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HR Management

Want healthy employees? Offer a flexible workplace

02/01/2008

The advantages of a healthier work force are many—fewer sick days, higher productivity and less-painful health insurance costs. But how can employers encourage a healthier lifestyle without nagging? One surprising way: allow flexible scheduling, such as job sharing, telecommuting and compressed workweeks …

Shots for unionized med workers subject to bargaining

02/01/2008

Lately, the Centers for Disease Control regularly warns about the danger of the next super bug or pandemic flu outbreak. That’s one reason it’s no surprise that health care facilities want to inoculate staff against contagious illnesses. But in a union environment, it may not be enough to simply order employees to get shots …

Take it easy: It’s just a couple of nuclear reactors

02/01/2008

Exelon Corp. has decided to make security at its 10 nuclear power plants an internal function after private security guards at its Peach Bottom plant in York County were videotaped sleeping on the job. Exelon terminated its security contract with Florida-based Wackenhut Corp. …

You don’t have to put up with disruptive behavior

02/01/2008

Have you tiptoed around an employee’s poor behavior because he belongs to a protected class? You don’t have to tolerate rudeness, threats or other disruptive acts. Just make sure you have clear rules in place and enforce them equally against everyone who breaks them. And remember: You have an obligation to provide a workplace free of violence …

Despite ERISA workers’ comp plan, employee can still sue for negligence

02/01/2008

Texas employers that opt out of the state workers’ compensation system often adopt separate insurance plans to cover employees’ on-the-job injuries. Those plans usually provide no-fault benefits and are governed by ERISA. That doesn’t mean, however, that employees can’t sue under other state laws …

Tests to determine whether BP equipment caused fatal accident

02/01/2008

The attorney for the family of a worker who was fatally injured at BP’s Texas City refinery recently stated that he will have a metallurgist test equipment to determine whether its age and condition were factors in the accident …

OSHA safety reporting requirements

02/01/2008

Q. What information must be included in an OSHA Log 300 and when must it be posted? …

Colorado Workers’ Compensation Act

02/01/2008
Colorado’s workers’ compensation system protects employees who are injured on the job by replacing lost wages while they recover. The state’s Division of Workers’ Compensation (www.coworkforce.com/DWC) administers the law …

Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Law

02/01/2008
Minnesota’s workers’ compensation system protects employees who are injured on the job by replacing lost wages while they recover. The Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry administers the law. The system works as a no-fault guarantee …

How to strategically manage turnover

02/01/2008

You know turnover is expensive; it forces your organization to recruit and train new employees. And while not all turnover is undesirable, a growing number of organizations are starting to focus on the management of turnover as a strategic business issue, both in terms of controlling bottom-line costs and driving top-line results …