With everything that has happened in the past two years in terms of the financial meltdown and failing companies, many business leaders who have survived are asking “why did this happen, and how can we avoid it happening to us in the future?” One way is to effectively manage the risks associated with doing business. Business leaders need to take a methodical, systematic, and holistic approach to addressing a variety of risks, by identifying the financial, operational, compliance and business/strategic risks and determining ways to reduce those risks in order to operate successfully.
Employers Not Addressing Risk From Social Networking Sites
Deloitte’s 2009 Ethics & Workplace Survey addressed the issue of social networking, and specifically the risk of employees making comments online that can damage the company’s reputation. The survey revealed that although employers face a great risk to their reputations, most of them are not doing anything about it. On the flip side, it seems that many employees realize that bashing their employer online could damage their company’s reputation but they don’t care.
Retaining Employees in an Economic Upturn
During the economic downturn of the past year, companies have taken many actions to cut costs, including cutting salaries and bonuses, mandating unpaid time off, and laying off staff. While many organizations may be finished with layoffs at this stage, salaries and bonuses have yet to recover. Employers must remember, regardless of economic conditions and especially in the wake of downsizing, your most talented employees always have options.
Top Ten Mistakes That Lead To Employment Law Problems
The workplace continues to change. It’s becoming more diverse, more regulated, and more unpredictable. The challenges and risks facing employers today have never been greater. What mistakes expose employers most? Here’s a brief overview of the ten biggest legal mistakes employers make.
Employee Behaviors That Can Kill Your Business
It’s important to clarify for your employees what behaviors are deal breakers at your company. At the very least, the following four behaviors should not be tolerated and should lead to immediate or ultimate termination, depending on the nature of the infraction:
Enforcement Audits and Investigations to Increase in 2010
In 2010, all of the federal agencies responsible for enforcing federal employment laws will step up enforcement audits and investigations.
Supreme Court Ruling May Lead To More Unionization
The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that labor unions and corporations are permitted to spend as much as they want on their own campaign ads to support or oppose federal political candidates will have a significant impact on employers who face union interference with their workforce.
More Discrimination Lawsuits Expected in 2010
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced earlier this month that it received 93,277 workplace-discrimination complaints in FY 2009, which ended September 30, 2009. That number is second only to the record number of charges filed with the agency in FY 2008.
Employment Laws and the Flu
Is H1N1 flu a serious health condition under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)?
It could be. The FMLA rule states that “ordinarily, unless complications arise, the common cold, the flu…are examples of conditions that do not meet the definition of a serious health condition.” However, complications can arise with the H1N1 flu that may result in it being considered covered by the FMLA.
Seven Steps To Avoid Employee Lawsuits
Labor and employment disputes represent the top litigation threat to the majority of U.S. corporations, so it’s no wonder that a major fear for business leaders is the fear of employee lawsuits. Consider these facts:
Employee lawsuits have risen 400% in the past 20 years to the current level of 6.5 claims per 1,000 employees annually.
The most common targets for discrimination claims are private employers with between 15 and 100 employees.
Plaintiffs are more likely to win 63% of employment lawsuits that go to trial.
Discrimination claims filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) hit an all-time high in 2008.