A lot, relatively speaking, happened while I took a few days off to celebrate Christmas. The DOL published three new fact sheets on retaliation (here, here and here); the NLRB delayed its mandatory posting of employee rights and the Board passed its ambush election rules. Hopefully this will be a quiet week and
Motivating Employees at Christmas Through Rewards
I read a thought provoking article by Colin Turner in Business Review Europe about the importance of rewarding employees at Christmas and how those rewards can motivate employees. The article emphasized the importance of rewarding employees not only for the service they have provided, but to reward them prospectively for the service the employer expects to receive. This
Interesting Pilot Program for Employment Disputes from the Federal Courts
The Federal Judicial Center has announced a new pilot program to streamline discovery in employment disputes filed in federal court. The program, announced in November, would compel initial discovery for certain employment cases where an adverse action is alleged. Under the program, parties would have to produce, as part of initial disclosures, commons discovery items that are
Plaintiff-Employee’s Case Dismissed for Giving Differing Reasons for Leaving Employment
In reading a recent Fifth Circuit opinion affirming the dismissal of a employee’s claim of racial harassment involving the display of a noose, I am reminded of Mark Twain’s quote, "If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything." Its good advice to live by and even better advice for deponents and witnesses.
Nickey
Good News for Texas Employers: 2012 Unemployment Tax Rates Drop
It’s rare for employers state-wide to get good news in this troubled economy. Today, however, the Texas Workforce Commission presented Texas employers with an early Christmas present in the form of the newly released 2012 unemployment tax rates. The tax rates range from .61 to 7.58 percent on the first $9,000 in wages
Iphone App Helps Track Settlement Negotiations
If you attend many EEOC meditations or the meditations of lawsuits, you know it is important to keep an accurate record of the parties’ respective settlement offers. This is useful in trying to glean where the parties are going and whether there may be an overlap in their respective settlement positions. Picture it Settled recently released a new
Texas to Announce and Mail New Unemployment Tax Determinations
The Texas Workforce Commission will announce the new 2012 state unemployment tax rates on December 12, 2011. The Commission will also mail each employer its 2012 unemployment tax determinations on that day.
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For Clear HR Blunders, Own Up Immediately
Last weekend, the Dallas Cowboys lost a close game to the Arizona Cardinals. If you watched the game, you know how it ended (and probably have a bad taste in your mouth). For those of you who didn’t see the game, here is a summary of what occurred.
With two minutes left it the
5 Holiday Gifts for the HR Person Who Has Everything
What do you get as a holiday gift for the HR person who has everything? Here are 5 suggestions:
- The Nothing Surprises Me, I Work in HR Ipad Case (It would be nice if the Ipad were supplied too).
- Show me Your Resume Wall Clock.
- The Essential HR Handbook: A Quick and Handy Resource for any Manager
Texas Has No Enforceable Service Letter Statute
A service letter is a letter issued by a former employer stating an employee’s dates of employment; position held; and reasons for separation of employment. There are two uses employees typically make of service letters. First, they are used to document or confirm a segment of the employee’s work history or to use to qualify for unemployment