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Employee Relations

Remind managers: Comments about weight can trigger harassment complaints

12/09/2008

When people lose their jobs, they often look for some reason other than their own poor performance. And since they are off work, they have lots of time to think about the past, including real or imagined slights they endured at the hands of co-workers and supervisors.

Delta uses Minnesota jobs as a bargaining chip

12/09/2008

A Delta Air Lines official recently told state legislators the airline would consider keeping more operations in the Twin Cities if the Metropolitan Airports Commission agreed not to force early repayment of bonds owed by Northwest Airlines, which Delta acquired in October.

10 ways Generation Y will change the workplace

12/08/2008

There’s no doubt Generation Y will fundamentally change corporate America. It’s already started. Managing Gen Y is a hot topic among consultants, HR executives and talent management professionals. For a Gen Y’er like me, this is great news. We’re primed to change the workplace for the better. Here’s how we’ll do it.

‘Dream survey’ clues Las Vegas firm to employee hopes, needs

12/08/2008

Station Casino executives want to know what their employees dream about. A 20-question “dream survey” asks workers at the Las Vegas-based organization questions like, “Do you dream of owning your own house?” and “Do you dream of owning your own computer?” Here’s what their answers led the organization to do.

Older worker suddenly dinged? See you in court

12/08/2008

Judges are naturally suspicious. They regularly see the worst of humanity, and many don’t have the rosiest outlook on life. So when they hear that an employer suddenly disciplined an employee who has put in decades of service with nary a blot on her disciplinary record, they think “age discrimination.”

Be prepared to explain why offenses were similar but punishments differed

12/08/2008

Employers need flexibility when it comes to disciplining employees. But flexibility can’t come at the expense of members of a protected class. Be careful before you approve different punishments for the same or very similar rule violations.

Was state staffer ordered to check out ‘Joe the Plumber’?

12/08/2008

Vanessa Niekamp, senior child support manager at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, said she feared for her job when she approached the inspector general about background checks performed on Joe Wurzelbacher, better known as “Joe the Plumber” …

California firm adds autism to health insurance coverage

12/08/2008

After data management company NetApp added coverage for autistic children to its health plan in 2006, 31 of the organization’s 5,000 employees used the benefit the first year. A total of 43 have tapped it so far …

Execs lose their lunch

12/08/2008

Executives are spending seven fewer minutes eating lunch than they did five years ago, according to a survey by staffing service OfficeTeam. The average executive lunch break is 35 minutes.

Sexual harassment costs Nassau P.D. $1 million

12/05/2008

Three former detectives for the Nassau County Police Department’s 8th Precinct in Levittown have won a $1 million verdict for sexual harassment and discrimination.