Training

Add HIV/AIDS education and counseling to EAP offerings

05/02/2008

The workplace might be the best place for employees to learn how to prevent HIV and AIDS, says a new Conference Board report. Two-fifths of U.S. employers distribute information to workers about the risks of becoming infected with HIV—the human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS. Nearly 90% of corporations worldwide conduct HIV and AIDS education …

Extensive training is the key to recruiting and retaining

05/01/2008

Verizon Wireless is keeping its employees longer by keeping them educated and trained. The Basking Ridge, N.J.-based company pays tuition for employees to earn business-related degrees …

Gender barriers falling? Ensure equal treatment for both sexes

04/23/2008

Some jobs are still dominated by either men or women, and those employees may not welcome with open arms the first member of the opposite sex. Before dumping the new employee into the workplace, make sure you do everything you can to ensure equal treatment in all important aspects of the job. Otherwise, you may find yourself facing a lawsuit over unequal treatment …

Imperial Sugar refinery blast was preventable, agency says

04/21/2008

U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board member William Wright believes better housekeeping could have prevented the explosion at the Imperial Sugar plant in Port Wentworth that killed 12 workers in February …

To pay or not to pay summer interns

04/18/2008

Q. Our company is considering hiring student interns this summer. Are we required to pay them under California law? …

You don’t have to pay for all employee training

04/15/2008

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to compensate employees for any time spent on the job that benefits the employer. There are, however, some exceptions. For example, if employees use their own time to study materials that will qualify them for promotions, that time generally doesn’t have to be paid.

Get ahead of the curve by offering anti-Gay bias training

04/14/2008

Even though Florida’s Civil Rights Act does not outlaw sexual orientation bias, employers must still comply with local ordinances that do. And employers also should prepare to comply with potential changes in federal laws. Incorporating anti-gay bias training into your regular anti-discrimination training carries a number of benefits …

Michigan House approves doubling of worker retraining funds

04/10/2008

The Michigan House of Representatives has approved a plan to add $40 million to Michigan’s worker retraining program, known as “No Worker Left Behind.” Gov. Jennifer Granholm pushed for the funding, which now heads to the state Senate …

Spotty promotion, training systems? Prepare for class action

04/07/2008

The rise of class actions makes it essential for HR professionals to explore exactly how their companies dole out training and promotion opportunities. If individual supervisors or managers have too much discretion, there may be trouble ahead. An “old boy” network may be alive and well …

How one rude employee can spark a disability lawsuit

04/01/2008

Employees can get frustrated. Sometimes, they even act rudely. But a new ruling highlights a legal risk you may not have thought about: An employee’s rude treatment can quickly turn into an ADA lawsuit if the customer is disabled …