Dec 31, 2011
Winning At All Costs: Unemployment Claims
Protesting every claim for unemployment may be a costly mistake. For many, a strategic approach to handling unemployment appeals is an overlooked art. There are unnecessary battles within the war in an effort to get even. Fights based largely on principle with a goal of “setting the record straight.” Although cost management control companies handle an increasing number of unemployment claims, the required message to management continues to be muffled. Just as location is prime in the real-estate market, in the land of...
read moreCould Two Employees Take Down Your Business?
Could two employees take down your business? Would the employees get away without consequences? When a Domino’s Pizza employee prepared sandwiches for delivery, videoed himself putting cheese up his nose and placing the nasal mucus on a sandwich as a co-worker provided narration saying “that’s how we roll at Domino’s.” The two then posted their prank on YouTube. More than one million viewers checked out their video. As discussions spread throughout Twitter, customers reacted and Domino sales plummeted. According to the research...
read moreIf You Don’t Look The Part, You Don’t Get The Job
Can retail giants American Apparel, Abercrombie & Fitch and L’Oreal insist on appearance-oriented hiring and employee standards? Can your employer? Although American Apparel states that applicants don’t need prior retail experience, they require prospective employees to submit photos, stating applicants must be “able to present themselves in a way that impresses and inspires our customers.” Further, employees who can no longer wear AA clothing are subject to termination based on size. Similarly, Abercrombie & Fitch’s district...
read moreMove the Needle Towards Results with One Word
The pressure is on. It’s a do or die for many businesses. Businesses must push forward regardless of a sluggish economy. Efficiency, productivity, profitability, competitive advantage, quality, or customer satisfaction are all critical objectives. To achieve those results we create plans that use action phrases such as: Manage by walking around, planning, presenting, cascading information down, holding managers accountable, training, communicating, implementing, rolling out, analytic reporting, evaluating, visibility, holding meetings,...
read morePoll: Mandated Paid Sick Days
Achoo! Sniff, sniff! The flu season crept into our existence this year like a rude commercial during a good movie. The flu set off a series of medical emergencies in over 40 States in a matter of five weeks. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention the overall rate of infection is 19 per 100,000 people. While some of you are reaching for a box of tissues right about now, a debate is also surfaced. The debate question: Should there be mandatory paid sick days? Right now only San Francisco, Seattle, Washington D.C. and...
read moreYou Decide: Should there be a Human Capital Value Standard?
Do you remember the last time you bought a car? You might first start by researching brands and models that interest you. You might seek out information on the internet, read consumer reports, and listen to what trusted advisors say about the car. You might check safety ratings and if there were any major recalls. A test drive is also important. Ultimately you want to know everything about that item before investing several thousands of dollars. Ultimately, you depend on the information provided to be complete and accurate. The investor...
read moreLegal Review: Federal EEOC Announces New Enforcement Guidelines
The Federal EEOC announces new guidelines for use of criminal records in employment decisions. On April 25, 2012, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) approved new enforcement guidelines entitled “Consideration of Arrest and Conviction Records in Employment Decisions Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.” The new EEOC guidelines are available online at: http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/arrest_conviction.cfm. According to the EEOC, the new guidelines are based on federal court decisions...
read moreYOUR CULTURE SUCKS! Stay tuned for details…
Did you hear the one about the exiting employee who took shots at his former employer? Yeah, it happens all the time. But what makes this particular situation interesting is that the employee doing the bad-mouthing wasn’t an hourly employee at the bottom of the corporate ladder, a place where disengagement seems most likely. No, this employee, Greg Smith, served as executive director at Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs. Click here to see the full article. So what does Smith blame at the heart of the issue? Here’s the short...
read moreCalifornia Increases Penalties for Independent Contractor Misclassification
The classification of a new hire as an independent contractor should not be made rashly. Although it might be attractive, from an employer’s perspective, to avoid paying worker’s compensation insurance, paying for mileage reimbursement or other kinds of industry-related business expenses, the financial consequences of misclassifying an employee can be staggering when an employee sues. Any employer who considers the use of independent contractors, or has already incorporated this classification into their business model, should re-think...
read moreClarity, Confidence and Community Cuts Complexity
An earthquake seismograph comes to mind when looking at a market performance chart for last year. The sharp peaks and valleys of the market chart suggest a world of uncertainty and complexity that may linger for a while. Regardless of how the global and local markets are doing, our workplaces must still perform in order to stay viable. After all it was Babe Ruth who said “Yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s games.” So the question is how do we continue to hit “high performing” organizational homeruns, despite today’s...
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