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Employee Relations

Promise of company vacation keeps productivity humming

12/01/2006

Employees of Canada’s Great Little Box Co. have a daily incentive to meet their goals: a trip on the company’s dollar …

‘Secret’ reviews are bad policy and may be illegal

12/01/2006

Q. We don’t allow our employees to read or comment on their evaluations. Instead, we discuss the content with them one-on-one and have them sign an acknowledgment that they have discussed their performance. Do we have to show them the actual evaluation or give them a copy?—D.J., Michigan

Keep workers productive after their two weeks’ notice

12/01/2006
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‘Job commitment’ is valid reason to reject an applicant

12/01/2006

When it comes to evaluating applicants, you can consider factors like evidence of the employee’s commitment to the job and the likelihood he won’t stick around. That’s true even if it means you don’t hire an older applicant who worked for your organization in the past and received good reviews

U.S. Steel wins ADA case; worker couldn’t do ‘Essential’ parts of job

12/01/2006

U.S. Steel Corp. did not violate the ADA when the company terminated a senior technician due to a degenerative lower back condition, a federal district court judge ruled in a Pennsylvania case …

Denial of lateral transfer isn’t an ‘Adverse job action’

12/01/2006

Employees who think a supervisor is treating them unfairly and suspect discrimination often will look for an escape. One tactic is to ask for a transfer to another department or location. Don’t think that you’re required to acquiesce

Boost productivity by helping staff with elder care problems

12/01/2006
Issue: Nearly 10 percent of employees serve as caregivers for their elderly parents. That strain results in turnover and productivity problems. Risk: Lost productivity due to elder caregiving costs U.S. …

Pay travel expenses for new, longer commute?

12/01/2006

Q. One of our employees normally reports to a facility. But he’s out on workers’ comp and is doing light duty in the office, which is an extra hour of commuting time. I know we don’t have to pay for his commuting time, but what about his travel expenses? —M.T., Massachusetts

Study: Good-Looking people suffer a ‘Beauty penalty’ at work

11/01/2006

Studies in the past have shown that attractive people generally earn a "beauty premium." That is, they earn more money, enjoy better performance reviews and people view them as being more intelligent and trustworthy. But according to a recent study published by Rice University, those studies may have it wrong …

5 things to tell employees about the new pension law

11/01/2006

The Pension Protection Act of 2006, signed by President Bush in August, swept in big changes for employer retirement plans. Educating employees about the law will likely fall to you. Here are five key points you should explain to employees long before the major provisions take effect in 2008 …