nora akins

January 4, 2012

Driving While Distracted

The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates 25% of automobile crashes are caused by cellphone usage distracting the driver. The New England Journal of Medicine published a study in 1997 that concluded the risk of using a cellphone while driving was similar to driving while intoxicated. Cellphone use while driving has been a criminal offense in Great Britain since 2003. Usage in Japan may result in imprisonment. Only a few states in our country have prohibited any hand-held cellphone usage while driving. However, the majority of the states, including Indiana have banned texting while driving. The U.S. Secretary of Transportation, […]
December 3, 2011

Allegations are Derailing

The recent news about Herman Cain and Penn State shocked the public. Yet these high profile cases don’t stand alone. Allegations of injustice, abuse and rape happen. In 2010, the Department of Justice collected $6.7 billion in fines, penalties and settlements. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission achieved its personal best in 2010, collecting more than $400 million. And the Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division collected more than $175 million. High profile cases demonstrate the debilitating impact of an allegation of discrimination or wrong-doing. The allegation itself is derailing. It pulls emotional, physical and financial resources away from the […]
November 1, 2011

Recognize Sabotage

Sabotage is a term about work. The reference started in the mid-1800’s when French factory workers threw their wooden clogs (sabots) into machines to stop production. The term refers to any activities that intentionally reduce productivity. Generally, sabotage refers to workers who resort to production interference to express discontent about current management practices. Sabotage includes intentional behaviors directed toward interfering with an individual’s productivity. Sabotage is a form of incivility. Like incivility, sabotage has a wide continuum of activities from working slowly to destruction of property. Like incivility, sabotage is vague and difficult to identify such as, omission of information […]
October 1, 2011

New Posting Requirement

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued its final rule to post Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act. The rule applies to all employers covered by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) Most employers are covered by the NLRA. Any employer whose business crosses state lines or communicates across state lines, does business with the government, any foreign country or an Indian tribe is covered. Employers violate the law anytime they prohibit communication or cooperation among employees concerning the terms or conditions of employment. The vast majority of the more than 7,000 comments objected to the required posting. […]