Day: October 11, 2012

Employee temper tantrums, resignations, and the law

Employers generally go to great lengths to retain valued employees. They know the benefits of keeping good, experienced people and avoiding the costs of recruiting and training new hires. Sometimes, though, the words “I quit” are music to an employer’s ears. A problem employee out the door seems like a problem solved. But is it? […]

My Mom’s a Spy?

If you haven’t heard, James Bond celebrated his 50th birthday as a film icon. The successful franchise has kept audiences fascinated with the secret agent’s lifestyle, letting the public tag along on 007’s top secret missions. Aside from Hollywood’s portrayal of MI6’s top agent, have you ever wondered what it’s really like to live the […]

Hardest Challenges in Leave Management? Survey Says …

When survey participants were asked to describe their biggest challenge regarding employee leave, FMLA and recordkeeping tied as the biggest problem area with 20% each, followed closely by scheduling with 16%. Employee abuse of leave is a problem for 10% and consistent application is an issue for 7%. A lucky 4% have no or very […]

How Much Do Your Employees Want iPads?

To say that Apple has loyal customers is an understatement. Not many companies can draw crowds to line up for new product releases. Apple even secured the number 2 spot in Interbrand’s Best Global Brands 2012 list, second only to Coca-Cola®. With such a strong brand presence, it’s no surprise to see the results of […]

Only Employee Without Criminal Record Is a Real Dog

This Strange but True story is about a small, rural town where the two law enforcement officers don’t carry guns. No, it’s not the plot of The Andy Griffith Show. And the cops can’t carry guns. It’s really an HR case study on background checks, and the only employee without a record is a dog—literally! […]

The 3 Flavors of Flex

Fellows, founder and president of WorkLife Performance, Inc. divides flex/telecommuting into three “flavors.” She offered her tips at a recent webinar sponsored by BLR and HR Hero. Flavor #1—Flexible Hours This is the opportunity to begin and end each workday at an approved time outside the standard (or “core”) working hours while still completing the […]

Political Comments Can Land Employers in Hot Water

With less than a month to go before the 2012 election, political passions are peaking. In a close race, some employers may be tempted to try to influence how their employees vote. It’s not a rare occurrence. Four years ago, a Maryland construction executive happened to mention during the course of an interview with me […]

3 elements of an effective employment handbook

Employment handbooks should protect employers. “An employee handbook provides communication; it helps you to comply with the law; [and] it provides consistency – it allows you to treat all employees in a consistent manner.” Andrea Paris explained in a recent CER webinar: These are the 3 C’s of an effective employment handbook: communication, compliance, and […]