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HR Management

New pension law creates extra duties, questions for HR

09/01/2006

Even though some provisions of the new landmark pension law don’t take effect for 16 months, HR professionals need to start educating themselves immediately. The changes amount to the most sweeping reforms of pension law in more than 30 years …

Curb Turnover Using Job-Rotation Plan, Not Job Sharing

09/01/2006

You know that employees who feel stalled in their careers are more inclined to quit. But how can organizations keep their workers energized and constantly training for a step up? One solution that’s gaining steam: a new breed of job-rotation program …

To boost productivity, teach money management

09/01/2006

At least 15 percent of Americans are so stressed out about money that it affects their work, and about half say they spend more than 20 hours a week dealing with financial matters, says a Virginia Tech study. One solution: Ease employees’ financial pains—and bolster your organization’s retirement plan participation rates—by teaching employees how to better manage their money …

Isolated racist comments won’t always be discrimination

09/01/2006

You know the workplace should be free of racially or sexually charged comments and that supervisors most certainly shouldn’t engage in such banter. But you can’t wipe prejudice out of every employee’s mind …

Remind managers: FMLA carries personal liability risk

09/01/2006

If your organization’s supervisors tend to ignore all that "HR talk" about FMLA leave, here’s one way to get their attention: Point out that, in addition to suing your organization, employees can sue their bosses (and HR directors!) personally for FMLA-related mistakes …

Lead your organization toward globalization: 6 steps

09/01/2006

With more organizations reaching their tentacles into far-flung places, HR is being called to respond. Key indicator: Employers are spending more time searching for talent, specifically people who can and will work and succeed in other countries …

When punishing employees’ use of slurs, equality counts

08/01/2006

The mantra in real estate is "location, location, location." But the mantra in employee discipline must always be "consistency, consistency, consistency" …

Texas city provides lesson on background checks

08/01/2006

When the Grand Prairie parks department hired Damon Bryan as a maintenance worker, it asked him about his criminal background. Bryan told them he had a conviction for aggravated assault, but he left out the type of assault. He had been convicted of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl …

EAP hotline calls may trigger ADA, FMLA awareness

08/01/2006

Many employers offer employee assistance programs (EAPs) to help employees with personal problems. But be aware that if you communicate directly with counselors who take employees’ calls, you may trigger legal liabilities under both the ADA and the FMLA. That’s especially true if an EAP counselor suggests that the employee needs time off or some other accommodation …

Depositions: Plan, prepare and don’t babble

08/01/2006
The less said during a deposition, the better. You want to minimize the chance your words can be used against you. Follow these tips.