Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
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.
Who knows better whether an employee is ready to return to work: the employee or his doctor? When the doctor’s note is clear and unambiguous, that may provide the official diagnosis—no matter what the employee believes.
A multibillion-dollar corporation that hired a private investigator to combat excessive employee absenteeism and suspected FMLA abuse withstood an interference and retaliation claim by a fired factory worker in a case brought before the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The case is Scruggs v. Carrier Corp., No. 11-3420 (Aug. 3, 2012). Daryl Scruggs, who […]
Our recent epinion “Human Resources–STILL Not a Strategic Partner?” elicited a number of interesting responses from readers. One lamented about being the last to know, while others boosted the strategic importance of HR. Here are the responses: HR Far Removed? I Don’t Think So HR is far removed from the people and points that make […]
A school district failed to accommodate a teacher with seasonal affective disorder, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has determined, upholding a jury’s award of damages. The 7th Circuit had already heard the case, Ekstrand v. School District of Somerset (No. 11-1949, June 26, 2012), once before. Renae Eskstrand filed suit against her employer, […]
Hazmat transportation regulations require employee training and establish the basic rules for educating employees. But it’s up to you to determine training needs and set up an effective training program. To help employers meet employee training requirements under the hazmat transportation regulations, DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) periodically publishes guidance materials. Here […]
By Elaine Quayle Employees who always knew their bosses were egotistical, condescending, and supercilious can now declare WARS on them to prove it! Thanks to joint research at the University of Akron (UA) and Michigan State University, we now have the Workplace Arrogance Scale—or WARS. According to a press release, WARS was presented at the […]
Yesterday’s Advisor pointed out the hidden liabilities when you have a joint employer. Today, minimizing those liabilities, plus an introduction to the book some call “The Wage/Hour Bible.” First of all, note that usually the employee may choose which of the joint employers to sue for any unpaid wages under the FLSA. However, through contractual […]
Employee expense reimbursement can be a complex topic. Employees have a right to be reimbursed for their work-related expenses, including business travel, training, equipment, materials and more, but where do you draw the line? In a CER webinar titled “Employee Expense Reimbursements in California: Your Compliance Obligations Explained,” participants were given the opportunity to pick […]
The federal hazardous materials transportation regulations require the training of all hazmat employees. The purpose of training is to increase employees’ safety awareness and to reduce hazmat incidents. Any employee who meets the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) definition of a “hazmat employee” must be trained, tested, and certified by the employer to be able […]
Your organization may be in compliance with wage and hour laws, but are your “joint employers” in compliance? If they’re not, you could end up liable. Two or more employers may be deemed to be “joint employers” of an employee under the FLSA. If either employer violates the FLSA, they will both be liable. Some […]