• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

Layoffs

Jobless spike leads to crush of résumés

02/26/2009

The number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits jumped to 5 million last month, an all-time high. The result: Desperate people are applying to anything that resembles a job …

Has the recession motivated your employees?

02/26/2009

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of respondents say the economic nose dive has not had any effect on their motivation at work, according to a survey by global talent assessment firm SHL.

‘Will work for less!’ Be wary of reduced-comp pleas from desperate employees

02/26/2009

In this brutal economy, desperate applicants—and current workers who believe they may be laid off soon—are trying an interesting tactic: They’re volunteering to work for less pay … sometimes much less. A new court ruling shows why you should take those offers seriously.

Moody’s predicts N.C. job loss in 2009, recovery in 2010

02/26/2009

Economists at Moody’s predict North Carolina jobs will fall by 1.6% in 2009. The steepest declines are anticipated in construction (down 9.3%), manufacturing (– 4.3%) and financial activities (– 2.9%). There will be a few bright spots in the state’s job market, though.

What factors should we weigh when deciding whether to offer severance package?

02/26/2009

Q. We are downsizing and letting go a long-time employee. We want to help her out by giving her a severance package. What should we consider?

Will I get into trouble for withholding final paychecks from soon-to-be-former employees?

02/26/2009

Q. We’re closing our doors and firing all of our employees. As president, I am considering not paying my employees their final paychecks, even though they have earned that pay. Is this a risk?

Los Angeles region expected to be hard hit by job losses

02/24/2009

A forecast by the U.S. Conference of Mayors says the Los Angeles area will suffer some of the largest job losses in the nation in 2009. It’s expected to lose about 164,000 jobs this year …

Rules for tough times: California’s Baby WARN Act and layoffs

02/24/2009

The downturn has hit California hard. Many stable California employers find themselves for the first time contemplating reductions in force in order to survive. If you’re considering a large-scale layoff, be prepared to familiarize yourself with California’s version of the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.

Remind management: Don’t consider temporary medical problems when making layoff decisions

02/24/2009

When planning a reduction in force, it’s natural to decide who should stay and who should go by ranking employees based on the skills you’ll need after downsizing. Before managers start ranking employees, make sure they understand not to use temporary medical problems and their consequences as a reason for deciding to terminate an employee.

Study cites N.J. as a hotbed of wage-and-hour claims

02/24/2009

A recent report offers some ominous news for New Jersey employers. New Jersey is one of eight states that saw an increase in class-action wage-and-hour cases filed in state court last year. Advice: Brace yourself for even more wage-and-hour litigation. Such cases typically increase during economic downturns …