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HR Management

Stop off-the-clock work with strong OT rules

05/17/2011
Hourly employees know that if they work overtime, their employer must pay them for the extra hours. That’s true, but it doesn’t mean they can work OT whenever they feel like it. Here’s how to end unauthorized overtime:

E-pay progress: Make the move to pay cards

05/16/2011
Is your direct deposit campaign a little long in the tooth? Now may be the best time to update your compensation sys­tem by adding pay cards to the mix. But before you call your payroll provider or bank to set up a pay card option, understand that there are legal and practical pitfalls you must avoid.

You can demand that employees respond to FMLA leave questions

05/13/2011

Employees don’t always give their employers much notice that they need FMLA leave. Nor are they always specific. Now the 7th Circuit Court of Ap­peals has issued a ruling that clarifies what’s expected of both employer and employee in such circumstances.

‘Private’ email? Remind your employee that there’s no such thing!

05/13/2011
Make it clear with employees—early and often—that your electronic communications are not their private playground. Legally, it’s your organization’s property and you have the right to monitor every email as you wish.

Workplace Smoking: State Laws

05/12/2011
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recently hailed the “half-way point in a remarkable journey” as more than 25 states now have laws prohibiting smoking in workplaces, restaurants and bars. Here is the list, plus a link to more state workplace smoking laws …

Set salaries with help from most reputable web sites

05/12/2011
As hiring picks up due to the firming economy, organizations want to offer competitive salaries that aren’t inordinately lower or higher than those available from competitors. Here are the most reputable web sites that track pay for hundreds of professions and specialties.

Wind farm accident fans huge OSHA fines

05/11/2011
After an electrical worker suffered severe burns while working on an Illinois wind turbine, OSHA cited the Minnesota company that owns the facility for six willful safety violations.

Bulletproof HR decision-making by following your own rules–and logging your compliance

05/11/2011

You must have clear rules in place for making personnel decisions—and you must follow those rules consistently. With good documentation, you then are able to show exactly how and when you made your decision. That can sometimes make the difference between a dismissed lawsuit and litigation.

Lower employee stress to raise performance

05/11/2011

Studies show that workplace stress has increased over the past several years and that productivity can drop if employers don’t address the problem. Here are just some of the issues likely stressing your staff—along with suggestions on how HR can help.

Take a Video Tour of TheHRSpecialist.com

05/10/2011
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