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Employee Relations

Remind supervisors: Neglecting job descriptions, appraisals lead to trouble

01/01/2008

It may be a busy, hectic and crazy workplace, but that doesn’t excuse supervisors and managers from providing updated and accurate job descriptions and documenting job performances. Workplaces that neglect those essential duties face huge lawsuit risks …

Employees have no right to change duties to fit beliefs

01/01/2008

Employers can’t discriminate against employees because of their honestly held religious beliefs. On the other hand, those religious beliefs don’t give employees the right to alter their jobs based on those beliefs. This is especially true for public employees who might expose their agencies to First Amendment establishment clause litigation …

Options help Xerox staff cope with illness

01/01/2008

When illness strikes a family member, worry and stress can hurt job performance. Xerox helps employees manage complex diagnoses with a patient advocacy program. Employees who use the company’s Health Systems Management (HSM) program can get information about conditions …

Sometimes it’s not what you do, but how you do it

01/01/2008

No one likes being treated poorly, and when shabby behavior is coupled with something as traumatic as losing a job, the treatment itself can be enough to start a lawsuit. That’s why it is crucial for supervisors and HR professionals to respect the dignity of each employee about to be discharged, no matter what the reason …

Majority of AstraZeneca employees take advantage of flex time

01/01/2008

Few organizations can boast that 90% of their employees use flexible work arrangements. Yet the majority of employees at AstraZeneca’s Wilmington, DE, headquarters use flexible work options ranging from compressed workweeks and part-time schedules to telecommuting and job sharing …

Social responsibility drives Calvert Group benefits

01/01/2008

The Calvert Group encourages people to invest the minute they’re born. The mutual fund company gives employees who become moms and dads a $1,000 baby bonus to invest in a Calvert account. “It certainly makes sense given what we do as a company,” says Kathy Torrence, VP of corporate social responsibility …

Los Angeles grocery ordinance conflicts with state regulations

01/01/2008

In a tentative decision, a California state court ruled that a Los Angeles grocery ordinance is void. A complaint by the California Grocers Association challenged the Grocery Worker Retention Ordinance, which set limits on the termination of employees, including requiring grocers to retain employees for 90 days after a change in ownership.

The 7 best ways to recruit & retain in 2008

01/01/2008

If you work for a large organization, get ready to fight with small ones for your employees. If you work for a small organization, get ready to spend more on the pay and benefits that will lure big-company stars over to your shop …

Making spirits bright: 10 holiday perks to ease employee stress

12/04/2007

The holiday season can be an exceptionally stressful and busy time for your employees. And of course, frazzled, frantic and depressed doesn’t equal high productivity. Try these timesaving, stress-relieving perks to ease employees’ minds and their calendars—and improve retention.

Duke offers elder care for employees, community

12/01/2007

When holidays bring together young and old family members, the brightly wrapped boxes under the tree don’t hold the only surprises. In fact, says Lisa Gwyther of Duke University Medical Center’s Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, holiday visits can expose an older family member’s frailties to the rest of the clan …