Human Resources - Blog

Employee Rights Act Originally Schedule for April 2012 - Postponed
in  Human Resources - Blog

As of April 30th, most private sector employers would have been required to post the Employee Rights notice in a conspicuous place. The poster informs employees of their right to organize and bargain collectively. The DC Circuit Court of Appeals has temporarily enjoined the NLRB's rule requiring the posting of employee rights under the National Labor Relations Act. Until legal issues have been resolved, the notice will have to wait. The NLRB still encourages employers to post the employee rights...

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Justine Lohelein, MBA, SPHR 6/10/2012 Comments(0)

Are you Unknowingly Violation Wage & Hour Law
in  Human Resources - Blog

Many employers think that if they write a disclaimer and have the employees sign it, they can get out of paying employees for all kinds of wages. Employers say things like: My new hires sign an agreement that says that they are aware that they will not be paid time and a half for overtime. My employees have to sign a disclaimer that states they won't be paid for mandatory training. Many employers engage in the following practices not realizing how much it would cost them if they were reported to...

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Justine Lohelein, MBA, SPHR 6/7/2012 Comments(0)

Social Networking Online Protection Act Introduced
in  Human Resources - Blog

On May 2, 2012, Maryland became the first state to prohibit employers from asking their employees for social media passwords or accessing the social media accounts of prospective and current employees. Is it any wonder that this would lead to the introduction of a federal bill that prohibits the practice of asking employees for their social media passwords? The bill is called Social Networking Online Protection Act SNOPA , introduced on April 27, 2012. It would bar employers from disciplining in...

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Justine Lohelein, MBA, SPHR 6/5/2012 Comments(0)

Who's looking out for jobs in America? Not us...
in  Human Resources - Blog

The NLRB's ruling on the employee rights poster was stopped with an emergency injunction. The final ruling is pending. Many businesses celebrated the injunction while many workers continue to not be informed . The basic right we were given as American citizens in 1935 is the right to organize and bargain collectively. As employers, we are mandated by the law to post the Federal Labor Law poster so that all employees are aware of their basic rights; minimum wage, what constitutes child labor, FML...

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Justine Loehlein, MBA, SPHR 5/2/2012 Comments(0)

Generation Y Workforce
in  Human Resources - Blog

It’s a shame that the Generation Y workforce expects such high wages right out of college when the rest of the workforce pays their dues to achieve a certain salary level. As long as the company is competitive with the current wage levels, it’s a shame that an employee would become so fixated on money and forget all the other benefits that are offered. Some companies go out of their way to lead the market by paying a significant amount of the benefit premium, offering telecommuting a...

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Justine Lohelein, MBA, SPHR 4/16/2012 Comments(0)

Are Your Employees Really Independent Contractors?
in  Human Resources - Blog

Many employers classify certain positions under the "independent contractor" classification and then feel confident that they are not obligated to pay any employment taxes or adhere to the myriad of employment laws out there. This classification does not save the employer from the legal obligation they have when there is actually a real employer-employee relationship under the Fair Labor Standards Act FLSA and the IRS. There have been many cases in the recent past in which misclassified independ...

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Justine Lohelein 3/21/2012 Comments(1)

What do businesses need to know about Social Media policies?
in  Human Resources - Blog

These types of policies should not be so broad that they prohibit the kinds of activities that are protected by NLRA such as employees’ discussions of wages and working conditions. You cannot count on a disclaimer to rescue you from a policy that is overall broad. Always consult a professional regarding the creation of your social media policies. 2011 proved to be a highly active year for this type of litigation. J. Loehlein...

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M. Ellis 3/6/2012 Comments(0)

What do I do if my employee seems to be on drugs?
in  Human Resources - Blog

As a business owner, you are able terminate immediately, however you must do a few things first. Once you receive the initial report that an employee is under the influence, you should have two members of management observe the behavior and confirm. Both managers should then document the observations including all the details, i.e. smells, eyes, speech, emotions, etc.. If both agree, the employee should be sent home pending a drug test. You should provide transportation to the drug testing facil...

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Justine Lohelein, MBA, SPHR 2/23/2012 Comments(0)

9 Things That Motivate Employees More Than Money
in  Human Resources - Blog

Great article on how to motivate employees. Too many business owners/managers just don't get it. How much does it cost to compliment someone?? http://www.inc.com/ilya-pozin/9-things-that-motivate-employees-more-than-money.html by Ilya Pozin...

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AJ 12/13/2011 Comments(0)

Minimum Wage? What are the new rates.
in  Human Resources - Blog

Does anyone know the new minimum wage requirements?...

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KD 12/7/2011 Comments(1)

Cost of a "Bad Hire"
in  Human Resources - Blog

What are the costs of a "Bad Hire"? How much does a company spend in training, recruiting, opportunity cost of not hiring the right person from the start? Companies spend hundreds of thousands annually due to poor recruiting. It's not just the cost of hiring the wrong person - it's also the cost of giving up a spot for the right person. I have seen poor business manager's not only hire wrong but keep the person at a huge cost to the company. You can tell within a few weeks and maybe sooner that ...

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Andy J 11/6/2011 Comments(4)

Human Resource Questions/Issues
in  Human Resources - Blog

Do the most profitable companies have great HR? If I asked your key employees to describe your HR Policies/Strategies, how many would be able to? While these questions go hand in hand, it still seems there are so many companies that still consider HR an overhead burden vs. a profit center. I think that's old school thinking. In 'hard times' attracting and retaining the best is/will be the key to building a successful company. Solid HR practices including reward & recognition programs, a grea...

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Andy J 10/25/2011 Comments(3)