nora akins

May 1, 2008

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Compliance

Analyzing Office Romance

There are plenty of statistics about office romance yet little direct advice. Office romance happens. People spend more time at work than anywhere else. Few people can argue that work is a great place to meet people with similar interests and values. OfficeClick.com’s survey indicated 66% know of a relationship that started at work. CareerBuilder.com found 40% of those surveyed dated a coworker and of those, 29% ended up marrying the coworker. Vault.com had similar findings; 47% of 1000 surveyed had been involved in an office romance with roughly 24% resulting in a long-term relationship or marriage. Though romance seems […]

April 1, 2008

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Compliance

Revise Your FMLA Policy (In Pencil)

President Bush amended the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) this past January to permit a family member to be a caregiver for a covered service member, extending the absence to 26 weeks in a twelve month period. In addition, as soon as the Secretary of Labor defines “any qualifying exigency” Family Medical Leave may be taken when a family member is called to active duty. FMLA, enacted in 1993, is a relatively new law compared to most Department of Labor (DOL) laws. Basically, the law allows employees who have worked a minimum of 1,250 hours and the previous twelve months […]

March 1, 2008

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Compliance

Americans With Disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities. Employers with 15 or more employees are covered by the ADA. Qualified individuals include applicants for employment and employees. A person with a disability includes anyone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a one or more major life activity, has a record of such an impairment or is regarded as having such an impairment. Congress is considering limiting the definition of disability to a physical or mental impairment leaving out the impact of a major life activity. Proponents of S.1881/H.R. 3195, the ADA Restoration […]

February 1, 2008

Categories

Compliance

Tech Know-How

Policies are designed to provide employers control and employees consistency. Ideally, supervisors receive policy training to provide guidance to employees prior to issues arising. Today, it’s difficult to keep up with the consequences of workplace technology. The world is becoming turbulent faster than companies are becoming resilient, according to management guru, Gary Hamel. Usage of personal cell phones with cameras, non-work use of e-mail and the Internet, and illegal downloads of software onto company equipment are areas sometimes neglected in handbooks and policy manuals until issues arise. The National Labor Relations Board decision (see Legislative Update) demonstrates the legal control […]