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HR Management

Attorney general imposes e-mail policy

09/05/2008

In an effort to make a clean break from her office’s scandal-ridden recent history, Ohio Attorney General Nancy Rogers posted a new policy restricting use of office e-mail to work-related business only. Staff was also barred from private text messaging on state-issued cell phones and BlackBerrys …

Confused about recordkeeping? DOL unveils online aid

09/05/2008

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) last month debuted the FirstStep Recordkeeping, Reporting and Notices Advisor, an online tool that helps employers determine which federal laws, record-keeping requirements and poster rules apply to them …

How to manage pay-for-Performance in today’s harsh new business environment

09/05/2008

If your organization has plenty of employees, but not enough of the skilled workers critical to surviving a down business cycle, you’re going to have to change your compensation plan. Three changes pave the way—finally!—for a pay-for-performance system that works.

How long must we retain records?

09/05/2008
Q. How long should I keep employment-related records, such as wage information and personnel files? …

Political activity in the workplace: Can you discipline employees?

09/05/2008

The upcoming elections will highlight partisan politics and controversial issues affecting employees. No doubt, your workplace will be the site of some political discussions—and maybe overtly political activity. You need to understand when you can and cannot discipline employees for political activity …

Take these 3 steps to help your employees prevent cancer

09/05/2008

It costs five times more to insure an employee who has cancer than one who doesn’t, a recent survey revealed. But it could cost your organization as little as $2.95 per employee, per month to cover the costs of early detection. Here is what your organization can do to help prevent cancer among your employees and lower the medical and lost-productivity costs associated with the disease …

Free daily lunches help retain staff

09/05/2008

Employees of

Copanion

in Andover, Mass., rarely go out for lunch. Instead, they enjoy catered meals every day—right at work. Employees eat and talk together in the company’s two lunchrooms … 

100% of employees participate in wellness program at tech firm

09/05/2008

At Dynamic Edge in Ann Arbor, Mich., everyone takes part in the company’s wellness program. To keep participation high, the tech support firm lets its 35 employees earn a point for every 15 minutes they spend exercising. An employee who earns 150 points receives a $100 check toward a gym membership …

Budget for lower health cost growth in ’09

09/05/2008

Health care costs are expected to increase on average 10.6% in the next 12 months, the lowest percentage increase since 2001. That’s what Aon Consulting Worldwide found when it surveyed more than 70 health care insurers, representing more than 100 million insured individuals …

Appeal to older workers with these 4 health plan ‘Extras’

09/05/2008

Health care coverage becomes increasingly important to employees as they get older. If you’re courting mature, experienced workers to join your team—or if you want to retain the ones you have—you might need to tweak your health benefits so they appeal more to over-50 employees. Here are four health-related perks that could help you seal the deal …