Unhealthy Side Effects of Business Travel
The health of the United States’ frequent business travelers may be quickly deteriorating due to high stress levels and the hectic nature of work-related travel. According to a national survey by On Call International—a travel risk management company—a majority of...
Generation Z vs. Gen Y! What Are The Differences That Affect Companies?
Generation Z members—generally, those born from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s—(under 21 years old) are just now entering the workforce. A manager poll was conducted on a Google Consumer Survey of 1,000 workplace managers in the United States and found the following:...
What is NLRA Section 7 Rights?
The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) Section 7 applies to both union and nonunion employers; it guarantees employees the right not only to bargain collectively, organize, form, join, or assist labor organizations, but also the right to engage in “other concerted...
Tougher Rules For Workplace Romances
Workplace romances have gotten more complex following the recent flood of sexual misconduct allegations in Hollywood, politics and the media. Office relationships are getting a new look by company leadership and Human Resources. Furthermore, employees who might be...
Who Makes Great Teammates in the Workplace?
Every organization relies on good teams. Effective teamwork in the workplace helps drive company success. Here are the top eight qualities that make an outstanding team player: Selfless and Humble Selfless and humble teammates puts the team and organization goals...
5 Historically Famous Sexual Harassment Cases
All businesses and non-profits must be aware of the potential liability for sexual harassment. In the wake of recent sexual harassment claims against Bill O'Reilly and Harvey Weinstein, companies should be reminded of their responsibilities under the law. A written...
Gen Z is Different from Gen Y
Who is the Generation Z? Any person under 20 years old in 2017. Those born into Generation Z have a very different view of work from Generation Y according to a recent Accenture Strategy survey of 2015-17 college graduates, published in the report Gen Z Rising. Gen Z...
Employment Application Mistakes Employers Need to Know
Below is a list of the top 10 mistakes found in company applications: Disability-related or medical questions. Employers should not require any questions related to any disability or a medical condition. At-will disclaimer. Having an at-will disclaimer is helpful to...
Preserving the Hispanic Culture
National Hispanic Heritage Month is the period from September 15 to October 15 in the United States, when people recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States and celebrate the group’s heritage and culture. Hispanic Heritage Week...
How to Increase Employee Engagement?
Gallup surveys show that 34% of U.S. workers report that they are engaged in their workplace (Gallup data). Engagement drives productivity, customer service and profitability. Many factors can reduce employee engagement which includes organizational tumult, distrust...
Do you know your organization’s culture?
According to Robert E. Quinn and Kim S. Cameron at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, there are four types of organizational culture: Clan, Adhocracy, Market, and Hierarchy. Quinn and Cameron associate the lower two cultures (Hierarchy and Market) with a...
New I-9 Form required
The new I-9 was issued on July 17, 2017 (Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification). The revised version may be used immediately, but it must be used no later than September 18, 2017. Employers can continue using Form I-9 with a revision date of 11/14/16 through...
Bereavement Leave
When an employee is dealing with a death in the family or of someone else in his or her personal life, it can be an especially difficult time. The employee may not want to work and will need to take time off. There is no federal law requiring that companies offer...
Military Veterans: Workplace Strength!
Three hundred and sixty thousand (360,000) men and women leave military service each year. Companies will need to create programs to recruit veterans, many of whom have the skills needed to help address talent shortages across a range of functions and industries....
Edible Marijuana in the Workplace
Edible marijuana can come in many forms: baked goods, candy, oil emulsions, and tablets. Edible marijuana is becoming more common in the states that have legalized the drug use which poses a new challenge in the workplace. Twenty-eight states and Washington, D.C.,...
Neurodiversity In the Workplace
Neurodiversity is the idea that individuals have neurological differences. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder has grown to 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Corporations have focused primarily on...
Can you legally not pay your summer interns?
Companies using unpaid interns need to review and update their internship programs and policies to comply with federal and state wage and hour standards. Employers can protect themselves from FLSA (Fair Labor Standard Acts) violations by having a clear understanding...
Top 8 Coaching Questions To Help Develop Your Employees
Are you always hearing about developing high potential employees? What about the good employees that are in the middle of the bell curve? These are the employees delivering day in and day out. Companies need to be thinking about the good performing employees and how...
Hispanic/Latino Millennials Bring Different Strengths to the Workplace
Greater retention comes with greater call for mentoring, consultant says By Rena GorlinApr 6, 2017 Di Ann Sanchez, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP As the Millennial generation expands throughout the workforce, employers are learning more about this cohort. Some tendencies...
Bad Bosses Exist!
A survey by Chicago-base LaSalle Network released in October 2016, canvassed more than 1,000 workers by email between October 10 to 16, 2016. The results were not surprising, most employees have had a bad boss but more than half have never told other leaders. The...
Tips for Confronting Employee Negative Behavior
Here are 10 tips for confronting employees whose negative behavior has begun to affect co-workers and the company according to researchers Timothy M. Gardner, Utah State University, Chad H. Van Iddekinge, Florida State University, and Peter W. Hom, Arizona State...
Recent Research Highlights Signs That an Employee is About to Quit
The latest research by Timothy M. Gardner, Utah State University, Chad H. Van Iddekinge Florida State University, and Peter W. Hom Arizona State University provides employers with the signs that employees exhibit when they are about to quit their job. The...
Top 10 Effective Tips for Recruiting Millennials
A Company called Zendesk, out of San Francisco, California really knows how to recruit the Gen Y population! Watch their YouTube to learn what really is an effective way to attract Millennials to your company: If...
Does Someone at Work Want to be Your Lover?
With Valentine’s Day approaching, now is a good time to consider whether a workmate has a crush on you and wants you to be their Valentine. Here are the signs that someone wants to be your Valentine this year: The workplace associate finds as many chances to talk to...
I-9 Audit Checklist 2017
Now that companies must use the new updated I-9 form (effective January 22, 2017), below is what should be completed in an I-9 audit. Items Needed for an I-9 Audit List of current employees hired since November 6, 1986. List of employees terminated in past three...
Employers Must File Copies of Form W-2 by Jan. 31, 2017
There is a new federal law that allows the IRS to detect and prevent refund fraud. The new annual deadline for filing copies of employee's' Form W-2 with the Social Security Administration (SSA) is Jan. 31, 2017. Under the new deadline: Employers filing 249 or fewer...
What Managers Need to Know About How to Calculate Overtime Appropriately per the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
Employers who ignore or miscalculate the “regular rate” make an easy, but costly, mistake. Here’s the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) requirement and how to make the calculation. What is “Regular Rate”? Overtime must be calculated on the “regular rate,” not on the...
Updated Form I-9 Becomes Mandatory Jan. 22, 2017
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has released an updated version of the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. The new Form I-9, dated 11/14/2016 N, will become mandatory on Jan. 22, 2017, replacing the version dated 03/08/2013 N, which may continue...
Northeast Tarrant Chamber Luncheon Lecture – Nov. 17, 2016
Top "Watch outs" for Businesses DO YOU USE CONTRACT LABOR OR HAVE PART-TIME EMPLOYEES? As a business owner, HR issues or lawsuits can be devastating to your business. Dr. Di Ann Sanchez can help you proactively “Watch Out” for some of those common legal missteps that...
You’ve Used The “F” Word (FIRED), Now What?
Firing employees is never an easy task for employers but there are some situations where you MUST FIRE them. Writing the termination letter can be a challenging task. You want to ensure you have included items that the employee’s lawyer, federal or state agency will...
Lessons of Great Management from Alabama’s Football Coach Nick Saban
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwSaS9geI1U This 60 Minutes piece on University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban gives great parallels between coaching a sport and managing people. In the end, people are people. Successful strategies to manage, mold, and...
Skills Gap in the Latino Workforce
CHCI and SHRM Release Joint Report on Skills Gap in the Latino Workforce Policy makers, business owners and others urged to invest in workforce development and education The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and CHCI (Congressional Hispanic Caucus...
Veterans Program-What Employers Must Do to Comply (Vets-4212)
The U.S. Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) and Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has supported affirmative actions to employ and advance in employment, “covered veterans” since 2008. As legislatively mandated,...
What Employers Need to Know Regarding Pregnancy Discrimination!
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1979 (PDA) protects women from discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Pregnant women who can work must be permitted to work on the same conditions as other employees. When they are not able to...
Organizations Lack these Critical Leadership Skills
Corporate America is a leadership crisis!According to survey results from Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), the critical leadership skills, needed now and in the next ten years are:Leadership and Navigation - the ability to direct and contribute to...
New DOL Regulations for Joint Employers!
Are you a Joint Employer?In early 2016, the wage and hour division of the Department of Labor (DOL) released guidance regarding joint employment under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The new guidance from the DOL identifies common scenarios in which two or more...
New IRS Set 2017 HRS Contribution Limits
Contribution and Out-of-Pocket Limits for Health Savings Accounts and High-Deductible Health Plans for 2016for 2017change HSA Contribution Limit(employer + employee)Self-only: $3,350Family: $6,750Self-only: $3,400Family: $6,750Self-only: +$50Family: no changeHSA...
New OSHA Requirements Effective August 10, 2016
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will require employers to submit detailed annual reports workplace injuries and illness for publication online. The new reports will be due to be filed electronically in 2017. OSHA stated that it will cleanse...
HIRING: Director, Engineering & Quality Assurance
Position: DIRECTOR, ENGINEERING & QUALITY ASSURANCE Company: Engineered Products Company Location: Richardson, TX Date Posted: 07/11/2016Salary: $130,000 - $150,000 plus bonus opportunityCompany Overview:Our client, an engineered products company based in...
Generations are Motivated Differently
Currently, there are five generations in the workplace, making it a challenging opportunity for management and organizations. Members of each generation have distinct values, attitudes, and behaviors that they bring to the workplace. The multigenerational workforce...
Half of Eligible Latino Voters Are Millennials
Hispanic Millennials will account for nearly half (44%) of the record 27.3 million Hispanic eligible voters projected for 2016 — a share greater than that of any other racial or ethnic group of voters. But the impact of Hispanics could be limited by the fact that...
Not Getting Enough Sleep? You Are Not Alone!
According to Charles A. Czeisler, professor of sleep medicine at Harvard Medical School stated “’ people sleep an hour to an hour and a half less a night, on average, than they did 50 years ago”. The United States is SLEEP-DEPRIVED and this has an negative effect on...
Tired of Gen Y? Here Comes Gen Z!
Various Generational experts have various birth dates for Gen Z but guidance is 1995 to 2015 and more importantly this generation is after Millennials. Research has already shown us that Gen Z differs in many ways from the Gen Y’s. In total Gen Z makes up 26% of the...
New Overtime Regulations from the DOL Wage and Hour Division
Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division Fact Sheet:Final Rule to Update the Regulations Defining and Delimiting the Exemption for Executive, Administrative, and Professional Employees(PDF)In 2014, President Obama directed the Department of Labor to update and...
Top 10 Mistakes Managers Commit
#1. Making Unlawful Pre-employment InquiriesThat’s an interesting accent you have. Where were you born?Do you have any children? If so, will you have any daycare problems?Action: Watch inappropriate questions during interviews and other pre-employment contexts. When...
Don’t bother calling Coca-Cola or JPMorgan Chase to leave a voicemail!
Imagine your company disconnecting the entire voice mail system. That is what Coca-Cola and JP Morgan Chase did. Furthermore, many other businesses are contemplating the same idea to save money and increase productivity. Verizon reported that 1/3 of office phones had...
Knowing your employees learning styles will increase productivity!
Knowing your employees learning styles will increase productivity!Each employee learns differently, and therefore, organizations need to understand their employees learning styles to increase productivity. So what are the learning styles:Initiating: experimenting with...
What is Cultural Intelligence?
Cultural intelligence: an outsider’s seemingly natural ability to interpret someone’s unfamiliar and ambiguous gestures the way that person’s compatriots would (Earley & Mosakowski, 2004).
Companies also have cultures that are often distinctive. Employees learn how to decipher the cultural code of their company over time through historical stories, environmental clues, geographic regions, meetings, etc. Organizational departments can also have their unique culture as well.
“Cultural intelligence is related to emotional intelligence, but it picks up where emotional intelligence leaves off. A person with high emotional intelligence grasps what makes us human and at the same time what makes each of us different from one another. A person with high cultural intelligence can somehow comprehend a person’s or group’s behavior those features that would be true of all people and all groups, those peculiar to this person or this group, and those that are neither universal nor idiosyncratic (Earley & Masakowski, 2004)”. One critical element that cultural intelligence and emotional intelligence do share is, in psychologist Daniel Goleman’s words, “a propensity to suspend judgment—to think before acting.” People who are somewhat detached from their culture can more easily adopt the mores and even the body language of an unfamiliar host.
Video Recruiting – What is it and why aren’t you doing it?
Video recruiting is the 21st-century method during the hiring process at organizations. Video interviewing take two forms—live conversations between the recruiter or hiring manager and the candidate. Live interviews give hiring managers an opportunity to see and...
Do you ask the right questions during a reference check?
Reference checking is an important step in the hiring process. Organizations that conduct reference checks should tailor questions to the job being filled for and ask open-ended questions. Supervisors of the applicant are the best sources for information on the candidate because of their past daily interaction. Human Resources will only give you information on the date of hire, date of termination and if the applicant is rehireable.
Common questions asked of references include:
- What were the individual’s job responsibilities and salary?
- Was the individual successful in his or her role at your organization? Why or why not?
- What was it like to supervise the person?
- Was the person a valuable member of the team? Why or why not?
- What unique skills did the individual bring to your organization?
- What were his or her strengths?
- What were his or her weaknesses or areas that needed improvement?
- Was the person ever disciplined, and what were the circumstances?
- Do you think the individual is suitable for the job being applied for?
- Why did the person leave your organization?
- Would you rehire the person? Why or why not?
Webinar: Top 10 Employment Laws that Employers Should Know!
Employment law governs the rights and duties between employers and workers. Also referred to as labor law, these rules are primarily designed to keep workers safe and make sure they are treated fairly, although laws are in place to protect employers’ interests as well. Employment laws are based on federal and state constitutions, legislation, administrative rules, and court opinions.
Discrimination in the workplace is another basis for many employment law cases. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and subsequent legislation makes it illegal to treat workers differently based on ethnicity, religious beliefs, gender, age, or disability.
Employers are required to understand the employment laws that govern their organizations. Several government agencies are involved in compliance of these employment laws.
Date: April 6, 2016
Time: 1:00 pm EST
Duration: 60 minutes
Speaker: Di Ann Sanches, PhD, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Registration: https://compliance.world/webinars
Register today! Discounts available for multiple attendees!
21st Century Future Work Predictions!
Experts in Business (Future of Work Symposium) have several predictions for the next few years that may change the face of the workplace. Here they are:
- Technology – will be positive for business because it facilitates communication and collaboration on a daily basis. This can result in a more engaged and productive workplace.
- Freelancers – the rise of the contingent workforce will change the old employer-employee relationships. Freelancers will work the “gig economy” to build skills and experience while determining whether they are interested in a company employment situation. People are looking to supplement their incomes, consider themselves entrepreneurs and are searching for flexible work arrangements. In fact, according to a study by Elance-oDesk, Freelancing in America: A National Survey of the New Workforce, 53 million Americans are now freelancing. And 69 percent say technology is aiding their ability to do so.
- Business intelligence – currently 39% of organizations are doing some form of business intelligence analytics. Data-driven insights are imperative for organizations to remain competitive.
- Emerging economies – Asian and Middle Eastern markets continue to increase, and global talent will be a shortage due to the aging workforce. Companies will be looking to upskill workers to maintain competitive advantage, and those skilled employees can expect to see wages rise as talent shortages in certain regions drives salaries up.
- Millennials – the Gen Y factor is a live and well. It is anticipated by 2020, 50% of the Global Workforce will be Millennials. This will change the face of the workforce and well as the markets. The Gen Y’ers are already changing the workplace but will do so by the sheer momentum of their numbers.
- Leadership – leaders have traditionally been selected based on experience, company knowledge, and loyalty. This will not be the 21st criteria for organizations. Organizations are looking for more inspirational and collaborative leaders. Leaders will be expected to communicate (both in person and through technology) more with employees and have less hierarchal management style.
Love in the Workplace
The Results Are In For 2016! Just in Time for Valentine’s Day. Vault conducts an office romance survey every year, and the results are always surprising. Only 6% of respondents believed that NO office romances were appropriate. Furthermore, co-workers have opinions...
Survey Says…Pay Raises Are Flat but Promotional Raises are Up for 2016
According to Mercer’s 2015/2016 U.S. Compensation Planning Survey, the average salary increase budget is expected to be 2.9 percent in 2016, up slightly from the average increase budget of 2.8 percent in 2015.
The survey includes responses from 1,504 midsize and large employers across the U.S. and reflects pay practices for more than 17 million employees.
What Employers Need to Know About the Proposed FLSA Changes!
The Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposed changes to the overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) but have not been officially approved by the President. In the meantime, please review the list below to prepare for what may lie ahead:Significant...
Affordable Care Act Forms MUST be Provided to Employees by January 31, 2016
Small employers (those with fewer than 50 FTEs) with a self-insured health plan must complete and file Forms 1095-B (Health Coverage) and 1094-B (accompanying transmittal form) with the IRS, as well as provide employees—specifically, those who are taxpayers...
2016 IRS Form W-4
Click here to download the 2016 IRS Form W-4.
Research Shows Latino Millennials are the Most Valuable Segment of TV watchers!
The Hispanic Millennial Project (HMP) is a massive five-part study co-produced by market researcher ThinkNow and ad agency Sensis found Latinos Millennials are the most valuable segment of TV watchers in the millennial generation!
The Research found some interesting facets of millennial Latinos that make them a uniquely valuable group of TV watchers.
While non-Hispanic white millennials still drive the box office, with an even third having watched a movie in a theater in the past six months, Latino millennials are right behind them, with 30 percent reporting the same. But when it comes to TV, millennial Latinos are by far the main driver of the most valuable kind of activity: watching it live.
Of all the millennial groups (White, Black, Latino, and Asian-American) studied by HMP, Latinos were the most likely to watch live television sometimes, and also as a regular habit.
Why Millennials Hate the Performance Review System!
Why do Millennials hate the performance review system?
The short answer is lack of explanation of the company process and no follow through with the elements required to make the process successful!
In order to actually motivate Millennial employees to perform their best, a performance management system should be timely and tied closely to organizational and personal goals. Timeliness to Millennials means daily or weekly meetings with their manager to stay continually on the same page. Those meetings should include career development discussions.
Here are 5 of the biggest mistakes employers make with the Performance Management Process and the Millennial employees!
- Not Giving the Millennial Employees Timely Feedback
If the only time a Millennial hears how s/he is performing is once per year, there are bound to be surprises to the employee. Many managers use the existence of a performance management system as an excuse to delay giving feedback until the formal review period. Once a year or even semi-annual feedback is a Millennial disaster. In other words, there should be no surprises at that time if the Millennial employees are given feedback at appropriate times throughout the year.
Employer Discrimination Test
Employers need a discrimination prevention checklist. Here it is!
The more questions to which you answer “Yes,” the more you are doing to prevent discrimination based on race, age, religion, national origin, gender, or other protected classes in your workplace in terms of hiring, promotion, and dismissal.
To avoid discrimination in supervisory tasks, do you:
NLRB Guidance on Employer Handbooks
p>The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has recently given guidance to employers regarding Section 7 rights of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The NLRB offered employer guidance on language employers should not consider including in their employer handbooks.
What is NLRA Section 7 Rights?
Policies Employers Should Consider for Review!
The NLRA Section 7 applies to both union and nonunion employers, guarantees employees the right not only to bargain collectively, organize, form, join, or assist labor organizations, but also the right to engage in “other concerted activities” for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid and protection. Section 8 of the Act then makes it an unfair labor practice for an employer to “interfere with, restrain, or coerce” employees in their exercise of these rights. Section 7 grants employees the right to communicate about wages, hours, and any other terms and conditions of employment. This communication may occur among coworkers at the company locations or with other third parties on social media.
When reviewing employer policies and practices for compliance with the Act, the NLRB determines whether a rule would have a “chilling effect” on employees’ Section 7 activity. The Board determines whether employees would reasonably construe the policy to prohibit or restrict their activity. Consequently, the NLRB’s broad interpretation of Section 7 rights has placed all sorts of employer policies under scrutiny.
Four 21st Century Global Forces Changing Business Trends
Top 10 Morale Crushers that Affect Productivity!
Managers that treat employees poorly. Poor management is often cited as a cause of morale issues, and it can take many forms. Moving the goalpost. Employees will be understandably frustrated if their goals are continually changing—especially if this happens before the...
Psychological Work Injuries – The New Normal!
Are you as an employer addressing psychological work injuries? Psychiatric stress cases can be expensive and difficult to prove or disprove. Psychiatric stress can cost employers a lot of money such as providing treatment, evaluation, compensation and lost...
What do 2016 Merit Increases Look Like? Survey says…
Newly released results from World at Work 2015-2016 Salary Budget Survey says that employers are using market-based increases. Salary Budgets will rise 3.1% for 2016 according to the World at Work survey.The survey shows employers continue to differentiate pay...
SHRM Essentials of HR Management Class – Oct. 15-16, 2015
Learn the basics of Human Resource Management to improve valuable on-the-job effectiveness, protect your business from needless litigation and advance your career.
Topics include:
- HR Management
- Employment Law
- Recruitment and Selection
- Compensation and Benefits
- Performance Management
Tuition includes a printed workbook, application activities, and access to SHRM Online Resource Center.
Most companies pay for this course through tuition assistance or professional budgets. Ask your employer if you qualify.
Credentials in Detail: After completing this course, you will receive 1.5 CEUs.
Register for the SHRM Essentials® of HR Management course.
New FMLA Forms For Employers
New Family Medical and Leave Act (FMLA) forms, notices, and medical certification forms have been released by the Department of Labor. The expiration for these new forms is May 31, 2018. Employers should begin to use these forms immediately. Below are the links to...
Do You Audit Your Independent Contractor Classifications? Don’t let the IRS or DOL do it!
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) issued an Administrator’s Interpretation (AI) that seeks to restrict companies from the use of independent contractors. Furthermore it requires employers to reclassify those workers as employees which would...
Talking HR with Lawmakers
SHRM’s A-Team Volunteers Talking HR with Lawmakers this August, Advancing the Profession on Key Workplace IssuesThis month, members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate are back home in their states and districts for the annual August congressional recess,...
Multi-Generational Workplace Talk – Oct. 24 at the HWNT
Dr. Sanchez will be a guest speaker at the Hispanic Women's Network of Texas conference this October in Houston Texas. The title of her talk is: Why Can’t We All Get Along – Handling Your Multi-Generational Workplace HWNT's Conference is an annual event focused on...
New EEOC Guidance regarding LGBT employees
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released guidance for employers regarding the agency's enforcement efforts on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals under federal employment discrimination laws. The EEOC has taken...
What are Employers Options for Retirement?
Many organizations can get confused about retirement options for their employees. Please seek qualified financial guidance if you are trying to decide what type of plan to offer employees. Furthermore, these retirement plans are governed by the Employee Retirement...
Why Millennial Expect Raises and Promotions More Than Other Generations
The millennial generation has been the most studied cohort to date because of the massive demographic of that generation. Clearly the Millennial generation will redefine the workplace and demand very different 21st century practices. Organizations should understand...
What Employers Need to Know About New Union Election Procedures!
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) changed union election procedures effective April 14, 2015. What can employers do immediately? Training managers and supervisors on the new process. Develop an action team to plan for potential organizing attempts. Below are...
How Can Employers Reduce Litigation Exposure?
How Can Employers Reduce Litigation Exposure? Here Are the Top 15 Best Practices.Unfortunately, employees can sue their employers for just about anything. Here are the top 15 ways to minimize your risks!Consistent application of rules/policies. Being inconsistent can...
New IRS Limits for 2016 HSA’s and HDHP’s
Contribution and Out-of-Pocket Limits for Health Savings Accounts and High-Deductible Health Plans For 2016For 2015ChangeHSA contribution limit(employer + employee)Individual: $3,350Family: $6,750Individual: $3,350Family: $6,650Individual:no changeFamily: +$100HSA...
Top 10 Interview Questions to Ask Millennials!
Do You Know What Interview Questions to Ask Millennials?When interviewing Millennials, try these questions to learn about the applicant and determine if the applicant fits your organization!1. Would you rather be an inventor or a leader? This question will allow you...
OSHA Releases New Compliance Poster
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has release a new compliance poster. The last poster was updated in 2007.OSHA’s compliance poster is free and can be downloaded here.Employers must display the poster on their employee bulletin boards. The new...
Why Your Company Should Hire Hispanic Millennials
by Andrea Losa (Millennial Latina)In an article on the Business 2 Community website, “Why Should Your Company Hire Generation Y Employees?” author Nathan Rossiter highlights a number of advantages that companies should not overlook when considering Generation Y...
What is the difference between coaching and mentoring?
Many managers and employees use the terms coaching and mentoring in the same breathe yet they are very different. In the 21st century workplace, both are imperative to support employee development and engagement. Below are the top 5 differences between coaching and...
NLRA and NLRB – What Are They and Why Should Employers Care?
What is NLRA?The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) Section 7 provides to all employees (non-union and union) the right to engage in concerted activity.This legally protected concerted activity can include such things as discussions among employees about:their...
Even Lady Gaga gets in trouble with the wage and hour laws!
Lady Gaga got sued by her assistant Jennifer O’Neil for FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) violations! Even a Pop Diva can get sued for wage and hour laws. O’Neil stated that she was continuously on the clock attending to Lady Gaga’s needs, both at home and while she was...
Top 10 Facts About Right To Work Laws
What right to work laws do is simply take away the ability of a union to force an employer to fire an employee if the employee does not want to pay the union the costs of union dues and/or initiation fees. In non-right to work states, Federal labor law permits unions...
Final Forms and Instructions for Employers to Report Health Coverage and ACA Compliance
The IRS has released finalized forms and instructions for employers subject to the new information reporting requirements under the Affordable Care Act (ACA): Forms 1094-C and 1095-C will be used by large employers (generally those with at least 50 full-time...
FMLA Protections Extended to All Eligible Employees in Same-Sex Marriages
Effective March 27, 2015, a final rule from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) will extend the protections of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to all eligible employees in legal same-sex marriages, regardless of where they live. Under the FMLA, an...
The 10 Things You Should Not Include in Employee Documentation
If an organization is ever faced with litigation involving an action that it took—or failed to take—the written account of the incident will carry much weight. The written documentation is critical in defending the company’s position and action taken. Be accurate,...
Survey Says…..College Graduates Are Not Prepared for the Workplace!
The Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) released a report Falling Short? College Learning and Careers Success, conducted by Hart Research Associates summarizes key findings of two national surveys. The key findings of the report are:...
Does Your Workplace Have An Emergency Plan?
First of all, what kind of emergency plans do you need in the workplace? In the 21st century, there are many such as: Weather (hurricanes, earthquakes, blizzards, fires, Evacuations from every facility Terrorism or Workplace Violence Contagious Diseases (pandemic flu...
Looking Towards the Future: The Workplace of 2020
Nobody can dispute that the landscape of the workplace has been shifting and changing, but what might our workplaces look like in five years? What changes can we expect to see coming about by 2020? According to Dr. Di Ann Sanchez, a leading voice in organizational...
The Top 10 High Tech Companies and Diversity Statistics
The following ten High Tech companies have released workforce diversity reports. Here's how they compare. Google - Google employees are 70% male and 30% female. Google's ethnicity data refers to US employees only, and indicates 61% white, 30% Asian, 4% identifying as...
Four Social Media Risks for Managers
Management Risk #1: Searching Applicants on Social Media What’s the Risk? The biggest risk for managers in social media searches is that you might learn information that you do not want, for example, information about race, national origin, or health or genetic...
Telecommuting – Should Employers Provide?
Here are the 8 things employers should consider when implementing a Telecommuting Policy: 1. Define the Telecommuting Policies, Procedures and Expectations Eligibility requirements, e.g., must have worked at the company/in that job for a minimum amount of time, say,...
Handling Your Multi-Generational Workplace
The Northeast Tarrant Chamber and Lakewood Village Present... “Handling Your Multi-Generational Workplace” Presented by Dr. Di Ann Sanchez SPHR—DAS HR Consulting, LLC "If each generation has a personality, you may say that the Baby Boomer is the idealist, Generation X...
How do Employers Calculate Overtime? Are you doing it right?
Employers often do not calculate their employee’s hourly rate appropriately because they do not include many of the following items: cost of meals, lodging, and other facilities provided to the employees, nondiscretionary bonuses, on-call pay, and shift differentials....
What is IntraPreneurship?
IntraPreneurship is the act of behaving like an entrepreneur while working within a large organization. Companies are beginning to create opportunities for their employees to develop their intrapreneurial ideas. Here are some examples of this concept: Google allows...
Love And Office Don’t Always Go Together Heartily
By Steve Watkins, For Investor's Business Daily. Valentine's Day is a time for love, and love happens for co-workers just as it does for anyone else. People spend more time at work than anywhere else, so romances are bound to crop up. Rather than prohibit them or look...
OSHA 300 log: What is it? Why do companies have to fill it out?
The OSHA 300 log is known as the “Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses”. This log is used to classify work-related injuries and illnesses and to document the extent and severity of each case. The 300 log lists employee injuries, and any contract or temporary...
NAWIC Presentation 2/11/15: How to attract, retain and engage the Hispanic workforce
National Association of Women in Construction Dinner Meeting - February 11, 2015 "How to attract, retain and engage the Hispanic workforce"Presented by: Dr. Di Ann Sanchez MCM Elegante Hotel2330 West Northwest Highway, Dallas, TX 75220(214) 351-4477Please RSVP by...
Love in the Workplace – 21st Century Style
Office romances are more accepted than ever in the 21st century workplace. Vault.com 2014 annual Office Romance Survey highlights workplace romances gradually becoming more acceptable among survey respondents! Vault’s Office Romance Survey was conducted in January...
Do You Know How to be Productive and Effective all Day? Here is how!
How you handle the first 10 minutes of your workday can largely determine how productive and effective you'll be the rest of the day. Successful people take advantage of the first few minutes of their workday to get grounded and focused. Lynn Taylor, a national...