Human Resources Articles - HR Articles

I.B.M.�s CEO on Management, Big Data, and the Power of Today�s Technology

webmaster@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

�Big Data� means different things to different people. In a March 7th, speech, Virginia Rometty, Chairman, President and CEO of IBM, provided her take on �Big Data� and I thought she relayed a number of interesting points. Her speech, entitled Competitive Advantage in the Era of Smart, describes a new way for private and public organizations to compete in an era of �Big Data� � data in the clouds, data on smart mobile devices and social networks, and corporations mining data for insights and the competitive edge. To her, �Big Data� is the next natural resource, like oil or electricity, to propel this country forward as everyone will have access to cloud infrastructures, mobile devices and social networks.

Teacher Was "Just Venting" On Facebook

webmaster@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

Teachers' use of social media is an ongoing problem across the country. Teachers are given little, if any, guidance about what is and is not appropriate online conduct. School districts, in turn, are left to decide the rules on an ad hoc basis. And uncertainty breeds disaster.

Four reasons your employment lawyer thinks firing should be a last resort

webmaster@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

Last week's post about whether certain employees in the news deserved to be fired, in addition to generating some great comments from readers, got me thinking about firings in general.

EEOC Settles First Case Alleging Genetic Information Bias

webmaster@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

Last week the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) settled its first lawsuit involving a discrimination claim based on an applicant�s genetic history. The lawsuit alleged that Fabricut, a fabric distributor, violated the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) when it requested a family medical history in its post-offer medical examination to a temporary employee and then violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by denying a regular position to the temporary employee because it regarded her as having carpal tunnel syndrome.

EEOC Holds Public Meeting to Discuss Wellness Programs

webmaster@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

On May 8, 2013, The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) held a public meeting that addressed the interaction between employer-sponsored wellness programs and federal equal employment opportunity statutes enforced by the EEOC.

Arbitration Fairness Act Reintroduced

webmaster@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

A bill that would significantly restrict the ability for employers to arbitrate employment disputes was reintroduced in the House and Senate last week. The Arbitration Fairness Act of 2013 (H.R. 1844, S. 878) � introduced by Rep. Henry �Hank� Johnson (D-GA) and Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) � would amend the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) to invalidate all predispute arbitration agreements that require the arbitration of any employment, antitrust, or consumer dispute, or conflict arising under any statute intended to protect civil rights. This Act would not apply to arbitration provisions contained in collective bargaining agreements.

EEOC to Take Closer Look at Employer Wellness Programs

webmaster@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has heard testimony from a panel consisting of representatives of the business community, advocacy groups and providers on the treatment of employer-sponsored wellness programs under federal equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws. According to the EEOC�s press release, issued after the May 8, 2013, meeting, �Wellness programs are an increasingly common feature of employee benefits programs.� Yet unanswered questions on the interplay of federal antidiscrimination laws enforced by the EEOC and other laws impacting wellness programs can make employer compliance a complex undertaking. The EEOC�s meeting appears to indicate the Commission will examine carefully rules governing wellness programs.

Should these employees have been terminated? Tell us what you think!

webmaster@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) — Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

Andy Warhol said that in the future everyone would be world-famous for 15 minutes. Wouldn't you hate for your 15 minutes of fame to be from getting fired from your job? Or having everybody on the Internet cyber-shouting for your employer to fire you?

The Push for Nurse-to-Patient Ratio Laws Expands

webmaster@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) — Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

Earlier this year we reported on the aggressive efforts of nursing unions to push nurse-to-patient staffing ratios through collective bargaining and by exerting political pressure on state legislatures. To date, California is the only state to pass legislation mandating that a certain number of nurses be staffed for every patient. But as we reported, the National Nurses United (NNU) and affiliated state unions were pushing similar legislative proposals in the District of Columbia, Michigan, New Jersey and Minnesota.

Productivity in the Modern Office: A Matter of Impact

webmaster@elinfonet.com (Employment Law Information Network) — Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

It was the memo heard around the world: In late February, when Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer ordered the company's staffers to stop working from home, she set off a ferocious debate over workplace productivity. "Speed and quality are often sacrificed when we work from home," wrote the company's human resources chief in a leaked memo implying that telecommuting employees were less productive than those in the office.