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HR Management

Employees blog, tweet about products? Beware new risk

10/19/2010
If you have employees preaching about your products or services via blogs, Twitter or other social networking sites, beware a hidden risk. The FTC has issued new Enforcement Guidelines that require employees to disclose their relationships with their employer whenever they post comments or positive reviews about their employer’s product on a social media site.

N.C. firm posts 178% ROI by putting benefits online

10/19/2010

Raleigh, N.C.-based Morganite Industries has reaped a 178% return on the investment it made to put its benefits enrollment, communication and data exchange online. It took only seven months for the 2,500-employee organization—which provides tax, benefits, health, safety and financial services for its parent company, Morgan Crucible—to recoup its initial investment.

Mopey workers? 8 ways to snap ’em out of it

10/18/2010

The economy isn’t the only thing that’s in a slump these days. Plenty of workers are in the doldrums, too. They feel stuck in their jobs because new ones are hard to come by. They can’t afford to retire. So they’re not performing as well as employees who look at their jobs as labors of love. Here’s how HR can help get them back on track.

OSHA gives Texas company 1.2 million reasons to record employee injuries, illnesses

10/18/2010
If you shrug off your injury record-keeping duties, consider this recent case study: OSHA last month cited a Houston manufacturer with 83 willful violations for “hiding” work-related injuries and illnesses at the company. The proposed fines: $1.2 million.

How should we structure an anti-nepotism policy?

10/15/2010
Q. To prevent productivity and morale problems, we would like to adopt a policy banning the hiring of our current employees’ spouses. Would this be lawful?

How should we go about implementing a system for recording employees’ phone conversations?

10/15/2010
Q. Many of our employees spend most of their time dealing with customers over the phone. For quality control purposes and to make sure workers aren’t making personal telephone calls, we would like to record the calls employees make on company telephones. Is that legal?

Can worker who is out on unpaid leave suspend payments to her 401(k) loan?

10/15/2010
Q. We have an employee out on an unpaid leave of absence. She has informed us she would like to suspend payment on a loan she took out against her 401(k). Is that permitted?

Benefits primer: How to stop worrying and love your 401(k) plan

10/15/2010

Admit it. Administering your company’s retirement plan is probably one aspect of the job you wish you could leave behind. But it’s an important one. A retirement plan is a legally binding document that gives enforceable rights to plan participants. Failing to follow plan terms can be a headache—and costly! Fortunately, a few easy steps can help keep your retirement plan on track and in compliance.

Layoffs looming? OK to consider training participation when deciding who goes

10/15/2010

Like other employers, your organization probably is trying to use employees as efficiently as possible. That may include eliminating some jobs and training employees to pick up additional tasks. You may want to consider creating a cross-training program before deciding which employees to terminate. Those who show a willingness to learn new skills and the ability to perform them well are probably the “keepers” on your staff. Just make sure you offer everyone the same opportunity to learn.

Going social: Top 10 pitfalls of social media for business

10/15/2010
Millions of companies and entrepreneurs are jumping into the social media world only to find their efforts aren’t capturing the results they’d hoped for. Half the battle is knowing which mistakes not to make. Here are the top 10 pitfalls companies make, according to Barry Libert, author of the new book Social Nation: