Category: HR Management & Compliance

There are dozens of details to take care of in the day-to-day operation of your department and your company. We give you case studies, news updates, best practices and training tips that keep your organization fully in compliance with ever-changing employment law, and you fully aware of emerging HR trends.

harassment

Office Romances: Fallout from Breakup Can Cause Headaches Down the Road

The federal district court of Minnesota recently heard a case regarding sexual harassment after the breakup of a consensual sexual relationship between an employee and her supervisor. The supervisor allegedly was displeased with the breakup and was unsuccessful in restarting the relationship, and a tense work environment ensued. The court ultimately held that the allegations […]

age discrimination

Did Termination of Financial Administrator Violate the FEHA?

A semiconductor company hired a 33-year-old accounting manager not long before it terminated its 59-year-old financial administrator as part of a reduction in force (RIF). The administrator sued, claiming unlawful age discrimination. The trial court granted the company’s motion for summary judgment (dismissal without a trial). In an unpublished opinion, the court of appeal affirmed.

Is it Worth Retraining a Poor-Performing Manager?

Did you know that three out of four employees report that their boss is the worst and most stressful part about their jobs?1 And that poor-performing managers can cost businesses millions of dollars each year? Before you terminate your poor-performing managers, you might consider retraining them. But how will you know when it’s worth it […]

E-Learning 101–Basic Things Professionals Need to Know (Part 1)

E-learning has grown over 900% in the past 16 years due to advances in technology and has increased the revenue of over 42% of the organizations that have adopted it.1 There’s no question that organizations are adopting e-learning practices, methods, and technology in droves and that they’re reaping real benefits from it. But do they […]

mental health

7th Circuit: Psych Exam Following Bizarre Behavior was Reasonable

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), employer-required medical exams must be “job-related and consistent with business necessity.” That test can be difficult to apply when you’re dealing with mental or psychiatric examinations. A recent decision from the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals—which covers Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin—helps clarify when you may require such […]

Massachusetts Court Green-Lights Nurses’ Defamation Claims

The following case is a cautionary tale about decisive action and one type of legal risk: defamation claims. Although this particular case turned on a legal technicality, it’s useful to show how communicating about your reasons for taking an adverse action can turn into litigation.

Best Practices for Curating Content for Your LMS

Many learning and development (L&D) professionals are starting to curate content for their Learning Management Systems (LMSs) due to the overwhelming amount of data and content being created and shared online every second of every day. (According to research highlighted by Analytics Week, 1.7 megabytes of information per person on the planet will be created […]