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HR Management

Track training opportunities, participation to show you don’t discriminate

03/01/2008

Employees who belong to a protected class often sue for discrimination if they feel they have been denied training and education opportunities. That’s why you should carefully track what training courses or experiences you offer, the minimum qualifications for each opportunity and who ends up taking advantage of each one …

Denied training opportunity isn’t necessarily discrimination

03/01/2008
It’s not discrimination for an employer to offer training to some employees but not others—if the training doesn’t lead to greater pay, advancement opportunities or other tangible benefits. Simply put, employers don’t have to worry about discrimination lawsuits if their decisions are based on solid business reasons …

Labor pains: The perils of the Employee Free Choice Act

03/01/2008
As the 2008 election cycle intensifies, organized labor is devoting substantial resources to support candidates who will advance its ambitious legislative agenda in 2009. That agenda includes passage of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). Employers must understand what EFCA passage would mean and what they can do now to ensure that union organizers do not target their employees …

N.C. employers face greater risk of punitive damages

03/01/2008
In a pair of surprising decisions, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld large punitive damages awards against employers that juries said violated the ADA. The cases are significant because the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has long been considered the most conservative court in the nation—and a safe haven for employers …

Recouping training costs when workers leave

03/01/2008
Q. It costs a lot to train new employees, so naturally we are upset when those employees leave. They benefit from the training, and we are out the cost. Can we recover training costs if an employee leaves? …

Where do managers need training? Find out with a survey

03/01/2008
Targeted training of managers is vital to company success. Use a survey to identify where to spend your limited training dollars.

Dow Chemical pays $861,647 in overtime for employee training

03/01/2008
The U.S. Labor Department has announced that Dow Chemical of Freeport paid $861,647 in back wages to 648 operating engineers as a result of a federal investigation …

Voluntary programs offer home, auto insurance discounts

03/01/2008

Employees can save between 5% and 20% on their home and car insurance if they buy it through your organization’s voluntary benefits program. That can be a welcome relief to an employee whose health insurance premiums are steadily increasing, and a way for employers to give workers a break on another necessary expense …

The HR I.Q. Test: March ’08

03/01/2008
Test your knowledge of recent trends in employment law, comp & benefits and other HR issues with our monthly mini-quiz … 

Communication Corner: March ’08

03/01/2008
A collection of tips, advice and insight to help HR professionals ratchet up their persuasive powers …