by Chris Schrader | Aug 19, 2013 | Affordable Care Act, Blog, Human Resources
The Fifth Circuit of Appeals issued a landmark decision in In EEOC v. Houston Funding II, Ltd., finding that terminating a female employee because she is lactating or expressing milk is unlawful sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Most...
by Chris Schrader | Aug 16, 2013 | Blog, Human Resources
HR Professionals have been told this for years. Had it hammered into our heads by lawyers, judges, government agencies, SHRM, you name it. Company policies must be clear, plain on their face, and draw “bright lines” that are inviolable. Practice regarding the...
by Chris Schrader | Aug 15, 2013 | Blog, Human Resources
Every HR professional has their expertise challenged at some point in their career. Its a hazard of a profession that many managers in other disciplines feel they know as well as their own. I once reported job misclassifications (and the plan to correct them) at a...
by Chris Schrader | Aug 14, 2013 | Blog, Human Resources
Most everyone who has worked in a large corporation has learned to dread new initiatives involving “strategic change”. It’s not because the need for the change fails to be compelling (management usually does a good job of making its case), nor is it an intense desire...
by Chris Schrader | Aug 13, 2013 | Affordable Care Act, Blog
We have been treated to a barrage of news and commentary on insurance rates as they are announced for state exchanges. Those who believe, unfailingly, that the ACA will cause rates to drop point at the market places in New York and California where announced rates...
by Chris Schrader | Aug 10, 2013 | Blog, Human Resources, In The News
Earlier this year we were treated to the case of a dentist firing his assistant for being so “hawt” that continuing to employ her jeopardized his marriage. She lost. But whereas beauty is in the eye of the beholder, weight can be measured by a scale. The Borgata...
by Chris Schrader | Aug 8, 2013 | Blog, Human Resources
Gen Y, in addition to being the best educated generation in the history of the U.S., is the most indebted. The total education debt of U.S. residents exceeds that of credit cards, and the lion’s share is held by Millennials. Gen X’ers and Baby Boomers...
by Chris Schrader | Aug 8, 2013 | Blog, Human Resources, In The News
The U.S. is still in the beginning phase of reordering the nature of work as it has been structured since the 1930’s. The organization of the future that relies on an integrated blend of part-timers, temporary workers, independent contractors and a far smaller cadre...
by Chris Schrader | Aug 7, 2013 | Blog, Human Resources
The labor participation rate continues to fall despite the drop in unemployment. This can be confusing since both should not be true at the same time. The reason is the measure of unemployment reported by the government and media is U3 which does not measure labor...
by Chris Schrader | Aug 6, 2013 | Blog, Human Resources, In The News
The leading segment of the Gen Y cohort enjoyed the best of times. A roaring economy awaited them and they flocked to employers eager for workers. At the height of the madness signing bonuses for newly minted college grads were not unknown. It is the worst of times...