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HR Management

Texting while driving a no-go for Pennsylvania auditors

11/26/2009

Auditors who work for the Pennsylvania state government are no longer allowed to text while driving. The state’s auditor general, who said the practice is not a problem for auditors in particular, issued the ban because of rising concerns about safety risks.

2008 collapse drops $500,000 in fines on mine operator

11/25/2009

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration has issued five citations to UAE Coalcorp Associates following its investigation of a fatal 2008 mine roof collapse at Harmony Mine in Northumberland County.

Your ‘good faith’ goes a long way toward fair religious accommodations

11/24/2009

As the workforce grows more diverse, so do the religious practices that employers may be asked to accommodate.
Consider a policy that clearly sets out how to request time off for religious practices, and establish a mechanism for deciding who gets priority. It may not be possible for everyone to get their desired time off, but as long as you don’t discriminate against a particular religion, reasonable limits are likely to stand up in court.

Questions and answers about H1N1 flu and wage-and-hour laws

11/24/2009

If H1N1 flu threatens to shut down businesses nationwide, employers are going to need contingency plans to make sure they keep running. Flexible work schedules, temporary shutdowns and telework can all help—but all have unexpected wage-and-hour implications. Here’s guidance from the Department of Labor on how to handle these tricky issues.

Who’s your Gladys? Give employees the power to solve tough customer problems

11/24/2009

The recession has caused the rise of a new class of “hypersensitive consumers.” Here’s how to turn those disgruntled clients into your biggest champions. Hint: Employee training plays a big role.

Do your health assessment questions violate new GINA law?

11/19/2009

It’s time to take a fresh look at the health questionnaires you hand out to employees as part of your wellness program. New federal regulations that prohibit discrimination against people with congenital medical conditions mean you must review health risk assessments to make sure they don’t ask employees to reveal protected information.

You can lead workers to PCs, but can you make them click?

11/18/2009

Having employees handle their own pay and benefits administration is the Holy Grail for HR professionals. You’d like every worker to independently access forms and find answers to payroll and benefits questions online. But old habits die hard. Solution: Initiate a long-term, multimedia strategy using techniques that encourage employees to help themselves.

Bees, sea gulls, alligators: 12 zany excuses for absences

11/17/2009

Bosses hear some wacky one-liners when perfectly healthy workers try to justify taking sick days. Example: "I got sunburned at a nude beach and can’t wear clothes." Here are a dozen doozies uncovered in a recent survey of employers.

H1N1 virus alert: Complying with the ADA during an emergency

11/13/2009

The H1N1 influenza virus has added a note of urgency to the need to understand the ADA’s privacy requirements. Although some of the rules are relaxed in emergencies, employers that use confidential medical information to discriminate against workers will have to answer in court for their actions.

Seek employee input to blunt cost-cutting anger

11/11/2009

For countless organizations, cost reduction remains an overriding business imperative. But too many employers continue to swing the budget ax without seeking employees’ suggestions for what and where to cut. To cut costs in ways that have the least impact on retention and productivity, take the following steps that experts recommend for including employees in the decision-making: