minimum Wage, Requiring Paid Leave
On August 26, @shrmnextchat chatted with Steve Miller (@shrmsmiller) about 401(k) Gold.
In case you missed this informative chat, you can read all the tweets below:
HR Pros Debate Allowing Confederate Flag on Worker's Car
Give Your Dental Plan a Checkup
D.C. Cir.: Home Health Care Workers Wage Rule Reinstated
Teen Behavior Isn't Just in High School; It's Also at Work
How Technology Will Impact Millennials at Work
Post-Employment 401(k) Rollovers: Questions HR Should Ask
It can be difficult for a 25-year-old to envision life after age 65, let alone to start saving for it—and many young people aren’t even sure how or where to start. That’s why it’s important for employers to take an active role in educating employees at every stage of life about the benefits of retirement savings plans.
Q: We’re considering installing security cameras in our shared work areas and were wondering if there are any legalities we should consider before we proceed.
A: These days, security cameras are ubiquitous in public places. We expect them inside malls, in stores and restaurants, and outside in recreational areas, parking lots and at most traffic lights.
'Frat Boy' Mentality Can Keep Women Out of Tech Companies
Competency is defined as an ability or skill. Every profession has competencies. And we want competencies; they are the things that make us successful. You could say that jobs are made up of tasks (the actual things we do) and competencies (the skills we need to do them).
Experts: Amazon Exposé May Change Its Corporate Culture
The article in Sunday’s New York Times describing Amazon’s relentless, hard-driving work environment is, in many ways, a case study in how one very large company is responding to our changing work world.
On August 19, @shrmnextchat chatted with Allen Smith (@shrmlegaleditor) about why FMLA + ADA = SOS.
In case you missed this informative chat, you can read all the tweets here:
Maine Restricts Employer Access to Employees' and Applicants' Social Media Accounts
Law Excludes Veterans from ACA Mandate; Questions Remain
Conn. Extends Workplace Harassment and Discrimination Protections to Unpaid Interns
Striking a Balance: Alabama's Newly-Amended Restrictive Covenant Statute
Northwestern Football Players' Unionization Drive Halted
Job Candidates and Awkward Interviews: What Do You Do?
The HR profession is full of acronyms. Grab any three or four letters from the alphabet and throw them together and there’s probably a corresponding law for it. But there are two acronyms in particular that create a lot of anxiety for HR professionals: FMLA and ADA.
The latest blog challenge from LinkedIn reminds us to #ThankYourMentor. As a Human Resource professional, I want to also encourage my colleagues time to reach out and offer a hand and the gift of mentorship to another professional. We will be stronger together.
Domestic Medical Travel: What HR Needs to Know
Firing Federal Workers Presents HR Challenges
Recruiters, Hiring Managers Must Collaborate Well to Succeed
Most Millennials Would Switch Jobs for Better Family Benefits
The Philadelphia area’s economy has long relied on its sizable health care and higher education sectors. Much of its future success, however, may depend on easier access to jobs in manufacturing, retail and other industries that are expanding in the region.
Cost Control, Behavior Change Top Health Agendas for 2016
When a Toxic Worker Is Well-Liked by Managers
Help your CEO become a leader for the year 2020.
The changing job of the CEO is being discussed a lot these days. Companies and boards have come to realize that the CEO is a key player in attracting and retaining the talent needed to take the company into the forefront of their industry. But CEOs need to change in order to do that and HR is in the best position to help them do so.
As the congressional recess began last week, Members of Congress made a mad dash out of DC. For members of the Congressional Black Caucus, their destination was Tunica, Mississippi.
Wisconsin Eases, But Does Not Eliminate, the One Day of Rest in Seven Law
West Virginia Amends State Rule Verifying Legal Employment Status of Workers

A couple of months ago, the Society for Human Resource Management published Repurposing HR: From a Cost Center to a Business Accelerator by Carol E. M. Anderson, SHRM-SCP. She is the founder and principal of Anderson Perfomance Partners in St. Augustine, Fla.
American Authors are enjoying the rage of this current song. Go Big or Go Home is a worthy entry in the Urban Dictionary and epitomizes for me the spark and enthusiasm I witnessed last week. For the fourth summer, I was graced to serve with a number of fabulous faculty as we delivered a Business Management Institute, sponsored by the Western Association of College and University Business Officers. The UC-Santa Barbara campus is always a beautiful backdrop to a great week of learning. I think, this was one of the best sessions.
IRS Seeks Comments on 'Cadillac Tax' and Account-Based Plans
Short-Term Incentives Are Playing Larger Retention Role
Netflix, Microsoft Paid Parental Leave Is Wave of the Future
Taking your HR career to the next level is not always easy—even if you are a super performer at your current job. Moving to the next level often requires many different competencies and skill sets that will allow you to grow into a strategic executive who is action-oriented and who embraces technology. It also requires an understanding of your strengths and of how others view you—and this is where your personal brand steps into the picture.
For Corporate America, LGBT Inclusion Is Just Good Business
"A grateful heart is the beginning of greatness." ~ James E. Faust
Building the future from the past
What traditions are maintained by your company? Do you have an enthusiastic company sports team with a history of incredible wins? Perhaps your traditional company picnic is the rallying point that employees look forward to all year, then talk about throughout the following year.
NLRB: Witness Statement Confidentiality No Longer Automatic
Paid Sick Leave Executive Order for Federal Contractors Drafted
Determining CEO Pay Ratio Isn't So Simple
Netflix's Extended Paid Parental Leave Sets New Bar
How does the thought of being able to embed a device in your body to make your job easier appeal to you? What about an embedded device to improve your health or make you live longer? Would you do it? Many people cringe at the thought, yet there may be just such a device in your future, if not already present in your life.
What to embed?
Modest Gains Seen for 2016 Variable Pay Budgets, Salary Ranges
Answers About Paying Employees When Disaster Strikes
Hiring Steady in August, but Recruiting Struggles Continue for Many HR Professionals
Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been talking about the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) proposed changes to the overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
A manager has an open position. He will need to work closely with the new hire.
Alan applies for the job. The manager truly loathes him. I could say it softer but that is the reality.
Alan has all the requisite skill, education and experience. But the sound of Alan’s voice makes the manager’s skin crawl.
Based on his intense dislike for Alan, the manager does not want to interview him, let alone promote him. What do you do?
It’s 3 p.m. on Friday and your boss has already told you that you can head out early for the weekend. You’re wrapping up a few items and planning to leave shortly when a coworker comes to you and asks you for some help with a project they’ve been working on. Your first instinct is to say you’re sorry but you have plans and need to leave early for the weekend. While that may get you a few extra minutes of weekend sunshine, you could be missing out on some valuable work experiences.
Why People Are Changing Jobs, and How to Recruit and Retain Them
On August 5, @shrmnextchat chatted with Allan Weitzman (@Allan_Weitzman) of Proskauer Rose LLP about "Employee Handbooks-Every Word Counts."
In case you missed this informative chat, you can read all the great tweets here:
Living abroad can be a life changing and eye opening experience. By submerging yourself in a new culture, you gain a new perspective on life, meet new and diverse people and feel connected to a community of global citizens. Not only can you benefit from the personal enrichment of living abroad, it is also an excellent career development opportunity and can pave the way for leadership opportunities.
Identify Your Trade Secrets to Prevail in IP Theft Litigation
Same-Sex Marriage: From Benefits to Harassment Policies
Minimize Risk When Terminating Employees Who Steal Trade Secrets
On-Call Shift Scheduling Subject to Increased Scrutiny
Building a Magnetic Culture: How to Attract and Retain Top Talent to Create an Engaged, Productive Workforce
The perils of a disengaged workforce are well known—low productivity, high employee turnover, and failure to meet organization-wide goals. Less well known is what to do about it. How do you create a workforce that is always ready, able, and eager to take the organization to the next level?
An employee handbook is essential for the well-being of every organization. It communicates the employer’s mission, vision and culture, as well as information on rules, policies and benefits. It also contains information on state and federal employment laws.
When well-constructed, employee handbooks help employers build trusting relationships with workers, avoid conflicts and ensure fair treatment in the workplace. When poorly written, they can create a nightmare of situations for HR, ranging from hostile work environments to lawsuits.