Day: August 25, 2011

Michael May Be Gone — But His Emails Go On!

Counting down the weeks until the new season of The Office starts. Tonight’s rerun episode — “Dwight K. Schrute, (Acting) Manager” — was first covered by my Office (and office) mate Jaclyn West; check it out, it’s a great read (http://blogs.hrhero.com/thatswhatshesaid/2011/05/14/straight-shooter/). Poking around The Office website on nbc.com, I came across a web exclusive: a […]

Social Media Background Checks—Yes or No?

By Stephen D. Bruce, PHR Editor, HR Daily Advisor Should you be doing background checks on Google, Facebook, and other websites? Experts come down on both sides of the question, so let’s find out what’s happening in the real world. First of all, what’s the controversy? Con: Checks Are Dangerous Experts against doing social media […]

FLSA Overtime Case Settles for $5M

If employees in a brokerage company merely comply with client wishes by executing transactions for them, the brokerage must properly classify their status under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and pay them overtime, when they work more than 40 hours in a work week. If the brokerage wants to exempt employees from the law’s overtime […]

Resuscitate COBRA Premium Subsidies to Help Unemployed, Commonwealth Fund Says

In the waning days of the COBRA premium subsidy, The Commonwealth Fund is calling for the program to be resuscitated as a way to help unemployed and uninsured workers until health care reform is fully implemented. In an Aug. 24 issue brief,  the Fund noted that “the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression has […]

Daniel Pink: Is Management an Anachronism?

Pink, author of popular management books including his latest, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, offered examples of how employers give today’s employees the autonomy they want—and that you need them to have.  Is Management an Anachronism?  Management is not a God-given mandate, says Pink, it’s a technology from the 1850s. It’s designed […]

Smart Tips for Investigations

Yesterday, we looked at 5 tips for conducting an effective sexual harassment investigation. Today, 4 more — plus an introduction to an in-depth investigations webinar next week, specifically for California employers. [Click here for yesterday’s tips] 6. Communicate your findings to both the employee and the alleged harasser and provide them with the opportunity to […]