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		<title>HR Resource </title>
		<link>http://www.hrresource.com/</link>
		<description></description>
		<language>en-us</language>
		<lastBuildDate>Thu, 23 May 2013 00:09:36 CDT</lastBuildDate>
		<webMaster>webmaster@hrresource.com (Webmaster)</webMaster>
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			<title><![CDATA[Does Your Company Offer This Great Benefit?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7735</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7735</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Basic financial education can be one of the most valuable and cost-effective benefits that an employer can offer...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2013 08:13:46 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Dress Code Liabilities]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7727</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7727</link>
			<description><![CDATA[While a company may want to set rules for employee dress codes, the process is not going to be smooth. The challenges to be confronted might emerge at a personal, as well as social level. Some employees may not agree with your idea of the dress code. In extreme cases, you may have unwittingly enforced a dress code that is against some...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 May 2013 12:22:45 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Frame a Travel Strategy]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7689</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7689</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Anyone whos been to a supermarket or drug store lately already knows the basic rule of purchasing: Frequent customers get the best prices and the best service. It was the travel industry?American Airlines in particular?that invented the idea of a frequent shoppers program to encourage travelers to bring all their business to one supplier. Today, 30 years later, even small accounting firms and their clients can save money and make traveling a little easier for their staff by applying this basic concept. This article outlines the best practices of corporate travel management programs at Americas biggest companies and accounting firms and shows how they can be adapted to meet the needs of smaller CPA firms and their clients...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2013 09:09:19 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Supreme Court Oral Arguments on DOMA and California's Proposition 8: Potential Employee Benefit Plan Implications]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7679</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7679</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On March 26 and 27, 2013, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in cases challenging the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Californias Proposition 8.  A Supreme Court ruling in either case may have significant implications for employee benefit plans in light of the many federally-mandated spousal benefits that currently do not extend to same-sex spouses in light of DOMA...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:51:17 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
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			<title><![CDATA[Deadline To Send ACA SBC Pressures Employers To Finalize 2014 Plan Designs As Agencies Add MEC & MV Disclosures To SBC]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7676</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7676</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employer and union group health plan sponsors and insurers of group and individual health plans (Health Plans) agonizing over 2014 health plan design decisions need to keep in mind that impending deadlines to update and deliver required Summary of Benefits and Communications (SBC) disclosures mandated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Affordable Care Act) shorten the time to finalize decisions including new requirements to disclose whether the Affordable Health Plan-covered Health Plans provide ?minimum essential coverage? (MEC) and ?minimum value? within the meaning of the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Acts requirement that Health Plans distribute updated...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:23:21 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Employee Engagement & Commitment = Productivity & Profits]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7645</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7645</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Today your organization is facing an economy that is recovering very slowly. As a result, you and your management team are probably tasked with optimizing the performance of your downsized, lean workforce ? achieving more productivity & profit from fewer employees. What is your organizations plan?...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:49:18 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Overcoming Employee Absenteeism and Tardiness]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7631</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7631</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In an organization, it is common to face issues regarding absenteeism and tardiness with a few employees. This is a complicated issue to deal with as it is very hard to come up with an effective solution to this problem. But as a manager, you have to deal with this issue, with equal importance, as you deal with all other issues...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:08:07 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Best Practices for a Successful Internship Program]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7630</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7630</link>
			<description><![CDATA[With the growing emphasis on on-field training and hands-on experience in the employment market, professionals from all sectors--ranging from management to heath care, architecture and technology--are looking out for internship programs. This makes it an absolute necessity for you to ensure that the internship program you offer in your organization is capable of providing the interns with the knowledge that they seek and also abides with the rules of the Department of Labor...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:54:08 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Effective Exit Interviews]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7629</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7629</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It is a common scenario in any workplace to receive an application requesting for an employee discharge. According to the productivity and value of the employee, you try to talk to that person and convince him into staying with the organization. There might have been instances when you could successfully retain the person. But in cases where they are sure of their choice, you can gather a lot of valuable information regarding employer-employee relations before they leave. This can be done by conducting an effective exit interview...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:01:25 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[What You Need to Know About FATCA's Impact on Non-U.S. Retirement Plans]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7616</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7616</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On January 17, 2013, the Internal Revenue Service published final regulations under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (?FATCA?), which are effective immediately.  Congress enacted FATCA in 2010 to make it more difficult for United States taxpayers to conceal assets held in offshore accounts.  In order to discover information about offshore accounts, FATCA imposes significant reporting obligations on both non-U.S. foreign financial institutions (?FFIs?) and United States taxpayers holding foreign financial accounts.  As discussed below, a non-U.S. retirement plan may be subject to...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:59:48 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Mental Illness and the ADA]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7606</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7606</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The ADA, or the Americans with Disability Act, prohibits discrimination based on a persons disability. It also gives out the terms and conditions for employing people with physical or mental illness in a job. This provision of the act has been expanded by the ADA Amendment Act (ADAAA) and by the legislations of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The act covers employers who have 25 or more employees, and this includes the local as well as the state governments. There are many provisions to this act that managers should be aware of, while selecting people with intellectual disabilities for employment...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:19:34 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Employers Should Define Spouse in Plan Documents in Light of Recent Benefits Litigation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7575</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7575</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In Ginther et al v. Steelworkers Health And Welfare Plan et al, a case filed in federal court on February 11, 2013, an employee alleges that his employer wrongfully denied health coverage to his same-sex spouse. The health plan at issue does...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:42:33 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Phased Retirement Programs: Exploring the Issues]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7539</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7539</link>
			<description><![CDATA[An aging workforce can pose a lot of problems to the employers, as they have to look into a lot of needs of their aged employees. In the US, reports suggest that many employers have introduced new polices to deal with the problems of an aging workforce, and many companies have found that phased retirement programs are a good solution to these problems...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:57:34 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Conducting Background Checks]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7538</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7538</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The background check is a critical part of hiring. You can't afford making poor decisions while hiring for your own business. A single hiring mistake could cause the total collapse of the company. The Chamber of Commerce estimates that employee theft causes 30 percent of failures in small businesses. Carrying out background checks effectively will remove a considerable amount of risk involved in hiring...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:49:28 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Affirmative Action Compliance]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7502</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7502</link>
			<description><![CDATA[?Affirmative Action Compliance can be referred to as a program that establishes guidelines to promote equality at a workplace. The emphasis is on maintaining an equal and fair workforce at the workplace. The guidelines will have to be strictly adhered to at the time of service and recruitment. The affirmative action, covering an employer must be reviewed and revised timely. At the time of annual review, necessary actions should be taken in case of any discrepancies...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:56:47 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Current Issues in H-1B Visas]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7476</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7476</link>
			<description><![CDATA[An H-1B, a non-immigrant visa, is provided to the foreign professionals for work authorization. They must specifically have some sort of highly specialized knowledge in their field and a bachelor's degree or equivalent as a minimum qualification. The fields could be architecture, mathematics, engineering, social sciences, physical sciences, health and medicine, biotechnology, education, arts, theology, law, business specialties...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:50:24 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Brain Science May Be Applicable To Mediation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7438</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7438</link>
			<description><![CDATA[As brain science appears more and more frequently in the popular media, many in the conflict resolution field find themselves fascinated with how brain science can be relevant to the art of conflict resolution. Below, I offer some specific examples of brain science, and brain science research, and discuss how this science may relate to mediation and conflict resolution...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:30:24 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[What I know now that I wish I'd Known when I started my Career]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7346</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7346</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I was recently invited to offer some career advice to a group of Masters in Human Resources students. This is what I shared with them...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:18:33 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Tips for Effective Implementation of the New ANSI HR Standards]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7344</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7344</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has given its approval to two new HR standards that were developed by The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). These HR standards are the cost per hire standard and the performance management standard. Implementation of these new standards will have a profound effect on the working methodologies of organizations...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:51:13 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[ADA Interaction with Addictions]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7327</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7327</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) was drafted generally to give disabled Americans employment opportunities. Congress identifies some disabilities, on the basis of their nature, to be special and requiring safety precautions. Alcohol and drug addictions are two disabilities that come under this criterion. The ADA necessitates employers to differentiate between behavioral rules and reasonable safety of the workplace to accommodate those who are addicted to drugs...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:26:43 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Satisfying OFCCP's Internet Applicant Rules]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7326</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7326</link>
			<description><![CDATA[An increasing number of employers is benefiting from external recruitment firms and resume databases when it comes to finding the best candidates for specific jobs. The result of this development has given rise to more questions on how employers must work with external agencies to fulfill their record-keeping responsibilities under OFCCP regulations and rules. The information given below highlights some of the latest developments in OFCCP rulers in terms of hiring candidates using the Internet.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:10:12 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Responding to Negative Employee Comments on the Web]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7325</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7325</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Often frustrated employees can place negative comments about your company on major social media platforms. It can create a negative outcome for the employer and the employee. Employees that read the negative comment on the Web may react negatively too and post some more information which can harm your companys reputation...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:59:58 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Workplace Conflict: Conflict Training, Conflict Coaching, and Mediation, as Solutions]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7310</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7310</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Workplace conflict has become endemic and is costly to business. In fact, one scholar has noted that ?[u]nresolved conflict represents the largest reducible cost in many businesses, yet it remains largely unrecognized.? Options for reducing workplace conflict are conflict resolution training, conflict coaching and mediation...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jan 2013 08:49:33 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Form I9 Update]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7234</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7234</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) might release its updated version of Form I9, this fall. The updated form will most likely be eighty percent larger than before and will increase from five-page to nine-page document. It will also include many changes when compared to the previous version. Though some of the changes proposed aim to enhance employee verification process, most of the alterations can actually make the process difficult. However, some of the changes proposed for the new form are controversial...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 11 Jan 2013 10:20:44 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[FMLA]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7204</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7204</link>
			<description><![CDATA[FMLA (The Family and Medical Leave Act) is an often litigated and complex piece of legislation that organizations should follow for childcare, medical, and family leave. FMLA sanctions employees to take unpaid and job-protected leaves for specific medical and family reasons. This includes health insurance as well. Under this leave, employees will be entitled to 12 workweeks leave...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:12:13 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Do's and Don'ts of Internal Investigations]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7203</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7203</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The main part of internal investigations includes examination and collection of recorded and written evidence, network forensics, and interviews with witnesses and suspects. It may even require you to consult managers. So, before conducting the investigation, here are few things you should consider...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 04 Jan 2013 15:37:36 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Using Social Media in the Hiring Process: Good Idea?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7202</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7202</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Social media sites play a crucial role in most companies, when it comes to the hiring process. Social media tools such as Facebook, Linkedln, and Twitter let employers learn a lot about their job applicants. They will be able to get information about the experience, skills, and the qualification of the applicants easily. But there has been a lot of controversy regarding the usage of social media in the hiring process...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 04 Jan 2013 15:22:18 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Fitness for Duty Psychological Evaluations]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7037</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7037</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Mental health problems can cause very complex problems for human resource departments. There are some types of employment where mental health problems may pose danger for other employees or the public. In particular, policemen, firemen, mass transit workers, nuclear power plant employees, and people who work in large construction projections cause the most concern. Mental health problems certainly affect other types of industries also, but they may not have the same level of danger. However, staff morale, productivity and the effectiveness of the organization may be hampered by an employee that is disruptive and mentally ill. As the administrator do you have the right to order a psychological exam?...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:46:20 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Strategies for Reducing Unemployment Claims]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7032</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7032</link>
			<description><![CDATA[If your business winds up with a lot of unemployment claims, your unemployment insurance rates are guaranteed to go up. Contesting unemployment claims?and avoiding them altogether?requires that a business or company make an effort to train employees well in addition to having clear documentation regarding any employee misconduct. If a business contests an unemployment claim, the burden of proving just cause for firing the employee falls on the business. Even if the employee you fired cursed out customers, stole from you and set your business on fire, if you don't have any documented proof of what this person did to cause her firing, you won't be able to prove your case...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:25:39 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Writing an Employee Handbook]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7021</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7021</link>
			<description><![CDATA[As a company grows in size and complexity, writing an employee handbook is essential for providing a clear line of communication between management and all levels of staff. An effective handbook spells out employer expectations as well as legal obligations and employee rights. Policies and procedures are presented in the employee handbook that address a vast array of employee issues along with strict adherence to current state, local and federal employment laws. The following are some of the most important employment policies and labor laws to consider when writing an employee handbook...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:06:14 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Behaviroal-Based Interviewing]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7001</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=7001</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The employment market remains saturated with unemployed, highly qualified workers vying for a small number of job openings. Seasoned job candidates with years of experience compete with new college graduates looking for a chance to begin their careers. With a labor market this competitive and diverse, comparing credentials and years of service isn't always the best way to measure true potential. For human resource managers and recruiters, finding the right hire has become more about choosing those with the right judgment, wisdom and reaction skills to handle the challenges of the moment. So, behavior matters as much as experience. That's where behavioral interviewing becomes key...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:10:42 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Immigration-Related Audits: What Employers Need to Know]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6962</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6962</link>
			<description><![CDATA[There are three potential ?hot spots? for audits and investigations for the government related to the immigration and nationality laws. The first has to do with the documentation that the employer is required to maintain in connection with the H-1B nonimmigrant professional and specialty and occupation worker visa. The second area of potential audit concerns the employers obligations under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (?IRCA?) [Pub. L. No. 99-603, 100 Stat. 3359] (known to HR Professionals as the ?I-9 Process?). The third, and one more recent, area of audit surrounds the new Labor Certification Application Program called ?Permanent Electronic Review Management? (?PERM?). Each of the foregoing government programs anticipates compliance through ?audit?. Even a rudimentary understanding of the complex documentary requirements for each of these programs can help and employer to avoid potential liability.  First...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Nov 2012 16:23:01 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Getting a Green Card Through Employment - The "Blood & Guts" of the Perm Labor Certification Process]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6961</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6961</link>
			<description><![CDATA[While there are many ways to get the green card in the U.S., the most common one in the employment-based arena is using the PERM Labor Certification Process. A permanent labor certification issued by the Department of Labor (DOL) allows an employer to hire a foreign worker to work permanently in the United States. To improve the operations of the permanent labor certification program...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Nov 2012 16:17:41 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Employment Standards Act]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6910</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6910</link>
			<description><![CDATA[There are minimum standards of operation for each employee and employer, and today's human resources market. Several of the minimum procedures that must be followed for each employee are described in the employment standards act. The workplace has various procedures for termination, wage and hour laws, and leave issues for the citizens of Canada. The following are these standards...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:47:46 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[What it takes to be an Effective Mentor, and How to Develop an Effective Mentoring Initiative]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6854</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6854</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Simply assigning a new worker to an experienced worker for training does not mean that an effective mentorship initiative has begun. There are several dynamics that must be present for your organization to have a properly functioning mentorship program. An effective mentoring initiative must be structured in such a manner that each party to the mentoring relationship understands fully what their roles are, and what the expectations are for the final outcome...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:22:27 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Employment-Related Records]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6848</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6848</link>
			<description><![CDATA[As a human resources professional there are a number of important elements of employee-related paperwork that one needs to keep up-to-date, as well as on file at all times. Employee data is an important part of the human resources process. This information is important in the hiring of employees as well as how you handle their termination or resignation. It is also an important means of keeping any information on file about disciplinary action taken against an employee that may be needed at some point and time in the future. What follows are the most important elements of employee-related data that one needs to keep on file and as current as possible...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:46:09 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Effective Exit Interviews]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6847</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6847</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Turnover can be something that causes a long list of problems for a company. When employees resign, the company has lost the money it spent to train those employees, there is the need to invest in new recruiting methods to find replacement employees and there is the money lost to low productivity as the replacement employees get up to speed on their new jobs. The proactive human resources professional utilizes the exit interview to help reduce turnover and improve retention...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:41:43 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New ADA Amendment Regulations Protecting People with Mental Health Issues]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6779</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6779</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Mental health issues are prevalent in the United States today. It is estimated that 26 percent of the population has mental health impairments. Some people are fully aware and have been or are being treated. Others are not. Very small percentages have issues that make them a threat to themselves or others. A huge number are fully employed or seeking employment which means many employers are managing people with diagnosable mental health impairments who are protected by disability legislation. Because these impairments are often subtle they may be overlooked...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 11 Oct 2012 10:38:28 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Discharge and Documentation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6777</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6777</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Although termination of employees is among the least pleasant tasks faced by human resources professionals, it is sometimes necessary for the financial health of the business. Excessive absenteeism, drug or alcohol use while on the job or engaging in practices that put the other employees at risk are all legitimate reasons for terminating an employee. Avoiding complicated legal repercussions after an employee is discharged will be easier if the human resources department has been meticulous about employee documentation. Termination should be the last resort after attempts have been made to allow the employee change the behavior that is creating the problem...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 11 Oct 2012 10:32:14 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Complying With the Fair Labor Standards Act]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6778</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6778</link>
			<description><![CDATA[For employers and human resources managers throughout the United States, the Fair Labor Standards Act is benchmark legislation to follow regarding the compensation policies of virtually every business with $500,000 or more in gross revenues annually. First passed in 1938, it has been continuously amended through the years to keep up with labor trends and inflation, and is as prevalent and enforceable today as it was over 70 years ago. There are four main components of the Fair Labor Standards act with which employers must comply...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 11 Oct 2012 10:32:08 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How to Handle Employee Discrimination Complaints]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6734</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6734</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Professionals who work in the human resources field are often faced with difficult issues that involve discrimination complaints, harassment reports and other serious claims. As a human resources manager, its your job to build a safe and productive workplace for every employee on the companys payroll. All complaints need to be taken seriously and promptly investigated. There is no room for fighting or discrimination in the modern workplace environment. Implementing a few basic guidelines in your office can help you deal with a variety of these sensitive complaints...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 10 Oct 2012 10:45:00 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[E-Verify - More than One Million Worksites and Growing]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6719</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6719</link>
			<description><![CDATA[E-Verify, the free online service that allows employers to verify the employment eligibility of their new hires, has reached an important milestone.  Employers have enrolled to use E-Verify at more than one million worksites. Thats quite an accomplishment considering that the program continues to be ? for the most part ? voluntary.  The growth of the program is even more remarkable when you factor in that more than 2,500 new employers are enrolling every week...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Oct 2012 15:28:49 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Creating a Successful PTO Program]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6695</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6695</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Business leaders who wish to reward their employees for their performance and boost the appeal of benefits packages may wish to add a paid time off (PTO) program. In general, time earned under such programs is used by employees when they wish to take vacation or personal days. Business leaders who wish to attract the top talent in their industries will find that a comprehensive PTO program can be crucial in beating out a competitor when it comes to hiring...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 28 Sep 2012 16:14:41 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[EEO-1 Form Guidelines]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6694</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6694</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Payroll managers throughout the United States must file numerous payroll tax and statistical reports. One of these reports is the Employer Information EEO-l survey. This is an annual report that is covered under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This mandatory survey is submitted to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Labors Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. The two government agencies jointly designed the form to meet the filing requirements with one single report. The purpose of...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 28 Sep 2012 11:57:45 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Importance of Background Checks During the Interview Process]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6691</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6691</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Background checks are important for many reasons. Employers must safeguard company assets by ensuring the integrity of employees. Employers can maintain a positive reputation and build trust within the company. 

Additionally, on-boarding and training is a costly and time consuming process. A thorough background check helps to ensure the best person is hired. Discrepancies in job applications and resumes are highlighted during a background check before...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 28 Sep 2012 11:36:03 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Beware Strangers (from ICE) Bearing Gifts for the Thanksgiving Holiday]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6666</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6666</link>
			<description><![CDATA[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Secretary John Morton today announced the issuance of Notices of Inspection (NOIs) to 1,000 employers across the country associated with critical infrastructure?alerting business owners that ICE will audit their hiring records to determine compliance with employment eligibility verification laws...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 25 Sep 2012 08:23:21 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Promoting Diversity and U.S. Business Immigration Laws]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6665</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6665</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Most people would agree that a diverse workforce encourages utilization of skills to their fullest. Thus, diversity contributes to overall growth and prosperity of our nation. However, it is clear from Census and Labor Department studies that this is not what has been happening and progress toward diversity in the workplace still remains slow.  Economic growth in the State of New Jersey and in the U.S. has been on the rise for the past several years and yet there continues to be an increase in the disparity of contributions by  immigrant workers with the same qualifications and skill sets as U.S. workers...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 25 Sep 2012 08:08:52 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Secret to Writing Memorable Sales Copy]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6654</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6654</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Want to know the secret to creating MEMORABLE promotional copy? Sales copy that actually stays with your customers long after they've finished reading it? Then master the art of using words to create pictures in your customers' heads. Read on for 3 tips to get you started.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 21 Sep 2012 13:24:28 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Intermittent Leave Under FMLA]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6617</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6617</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives certain eligible employees the ability to take unpaid leave without having to worry about the security of their jobs when qualifying family-related events occur. This leave is limited to 12 weeks per calendar year, but an employee is not required to take all of their FMLA leave consecutively...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:00:46 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Labor Risks Rising For Employers Despite NLRB Loss Of Arizona Secret Ballot Challenge]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6580</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6580</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Businesses concerned about Obama Administration-backed efforts to promote its pro-labor agenda must stay diligent despite the set back suffered by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in its attempt to a Federal Judge to challenge state laws that purport to require secret balloting in union elections in NLRB v. State of Arizona.  Furthermore, considered in the context of the Obama Administration's broader pro-union regulatory and enforcement agenda, the NLRB's challenge to the Arizona and other state secret ballot laws reminds businesses that their operation face a minefield of mounting labor-management relations risks. In light of these expanding exposures, business leaders should update their policies and practices to mitigate the rising risks while keeping a close eye on the Obama Administration's ongoing effort to expand...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 10 Sep 2012 15:46:44 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Discriminating Against Criminals in Your Workplace]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6549</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6549</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Question: Can the Equal Employment Opportunity Comission ("EEOC") charge my financial company for discrimination if we follow state laws prohibiting us from hiring people with criminal records?

Answer: The EEOC says that complying with state or local laws does not shield an employer...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:59:51 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[USCIS Begins Accepting Forms for Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6547</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6547</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On June 15, 2012 we reported that Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced that certain people who came to the United States as children and who meet certain criteria would be eligible for consideration of Deferred Action on a case-by-case basis.  Deferred Action is defined as a discretionary determination to defer removal of an individual as an act of prosecutorial discretion...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:00:13 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employer Beware!  Confidentiality and Integrity of Workplace Investigations At Risk]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6546</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6546</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Whether you are operating with a union workforce or non-union workforce ? this warning applies to you. When an employee engages in misconduct, most employers prudently begin an investigation before meting out discipline. These investigations often involve speaking to the alleged offender and other potential witnesses.  In the interest of protecting the integrity of the process, employers routinely ask...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Aug 2012 09:53:19 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Job Offer Letters]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6421</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6421</link>
			<description><![CDATA[After sifting through hundreds of resumes, calling in the most deserving candidates for in-person interviews and breaking down the pros and cons of each potential hire, there is one more important step to take: writing the perfect job offer letter.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Aug 2012 14:16:09 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[5 Helpful Tips When Terminating an Employee]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6417</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6417</link>
			<description><![CDATA[An employee termination is always a difficult event.  They are often emotionally-charged for the employer as well as the employee, which can lead to a hasty termination and confusion or anger on the part of the employee.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 2012 09:52:33 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[What Is the FLSA?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6388</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6388</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) states that employers are required to provide non-exempt workers at least the federal minimum wage.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:33:42 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[A Guide to Satisfying OFCCP Internet Applicant Rules]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6343</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6343</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) deals with the record keeping completed by federal contractors and subcontractors. While these parties might encounter internet applicants, the OFCCP created guidelines relating to hiring candidates who submit online applications.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jul 2012 08:07:56 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Developing the Remote Workforce]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6336</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6336</link>
			<description><![CDATA[For years now, the business community has been buzzing over the growing number of workers doing their jobs from remote locations, both down the street and around the world. Some estimates say as many as 50 million U.S. employees are working remotely at least part of the time.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:20:20 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Limit on Deductions for Executive Compensation at Public Companies]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6320</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6320</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Executive compensation amounts continue to be one of the most controversial, complex and interesting issues in American business today.  Some are calling for government limits on the amounts paid to senior executives.  Already, the federal income tax laws impose a limit on amounts which can be deducted by the paying company.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:05:37 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Planning for Golden Parachute Payments]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6225</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6225</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Internal Revenue Code sets some serious tax traps for poorly planned parachute payments. Be careful!]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jul 2012 15:54:55 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Supreme Court Upholds ObamaCare in 5-4 Decision]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6153</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6153</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In what has already been deemed a historic decision, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Cart Act ? more popularly known as ObamaCare ? by a vote of five to four. The decision was highly anticipated by both supporters and detractors of the controversial health care law that would provide coverage to over 30 million uninsured Americans.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jun 2012 08:33:19 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Form I-9 Eligibility Verification Changes]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6122</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6122</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Consider the recent eligibility verification changes to the Form I-9 when adding new employees to your organization.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jun 2012 11:21:23 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Screening Summer Hires and Volunteers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6097</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6097</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Ah, summertime. Bring on the hot, lazy days by the pool, the smell of a fresh cut lawn, and cool lemonade in a frosty glass. 

Another summer time activity for many is volunteering or working during the summer months.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 21 Jun 2012 11:46:24 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Orientation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6042</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=6042</link>
			<description><![CDATA[As the hiring manager for your company, you want to make sure new employee orientation practices are well-developed and cater to the needs of new staff members.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:58:58 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Scrutiny of Executive Compensation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5942</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5942</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Internal Revenue Service continues to examine income tax returns filed by closely held corporations which reflect potentially unreasonable compensation for the shareholders.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 May 2012 07:55:46 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Facebook Passwords and the Interview Process]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5911</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5911</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Requesting Facebook passwords has become commonplace for many employers, as human resource professionals might request this information to learn more about a job candidate before making a hiring decision.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 14:06:04 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How Emotional Intelligence Benefits Human Resource Departments]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5881</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5881</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Emotional intelligence (EI) can play a key role in the work of human resource professionals, as it offers them insights into workers' learning and development.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 17 May 2012 09:10:30 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Bullying in the Workplace: What you Need to Know]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5834</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5834</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Sadly, bullying does not just take place in the schoolyard. It is becoming more and more prevalent in workplaces as well. It could be your coworker, a subordinate or even worse, a superior. In fact, 35% of employees report being bullied at work!]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 10:42:09 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Military Hiring]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5826</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5826</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Because the economy has suffered dramatically, employers now have the opportunity to benefit from a number of programs aimed at decreasing unemployment. Two of these programs are focused on military hiring. Employers who hire military veterans are now eligible to receive two different tax breaks. The programs offer yet another incentive for employers to hire ex-military individuals, most of whom are very capable due to their intense training.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 09:40:58 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Primer on Applicant Tracking Systems]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5773</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5773</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Human resources professionals often have a lot on their plate when it comes to managing recruitment, payroll and employee benefits.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 08 May 2012 14:23:35 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Mayday! Mayday! Landmark Federal Labor Law Changes 4/30/2012]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5724</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5724</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Dan Block and Permanent Solutions Labor Consultants hosts a webinar concerning the new NLRB laws taking place on April 30th.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:10:02 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[5 Employee Communication Tips]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5658</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5658</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In the corporate world, there is nothing more important than employee communication.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:50:51 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Telephone Screening Interviews: Best Practices]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5652</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5652</link>
			<description><![CDATA[There are many different reasons an employer may choose to pre-screen an individual seeking employment over the phone.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:28:49 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Tips for Solving Workplace Disputes]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5634</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5634</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Among the many lessons you may learn in life is that not everyone can get along.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:18:28 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Transforming Your HR Spend]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5603</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5603</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Optimizing HR processes and spend throughout the entire employee lifecycle]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:16:55 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Determining the Need for an HRMS Solution]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5602</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5602</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many organizations find the daily management of payroll, benefits administration, training and other continuously changing HR needs to be challenging. This article illustrates the benefits of a Human Resources Management System (HRMS) for organizations of any size looking to alleviate the challenges associated with HR operations.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:08:58 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Preventing Bedbug Invasions in the Workplace]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5585</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5585</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Bedbugs can invade many living spaces, including office buildings.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:32:32 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Responding to Negative Employee Comments on the Web]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5587</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5587</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The internet has become an influential part of everyday life, and people socialize regularly on websites like Facebook and Twitter.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:32:26 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Attn: HR Professionals/Hiring Managers: 5 Questions you should ask when interviewing a new staffing vendor beyond the obvious.]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5575</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5575</link>
			<description><![CDATA[With over 8 years in the staffing industry I've met with many Human Resources professionals and hiring managers that get involved with the selection of their staffing providers for temporary and direct hire staffing needs. This article points out questions that may be overlooked in the intial meeting and I think can be extremely beneficial if added to the flow of the conversation. If some of these questions aren't being asked now it may be a big help for future meetings to dodge future headaches with you providers.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:43:12 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Conducting Background Checks]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5546</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5546</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Society has increasingly become more mobile.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 26 Mar 2012 08:51:52 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Technology And Planning Ahead Can Improve Travel Management Efforts]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5528</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5528</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Managing travel expenses is essential for business owners. In down economies, finding ways to limit travel costs can assist organizations in allocating funds toward other aspects of business.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:47:16 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Hyatt Legal Plans, a MetLife Company, Finds Members' Usage for Debt and Financial Matters More than Doubled in Tough Economy]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5524</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5524</link>
			<description><![CDATA[White Paper Highlights Research and Employees Insights on How Using a Group Legal Services Plan Mitigated Productivity Impact at Work]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:51:23 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[IRS Issues Revised Guidance on Form W-2 Health Coverage Cost Reporting]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5502</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5502</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Internal Revenue Service (?IRS?) recently released guidance clarifying the requirement under Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (?PPACA?) that employers report the cost of employer-sponsored group health plan coverage on Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:17:54 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Planning Your Holiday Party: Keys to a Celebration Without Litigation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5494</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5494</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Throughout the fiscal year, employers organize and hold company-wide parties to celebrate accomplishments and the holidays.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:58:35 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Redemption through Pain]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5417</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5417</link>
			<description><![CDATA[An insiders view into how unions manipulate their targets through corporate destruction.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:45:37 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Stormy Weather Ahead - Lessons from Wall Street]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5404</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5404</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Ricardo Torres discusses the upcoming NLRB law changes in the context of the current political climate, including with regards to the Occupy Wall Street movement]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:45:02 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[New Leader Integration - Improving the Odds of Success]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5338</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5338</link>
			<description><![CDATA[This article centers on a process to improve the success rate of organizational leaders who are new in their roles ? including leaders who have attained their positions through internal promotions, as well as those who have been hired from outside of the company. The process discussed will addresses how to improve a new leaders effectiveness, orient the new leader to the inner workings of his/her role ? from understanding how decisions are made to how subordinates are used to being led - and significantly shorten the time for a new leader to contribute to the organization.?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:28:19 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Stay Interviews vs. Engagement]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5342</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5342</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In the world of workforce research (i.e. employee surveys) the key objective is to measure or diagnose specific employee issues that are occurring in an organization. Many organizations offer surveys to measure or improve employee engagement. The reality is that each organization typically defines engagement differently. This lack of a true definition is what makes ?surveying? employees to measure engagement so difficult if not impossible. Sure, a lot of companies claim to have the ?magic questions? for determining engagement, but the science behind these efforts is still suspect.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:01:09 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Small town lawsuit makes a pivotal point]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5336</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5336</link>
			<description><![CDATA[What does it takes to transform a workplace culture from hostility and retaliation to one where employees are treated with respect?  Not only do policies need to be enacted, but *everyone* needs to be held accountable.  These lessons hold true in the private sector, public sector and in the non-profit world. The law only sets the floor of expectations of behavior; policies and an organizations culture sets the ceiling.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:06:32 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[VIDEO: Change the Future of Leadership in Less Than Four Minutes]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5332</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5332</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Addressing todays major business challenges ? building leadership pipelines, rapid business growth and global expansion ? IMPACT Group creates brief video providing a new perspective on the future of human capital management.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:04:13 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[The Attitude of Entitlement and How to Fix It!]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5323</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5323</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The attitude of entitlement is prevalent in corporate America. It is disruptive but most importantly, its tolerance is by choice, but totally unnecessary. Read about a four step process to wipe out the attitude of entitlement in the workplace.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:06:31 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Top 5 Workplace Injuries Causes Make Up to 72% of Overall Annual National Costs!]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5259</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5259</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Workers Compensation injury causes.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:30:39 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[NLRB finds that arbitration provision violates national labor relations act]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5221</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5221</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On January 3, 2012, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) held that a mandatory arbitration agreement between D.R. Horton and its employees violated the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) because it required employees to waive their rights to participate in class or collective actions.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:36:22 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[It's not easy going green, so plant a small seed.]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5106</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5106</link>
			<description><![CDATA[An overview of the obstacles companies have in deciding to go paperless with payroll and employee form processing and suggestions for making the transition easier.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:29:43 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[3 Steps To Hire The Best People for Your Training or Apprenticeship Program]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5169</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5169</link>
			<description><![CDATA[More companies are creating and operating training programs or apprenticeships.  This article reveals the nuts and bolts of these program.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:06:27 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Proposal to Allow States to Define "Essential Health Benefits"]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5162</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5162</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (?HHS?) issued a bulletin on December 16, 2011 outlining and requesting comments on its proposed regulatory approach to allow states to define the ?essential health benefits? that must be covered beginning in 2014 by plans offered in the individual and small group markets within the state and the plans offered under the states Affordable Insurance Exchange.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:16:56 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Determining Employment Status: The Behavioral Component]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5119</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5119</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The criteria for determining worker employment status as an independent contractor or an employee fall into three areas: 1) Financial, 2) Behavioral, and 3) Type of Relationship. We provided an explanation of the financial criteria in a previous blog, "Independent Contractor or Employee? Know the Rules!" Now we will examine the more complex behavioral criteria that must be evaluated when determining a worker's status as employee or independent contractor.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:26:40 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Disrupt Your Life]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5108</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5108</link>
			<description><![CDATA[You may have noticed that we as human beings have a limited ability to pay attention ? you know, really be present ? which is why we benefit from declaring publicly what we will pay attention to each year. What we pay attention to grows and thrives. This is what makes goal setting, declared intentions, and resolutions a sound strategy.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:42:05 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Employers Should Tighten Worker Classification Practices As Obama Administration Moves To Stamp Out Misclassification Abuses]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5099</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5099</link>
			<description><![CDATA[U.S employers that misclassify workers as independent contractors, as exempt for wage and hour law purposes or otherwise increasingly risk investigation and enforcement from federal and state agencies targeting perceived misclassification abuses.



U.S. employers should review and correct as needed worker misclassifications that could result in violations of federal wage and hour or other employment, tax or other laws in light of the growing enforcement emphasis and interagency coordination targeting employers that violate federal or state tax, labor and other laws by misclassifying workers.  Testimony of a top Labor Department official confirms that the Obama Administration has employers that misclassify workers in its sights and is ready to take swift action to punish their noncompliance.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:34:28 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Record-Breaking Countrywide Settlement Shows Discrimination Compliance Extends Beyond HR]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5098</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5098</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Record-Breaking Countrywide Settlement Highlights Rising US Businesses To Discrimination Exposures.  HR Key To Managing Discrimination Compliance and Risks]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:33:55 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[What the Boeing-NLRB Case Means for You]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5056</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5056</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Boeing Company is trying to expand production and add manufacturing capacity, something most other companies can only dream about doing in this economy. Unfortunately, Boeing has hit a snag in its attempt to expand production of its Dreamliner airplane to a new facility in South Carolina. But it's not the economy that's hampering the opening of the new assembly line, it's the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:44:25 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Fostering an Educational Environment in the Work Place]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5070</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5070</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Although the working day may already be packed with conference calls, emails, meetings, overtime, training, and much more, many employees may feel there is no time left in the day to participate in learning activities. Employees who are growing their minds are also growing their productivity. Learning enhances brain activity and promotes problem-solving skills, which is beneficial to all areas of life. Managers who create an environment that promotes lifelong learning will reap the rewards as employees are up to date with local market trends, industry inside information, and are expected to think about problems and strategy progressively. Management teams can intentionally promote an environment where learning is available and encouraged.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:44:09 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Stress at work - what are your legal responsibilities?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5069</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5069</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Following the report last month from the CIPD and Simplyhealth we all now know that back pain and cancer are no longer the main causes of long-term absence from work. The number one cause is now stress. As if that was not incentive enough for businesses to address the problem, there are legal responsibilities for directors, managers and employees in respect of dealing with stress.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:41:18 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Effective Workplace Conflict Resolution Results in Happier and Healthier Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5068</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=5068</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Work is a large part of life for most Americans, and not just because the salary they earn is usually a necessity. A job is a major source of identity, as well as an important source of social interaction for the majority of people. Even if your job is not your passion, it should be a relatively pleasant experience. When it is not, health and happiness suffer.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:30:37 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Five Reasons Why Employee Engagement Is Making Me Feel Disengaged]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4973</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4973</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employee engagement has become a buzzword with no meaning in some workplace.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:13:26 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Attention Given to Employee Motivation is Vital]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4967</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4967</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Good morale around the workplace is vital for a business success, if it is lacking then upper management needs to consider how to enrich employee motivation. Employees will not be as motivated, productive or creative if their morale is low. Keeping employees happy through positive motivation results in a successful business.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:54:17 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[The Workplace Bully - The Jerk Doesn't Always Win!]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4966</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4966</link>
			<description><![CDATA[While researching workplace bullies it made me think back to a job, I had years ago, for which I had a manager that I considered to be more of a "thug" than a boss. Let's call him "Mr Bully Boss". Those who "obeyed" Mr Bully Boss were part of his "inner circle" and those who didn't, were made to feel like outcasts.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:48:56 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[How to Create a Collaborative and Empowering Environment]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3670</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3670</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Each day, an alarming amount of reports and stories are being told in the media about how people are becoming more apathetic and disrespectful in the workplace, schools, and at home. &nbsp;What happened? &nbsp;More importantly, what can be done to bring about more compassion and respect for humankind?&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:59:50 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[New Rule Requires Many Conditions Met Before Plan Investment Advisors May Collect Compensation From Recommended Investments]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4943</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4943</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Sponsors, fiduciaries, and advisors to 401(k), individual retirement account (IRA) and other individual account plans should review a new final regulation intended to give more flexibility to plans and their advisors in providing fiduciary investment advice to participants and beneficiaries under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code (Code) published by the Department of Labor Employee Benefit Security Administration (EBSA) on October 25, 2011. While many plan sponsors, fiduciaries and invesment advisors are likely to find attractive the added options for paying for investment advice allowed by the new final rule, the use of this rule is subject to many strings and conditions.  Consequently, those planning to rely upon the new rules to allow investment advisors to collect compensation from investments recommended by the advisor must exercise care that the necessary arrangements are in place and administered to fulfill these conditions.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:05:29 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Un-fair Share]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4825</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4825</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Today we are much more aware of complexities of the workplace than we were in the simple-minded, order-driven methods of the past. But even with all this enlightenment, what is a manager to do when a staff person isnt carrying his or her own weight?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:30:57 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[New Notice Requirements for Qualified Plans Seeking IRS Approval of Church Plan Status]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4928</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4928</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On September 23rd, the Internal Revenue Service (the ?IRS?) released Rev. Proc. 2011-44, which modifies the procedures for submitting a private letter ruling request that a plan constitutes a church plan. In connection with such ruling requests, Rev. Proc. 2011-44 adds a notice requirement and requires that an applicant represent whether the plan is a church plan that has opted out of ERISA coverage. The revenue procedure applies to both ruling requests received after September 26th, 2011 and ruling requests pending with the IRS as of September 26th, 2011.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:43:00 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Age versus Fitness for Duty: Which Standard to Use?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4856</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4856</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I know it is legal under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act for fire and police departments to have mandatory retirement at age 55. But I think both the police and fire departments, or any organization for that matter, are making a mistake if they make this decision solely on the basis of age.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:05:35 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Rigid Policies May Break under the Weight of ADA Reasonable Accommodation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4822</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4822</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Should we have been surprised by the announcement in July 2011 that telecommunications giant Verizon settled EEOC claims that it violated the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) through enforcement of Verizon's no fault attendance policy? There were signals that such employer policies were problematic before that record-setting $20 million settlement. Indeed, in the past few years the EEOC has challenged a workers' compensation leave exhaustion policy[1] and maximum leave periods.[2] And while it has been widely believed that regular attendance is an essential function of performing a job, cracks have appeared in this seemingly reliable concept.[3]  

So perhaps there were signals that no fault attendance policies were at risk. And while there was no court adjudication of alleged ADA violations by Verizon, clearly there is much that can be learned from this historic settlement, the largest disability discrimination settlement in a single lawsuit in EEOC history.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:27:11 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[THE BAD BOSS: Causes and Solutions]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4819</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4819</link>
			<description><![CDATA[What should you do when you realize your boss is standing in the way of your professional happiness? While the summer blockbuster &ldquo;Horrible Bosses&rdquo; subtly (or not so subtly) suggests that offing their bosses (described as a psycho, a man-eater, and a tool, respectively) might be an appropriate resolution, the truth is that &ldquo;bad&rdquo; bosses might simply have never learned how to be effective supervisors. Having weak, ineffective managers in the workplace will have damaging effects on employees and the company as a whole. Indeed, poor and ineffective management leads to low morale, reduced productivity, high turnover, and generally unhappy professional experiences, among other things. So, how can you tell if your boss is an ineffective manager who may simply have missed the boat when it came to learning basic supervisory and management skills? Or, how do you know if you are personally lacking in some essential management skills? And what could be done to fix this problem?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:26:15 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[The ROI Of An Employee Handbook]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4818</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4818</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Not sure if your company needs one?  YES!  Here is why:  Time is Money; Consistency & Accountability; Wage & Hour Compliance; Employee Conduct & Performance; Value of a Signed Acknowledgement]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Sep 2011 09:01:19 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Is it Legal to Only Hire the Already-Employed? The Problems With Must-Be-Employed Rules]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4747</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4747</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The job requirements have appeared all around the country. One ad, placed by a Texas electronics company looking for an engineer, stated that the company would not "consider/review anyone NOT currently employed regardless of the reason." In New Jersey, a Craigslist ad for assistant restaurant managers required that applicants "must be currently employed." There are many other examples of these types of ads.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:12:43 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Where Is Your Business Front Door]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4730</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4730</link>
			<description><![CDATA[How your company lives its mission, company philosophy, and customer service practice are the basis a solid organizatoin and employee performance. Where you expect them to be exhibited is critical and it's not just at the front door.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:32:48 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Who's on First and What's on Second -]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4729</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4729</link>
			<description><![CDATA[An in depth look at the differences between an Advisor &amp; Broker with regard to Retirement Plans]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:30:46 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Leadership Essentials in a Recovering Economy]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4727</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4727</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Leadership has an unusual opportunity to keep the organization from slipping financially, emotionally and productively, and actually thrive during an irregular economy.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:31:39 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[OFCCP Audits Are Heating Up]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4714</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4714</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The shift in policies of the Department of Labor under Hilda Solis&rsquo;s leadership has finally trickled down into the Office of Federal Contract Compliance (OFCCP). In Dec. 2010, the agency scrapped the Bush administration&rsquo;s Active Case Management Program and adopted an Active Case Enforcement (ACE) Program. As a result, there will be less compliance reviews but the ones scheduled will be rigorous and more will result in an on-site review.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:51:02 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Insights for the generations on communication]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4697</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4697</link>
			<description><![CDATA["What we talk about when we talk about communication" was the title of  the 2011 Annual Symposium of the Bernard Schwartz Communication  Institute of Baruch College/CUNY held on May 6th. I am fortunate to be  among the invitees who were treated to a full day of keynotes, small  group discussions and informal talk at meals.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:00:35 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Same-Sex Union Developments in Rhode Island and New York]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4696</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4696</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Rhode Island and New York are the latest states to enact laws recognizing same-sex relationships.&nbsp; 18 states and the District of Columbia now recognize or have enacted laws that will soon take effect to legally recognize some form of union between same-sex couples.&nbsp; Meanwhile, 41 states have enacted laws or amended state constitutions to ban same-sex marriage by defining "marriage" under state law as a union between one man and one woman.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:13:47 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[IRS to require manual entry of Taxpayer identification Numbers on W-2 forms]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4668</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4668</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It just got harder for some payroll departments to report tax return information.&nbsp;The  Internal Revenue Service has announced on its Web site that it is  requiring employers to manually enter Taxpayer Identification Numbers  (TINs) on Forms W-2 for all taxpayers with Individual Taxpayer  Identification Numbers (ITINs) who report wages. The requirement is  effective for the 2011 tax year.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:19:54 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Virtual Organizations and Social Networks: The Importance of Communication Convergence]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4665</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4665</link>
			<description><![CDATA[What is Communication Convergence? 



Simply put, communication convergence takes place when a state of equilibrium exists between Oral Communication Skills and Written Communication Skills.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 10 Aug 2011 08:01:59 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Preparing for Interventions With Potentially Violent or Unsafe Employees - Assessing the Risk]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4650</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4650</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Planning for any performance intervention or termination conference  should  include an evaluation of the risk for dangerous behavior. This  article includes  a comprehensive series of questions to  support such an evaluation.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 09:33:35 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Prepare For Changes In IRS Rules For Proving Business Travel Expenses]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4636</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4636</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers and business travelers get ready.  The Internal Revenue Service is changing its rules for substantiation of expenses for lodging, meal and incidental expenses incurred while traveling away from home on business.  The changes will require businesses change their practices and communicate and enforce new rules when dealing with expense reimbursements for employees incurred while traveling on business.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jul 2011 10:36:51 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Favoritism? Not Me!]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4598</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4598</link>
			<description><![CDATA[No one thinks they play favorites, but how do you really know? Here are some points to consider in your leadership style.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:49:10 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Supreme Court Halts Class Action Discrimination Lawsuit]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4597</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4597</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Supreme Court reversed the class certification in Wal-Mart v. Dukes (No. 10-277). The plaintiff class &ndash; seeking damages estimated close to one billion dollars &ndash; consisted of approximately 1.5 million hourly and salaried, current and former, female employees of Wal-Mart who claimed sex discrimination in pay and promotions.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:48:11 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How to Introduce the Right Uniform or Dress Code Into Your Business]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4595</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4595</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Introducing a new dress code or uniform into your business can bring many  benefits. It can help you to present a more professional appearance to your  customers to make a better first impression and increase brand awareness; you  can protect your staff, or just their clothes, from harm from the elements; and  they can build greater team unity within the business, leading to improved  productivity and output.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:22:29 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Same-Sex Marriage Legalized in New York:  Implications for Employee Benefit Plans]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4590</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4590</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers may soon experience an increase in requests for spousal benefit coverage from employees who have legally married their same-sex partners now that same-sex marriage has been legalized in New York.&nbsp; The new law takes effect on July 24, 2011.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:22:11 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[What is the Biggest Misconception About You?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4512</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4512</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Have you ever been in an interview and had that one question that stopped you dead in your tracks!!&nbsp; How you would you answer this questiion....What is the biggest misconception about&nbsp;you?&nbsp; Here is what I said and my thought on what the biggest misconception is about HR.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:31:14 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Health and Wellness In The Workplace]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4502</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4502</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The American workforce continues to face a very serious issue: health and healthcare costs.&nbsp; As the number of chronic diseases increases so does the cost of health care.&nbsp; A recent study had shown that 45% of Americans have at least one chronic disease.&nbsp; Common diseases such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease are proven to decrease productivity in the workplace in addition to driving healthcare benefits costs.&nbsp; The good news is these diseases are both preventable and treatable.&nbsp; In recent years, trends have shown that three dollars of every four spent on healthcare are spent on treatment rather than preventative wellness.&nbsp; Wellness programs aim to turn this statistic around.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 31 May 2011 16:16:25 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Illinois Civil Unions Complicated by Federal DOMA and Potential DOMA Repeal ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4514</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4514</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, which legalizes civil unions for same-sex and opposite-sex partners, takes effect on June 1, 2011.&nbsp; The law entitles civil union partners to all of the legal rights and obligations that opposite-sex spouses have under Illinois state law by requiring that a party to a civil union be included in any use of the terms &ldquo;spouse&rdquo;, &ldquo;family&rdquo;, &ldquo;immediate family&rdquo;, &ldquo;dependent&rdquo;, &ldquo;next of kin&rdquo;, or other terms that denote a spousal relationship throughout Illinois law.&nbsp; Illinois will recognize as a civil union any same-sex marriage, civil union or substantially similar legal relationship entered into in other states.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 31 May 2011 16:15:51 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Five ways to ensure a significant ROI on your training budget]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4500</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4500</link>
			<description><![CDATA[As a business owner or manager, how can you ensure your return on investment when it comes to training your employees?&nbsp; Training can take time and money.&nbsp; Learn several ways to ensure you optimize the resources you are investing.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 25 May 2011 12:53:29 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Favorite interview questions of potential employers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4463</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4463</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The resume helps land the interview, but when it  comes to making hiring decisions, employers are looking for  less-obvious clues that an applicant is right for the job, a new  Accountemps survey reveals. Forty-two percent of chief financial  officers (CFOs) polled cited their "go-to" interview questions as those  related to personal attributes - for example: "What are your strengths  and weaknesses?" and "Describe your work ethic." Thirty-four percent of  executives prefer to ask about qualifications, such as, "Tell me about  your previous experience" and "Why should we hire you?"]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 12 May 2011 10:37:00 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Company Communication With the Workers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4462</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4462</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Most of the difficulties in the employer-employee relationship are the result of misunderstanding or of a lack of understanding of one another problems. The average workman is a steady, hard-working man. He has little sympathy with communism, with radical socialistic tendencies, or with any attempt to breed dissatisfaction and strife between capital and labor. He is occupied with his job, his home, and his family.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 12 May 2011 10:34:38 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Five Reasons Why You Should Partner With Recruiting Firms ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4422</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4422</link>
			<description><![CDATA[For some HR professionals, there is a stigma associated with&nbsp;recruiting firms.&nbsp;But, the truth is, recruiters are a necessary evil, particularly in the technology world. Recruiting firms have a database of high-quality candidates, network exclusively with the types of candidates that their clients seek, and surround themselves with subject matter experts. ?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 05 May 2011 08:16:02 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[The World of Human Resources Today.... ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4394</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4394</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I recently spent some time with a friend who is also in Human Resources;&nbsp; while I was there,&nbsp; we got into the discussion of how Human Resources has changed. This can be a loaded question, depending on who you ask, and it made me wonder: how has Human Resources changed? What is the expectation of Human Resources today?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:07:42 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Control Annoying Co-Workers Instead of Allowing Them to Control You!]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4397</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4397</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Learning how to protect yourself from emotional manipulation, disrespect and humiliation at work.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:26:35 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[When the MVP is the Alleged Harasser]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4343</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4343</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Every company has one. The all-star. The top performer. The employee who goes the extra mile and commands the respect of his or her peers.&nbsp; With these exceptional performers, if a complaint of impropriety is made against one of them, the allegations can be hard to believe.&nbsp; Often, there is a natural instinct to defend them and maybe even to downplay the allegations.&nbsp; However, that is the wrong approach.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:29:23 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[For Employers Facing Their Own 'Charlie Sheen']]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4380</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4380</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Every employer has at least one challenging employee who makes the employee&rsquo;s manager want to rip his or her hair out. &nbsp;Very few employers, however, have an employee who thinks he is a &ldquo;high priest Vatican assassin warlock&rdquo; who is made up of &ldquo;tiger blood and Adonis DNA&rdquo; and who makes his employment complaints known through tabloid television shows, tweets and webcast rants.&nbsp;&nbsp; Yes, Charlie Sheen, the &ldquo;rock star from Mars,&rdquo; is in a class unto himself and is engaged in a self-described &ldquo;war&rdquo; with Warner Brothers and the creator of &ldquo;Two and a Half Men,&rdquo; Chuck Lorre.&nbsp; Sheen&rsquo;s latest move in this war is the filing of a lawsuit against Warner Brothers and Lorre alleging a variety of employment claims.&nbsp; These claims include disability discrimination under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), failure to pay wages as required by the Labor Code, and penalties under the Private Attorneys&rsquo; General Act (PAGA).Although most employers do not have a character quite as colorful as Sheen, all employers can learn something from the Sheen situation. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:27:12 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Final FBAR Regulations offer some relief for plan sponsors, but filing obligations remain]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4361</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4361</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On February 24, 2011, a division of the United States Treasury Department issued final regulations (Final Regulations) concerning the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, IRS Form TD-F 90-22.1 (FBAR).&nbsp; Although the Final Regulations provide some relief for employee benefit plans and plan sponsors, they do not provide a blanket exemption for benefit plans.&nbsp; Thus, plan sponsors whose plans have foreign financial accounts should be aware of the upcoming June 30, 2011 filing deadline for 2010 filings.&nbsp; The following discussion is intended to describe the most significant aspects of the Final Regulations for plan sponsors.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:40:19 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Unemployed Need Not Apply: EEOC Considers Discrimination Against Jobless]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4347</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4347</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Recently, the EEOC held an open meeting to &ldquo;examine treatment of unemployed job  seekers.&rdquo; During the meeting, several witnesses presented testimony on what some  view as a growing problem in the current economy &ndash; discrimination against the  jobless. The impetus for the meeting started as early as May of 2010, when  employment organizations first noticed job postings that explicitly  discriminated against the unemployed. These postings ranged from requirements  that the person have been employed in the last six months to specific  announcements that &ldquo;no unemployed candidates will be considered at all.&rdquo;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:25:11 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Retirement Plan Sponsors - Fiduciaries Need to Plan Now to Comply with DOL's Final Regulation on Transparency of Fees and Expenses]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4328</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4328</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Beginning January 1, 2012 (for calendar year plans), the  Department  of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration  (&ldquo;EBSA&rdquo;) will  require retirement plans that allow participants to direct  the  investment of their accounts (typically 401(k) and 403(b) plans) to   provide extensive information regarding fees and expenses related to a   plan&rsquo;s investment options so that plan participants can more easily   compare the costs of various investment options.&nbsp; This annual disclosure   must also include performance information for each investment option   offered under a plan.&nbsp; Additionally, participants must receive quarterly   disclosure of the amounts and nature of expenses deducted directly  from  their accounts.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:39:10 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Value Of Employee Engagement Surveys As Part Of A Change Management Strategy]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4221</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4221</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Let's deal with  inspiring confidence and innovation in your organization.&nbsp; Well this boils down  to a change management strategy that focuses on getting employees  actively involved at all levels in understanding the business and how their  ideas can have a positive impact.&nbsp; Here's an example of what you could  do.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:38:36 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[$754,578 FLSA Settlement Shows Employer Risks From Worker Misclassification, Underpayment]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4314</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4314</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Beck Disaster Recovery Inc. (Beck) will pay $754,578 in overtime back wages to 89 current and former temporary field supervisors to settle U.S. Department of Labor Wage &amp; Hour Division (DOL) charges that that the company violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by improperly classifying workers as exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act and failed to pay the workers for all compensable hours worked.&nbsp; Another of the mounting series of DOL overtime and wage and hour enforcement actions arising from employer misclassification of workers, the Beck settlement and other recently reported DOL enforcement actions demonstrate the significant risks that employers can incur if caught mischaracterizing or underpaying non-exempt employees.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 25 Mar 2011 08:08:09 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Train Your Employees to Handle Any Kind of Workplace Emergencies - Part II]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4229</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4229</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Emergency evacuation procedures need to be part of every safety training program. Safety concerns for a workplace are highly critical, and in an emergency situation the employees must react without hesitation in order to avoid losses. They need to know where to go and who to report to. Fires and earthquakes can cause panic, so employees need to be well schooled on the basics. The less they have to think, the faster they can respond.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:06:29 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Train Your Employees to Handle Any Kind of Workplace Emergencies - Part I]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4228</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4228</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In  every organization the top most responsibility of the employer is to provide a  safe and sound workplace to its employees and to have security in case of  emergency at the workplace. Are your employees trained adequately to respond to  an emergency?&nbsp; What will they do when a fire breaks out? It is the duty of the  employer to hire safety professionals for the training of his/her employees  concerning how to respond in an emergency situation, and this training should be  an ongoing process. No matter how this situation arises, your staff needs to  know how to behave in each and every situation.&nbsp; ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:05:15 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Working With an Unmotivated Co-worker]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4288</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4288</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In our daily work lives we often are faced with a multitude of issues and problems. Some of these are due to the nature of the work, that is, your job may be to solve problems, manage crises and put out fires. The current recessional climate of lay-offs and downsizings doesn&rsquo;t do much to reduce stress levels. But, what can you do if you feel that a co-worker (perhaps even a friend at work) isn&rsquo;t carrying his or her fair share?&nbsp; As a result, what if someone is putting an increased burden on you, the team or the department? What if you believe this problem puts not only that person, but you and your department at risk? ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:59:20 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[California Court of Appeal Holds That Insurance Adjusters Are Exempt]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4300</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4300</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In Hodge v. Aon Insurance Services, the California Court of Appeal held that claims adjusters were properly classified as exempt administrative employees. In doing so, the court limited the holding issued 10 years ago in Bell v. Farmers Insurance Exchange that insurance claims adjusters were non-exempt administrative employees and entitled to overtime pay.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:55:17 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Promotion Ideas for Your Corporate Team]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4261</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4261</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Building a corporate team is one of the most important facets of business  today. Fostering teamwork, improving employee morale, and empowering employees  are three key characteristics of the most successful organizations. Building an  effective team is necessary to achieve these characteristics in your company.  However, corporate teambuilding is an ongoing process that requires commitment  at all levels of the organization. Continually updating your program with new  ideas and initiatives will go a long way with employees.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:27:58 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Civil Unions Legalized in Illinois - Implications for Employee Benefit Plans]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4193</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4193</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers in Illinois may soon experience an increase in requests for benefit coverage for civil union partners now that a law legalizing civil unions for same-sex and opposites-sex partners will takes effect on June 1, 2011.&nbsp; The bill was signed into law by Governor Pat Quinn on January 31, 2011.&nbsp;&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:16:31 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[NLRB Settlement Shows Care Necessary When Using Social Networking & Other Policies Restricting Employee Communications]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4257</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4257</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers increasingly are adopting social networking policies regulating employee communications on Facebook, Linkedin, Plaxo and other social medial sites.&nbsp; While appropriate use of these and other similar policies can be a critical for many businesses to control improper use of sensitive information, productivity or other critical business functions, a recent National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) settlement highlights the need for employers also to use caution when drafting and applying these and other &nbsp;policies regulating employee communications to avoid violating Federal labor laws protecting worker organization rights.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:15:57 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How Can You Manage Creativity?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4173</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4173</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Managing creativity may seem an oxymoron, similar to an order to "be spontaneous!" Well, it doesn't have to be. Today's manager can use many methods and tools to set the stage or enhance the creativity that staff may bring to bear on daily problems or needs.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:30:29 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Congressional Testimony Highlights Business Advisability of Reviewing & Tightening Worker Classifications]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3613</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3613</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Recent testimony by Deputy Secretary of Labor Seth Harris recently highlights the growing scrutiny by the U.S. Department of Labor on perceived abuses by employers in the misclassification as workers as independent contractors, exempt employees, or otherwise. This growing scrutiny makes it highly advisable that business review situations within their organizations where workers are treated as contractors, leased employees, salaried or exempt employees in light of existing labor, employment, tax and other regulations.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:29:06 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How Talent Management Produces Effective Leadership]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4227</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4227</link>
			<description><![CDATA[There are currently a number of theories dating back and developed from  Plato, Aristotle, Confucius, Gandhi, Marx and Freud, that influence our current  understanding of leadership but not one of these can accurately describe a true  leader as there are a variety of approaches that affect our perception of a  leader is entirely dependent upon situation.Given that our take on leadership is situation based, we begin to identify  that there is an individual approach that can adapt to the needs of various  companies as they develop a future leader through a talent management  cycle.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:27:35 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[DOL Wage & Hour Settlements Highlight Rising Wage & Hour Enforcement Risks U.S. Employers Face]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4170</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4170</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (DOL)'s announcement of two&nbsp;settlement agreements in less than a week&nbsp;signals&nbsp;the&nbsp;growing advisability for U.S. employers to audit and tighten overtime, worker classification and other wage and hour practices in response to rising enforcement risks under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Less than 1 week after announcing a $1,060,554 settlement with CALNET, Inc. and two subcontractors, the DOL announced on January 24, 2011 that that Washington restaurants Super China Buffet and Great Dragon Inc., doing business as King Buffet restaurants will pay $420,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 83 employees to settle a DOL lawsuit for alleged violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Highlighting the growing exposure employers generally face from the heightened Labor Department emphasis on overtime and other wage and hour law enforcement, .these and a series of other settlements demonstrate the significant risks that employers face from mischaracterizing or failing to properly pay for on-call, standby or other compensable hours of work to non-exempt employees.&nbsp; Employers and others providing workforce staffing should review and tighten existing worker classification, timekeeping and classification, recordkeeping and other practices and take other steps to strengthen the defensibility of their practices.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:29:44 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Supreme Court Medical Resident Stipend Ruling Highlights Advisability of Worker Classification & Payroll Practice Review Advisable For Health Care, Other Employers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4151</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4151</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Stipends paid to medical residents to provide on patient care and other medical services for 40 or more hours per week as part of a accredited graduate medical education program are wages paid to employees for Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) payroll taxes purposes and do not qualify as exempt from FICA tax or withholding as student stipends according to January 11, 201 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Mayo Foundation v. U.S. &nbsp;&nbsp;The decision is the latest reminder to health care providers and others of the need to critically review and update as necessary their organizations existing worker and wage characterization in light of evolving interpretations and the growing success of regulators and private plaintiffs in challenging these classifications.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 13 Jan 2011 08:48:42 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[I Heard It Through The Grapevine - How Leaders Can Reduce Damaging Gossip]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4137</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4137</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Each put their own twist and sound on the music written by Norman Whitfield  and Barry Strong.&nbsp;  If you "heard it through the grapevine" in your company, be aware that just  like Smokey Robinson, &nbsp;Gladys Knight, and Marvin Gaye who all put their  individual stamp on their music, so does the person feeding gossip through the  office grapevine.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Jan 2011 10:03:40 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New Challenges to the Federal Defense of Marriage Act Filed in Federal Courts in Connecticut and New York]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4127</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4127</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The federal Defense of Marriage Act (&ldquo;DOMA&rdquo;) is the controversial law at the focus of the national debate over the legalization of same-sex marriage. The DOMA provides for all purposes of federal law, the word &ldquo;marriage&rdquo; means &ldquo;only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife&rdquo; and the word &ldquo;spouse&rdquo; refers &ldquo;only to a person of the opposite-sex who is a husband or wife.&rdquo;&nbsp; In addition, the DOMA stipulates that no state shall be required to recognize a same-sex relationship that is considered a legal marriage in another state.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 10 Jan 2011 09:36:23 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Looking Ahead: What 2011 Holds for the Recruiting Industry]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4102</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4102</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Though attitudes were cautiously optimistic at this time last year, a look back at the past 12 months shows that 2010 simply did not hold the economic recovery so many of us had hoped for. Unemployment continued to stay at record-high levels; many companies enacted lengthy hiring freezes, while others had to enforce additional layoffs. In all, it was another bleak year for employment, and consequently for recruitment and staffing.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:53:43 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[So, you were fired.  Now what?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4085</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=4085</link>
			<description><![CDATA[How do you respond to a job interview question about why you left your last job, when the answer is that you were fired? &nbsp;This question is dreaded by everyone who has ever been laid off. &nbsp;But it doesn&rsquo;t have to be that way&hellip;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:46:22 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Unreasonable Compensation and the IRS]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3724</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3724</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The&nbsp;IRS and business owners continue to disagree when it comes to determining what is&nbsp;unreasonable compensation. &nbsp;This is one of the most common issues in audits, and leads to interesting debates over the value of intangibles such as leadership, vision and relationships.&nbsp; Business owners should document their duties and the value of their services to protect themselves.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Dec 2010 07:56:38 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Are CEOs Really Overpaid?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3718</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3718</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The media would have us believe that all Chief Executive Officers are receiving unreasonable compensation.&nbsp; But is that true, or do we just not understand the value of what the CEOs&nbsp;do?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Dec 2010 07:51:57 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Who Are Your Customers and How Do You Treat Them?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3722</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3722</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Everyone is a customer. &nbsp;We tend to think that the people who purchase our products and services are our only customers. However...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:22:04 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Designing Effective Compensation Plans]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3699</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3699</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Today's economic challenges require employers to get the most out of their compensation plans.&nbsp; Here are ideas for improving how you use incentive plans to attract, motivate and retain your best employees.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Nov 2010 08:41:18 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How to Prioritize Your Time]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3698</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3698</link>
			<description><![CDATA[How often do you&nbsp;catch yourself thinking&nbsp;"I wish I had more time in my day."&nbsp;or "My job and life are so out of control that&nbsp;I can't take it anymore!"?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 11 Nov 2010 10:21:16 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Phantom Stock Plans as Incentive Pay]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3697</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3697</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The changing economy requires companies to consider creative ways to motivate and retain top performers. &nbsp;A well-designed phantom stock plan can be inexpensive to set up and manage, and very effective at attracting, motivating, rewarding and retaining the best talent.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 10 Nov 2010 07:43:21 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Changing Face of Human Resource Management]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3684</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3684</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The rapid and ground-breaking developments in  technology and globalization and the development of a knowledge-based  economy over the past few decades have necessitated tremendous,  concomitant changes in the human resources (HR) space...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:46:52 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Paper (Or Paperless) Trail: Tips For Successful HR Recordkeeping]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3680</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3680</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Recordkeeping: at best, the term is enough to  make an HR Manager's eyes glaze over. At worst, it's the cause of some  serious stress and anxiety. Tedious and time-consuming though the HR  recordkeeping process might be, it's one of those absolutely necessary  evils that employers know is a critical component of maintaining  security, minimizing risk, and protecting your company from lawsuits or  expensive government-imposed penalties. Unfortunately, however,  litigation often ends up being the first time a company's recordkeeping  process is checked...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 Oct 2010 09:44:30 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employers; Protect Your Employees Against Identity Theft]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3674</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3674</link>
			<description><![CDATA[As more and more Americans are becoming victims  of identity theft, many employers are increasing their level of security  to protect their employees. A recent General Accounting Office report  estimates that as many as 750,000 Americans are victims of identity  theft every year. So, what can you do to protect your employees? Here  are some ideas...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 11 Oct 2010 09:48:32 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Do You Have a Dress Code Policy?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3672</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3672</link>
			<description><![CDATA[What is your dress code policy? Do you have one? Having a dress code policy is important for some employees, it becomes a constant problem and this can affect the overall image of your practice. Instead of a policy that is detailed and specific, try to make it more about the overall image of your practice. Do you work for a pediatrician, maybe a surgeon, or does your particular doctor have a distinct personality that you would like to portray?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:11:56 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Top Five Recruiting Mistakes - How to Avoid the Traps of a Tightening Market]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3660</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3660</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Every  market provides recruiting challenges and obstacles.&nbsp; Keeping in tune  with those changes as well constantly refining your systems, strategies  and tools will help your marketing campaigns stay fresh, consistent and  timely.&nbsp; Keep in mind that the best modern skill in the sales industry  today is the ability to rapidly learn on an ongoing basis.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:05:42 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Common Misconceptions Surrounding HR]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3649</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3649</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ Human resources is a complex, multifaceted field that requires professionals to have the ability to juggle priorities and excel at a number of tasks.&nbsp; Often, with so many misconceptions about HR, it also involves staying ahead of the curve through continuous education in an attempt to drive what the role will entail for the company.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:01:19 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How to Be Happy at Work ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3648</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3648</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Even in this "doing-more-with-less" pattern of organizational operations, you can be happy at work.&nbsp;&nbsp;Out of financial necessity, most people&nbsp;have to work; there is no choice.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, you do have a choice about the specific job, industry and organization you&nbsp;seek for your place of employment.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:00:35 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[A Successful Recipe for Accountability in Your Small Business]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3645</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3645</link>
			<description><![CDATA[&nbsp;Accountability is a buzzword in the business world right now. Unfortunately, most of us have negative understanding of the word. We often use the word as if it means blame and punishment. Therefore, we attempt to avoid it. The truth is that accountability is unavoidable. In the workplace, intrinsically everyone is accountable to someone. We are accountable to our peers, managers, customers and ownership. We are also accountable to our industry.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:28:29 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[California's Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Held Unconstitutional]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3636</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3636</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that California&rsquo;s ban on same-sex marriage (&ldquo;Proposition 8&rdquo;) is unconstitutional because it denies same-sex couples the right to due process and equal protection of the laws as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:31:47 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[FLSA is Amended to Provide Nursing Mothers with Reasonable Breaks in Private Space]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1967</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1967</link>
			<description><![CDATA[  A new amendment to Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA") requires employers to provide "reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for 1 year after the child's birth." The law went into effect on March 23, 2010, with the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("PPACA"). The amendment addresses three major areas that will require attention and in some cases, action, by employers: time, privacy and compensation.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:21:12 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[IRS Issues FBAR Filing Relief, But Certain Filing Obligations Remain ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3594</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3594</link>
			<description><![CDATA[  The IRS has recently issued several pieces of guidance related to the filing of the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, IRS Form TD F 90-22.1 (&ldquo;FBAR&rdquo;), by pension plan sponsors. While the IRS has relieved some of the filing obligations, most notably the requirement for plans to file for foreign hedge fund investments for 2009 and prior years, certain filing obligations remain. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jun 2010 09:46:02 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New Avenues Open for Employers to Save on Payroll Taxes]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1906</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1906</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers should be alert to significant new legislative and judicial
developments in the collection and payment of payroll taxes.Payroll Tax Exemption for New Hires.&nbsp;The
Internal Revenue Service has released a new tax form to help employers
claim the payroll tax exemption adopted into law by the Hiring Incentives
to Restore Employment Act (HIRE Act), signed by President Obama on March
18, 2010.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:54:04 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Efforts to Prevent the Misclassification of Independent Contractors Continue]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1909</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1909</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On April 22nd, a bill was introduced in both the United States House and
Senate titled the Employee Misclassification Prevention Act
(&quot;EMPA&quot; or &quot;Act&quot;).&nbsp;H.R. 5107; S. 3254. The Act
would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act (&quot;FLSA&quot;) to introduce
measures designed to prevent the misclassification of independent
contractors]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:54:02 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Spotlight on Health Care Reform: Age 26 Requirements]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1908</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1908</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The health care reform package enacted earlier this year contains a number
of provisions that will require various federal agencies to issue guidance
on their implementation over the coming months. The first regulations were
recently issued and contain guidance regarding the new provisions covering
health plan participants' children.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:54:00 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Court Issues Ruling In Firefighter Applicant Disparate Impact Case]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1907</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1907</link>
			<description><![CDATA[This morning, with Justice Antonin Scalia writing a unanimous opinion, the
U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a case brought by a group of African-American
firefighter applicants who alleged that the city of Chicago's applicant
selection process had a disparate impact on African-Americans in violation
of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, the applicants
challenged the city's decision to exclude employment applicants who did
not achieve a certain score on an examination &ndash; but not the city's
decision to adopt that employment practice.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:53:57 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Workplace Trauma and Self-care for the HR Professional	 ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1850</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1850</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When an employee dies, there is an natural disaster, layoffs, violence or an accident at work HR is on the front lines. Distressed employees look to HR for emotional support and practical answers . The HR professional has to deliver bad news, arrange funeral details and deal with grief stricken employees and family members. HR is also impacted by the event, often has a personal connection with the affected employee and needs to manage their own reactions to trauma.&nbsp;Caught up in the windstorm of trauma it is easy to put everyone else&rsquo;s needs before your own self-care. Being exposed to the anxieties and reactions of others without attending to self-care increases susceptibility to secondary traumatic stress and impacts effectiveness.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:35:47 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New Set of EEOC Regulations Fleshes Out the ADA Amendments Act of 2008]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1846</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1846</link>
			<description><![CDATA[For two decades, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has governedmany of the most common issues faced by employers.&nbsp; The ADA landscapeis now changing, however. A law passed in 2008, and a set of regulationsthat will be issued shortly, are greatly expanding the set of impairmentsor conditions that constitute &ldquo;disabilities&rdquo; and trigger anemployer&rsquo;s obligations to disabled employees.&nbsp; Employers shouldbe aware of how the new regulations broaden their obligations.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 24 May 2010 11:04:10 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Do You Have an ESI Strategy Yet? Companies and In-House Counsel Sanctioned for Poor Oversight]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1845</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1845</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Although it has been more than three years since the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure were amended to codify parties' obligations to preserve and
produce potentially relevant electronically stored information (ESI), a
recent survey conducted by Kroll Ontrack reflects that only 46% of U.S.
corporations possess an ESI readiness strategy.1 Meanwhile, a
review of recent judicial decisions on requests for discovery sanctions
reflects a growing impatience by courts for a lack of such a readiness
strategy and resulting failures to competently preserve and produce
potentially relevant electronically stored information. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 24 May 2010 09:15:10 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Health Care Reform Briefing: Cutting Through the Confusion]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1848</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1848</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The newly enacted health care reform bill has fueled numerous questions by
employers seeking direction on arguably the most important workplace
decisions they will make in the next few years. Employers need to
understand the issues and recognize the decision points and their
ramifications. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 24 May 2010 09:15:08 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How Private Are Personal Emails Sent Via Employer Computers?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1847</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1847</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In this day and age, practically everyone communicates electronically often
and for a multitude of reasons. This of course, is true in the workplace.
While employees communicate by email for work-related reasons, it is not
uncommon for them also to send emails relating to personal matters.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 24 May 2010 09:15:05 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Major Benefit Plan Changes May Result from the New Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1840</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1840</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers that are rated on the annual Human Rights Campaign Foundation&rsquo;s Corporate Equality Index should take note of important changes being made to the evaluation criteria beginning with the 2012 Index.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 May 2010 10:53:33 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Health Care Reform Law: "Immediate" Concerns for Employers and Their Group Health Plans]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1830</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1830</link>
			<description><![CDATA[This update addresses key &ldquo;immediate&rdquo; concerns for employers
and their group health plans as a result of changes mandated by the Health
Care Reform Law (i.e., the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of
2010 and Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010).&nbsp;
These generally take effect as of the first day of the plan year beginning
on or after September 23, 2010 (January 1, 2011 for calendar year plans). ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:02:45 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How to Be Resilient During Tough Times]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3582</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3582</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Tough times happen for everyone.&nbsp; They are unavoidable at work and home.&nbsp; As a result of the&nbsp;changes and demands&nbsp;being experienced, the stress from tough times can take a toll on our body, mind and emotions, which ultimately affects our&nbsp;work and life performances.&nbsp; ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 23 Apr 2010 08:21:03 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Recess Appointments Give Unions a 3-1 Majority at the NLRB and Fill Vacancies at the EEOC]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1823</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1823</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On Saturday, March 27, which was the first day of the congressional Easter
Recess, President Barack Obama announced the recess appointment of highly
controversial SEIU and AFL-CIO lawyer Craig Becker from Washington, D.C.
and practicing union lawyer Mark Pearce from Buffalo, N.Y., to be Board
Members on the five-member National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 22 Apr 2010 10:49:55 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Payroll Risk From Within]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1824</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1824</link>
			<description><![CDATA[At a time when Medicare reimbursements and other sources of revenue are
threatened to be frozen or even reduced, a recent trend has been noticed
that provides for an additional threat to long term care facilities and
other health care providers &ndash; the risk of employee suits for unpaid
wages. Fortunately, this is one risk that can be well managed and largely
eliminated through effective preventive measures. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 22 Apr 2010 10:49:53 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[All Employee Benefit Plans Must E-file Form 5500]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1822</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1822</link>
			<description><![CDATA[An important filing requirement changed on January 1, 2010, for employers
who have employee benefit plans and file the Form 5500. On this date,
employers became required to file their 5500 Form and 5500 Short Form
annual returns and reports electronically.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 22 Apr 2010 10:49:48 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Gainsharing or Profit Sharing? Choose the Right Tool for Your Organization - Part 2]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1816</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1816</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Article one of this two part series focused on Profit Sharing and how it is often confused with Gainsharing.&nbsp; The history and purpose of &nbsp;Profit Sharing was explored as well as the delivery of Profit Sharing in the form of either compensation or as a benefit.&nbsp; The appropriate organization climate and culture for Profit Sharing was also discussed.&nbsp; The focus of article 2 is Gainsharing, what it is, how it evolved, and how it might best serve and organization.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:30:16 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Gainsharing or Profit Sharing? Choose the Right Tool for Your Organization - Part 1]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1786</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1786</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many people who confuse Profit Sharing and Gainsharing view them as being one in the same. Employees have an opportunity to earn a financial reward under both approaches, but that is where the similarity ends. I find many companies that install a Profit Sharing plan have selected the wrong tool and quickly become disappointed that they have been unable to foster a change in behaviors or to drive improvements in company performance.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 30 Mar 2010 08:23:59 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[COBRA Health Insurance Subsidy Extended Again]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1784</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1784</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The COBRA health insurance subsidy has been extended once again. The
extension was signed into law by President Obama on March 2, 2010 when he
signed H.R. 4691, the Temporary Extension Act of 2010. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:37:14 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employers May Need to Monitor Compliance of Business Associates with HITECH Act]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1783</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1783</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is commonly known for
its provisions designed to stimulate a flagging economy. However, the
Act's Title XIII (known as the &quot;Health Information Technology for
Economic and Clinical Health Act&quot; or &quot;HITECH Act&quot;) has
another purpose&mdash;to impose obligations under the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (&quot;HIPAA&quot;) directly on
business associates (as defined under HIPAA) with respect to the way they
handle certain health-related information in connection with an employer's
health plan and to impose civil or criminal penalties for any violations of
those obligations.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:37:11 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[20 Ways Your Independent Contractor Might Be an Employee]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1782</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1782</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Last month, the IRS began its first comprehensive audit of employment tax
issues in over 25 years. The IRS will audit 6000 companies in total over
the next three years. The main issues to be examined in these audits are
worker classification, executive compensation and taxable fringe benefits.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:37:07 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[2010 H-1Bs Gone: Time to Start Planning for 2011]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1785</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1785</link>
			<description><![CDATA[United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that
the 65,000 H-1B cap for the 2010 fiscal year (FY 2010) was reached on
December 21 (click here for more information). The annual limit for
new H-1Bs is 65,000 (less up to 6,800 set aside for citizens/nationals of
Chile or Singapore, plus any of the unused 6,800 from the prior fiscal
year). An additional 20,000 H-1Bs are available to individuals who possess
a Master&rsquo;s or higher degree from a U.S. academic institution (the
&ldquo;Master&rsquo;s cap&rdquo;). For FY 2010, the 20,000 Master&rsquo;s
cap was reached as of September 25, 2009. &ldquo;New&rdquo; H-1Bs are thus
unavailable until the start of FY 2011 on October 1, 2010.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:36:59 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Are You a Controller, Enabler or Leader?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1781</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1781</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ Do you empower the people you work and live with or do you enable and control them?&nbsp;&nbsp;If you want to increase productivity,&nbsp;happiness and time in the day to complete your own "to-do's", you must learn to let go&nbsp;of&nbsp;your fears and start empowering people.&nbsp;&nbsp;When you empower people,&nbsp;you develop their skills, abilities and confidence.&nbsp; When you control people, you&nbsp;enable them to become lazy and fearful.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:11:01 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Four Corporate Vision Barriers That You Can Overcome]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3578</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3578</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When it comes to leadership excellence there is little that is more important than setting the strategic tone and vision of the team or organization. Unfortunately, the execution of that vision is often hindered by four common vision barriers. The good news is that these barriers can be overcome.&nbsp; Find out how...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:56:09 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How to Provide Exceptional Customer Satisfaction at Work and Home]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1775</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1775</link>
			<description><![CDATA[With the abundance of choices in today's environment, providing exceptional customer service is a must if an organization wants to gain the competitive advantage and increase sales or if a person&nbsp;wants to maintain their job and healthy relationships with co-workers, significant others, families and friends.&nbsp; Every organization&nbsp;needs&nbsp;increased sales and loyal customers.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:15:55 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[OSHA Changes Its Mind - Again]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1770</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1770</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On January 29, 2010, OSHA published a proposed rule to revise its 300 Log
of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses. The proposed revision would
restore a column dedicated to tracking musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
OSHA announced that it will hold a public meeting on the proposal on March
9, 2010. If finalized, the new regulation would take effect beginning
January 1, 2011. What remains unknown at this point is what OSHA will do
with the new data, and whether it would &ndash; or could or should &ndash;
promulgate a new ergonomics standard.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:27:20 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Ruling Highlights Need for Confidentiality of Medical Information Disclosed During Test Review]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1769</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1769</link>
			<description><![CDATA[An applicant who was not hired after testing positive for drugs used to
control his epilepsy was permitted to proceed with his lawsuit asserting
claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act because there were
factual issues whether the employer made an improper medical inquiry and
denied employment on that basis.&nbsp; Harrison v. Benchmark Elecs.
Huntsville Inc., No. 08-16656, 2010 App. LEXIS 632 (11th Cir. Jan.
11, 2010).]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:27:18 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Regulations Issued on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Parity in Group Health Plans]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1768</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1768</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers may need to act as a result of regulations implementing expanded
health parity requirements for group health plans. The interim final
rules, published in yesterday&rsquo;s Federal Register, require
the integration and coordination of the medical, surgical, mental health,
and substance use disorder benefits in such plans.The expanded
requirements were imposed by the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental
Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA), signed into law
in October 2008. They are generally applicable for plan years beginning
after July 1, 2010 (January 1, 2011, for a calendar year plan).]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:27:16 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[State E-Verify and I-9 Laws - 2010 Updates]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1767</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1767</link>
			<description><![CDATA[E-Verify, the Internet-based system operated by United States Citizenship
and Immigration Services (USCIS) that allows employers to verify the
employment eligibility of employees, remains voluntary at the federal
level with the exception of certain federal contractors. However, certain
states have acted to require some or all employers to use the system. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:27:13 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Learned Professional Overtime Exemption: What You Need to Know]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1721</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1721</link>
			<description><![CDATA[There are&nbsp;limitations frequently misunderstood&nbsp;to using&nbsp;the Learned Professional Exemption&nbsp;to avoid overtime pay.&nbsp; Courts&nbsp;interpreting this&nbsp;exemption to FLSA&nbsp;often require&nbsp;an advanced degree or license that enables the employee to perform&nbsp;specialized job functions.&nbsp; Many employees who are assigned overtime exempt status under this&nbsp; exemption,&nbsp;in fact,&nbsp;do not qualify for this exception and are entitled to overtime pay. What steps should an employer take before using this exemption? ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:45:57 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Supreme Court to Review Employee Privacy in Text Messages]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1722</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1722</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many organizations believe they have the right to monitor employees'activities on their computers and the Internet, including the sites theyvisit and the content of e-mails they send or receive. Such a belief isunderstandable:&nbsp;the equipment is provided for business purposes, andorganizations can be held responsible if an employee misuses thoseresources.&nbsp; Therefore, organizations ought to have the right to checkup on employees and make sure their resources are being used appropriately.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:24:29 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New Obligations to Self-Report Excise Taxes for Group Health Plan Failures]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1723</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1723</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Until now, no mandate or procedure has existed for employers to self-reportexcise taxes due under the Internal Revenue Code for violations of theduties imposed by COBRA, HIPAA and other laws relating to group healthplans.&nbsp; The IRS has seldom assessed these excise taxes on audit.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:07:33 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New Penalty for Failing to Report Payments to Medicare Beneficiaries]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1719</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1719</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Beginning January 1, 2010, a failure to comply with a new requirement forreporting to Medicare payments to Medicare-eligible individuals forresolution of claims involving medical expenses could cost the payor$1,000 per day in penalties for noncompliance.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:07:06 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Remember That Post You Wrote About Me on MySpace? You're Fired.]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1724</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1724</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employee gossip about supervisors is as ancient as chatter around the watercooler. But the dynamics of workplace gossip have gone through massivechanges since online social networking sites like MySpace and Facebookfound their way into the lives of employees with a notion to complain. Inthe case of Pietrylo v. Hillstone Restaurant Group, a federaljury in the United States District Court for the District of New Jerseysent a stern message to employers regarding social networking and itseffect on the workplace. On June 16, 2009, the Pietrylo jury issued averdict against Hillstone Restaurant Group, the operator of a Houston'srestaurant in Hackensack, New Jersey.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:06:42 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[An Update For Employers on Domestic Partnership and Same-Sex Marriage Laws]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1715</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1715</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Despite a November voter referendum in Maine that overturned the state's
same-sex marriage law and a very recent rejection of same-sex marriage by
the New York State Senate, the year 2009 saw progress for the legal
recognition of same-sex marriage and domestic partnerships. The following
is a summary of recent developments in this fast-evolving area of the law.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:04:01 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[COBRA Subsidy Extended]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1718</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1718</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The extension of the COBRA health insurance subsidy, signed into law by
President Obama on December 21st after an 88-10 vote by the Senate, will
provide additional relief for a record number of unemployed workers.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:00:27 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Legislation Proposed to Extend Domestic Partner Benefits to Federal Government Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1711</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1711</link>
			<description><![CDATA[If passed, a proposed federal law entitled the Domestic Partner Benefits and Obligations Act will extend long-awaited comprehensive benefits to same-sex domestic partners of federal employees.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:33:03 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How to Get Motivated for Better Results]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1710</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1710</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When&nbsp;you are fulfilled professionally and personally, your customers, co-workers, friends and family become a part of the ripple affect.&nbsp;Turnover, complaints and conflicts are reduced, which bring increased productivity, improved relationships, quality of life&nbsp;and morale. You will have less stress and drama&nbsp;when you choose&nbsp;to make healthier and wiser choices]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:48:35 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) Has Taken Effect]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1706</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1706</link>
			<description><![CDATA[With little fanfare and even less reaction from employers, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) took effect on November 21, 2009. GINA generally prohibits employers, employment agencies, and unions from collecting genetic information &ndash; which specifically includes family medical history - related to employees or applicants.&nbsp; The law also precludes any type of genetic testing of employees or applicants.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:57:30 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Government Responds to Growing H1N1 Pandemic]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1705</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1705</link>
			<description><![CDATA[According to recent estimates released by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), approximately two million people in the United
States have been infected with the H1N1 flu since April, and some 4,000
Americans, including 540 children, have died from the virus. President
Obama declared the 2009 H1N1 pandemic a national emergency on October 24,
2009, and various government agencies are taking steps to guide and govern
employers' efforts to minimize the potential for exposure in the workplace.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:50:16 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employment Law 2009 in Review... and a Look Forward]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1704</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1704</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The following is a brief review of significant 2009 workplace law
developments.&nbsp; Although a comprehensive treatment of all noteworthy
changes is beyond the scope of this summary, we hope this retrospective
will assist our readers.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:50:10 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Increased Government Worksite Visits & Audits ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1693</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1693</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The government is changing its enforcement tactics and placing a greater emphasis on employers in the fight against unauthorized employment.&nbsp; While worksite raids targeting employees are down, audits and worksite visits targeting employers are up.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:32:12 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[EEOC Issues Proposed Revisions to ADA Regulations and Interpretive Guidance]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1700</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1700</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On September 23, 2009, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's("EEOC") proposed revisions to the existing Americans withDisabilities Act ("ADA") regulations and accompanyinginterpretative guidance were published in the Federal Register. The EEOC'sNotice of Proposed Rulemaking ("NPRM") was prepared to bring theADA regulations and interpretive guidance into compliance with the ADAAmendments Act of 2008, as directed by Congress. Interested parties mayprovide public comments on the NPRM on or before November 23, 2009.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:31:04 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Is Guilt Burning You Out?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1689</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1689</link>
			<description><![CDATA[How&nbsp;often do you catch yourself saying to someone, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it." or "Yes." when your plate is&nbsp;already too full and you really do not want to&nbsp;do what is being asked?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:34:21 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Department of Labor Provides Form 5500 Transition Relief for 403(b) Plans with respect to Pre-2009 Contracts]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1690</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1690</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On July 20, 2009, the Department of Labor (&ldquo;DOL&rdquo;) published Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2009-02 (&ldquo;FAB 2009-02&rdquo;), which provides guidance and transition relief for sponsors of 403(b) plans that will be required to file a more detailed Form 5500 annual report beginning with the 2009 plan year.&nbsp; While the guidance does not delay the annual reporting requirements, it does allow for reasonable good faith compliance and other transition relief that should assist plan sponsors in meeting their reporting obligations.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:33:15 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Get Creative With Training]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3569</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3569</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Whether you're preparing to move into your dream-home, raising a house full of kids - or both, you know each requires a lot of hard work, planning, and continuous upkeep - unless your want those dreams to turn into nightmares! &nbsp;We've all heard that worn-out old adage, "Nothing worthwhile comes easily; work, continuous work and hard work, is the only way to accomplish results that last."&nbsp; Well, it may be old and corny, but it's just as true as can be - if you want things to turn out well, you have to constantly work hard and be vigilant to ensure everything remains on track.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:36:37 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Managing Stress Key to Success]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3568</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3568</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The focus of this issue certainly helps us understand that pets can add joy to our lives and, in many cases - in ordinary times, help reduce stress for some of us.&nbsp; However, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that we are definitely NOT living in ordinary times; one peek at the newspaper and/or a glimpse of the evening news will quickly convince you of that sobering fact.&nbsp; The reality exists we are currently treading in uncertain economic waters and many individuals are experiencing unprecedented and overwhelming stress, such as they may not have suffered prior.&nbsp; Therefore, some may actually feel as if they are literally drowning in these difficult times and employers may be able to ease the stress a bit and throw them some life-lines.&nbsp; The key, as it is to so many things in life, is communication.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:35:51 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Continuing Exposure for ERISA Plan Fiduciaries in Today's Economy]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1688</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1688</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Everyone is well aware of the effect the economy has played on retirement
accounts across the country this past year. With the drop in stock prices
and the value of 401(k) plans sinking, we saw the rise in lawsuits against
ERISA plan fiduciaries alleging breach of fiduciary duty and imprudent
practices. While these lawsuits are on the rise, fiduciaries have
generally fared well in the courts.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:31:04 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Have You Registered Under MMSEA? New Reporting Obligations and Penalties for Medicare Secondary Payers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1687</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1687</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Beginning on January 1, 2010, extensive new Medicare reporting obligations
will apply to insurance companies and other businesses that make payments
to Medicare beneficiaries as a result of litigation claims. The
obligations extend to businesses that cover private health insurance,
workers' compensation claims programs, no-fault insurance, liability
insurance and self-insured businesses. These organizations&mdash;known as
Responsible Reporting Entities (&quot;RREs&quot;)&mdash;will be required
to report virtually all payments to Medicare beneficiaries, including
settlements and payments made as a result of litigation, so that Medicare
may determine whether it has a stake in any part of the payment. Failure
to report may result in significant financial penalties.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:29:51 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Performance: Don't Forget to Measure, Measure, Measure]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1685</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1685</link>
			<description><![CDATA[One area of opportunity that I frequently&nbsp;work on with many of my Clients is measuring employee performance.&nbsp;&nbsp;An alarming number of organizations do not effectively measure the value that their employees add to the organization.&nbsp; As a result, large gaps in employee&nbsp;performance often go unnoticed and rob these organizations of&nbsp;millions&nbsp;of dollars in the process.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you are not&nbsp;systematically&nbsp;measuring the performance of those you manage, there is a good chance that some team members are performing at a level far below that what you think you are.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:49:20 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Medical Examination or Physical Agility Test: Not Knowing the Difference Could Result in an ADA Violation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1683</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1683</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The ADA&nbsp;generally prohibits&nbsp;medical examinations of&nbsp;employees, except when&nbsp;the&nbsp;test is&nbsp;necessary to evaluate the individual's&nbsp;ability to perform essential job functions.&nbsp;&nbsp;Employers can request&nbsp;a simple agility&nbsp;test to inquire as to the employee's&nbsp;ability to&nbsp;safely perform&nbsp;tasks&nbsp;such as lifting, without the test being considered a medical exam.&nbsp; When a test is conducted by a healthcare professional or monitors physiological changes, it is likely&nbsp;a medical exam and must meet the ADA's&nbsp;job related / consistent with business necessity requirement.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:11:14 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Why Does Emotional Intelligence Affect You and Your Success?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1682</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1682</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The simplest way to&nbsp;differentiate between Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is that IQ is about book smarts and EQ is about human smarts.&nbsp;To succeed in today's workplace and life, it takes more than book smarts; it also takes human smarts.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:08:03 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Onboarding New Employees: Six Steps to Success]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3565</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3565</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The new hire onboarding process is critical in setting the stage for exceptional employee performance.&nbsp; While often confused with new hire orientation, onboarding is a highly strategic process that must be carefully crafted to ensure your new employees assimilate into your organization's culture and are able to quickly reach their full potential.&nbsp;This article explores six critical steps for success during the employee onboarding process.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:25:42 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[3rd Circuit - Homosexual Man's Gender Stereotyping Claim is Cognizable Under Title VII]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1674</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1674</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Congress has repeatedly rejected legislation that would extend Title VII
protection to claims of sexual orientation discrimination.&nbsp; However,
under Title VII, an employee may raise a claim of gender discrimination if
that individual can demonstrate that an harasser was acting to punish the
employee&rsquo;s noncompliance with gender stereotypes.&nbsp; The 3d U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals has allowed the claim of a self-described
&ldquo;effeminate man&rdquo; to move forward to a jury trial, on the basis
that the plaintiff presented evidence that his co-workers harassed him
because of his non-compliance with male-associated stereotypes.&nbsp;
Prowel v. Wise Business Forms, Inc., 3d Cir., No. 07-3997, August
28, 2009.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:47:17 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[HITECH Breach Notification Rules Are a Reality]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1675</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1675</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The much anticipated &ldquo;breach notification&rdquo; rule was recently
published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of
Civil Rights (OCR). As required by the provisions of the Health
Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, the
rule adds new specifications for covered entities and business associates,
outlining how they must provide notification when &quot;unsecured&quot;
protected health information (PHI) has been breached.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:47:14 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Commuting Time Not Compensable, But Off-the-Clock Work is Another Question, Ninth Circuit Rules]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1673</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1673</link>
			<description><![CDATA[An automotive employee was not entitled to compensation under the Fair
Labor Standards Act or California law for commuting time and time spent on
preliminary activities, the federal appeals court in San Francisco held in
a class action case. However, the question of the compensability of
employees&rsquo; post-shift activity of transmitting required daily data
is remanded to the district court for trial.&nbsp; Rutti v. Lojack Corp.,
No. 07-56599 (9th Cir. Aug. 21, 2009).]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:46:44 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Fair Treatment in the Workplace]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1672</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1672</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Each day, U.S workers head to their respective jobs in order to complete the tasks required by their employers and gain compensation to support themselves and their families. Some people head to work at large companies with complex levels of supervisors and support staff. Others head to smaller businesses that may only have a few employees and owners who are present each and every day. Regardless of the corporate structure, employees across the nation share the same legal protections when it comes to fair treatment in the workplace.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:45:09 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[10 Steps to More Effective Time Management ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1666</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1666</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The workaholic view of time management enables the addition of new clients, catching up on your to-do list; finishing back reading and learning about new developments in your industry. Properly viewed, however, time management lets you work productively so you can spend more time with your family and other things you enjoy.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:10:08 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Is Twitter a Recruiting Tool?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1665</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1665</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Once depicted as a trendy social media experiment, Twitter has officially arrived. From cell phone integration to CNN broadcasts, we can no longer escape the fact that Twitter is not a passing fad. The site once criticized for a complete lack of utility has evolved into one of the most flexible tools available in the social media space. HR departments, Corporate Recruiters and Job Seekers have taken notice. Twitter has become an important tool in corporate recruiting.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:07:28 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Intended Consequences of Incentives and Compensation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1664</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1664</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The public is mad as hell at AIG (and other recipients of Federal bailouts) who have handed out lucrative retention bonuses. One might wonder, are incentives appropriate in such difficult times?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:06:07 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[What Employees are Experiencing, Thinking and Feeling -- Employee Satisfaction Surveys & Employee Engagement Surveys]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1663</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1663</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employee satisfaction is a key driver of employee engagement, and employee engagement in turn is a key driver of customer satisfaction and loyalty, employee retention, productivity, sales, overall organizational performance and profit. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:04:50 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENTS - SEPARATING FACT FROM FICTION]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1662</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1662</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers and employees alike have&nbsp;numerous misconceptions about&nbsp;the enforceability of non-competition agreements.&nbsp; Employers mistakenly believe that&nbsp;the more&nbsp;restrictive the agreement is for the employee, the better it is&nbsp;for the company.&nbsp; Employees are often under the misconception that "these things really are not enforceable."&nbsp; Separating fact from fiction is important to&nbsp;reduce the number of disputes that arise by&nbsp;managing expectations concerning the scope and enforceability of these arrangements.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:55:56 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Social Networking Sites in the Labor and Employment Realm: Harness the Power or Be Left Behind]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1645</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1645</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Since the world wide web became public, the internet has been changing the
way that companies communicate and conduct business. Social networking
sites, online communities that enable people to communicate and build
networks based on similar interests, activities, values, and ideas, have
significantly contributed to that change. These sites can provide a number
of advantages to employers, such as publicity and marketing, recruitment,
and employment screening. Improper or careless use of such sites, however,
may result in tort liability, can compromise confidential information and
business reputation, and may lead to discrimination, privacy, and freedom
of speech suits.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:26:42 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Vision and Mission Engaged Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1644</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1644</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Vision statements, Mission statements, Core Values, Pillars and Goals,
whatever you may call them in your organization....are they really part of
your culture?&nbsp; Corporate America spends a lot of money and time on
developing these kinds of statements for organizations.&nbsp; Senior
leaders within companies often go off-site for hours or even days to
somehow bring together these poetic words that they hope will somehow
drive the bottom line and engage employees.&nbsp; They will often argue
back and forth over a particular &quot;word&quot; to use.&nbsp;
Furthermore, companies often write very big checks to consultants to offer
their level&nbsp; of expertise in adding some hint of illumination on the
topic.&nbsp; But, does it always come together the way we hope?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:26:39 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[CONSISTENCY CRITICAL IN WORKPLACE RELATIONS  ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3543</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3543</link>
			<description><![CDATA["Joe Cool" may always be the most-invited person to every party and "swinging singles" to liven up any occasion; however, beware of praising these attributes in the workplace.&nbsp; Of course, any organization is going to be a microcosm of society and there's little doubt that you may have some high-profile, cooler than ice, super-swingers working for your company - along with your aging baby boomers, stressed-out single parents, immigrants with differing cultures, and employees with disabilities.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:23:31 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Work Comp Happens]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3557</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3557</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Injuries occur in the workplace.&nbsp; Your behavior and reaction to these injuries will drive a successful rehab or it won't.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:22:45 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Three Concerns When Inquiring About Applicants' Past Criminal Convictions]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1591</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1591</link>
			<description><![CDATA[One extremely useful facet of using employment applications in hiring is
the ability of the employer to directly ask an applicant if he or she has
a criminal history that would show up if a thorough background check was
conducted. Yet, to their detriment, many employers use language that is
either too narrow, too broad, or too ambiguous to successfully accomplish
this - each of these mistakes can lead to legal quagmires or bad hires
continuing to slip through the cracks and potentially endanger businesses.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:29:27 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Have an unpaid Intern? Federal Labor Rules Apply]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1592</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1592</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It's summertime, and time for an annual rite of passage: internships.
Hiring an unpaid intern makes financial sense to many businesses in
today's economic times. With many colleges now requiring internships as
part of the curriculum, internships are in more demand than ever before.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:29:16 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Three Ways to Motivate People During Tough Times]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1588</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1588</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I used to find it extremely difficult getting motivated during the summer - my favorite time of year. There was always so much to see and do. But not this year. We've had more cloudy, cool and rainy weather than I can ever remember. And spending money? I've become much more discretionary. Lots of "staycations," day trips, and not eating out so often, which I really like. The current economic climate also makes it difficult to find ways to motivate employees. Traditional options such as raises or bonuses are mostly out; still, leaders and talent managers need to use cost-effective tactics to keep employees encouraged and engaged.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:29:15 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Communications with Attorney through Personal E-mail Account from Work are Privileged]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1595</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1595</link>
			<description><![CDATA[E-mail messages exchanged between an employee and her attorney through the
employee&rsquo;s personal e-mail account are protected by the
attorney-client privilege, despite being sent through her employer&rsquo;s
computer and internet server, a New Jersey appeals court has ruled.
Stengart v. Loving Care Agency, Inc. et al., No. A-3506-08T1
(June 26, 2009).&nbsp; Reversing the trial court, the Appellate
Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey held that the company&rsquo;s
electronic communications policy did not transform the employee&rsquo;s
private e-mails with her attorney into the company&rsquo;s property.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:29:06 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Integration of the New Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1638</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1638</link>
			<description><![CDATA[How many of us have started a new professional activity without knowing where our office is, with what tools we will work or not knowing our future? This happens because most employers do not give sufficient importance of the integration process of new employees.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:43:50 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[An Anti-Employee Retention Strategy]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1637</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1637</link>
			<description><![CDATA[There are many articles and strategies about how to improve employee retention and reduce the costs and consequences of employee turnover. Taking a slightly different approach, this article is about how not to increase employee turnover (and lower performance!) based on a true situation recently occurring in the city of Syracuse, New York, a city I know well.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:46:47 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[HR Strategy to Keep Your Workers Happy]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1636</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1636</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Human Resources (HR) is a major growth industry in the small business and corporate arena. Gone are the days where bosses got away with making ridiculous demands of their underpaid, unhappy and frequently on-strike workers. In these current times, good employees are hard to come by and even harder to keep - strategy planning is essential. If you research an effective HR strategy ahead of time, that takes into account your most valuable assets, you'll be saving money, enhancing productivity and growing a more positive working environment!]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:44:19 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Retention: 7 Tactics to Retain Your Most Valuable Asset]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1587</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1587</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A survey developed by Robert Half International and independently conducted with 100 Canadian senior executives between September 15 and October 15, 2008 stated that 35% of the senior executives had employee retention as their greatest staffing concern. Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International, states "Companies that lose top performers may not only experience declines in productivity but also incur significant costs in replacing these professionals."]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:58:44 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Do You Lead or Manage Your Team, Job and Life?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1634</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1634</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ Leadership is about&nbsp;"directing", "empowering" and "bringing change".&nbsp; Leaders produce vision and develop strategies.&nbsp;&nbsp;Management is about "planning", "controlling", "reacting".&nbsp; Managers produce plans and complete tasks.&nbsp; Leaders are not born: they are made.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:58:13 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Difficult Employee Behaviors - When to Fix, When to Ignore]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1631</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1631</link>
			<description><![CDATA[As a new supervisor, Joan was determined she would have a positive impact on all her employees. She began her assignment by visiting each of her employees individually and chatting about their backgrounds and career aspirations. When she had her first meeting with Mike she noticed his office was extremely messy. Knowing some people are able to find things quickly she put him to the test. She asked for someone's phone number and watched as Mike searched through stacks of paper looking for the company directory. Then she asked him about a big project he had completed the previous week. Again he had to search through drawers and stacks of folders delicately leaning against the wall before eventually coming across the project folder.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:39:05 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employers Expected to Face Additional Pressure From Department of Labor]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1630</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1630</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It seems like everywhere you look there is some mention of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) cracking down in one way or another on businesses. Statistics indicate that there is much increased activity in DOL audits over the last few years, which should come as no surprise. In the DOL 2011 Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2006 - 2011 the department listed four major goals, which are...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:37:35 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Single Most Important Tool You Need to Practice Sound HR Management]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1629</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1629</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When I began my consulting practice, I had no idea just how many organizations operate without the most critical tool necessary to practice sound HR management; the lowly, neglected and often unused job description. Wrongly considered unimportant by many and non-essential by some, a well-written job description is truly the cornerstone in building your HR and compensation infrastructure. Let's take a few minutes to review why they're so important in managing HR and how they should be used every day in HR departments.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:36:18 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Department of Labor Provides Form 5500 Transition Relief for 403(b) Plans with Respect to Pre-2009 Contracts]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3548</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3548</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On July 20, 2009, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2009-02 (FAB 2009-02), which provides guidance and transition relief for sponsors of 403(b) plans that will be required to file a more detailed Form 5500 annual report beginning with the 2009 plan year.&nbsp; While the guidance does not delay the annual reporting requirements, it does allow for reasonable good faith compliance and other transition relief that should assist plan sponsors in meeting their reporting obligations.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:20:10 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[EEOC Charges Soar as Economy Sours: What Can Employers Do?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1619</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1619</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It is certainly no secret that, during turbulent economic times, the
number of discrimination claims tends to swell. Not only are more people
out of work, but they are also financially motivated to explore their
legal options.Well, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's
(EEOC) Charge
Statistics for 2008 are in, and the news - as predicted - is grim.
Private sector discrimination filings with the EEOC for 2008 (95,402)
surpassed 2007 (82,792) by a staggering 15% - the biggest jump in the
federal agency's entire 44-year history.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:57:47 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Vision and Mission Engaged Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3537</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3537</link>
			<description><![CDATA[What do your Vision and Mission statements say about your culture?&nbsp; Is it real?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:34:28 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Five Tips for Information Security during Layoffs]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1616</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1616</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A laid off employee is a tremendous threat to the information of a business. Before any pink slips are handed out make sure your information, both paper and electronic, is secure. The news is getting more positive for the economy and it looks like the U.S. is coming out of the recession, but many small business owners are still struggling to meet payroll. In these uncertain times, laying off employees is, unfortunately, still very much a part of the picture.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2009 07:15:57 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Supreme Court Issues Employer-Friendly ADEA Ruling]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1594</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1594</link>
			<description><![CDATA[June 18, 2209, in a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that an
employee alleging a disparate treatment claim under the Age Discrimination
in Employment Act (ADEA) must prove that age was the &ldquo;but for&rdquo;
cause of the challenged adverse employment action. Justice Clarence
Thomas, writing for the majority, ruled that even where the employee has
produced evidence that age was one motivating factor in that decision the
burden of persuasion does not shift to the employer to show that it would
have taken the action without regard to age. Gross v. FBL Financial
Services, Inc., No. 08-441, U.S. Supreme Court (June 18, 2009).]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:14:06 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Supreme Court Issues Favorable Ruling for White Firefighters in Reverse Discrimination Case]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1593</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1593</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Query: May an employer make a race-based employment decision when it
discovers that one of its employment tests or policies has the unintended
effect of creating an adverse impact on another racial classification?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:13:55 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Teamwork Gems Create Startling Results]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3532</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3532</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Every minute of teamwork in the 21st century requires adaptation to each other, to changing conditions, and sometimes to changing goals.&nbsp;The traditional definition of a team,&nbsp;a group of people working together toward a common goal, sounds logical,&nbsp;is clear - and doesn't work.&nbsp;Most people participate from their own perspective and the organization gets stuck performing based on how they are organized. Sometimes leaders don't even consider business opportunities because of the current organizational structure.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2009 07:03:07 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Value of Domestic Partner Benefits in Recruiting and Retaining LGBT Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3530</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3530</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers seeking to recruit and retain talented lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender ("LGBT") employees&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; are increasingly finding that offering domestic partner benefits is a necessary part of their recruiting efforts.&nbsp; As demand for skilled employees and a diverse workplace has grown in recent years, prospective LGBT employees have come to request and even expect that employers recruiting in a competitive market will offer employees in same-sex relationships access to the benefits that have long been offered to employees in opposite-sex relationships.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2009 06:25:55 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ADA Amendments Act - EEOC Comments on Proposed Rules]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1590</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1590</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Last September, President George Bush signed the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA)
of 2008, which requires courts to interpret the ADA broadly when
determining whether an individual has been discriminated against because
of a disability. On June 17, 2009, the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC) voted in favor of revising its rules to conform to the
ADAAA. These amendments, as well as the proposed rules, will make it
easier for individuals seeking protection under the ADA to establish that
they have a disability. The changes to the rules, approved by the EEOC in
a 2-1 vote, must now be reviewed by other federal agencies, including the
Department of Transportation, the Justice Department and the Office of
Management and Budget.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:44:19 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[What's Happening with Health and Welfare Plans? More than You Might Think . . .]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1589</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1589</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Even before Congress began laboring over the potentially biggest health
care legislation in years, employers had &ndash; or should have had
&ndash; plenty of health and welfare plan issues on their agendas for the
second half of 2009.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:44:14 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Loyalty and Leadership - 8 Ways to Earn The Loyalty of Your Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1586</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1586</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Loyalty is defined as commitment or allegiance to a person, a group, or a cause. Sounds clear enough but loyalty often gets skewed in the workplace. Here are some examples where loyalty is distorted...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:22:04 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[When You Throw Dirt, You Lose Ground]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1585</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1585</link>
			<description><![CDATA["When you throw dirt, you lose ground." - Texas Proverb. Nothing tears down relationships, teamwork, effectiveness, and productivity like the office rumor mill and gossip. Some refer to this as water cooler chit chat. There are certain type individuals that will go straight to the source to handle a breakdown, and then there are others who will complain and whine to everyone but the person they have a grievance with.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:19:25 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Do Your Words Promote or Demote?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1584</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1584</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Are you empowering others each time you speak? Have you noticed that whenever you talk to someone, the energy seems to fade away and the other person seems uninterested? Then after the interaction there is a feeling of sadness and your enthusiasm is simply gone. If these things happen, then it is time to analyze yourself and work on your empowering skills.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:13:37 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[GINA Examined Under The Microscope]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1583</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1583</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In an era of test tube babies and cloning, GINA is an attempt to keep pace with technology and address ethical concerns surrounding our understanding of genes and chromosomes. &nbsp;The Human Genome Project enabled scientists&nbsp;to map the genes located on the 46 human chromosomes that determine&nbsp;our physical characteristics and&nbsp; susceptibility to&nbsp;disease.&nbsp; Amidst widespread ethical concerns that the power to analyze the human body at the genetic level would be abused, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 was enacted.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2009 05:29:14 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Writing a Tuition Assistance Plan? Five Tips For Success]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1580</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1580</link>
			<description><![CDATA[You may be asked to write a new tuition assistance program for your company or modify one already in existence. If so, here are 5 tips to consider: 1) Approve schools that are regionally accredited, 2) Decide if your tuition reimbursement program might become a pre-pay education program, 3) Pay for any school option that saves time for employees getting their degree, 4) Pay for online classes, as well as on-campus classes, and 5) Contract with an educational counseling group to help your employees select the best college for their goals, background and skills.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:59:11 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Top 10 Ways to Increasing Productivity & Better Time Management]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1579</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1579</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Are you struggling in the effort to make your small business successful? Does it feel like you are working harder and you still don't see the results you desire? Or maybe you want to grow your business to the next level of success. Let's take a look at the top 10 ways to increasing productivity and better time management.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:30:22 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How to Improve Employee Motivation through Developmental Assessments]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1578</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1578</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many organizations have a tough time grappling with employee motivation issues. Are financial incentives enough? How much is necessary for it to be a primary driver of performance? Again, if money is not the main motivator, how else do you improve employee motivation? Can organizations develop cost effective motivation programs for improving performance across the board?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:27:48 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[3 Tips for Screening Candidates]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1569</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1569</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In a slow job market, anyone who posts a job opening these days is sure to get swamped with resumes. I've heard stories of 500 resumes for a single customer service opening or receptionist position. So when you are swamped like that how do your sort them to find the top 3-4 candidates without spending weeks reading each of them?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:11:59 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How To Effectively Lead Your Organization]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1576</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1576</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It takes Confidence, Interpersonal Skills, Natural Ability To Motivate Others, and The Knowledge of Building Trust With Your Employees - To Be Effective As A Leader.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:49:29 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Do HR Strategies Work?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1574</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1574</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Recently, surveys have shown a decline in the popularity and appreciation of business HR (Human Resources) strategies. Talk of business HR is everywhere. Some companies swear by it as the saviour of their employees and companies; whilst other business owners and managers completely dismiss it.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:24:36 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Workplace Conflict Management Resolution - How to Resolve?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1571</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1571</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Conflict management in the workplace develops the harmonious relationship among employees. To manage the conflict, first step is to identify different conflicts a person has experienced. Then identify appropriate ways to resolve a conflict and practice the conflict management steps to resolve a conflict.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:52:30 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Leadership Skills - the Real Competencies of the Effective Leader]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1570</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1570</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Effective Leader works at building up and maintaining a series of Leadership Competencies which they use to do their job. By 'competencies' we do not mean 'natural' attributes, personality styles or skills. Competency is something, either natural or learnt, which is practiced and used effectively to achieve their desired goals. For example, someone may be charismatic, but this is only a 'competency' if they are consciously aware of this attribute, and use it purposefully to influence others positively. Competency covers knowledge, skills, practices and processes of the Effective Leader.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:49:40 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How to Ask for What You Want and Get What You Need]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3516</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3516</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ If you always do what you always did, you always get what you always got."&nbsp; It's up to you to do something about your negative, energy-draining circumstances.&nbsp; Go for it - get happy!]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:15:10 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How to Terminate an Employee without Facing Lawsuit]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1567</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1567</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers should be careful in terminating a worker to avoid costly lawsuit. To avoid legal consequences, company owners should know these termination laws...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:05:21 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Developing Strategic Thinkers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1561</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1561</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Strategic thinking is regarded as an essential core competency for leadership positions. In fact, many organizations already use this competency, among others, to appraise and evaluate the performance of their executives and leaders. Thus, a competency gap in strategic thinking is considered serious, and organizations will attempt to eliminate this gap. This brief article explores the most effective means to develop strategic thinkers.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:41:13 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employers and Employees: Partners or Enemies?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1560</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1560</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ "I have long been convinced that...employers and employees are partners, not enemies: that their interests are common, not opposed: that in the long run the success of each is dependent upon the success of the other." ~ John D. Rockefeller, Jr. This is so right on, John. I totally agree. Wake up folks! This is the Information Age. The days of treating employees as less than partners is OVER! Plus the time of leading by intimidation is FINISHED! The more you enroll your employees in your visions, the more support and success you create.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:35:03 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Benefits for Same-Sex Spouses]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3509</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3509</link>
			<description><![CDATA[2009 has been a year of dynamic change in the ongoing debate over same-sex marriage.&nbsp; As 2008 drew to a close, same-sex couples could legally marry only in Massachusetts and Connecticut and over 18,000 same-sex couples who had legally married in California before the state constitution was amended to ban same-sex marriage awaited a ruling from the California Supreme Court on the continued validity of their marriages.&nbsp; Now, only eight months later, same-sex marriage has been legalized in four more states and the outcome of the uncertain legal status of same-sex marriage in California has been determined.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:27:26 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Federal minimum wage will increase to $7.25 on July 24]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1557</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1557</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Effective this Friday, July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage rate for covered non-exempt employees will increase from $6.55 per hour to $7.25 per hour. With this change, employees who are covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) will be entitled to pay no less than $7.25 per hour.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:57:09 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Risks of Workplace Investigations   ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1556</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1556</link>
			<description><![CDATA[All employee complaints of harassment, discrimination or any misconduct should be taken seriously. An employer should be able to objectively decide what action should be taken to resolve each issue. Sometimes in order to get the truth, a workplace investigation must be performed. The problem is that there are also a lot of risks in performing workplace investigations. There are a host of rights that may be violated in the process.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:56:20 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Understanding Sexual Harassment in the Workplace]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1555</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1555</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In 2008 alone, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has received a total of 13, 867 sexual harassment charges. That number is the highest it's been in 6 years. Sexual harassment is one of the most prevalent employment discrimination abuses in the country. But what is sexual harassment?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:55:21 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Is Wage and Overtime Claims Lawful?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1553</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1553</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Most companies implement their own principles and policies for its employees. They may have employed several or even multitude of workers to perform various tasks. The Federal Law protects employees from maltreatment and harassment in the workplace. It provides certain guidelines for the companies to follow. Law provisions specifically discuss matters pertaining to punishable workplace offences.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:49:34 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employers Guide to Avoid Pregnancy Discrimination Lawsuit]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1552</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1552</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Pregnancy discrimination cases are costing companies more money than any other claims. In fiscal year 2003, the EEOC and the State and Local agencies collected $12.4 million from lawsuit charges of pregnancy discrimination. Today, thanks to the Pregnancy Discrimination awareness campaign programs, lawsuit cases concerning pregnancy discrimination declines. However, some employers often overlook the context of the pregnancy discrimination act due to confusion.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:47:18 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Managing Change]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3508</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3508</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Change can be difficult. I work in a healthcare setting, so clinical change in a patient is a key focus for our clinical staff, but the "change" I am referring to herein concerns how one can deal with the challenges of organizational change in today's environment. Many of us have experienced changes in our organizations, in the marketplace, or in the environs in which we operate. Paradoxically change seems to be the new status quo.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:33:17 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Communication Saboteurs: Egos ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1522</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1522</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It was a motivational morning. I'd just finished moderating a powerful panel of four talented professionals - each superbly representing his or her generation. They shared their own unique struggles to find their places in the workforce and discussed strategies for strengthening the different generations' relationships in the office.&nbsp; Afterwards, I couldn't help but get sucked into a conversation with three women talking about young professionals in a negative, stereotypical way. "They're demanding and have ridiculous expectations." I hear this kind of conversation frequently, but right after such an inspiring discussion about how this line of thinking doesn't serve anyone in the workplace?&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:04:57 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How Baby Boomers Could Save Our Economy]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1529</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1529</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Much has been written and discussed about the massive number of Baby Boomers who are retiring or about to retire, and the impact on the workplace. What are Boomers going to do with their lives? Here's two developing trends that may have a significant impact on the workplace and our economy: Temp workers and entrepreneurial start ups. As reported in an article by Ali McConnon in the June 30, 2009 issue of BusinessWeek, the recession is hitting recruiting firms hard. For example, Robert Half International sales plummeted by 30% in the first quarter of 2009, as companies were reluctant to hire temp workers. Half is boosting its bottom line once hiring picks up by dipping into a pool of highly skilled Baby Boomers looking for work.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:13:36 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Hire the Right Person]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1528</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1528</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The million dollar question these past few months has been, "How do I attract and hire the right people in my practice?" The real kicker is that it has to be done now because a team member has left. Does this sound familiar? If you have ever been in this position, it feels very uncomfortable. Your thoughts begin to fill with fear and you wonder if you will ever find someone who will fit well into the position available. Rest assured these are normal feelings and you are not alone.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:08:18 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Simplify your Hiring Process: One less headache]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1527</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1527</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Recruiting is a misunderstood art form. For the shortsighted hiring managers out there, the word recruiting brings to mind hours of distraction that could be better spent on their "real job". One thing the recession has taught us (particularly the mortgage crisis) is that any decision based solely on short term ramifications will generally get us nowhere in the long run. This tendency to hunker down and avoid any tasks not directly associated with personal job performance is only further exacerbated by the troubled economy. People are being asked to do more with less and certain critical business functions are suffering as a result.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:16:42 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[I'm not a techie....]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3505</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3505</link>
			<description><![CDATA[As an employer, you cannot afford not to understand social networking, texting, instant messaging, and any other new technology that is used by your employees. Let's be honest, phones are not just phones anymore. The days of the rotary phone and party line have come and gone.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Wage and Hour Violations Burden Small Businesses]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1485</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1485</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employee lawsuits against employers have almost doubled in the last six
years. According to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), if an employer is
found to be in violation of the Wage and Hour laws, the Secretary of Labor
may bring suit for back pay and an equal amount as liquidated damages,
plus attorney's fees and court costs. Small businesses are feeling the
burden and must be cognizant of complying with all laws.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:13:27 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Paid Sick Leave Legislation Introduced in U.S. House of Representatives]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1486</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1486</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The U.S. House of Representatives has introduced legislation that would
require all employers with 15 employees or more to provide up to seven
paid sick days each year.&nbsp; The bill, titled the Healthy Families Act
(H.R. 2460), was introduced by Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:13:24 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Retaining Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1517</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1517</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It is considered expensive to employ a new employee and raise the employee to the level of the previous employee. When an employee leaves a company this means that the company has to incur un-budgeted expenses because of the missing headcount. It also means that the company has to employee another worker to take up that position. Untimely employee turnovers affect the production levels of a company. What follows are uncertainties. It is critical for management to consider any staff turnover as an indication of problems in the company's operations. You need to structure your managerial role to focus on a number of factors such that the management relation with the subordinate is a core part of the managerial tactics. According to David Sirota, a NY based survey intelligence firm, the cost of loosing an employee will cost a company one-and-half times the person's compensation.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:52:08 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Danger of Hiring During a Recession]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1516</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1516</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Are you in a hiring mode during this recession? There's a good news/bad news flavor to hiring right now. First the Good News: Do you think it will be a cake walk because... There are so many good candidates out there who have been laid off? They are motivated to quickly land a new job so they can put bread on their family table? If they have the skills and knowledge to jump right in the company will immediately reap the benefits?Now the Bad News...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:00:24 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[High Court Overturns Pregnancy Bias Ruling]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1484</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1484</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Finds Company's Pension Benefit Calculation Was
LawfulThe U.S. Supreme Court recently held that an
employer did not violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act by granting
limited service credit for purposes of calculating retirement benefits for
pregnancy leaves taken before Title VII was amended in 1978 by the
Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA). In a 7-2 decision, the majority found
that the company based its benefit calculations on a &quot;bona fide&quot;
seniority system. AT&amp;T Corporation v. Hulteen, No.
07-543, U.S. Supreme Court (May 18, 2009). ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:58:14 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Do What You Say You're Going To Do]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3504</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3504</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Broken promises, ideas and concepts discussed in corporate America that are often not realized...it's time to stop the bleeding.&nbsp; We're losing good people over it.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:55:47 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT'S RECENT REVERSE DISCRIMINATION DECISION IN RICCI V. DESTEFANO CREATES MUCH CONFUSION BUT ANSWERS FEW QUESTIONS]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1515</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1515</link>
			<description><![CDATA[This past week, the United States Supreme Court concluded that the City of New Haven Connecticut engaged in&nbsp;reverse discrimination when it discarded test results and refused to promote white firefighters&nbsp;because the City feared certification of the test results, which would have resulted in virtually no promotions of minorities, would lead to claims for disparate impact discrimination.&nbsp;Unfortunately,&nbsp;the Court&rsquo;s decision offers little guidance to employers faced with a similar set of facts.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:11:28 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Is Your Team Healthy or Dysfunctional?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3503</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3503</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ The performance and&nbsp;happiness potential of a healthy team is limitless.&nbsp;Even when a task appears impossible to complete, a healthy team will collaboratively and enthusiastically complete the task above expectations.&nbsp;A dysfunctional team will not.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:11:19 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Non-competition Agreements: 10 Cautionary Thoughts]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1483</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1483</link>
			<description><![CDATA[People do odd things when they enter into a new relationship. I call it the
honeymoon period. It's a time when it is all good, your vision is clouded
by optimism that overlooks faults or problems that are visible to everyone
else. Words of caution from well meaning friends have the sound of crazy
alarmist rhetoric.&nbsp; No, this post is not about relationship advice,
it's about the workplace.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:53:16 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[For Effective Hiring in 21st Century, Engage Candidates in Action Interviews]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3501</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3501</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Posing questions to job candidates in interviews, no matter how behaviorally based, doesn't show you what they will contribute.&nbsp; Perhaps this is one reason temp-to-perm positions became so popular even with the buy-out fee the employer pays.&nbsp; The employer has seen the temporary staff in action.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:05:42 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The 9 Major Causes of Failure In Leadership]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1473</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1473</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Not all of us are natural born leaders. Most of us are moving into leadership roles from a followers role. So we have to work at it very hard in order to be great at it. However, some of us will stumble along the way. For those of you that will stumble. You will battle the mistakes that come along with being a leader. There are 10 mistakes you must avoid in order to be the best leader you can be.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:30:40 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[In Leadership Small Things Count ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1472</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1472</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When people lead it is natural I suppose to want to be recognized for that amazing accomplishment that occurred as they lead the team to victory. There is nothing wrong with this at all. People need to succeed in the things and work they do. That's what goal setting is all about. To accomplish great achievements team has to be built, nurtured, pushed,appreciated, and formed to be group that will accomplish consistently. This does not usually happen overnight. This takes time and effort with a leader that is involved and wants the success of the group and the individuals.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:28:29 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Essential motivation through team building ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1470</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1470</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Unity - This is a word which creates a concept of ones.&nbsp; Whenever there is a motley crowd opinions will differ.&nbsp; But, if they behave as a cohesive force, that unity will prompt victory in all fields.&nbsp; "United We Stand Divided We Fall "- This is a well known quote.&nbsp; In any enterprise, expertise counts a lot.&nbsp; But, more than that, the unity of the participants will bring rich dividends. Manager or entrepreneur, worth the term, should have a skill for team building. &nbsp;Even otherwise, as an ordinary employee also, he can participate in a team work with the real concept ingrained in his mind.&nbsp; When a group of individuals contribute towards a common goal unitedly, this strong synergy will result in a larger contribution than when the very same persons work towards the goal without any bond or cohesion.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:24:35 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Things to Know When Considering a Severance Agreement]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1469</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1469</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When firing an employee, many companies today present a severance agreement, or a contract which usually states that the departing employee agrees not to press charges against the employer. On the other hand, the employer promises to provide a payment called a severance package.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:04:34 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Performance Accountability - Do Your Employees Know What is Expected of Them?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3500</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3500</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Effective employee performance management is the hallmark of any great manager or leader.&nbsp; However, time and time again, we find managers and leaders whose performance management efforts are doomed from the start. How can this be? It all boils down to the employee's perception of what is expected of them in their position.&nbsp; Far too often, employees do not have a clear understanding of what is expected of their performance at work. Consequentially, performance suffers, management gets frustrated, performance suffers further, management gets even&nbsp;more frustrated, and the downward spiral continues until the employment relationship is ultimately terminated by one of the parties. Often times this ugly sequence of events can be easily avoided by taking the time at the beginning of the employment relationship to set clear performance expectation.&nbsp;&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:29:35 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Life After Proposition 8]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3495</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3495</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The ban on same-sex marriage in California will continue, at least for now, after the California Supreme Court ruled on May 26, 2009 that Proposition 8 validly amended the state constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.&nbsp; Proposition 8 was approved by voters by a margin of 52%-48% on November 4, 2008. The Court's decision was based on a determination of whether Proposition 8 was an "amendment" or a "revision" to the state constitution.&nbsp; Revisions to the state constitution require approval by at least two-thirds of both houses of the state legislature before going to voters, unlike amendments which can proceed directly to voters without prior legislative approval.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:46:13 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Five Ways to Welcome New Employees and Improve Staff Retention]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1468</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1468</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Do new employees feel welcome in your organization? Recent thinking in Human Resources places a greater importance on the experience of new employees during the first six months of employment. Like a lot of management concepts, it's the kind of common sense thinking that we somehow never get to implementing. I mean, who could argue with the notion that if we make new employees feel welcome, we stand a better chance of getting them thru what can be a difficult new employee transition?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:14:28 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Domestic Partners Excluded from Federal COBRA Subsidy]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3493</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3493</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The recently enacted economic stimulus bill, titled the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, includes a federal subsidy for group health plan coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 ("COBRA") and similar state laws that offer comparable continuation coverage.&nbsp; The subsidy covers 65% of the cost of COBRA coverage for up to nine months of coverage for employees who were involuntarily terminated at any time between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 and their qualified beneficiaries.&nbsp; Qualified beneficiaries are identified as spouses and dependent children of the employee.&nbsp; The subsidy, like COBRA coverage in general, is not available to same-sex spouses or domestic partners since the federal Defense of Marriage Act limits the definition of "spouse" for all purposes of federal law to a person of the opposite sex.&nbsp; However, many employers elect to provide "COBRA-equivalent" coverage to the domestic partners and/or same-sex spouses of employees.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:02:53 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Same-Sex Marriage Update]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3494</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3494</link>
			<description><![CDATA[2009 is shaping up to be a year of significant change in the ongoing debate over same-sex marriage.&nbsp; In recent weeks same-sex marriage was legalized in Iowa, Vermont, and Sweden and pending legislation may soon lead to the legalization of same-sex marriage in New Hampshire and the recognition of same-sex marriages in the District of Columbia.&nbsp; Employers should take note of these legal developments that are likely to cause an increase in requests for spousal benefit coverage from employees who legally married their same-sex partner in one of the four states or seven foreign countries where same-sex marriage is now legal.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:02:49 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Tips on Managing a High Volume of Applicants]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1457</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1457</link>
			<description><![CDATA[If you happen to be a business fortunate enough to be hiring these days, how are you going about it? The first challenge in finding your next great hire is to find a way to screen the flood of applicants you're sure to receive; to find the cream amidst all that milk. But how do you do this? There are automated tools out there that can actually help. But, first implement these 4 basic steps to manage the high volume of applicants.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:02:37 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Corporate Culture - seeing past the stereotypes and finding excellence]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1456</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1456</link>
			<description><![CDATA[This article is about old and new ways of looking at corporate culture. The research mission is to join up in practical and sustainable ways increased workplace performance and superior workplace fulfilment. Our purpose is to alert organisations to the full potential of corporate culture as a key analytical tool and a framework for better practice.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:17:12 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Improve Your Hiring Process to Cut Costs]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1455</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1455</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Did you know that an estimated two-thirds of employee hiring decisions may be mistakes? This article will provide you with information that can help you improve your hiring process so that you can cut costs and maximize productivity in your organization. Whether you're an owner, an executive or a manager, the following information will be beneficial to you.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:10:33 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Empower or "Unempower"?  Where Does The Line Get drawn?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3489</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3489</link>
			<description><![CDATA[How much authority do you give to staff?&nbsp; Too little?&nbsp; Too much?&nbsp; When do you realize that perhaps you as a manager need to pull back a bit on the reigns?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:12:50 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Non-competition Agreements: 10 Cautionary Thoughts]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3488</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3488</link>
			<description><![CDATA[People do odd things when they enter into a new relationship. I call it the honeymoon period. It's a time when it is all good, your vision is clouded by optimism that overlooks faults or problems that are visible to everyone else. Words of caution from well meaning friends have the sound of crazy alarmist rhetoric. &nbsp;No, this post is not about relationship advice, it's about the workplace.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:12:48 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Increasing Efficiency in the Workplace]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1450</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1450</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Efficiency is the key to any business - whether with regard to daily business operations, customer and company communications, or long term expansion. Moreover, with the economy in a temporary dip, increased efficiency can help save businesses a significant amount of money - not to mention valuable time.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:23:56 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[What You Need to Know about E-Verify]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1449</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1449</link>
			<description><![CDATA[E-Verify was originally introduced to employers as the Basic Pilot Program. The program was developed to provide employers with a free internet-based system where they could determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers. The system is operated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) partnered with the Social Security Administration (SSA). Employers are able to verify the employment eligibility of their employees, regardless of citizenship. Based on information provided by the employee on his or her Form I-9, E-Verify confirms this information electronically against records contained by DHS and SSA databases.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:20:23 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[From Employed to Engaged]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1448</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1448</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Mary Weather is one of your key employees. The customers ask for her by name and she is one of your best team leaders. Today she comes into your office and tells you that she has accepted an exciting opportunity. You are taken aback. What happened, you ask yourself? Of course, you'll have an exit interview, but it's too late to save Mary.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:17:49 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Three Concerns When Inquiring About Applicants' Past Criminal Convictions]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1447</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1447</link>
			<description><![CDATA[One extremely useful facet of using employment applications in hiring is the ability of the employer to directly ask an applicant if he or she has a criminal history that would show up if a thorough background check was conducted. Yet, to their detriment, many employers use language that is either too narrow, too broad, or too ambiguous to successfully accomplish this - each of these mistakes can lead to legal quagmires or bad hires continuing to slip through the cracks and potentially endanger businesses.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:14:26 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Wage and Hour Violations Burden Small Businesses]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1446</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1446</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employee lawsuits against employers have almost doubled in the last six years. According to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), if an employer is found to be in violation of the Wage and Hour laws, the Secretary of Labor may bring suit for back pay and an equal amount as liquidated damages, plus attorney's fees and court costs. Small businesses are feeling the burden and must be cognizant of complying with all laws.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:01:41 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Top Tips for HR Professionals]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1445</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1445</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Some of the best tips for HR professionals are in the following areas; Documentation / Policies &amp; Guidelines,&nbsp; Candidate References, Active Enrollment, Incentives &amp; Recognition, Understanding your Business, Ensure Compliance, Appraisals, Disciplinary Procedures, Exit Interviews, Time Management, and Enhancing Your Career. Read on to find out more...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:25:35 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Practical Challenges for PHR & SPHR]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1444</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1444</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Nowadays, companies are laying off their staffs. Though, it is extremely tough to find talented pool of employees. So, companies need good managers to counter the cruel recession. Sphr phr certification ensures that they are approving the potentials which have capabilities to counter all these hurdles. Credibility of such certifications provides relief to the companies and let them concentrate on their core task.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:19:14 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[MISUNDERSTANDING LEADS TO MISCLASSIFICATION - WHY UNDERSTANDING THE OVERTIME EXEMPTION RULES OF THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT IS SO IMPORTANT]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3486</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3486</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In the recent case of Morgan v. Family Dollar Stores, Inc., the 11th Circuit affirmed a jury award of over $35 million dollars&nbsp;in unpaid overtime wages for more than one thousand store managers who had been misclassified as exempt.&nbsp;&nbsp;Like Dollar Stores,&nbsp;employers&nbsp;often operate under the mistaken belief that employees who are paid salaries and given managerial or executive titles are automatically exempt from the overtime.&nbsp;&nbsp;These&nbsp;misconceptions&nbsp;can have severe consequences if it is later determined that&nbsp;the employees were misclassified as exempt,&nbsp;but are in fact,&nbsp;entitled to overtime pay.&nbsp;&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:42:12 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Why What You Say is NOT What Your Employees Hear ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1442</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1442</link>
			<description><![CDATA[He walked into the room to deliver the news that the company was going to be looking at the possibility of outsourcing parts of their IT services. It was actually a part of their database management that IT hated and openly talked about hating. So he knew they would be glad to hear that the company would consider outsourcing it. He walked into the room, delivered his news, and was soon flooded with the resignations from his top talent.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:42:00 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[5 Ways to Improve Employee Engagement Through Community]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1441</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1441</link>
			<description><![CDATA[How does it feel to go to work?  This is the question your employees answer every day as they move through their duties. Their answer has a surprising impact on their performance. In general, when employees are happy about their work environment, they are more productive. Employees choose how much extra time and effort they will spend on work after fulfilling their minimum performance expectations. When companies foster engaging environments where workers feel connected to their work and co-workers, employees will put in more effort to produce outstanding work. As such, creating a feeling of community among workers is key to increasing employee engagement and productivity.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2009 07:08:16 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Small Business Growth: It's About Leadership And Management]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1440</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1440</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When people think of leadership they usually come up with two scenarios. Either they are doing the leading or they are being led. Whether you are starting up your own business or running your own business the leadership you demonstrate will be critical to your success. When you are leading others, whether it be employees, contractors, vendors or potential clients or customers that you hope to turn into sales it is critical that you are aware of the process and your impact on it. If you aren't your dream of small business growth and success may turn into a reality of failure.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2009 07:07:32 CDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Retaining Key Small Business Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1438</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1438</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many small businesses find it difficult to hire top quality talent as well as retain them. There are a number of areas where they feel they are at a disadvantage compared to large companies. Among these are: 1) Less area for career growth, 2) Pay, 3) Benefits and 4) A less structured environment. I would like to address each of these perceived shortcomings and how they can be turned into a positive for both attracting and retaining top-notch talent.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2009 07:07:27 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Performance Appraisal Interview - Not Unlike a Job Interview]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1439</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1439</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Just as you would prepare for a job interview, preparation is key for ensuring that your performance appraisal process goes well. Your performance review becomes a permanent record in your employee file, both in terms of how you rate yourself as well as your managers' evaluation of whether you've achieved the agreed business objectives or goals for the period under review.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2009 06:53:02 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How Do You Deal With Difficult People?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3485</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3485</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ Who in your life do you consider difficult?&nbsp; Is it your boss, a colleague, a family member or a friend?&nbsp; Or, perhaps you realize that you are a difficult person&nbsp;who struggles&nbsp;at getting along with people.&nbsp; Whoever the difficult person is, you are probably fueled by emotions and stress when you interact with them.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2009 06:48:48 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Identifying Potential Leaders]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1434</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1434</link>
			<description><![CDATA["The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it." - Theodore Roosevelt... One of the most difficult (yet most fulfilling) tasks a leader faces is the task of developing new leaders in any organization. Sometimes it is difficult to find leaders willing to take this step because it seems like long and difficult work for an unknown outcome. In some ways, this is true. A leader may pour themselves into somebody else only to see that person wither and die as a leader - or the person may become an excellent leader only to take a job for another company. However, the long term benefit to an organization far outweighs the potential loss from leaders who later jump ship. In fact, if the development process is done correctly, it should make the persons' loyalty to the company even stronger than it was before the development process began.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2009 13:56:10 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Engagement - How to Navigate the Most Difficult Economic Times Since the Great Depression]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1433</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1433</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In this time of fear and uncertainty, morale has plummeted and productivity is down. Research conducted by the Corporate Executive Board reveals that 25% of Top Employees are looking for other opportunities (up from 10% last year) and 100% are in danger of being swept away by the competition...headhunters are on the prowl. The time is NOW to get your employees committed and focused. Keep your top-performing superstars, and build their engagement and morale. Read on to see what the experts are saying and what you should do about it.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2009 09:30:45 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA["Creative Destruction" - How to Manage Headcount in a Recession]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3484</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3484</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Organizational headcount can become a very touchy topic during an economic downturn.&nbsp; No organization takes joy in having to lay its employees off; however, job cuts often become a necessity of organizational survival during a recession.&nbsp;Economist Joseph Schumpeter has an interesting theory called "Creative Destruction" that has important business implications when it comes to managing employee headcount during a business downturn.&nbsp;Check out this post to find out what they are...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2009 14:02:15 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[USCIS to All Employers: New Form I-9 Effective April 3, 2009]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1423</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1423</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Citizenship and Immigration Service (CIS) confirmed that the latest I-9
Form is effective April 3, 2009. The CIS went several years without
updating the I-9 Form and the attending List of Documents - but has made a
series of revisions, some substantial and some insubstantial, over the last
two years. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2009 14:42:36 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[When You Should Promote From Within and When You Should Hire From Outside the Company]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1429</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1429</link>
			<description><![CDATA[You must know WHEN you should promote from within and when you need to bring in new blood or you can KILL your company. So how do you know which one you should do? The answer is surprisingly easy yet I am amazed at how many companies miss it. I believe most companies miss it because they don't realize the importance of this ONE ingredient in the success of their company. The one key ingredient is YOUR CORPORATE CULTURE.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2009 14:33:21 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Economic Uncertainty Calls for Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1428</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1428</link>
			<description><![CDATA[During these times of economic uncertainty, corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives are unlikely to rank very high on CEO and Senior Management's priority list. Traditionally perceived as the right thing to do, companies philanthropic contributions and environmental mandates have rarely been treated as much more than a prerequisite towards earning their obligatory social license to operate.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2009 08:56:15 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Value of Employee Engagement Surveys as Part of a Change Management Strategy]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1427</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1427</link>
			<description><![CDATA[One of the things that continues to surprise me is that when times are bad organizations still spend money on employee engagement surveys. A general look around the office or factory and tea room discussions would make it obvious to all that wanted to see it that employees are not so much engaged as they are worried about their jobs. This leads us to two major issues to consider during tough times, the first is how we inspire confidence and innovation in an organization that appears to be in freeze mode. The second is what you should measure as an indicator of employee engagement. Let's deal with inspiring confidence and innovation in your organization.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2009 08:53:46 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Minimize Problems With Employee Terminations]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1426</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1426</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ Many of our clients have found it necessary to reduce staff (or even staff pay or benefits) to weather this rocky 2009.&nbsp; While they are no doubt doing this to reduce expenses, in my experience, there is one thing well worth spending money on as part of this plan, namely, a competent employment attorney.&nbsp; Why is this?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2009 07:30:58 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Faltering Economy Encourages Entrepreneurs]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3433</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3433</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ It's no surprise to anyone that our economy is faltering, as are financial systems around the world.&nbsp; In late 2008 the headlines across America screamed "recession" and everyone simply said, "Well, duh!"&nbsp; So, okay - we're in an economical downturn, a worrisome funk - now what?&nbsp; Well, some old clich&eacute;s come to mind, such as "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."&nbsp; Or how about this one, "Just reach down and pull yourself up by your bootstraps."&nbsp; Great advice - but just how is one supposed to accomplish these feats?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2009 00:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Staff Retention: Top 10 Tips]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1417</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1417</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The 'job for life' is not a term often used now, but employers need to
consider the importance of employee retention as it affects turnover,
productivity and the business's long-term success.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2009 11:00:08 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Today's Economy Calls for a 401(k) Plan Review]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1420</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1420</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A sputtering economy and declining stock market have taken a huge toll on
investors' portfolios, including employees' 401(k) accounts. Some studies
show that stock market drops resulted in the average 401(k) account
balance falling nearly 30 percent in 2008. This occurred despite
participant contribution levels that continued at slightly higher rates
than in 2007.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2009 11:00:05 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[California Employer Failed to Prove State Motor Carrier Exemption to Overtime Applied to its Drivers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1419</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1419</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Holding that an employer had failed to prove its employees were covered by
the motor carrier exemption to the overtime compensation requirements of
the California wage and hour laws, the California Court of Appeal has
reversed summary adjudication for the employer. Gomez v. Lincare,
Inc., No. G040338 (Cal. Ct. App. Apr. 28, 2009).&nbsp; The Court
concluded the employer had not shown that its employees qualified for the
exemption, because it was unable to demonstrate they drove a vehicle
carrying hazardous materials each workday.&nbsp; The Court remanded the
case for further proceedings.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2009 11:00:02 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Integrating Generation Y Into the Workplace]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3434</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3434</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ Whether they're sizzling singles, magical marrieds, or living in a dream home, if they're in your workplace you want them to be enthusiastic, energetic, extraordinary employees.&nbsp; Just how do you manage this?&nbsp; Well, indeed, that's the billion dollar question.&nbsp; Fortunately, there is a simple answer - you train them.&nbsp; Unfortunately, there is no easy way to do this, especially when you consider the diverse individuals moving into our modern workplace environments.&nbsp; Each person is from a unique background and, therefore, each needs specific training that may not fit what others need.&nbsp; Is this a daunting task?&nbsp; Yes, it is; but we have some tips for you.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[IRS Gives Underfunded Multiemployer Defined Benefit Plans More Time to Make WRERA Elections]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3450</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3450</link>
			<description><![CDATA[IRS gives significantly underfunded multiemployer defined plans making elections described in sections 204 and 205 of the Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008, P.L. 110-458 (WRERA) more time.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2009 10:53:31 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Training + Development = Strong Organization........ Training - Development = Disaster]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3453</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3453</link>
			<description><![CDATA[So often as organizations we think we have it down in regards to training and development programs, aka T/D.&nbsp; So often we fall short of the concept, letting it roll into a deep, dark abyss.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2009 10:53:20 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Changing Face of the American Workplace]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3431</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3431</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ Kern County,  California, has always been keenly aware of the rich Hispanic influence in their community, from cultural fairs and popular Latino markets to a wide variety of Spanish-language radio/television stations, and newspapers.&nbsp; So, it probably will come as no surprise to those in that Central California area that California has the largest Hispanic concentration of any state in the Union, with Texas a distant second ("Rising Clout" HR Magazine, September 2008).&nbsp; Why is this significant?&nbsp; Because, as the fastest growing population, the Hispanic community is also a key ingredient in the future of America's workforce.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2009 15:28:12 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Managing Swine Flu Workplace Disruptions]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3452</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3452</link>
			<description><![CDATA[While U.S. businesses don't yet know how deadly the swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection (swine flu) outbreak will be, they already are experiencing growing challenges and operational disruptions from the rising tide of employee leave requests and other employment and operational disruptions resulting from the pandemic containment efforts if not the disease itself.&nbsp; Striking the right balance requires careful planning and consideration.&nbsp; Read more for tips for businesses on balancing the risks and responding.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2009 15:26:01 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Human Resource Management]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1396</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1396</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Human Resources Department performs a plethora of functions related to a company's workforce, including performance management and resource planning. These functions also entail striking a balance between change and innovation with the main aim of increasing Return on Investment (ROI), thereby decreasing financial risk.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2009 11:38:10 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Has the time come for an alternative work week?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3447</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3447</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ If you're older than 30, get set to take a short trip down memory lane; if you're younger than 30, settle in for a history lesson that is as relevant as today's headlines.&nbsp; Those who remember the 1970s, will remember the pain of the oil crisis during that decade.&nbsp; Prompted by an oil embargo imposed by OAPEC (Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries) on October 17, 1973, America and other Western nations were plunged into an energy crisis.&nbsp; Not only did the price of gasoline at the pump and heating oil soar, there were intense shortages of fuel.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2009 11:25:18 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Workforce Swine Flu Pandemic Survival Preparedness Tips For Business]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1395</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1395</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ With U.S. officials confirming the first swine flu attributed death in the U.S.&nbsp;today and&nbsp;warning Americans to&nbsp;take precautions to guard against a likely swine flu pandemic,&nbsp;U.S. employers are asking what steps they should take&nbsp;to defend their organization and its people against the risk of a widespread outbreak among members of their workforce and the attendant lost time, health and disability costs, OSHA and other liability exposures and other personal and financial consequences likely to result from an outbreak.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2009 07:25:35 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Guide to HIPAA Changes in the Stimulus Package]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1394</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1394</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It is old news that President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, popularly known as the Stimulus Package, into law last month. What hasn't made the news are the dramatic changes the law makes to HIPAAs (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) Security Rules. The changes subject business associates to the rules, requires notifications for breaches, expands who may seek damages and increases penalties for violations. Here are just some of the biggest changes to the HIPAA Security Rules.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:49:51 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[EEOC Discrimination Claim - What to Know]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1393</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1393</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Act regarding Civil Rights passed in the year of 1964 states that EEOC(Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) should execute the legal matters regarding anti-discrimination. The EEOC, a federal agency, has authority to investigate and settle claims of illegal discrimination.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:49:30 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Litigation Angle of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1392</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1392</link>
			<description><![CDATA[President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act on January 29, 2009 (see Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire &amp; Rubber Co., 550 U.S. 618 (2007)). This law applies to discriminatory pay complaints and remedies under several current laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as well as parts of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:45:25 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Getting Results Through Accountability]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3429</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3429</link>
			<description><![CDATA[While there are some valid reasons that can keep us behind and stuck in our same-old behaviors and thinking patterns, holding ourselves and others accountable is the only way to bring about positive results in both our personal and professional lives. To bring about accountability we need to realize that we are only being responsible when we help people grow and perform, not when we enable them to do less.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:34:00 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Are Your Supervisors a Liability or an Asset?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3428</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3428</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ Leaders&nbsp;need to develop and empower their teams, and themselves, into high-performance individuals.&nbsp;Leaders&nbsp;need to&nbsp;build trust to produce higher levels of job satisfaction and personal happiness.&nbsp; People perform better and are happier when they have trust.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:33:58 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Why should I keep the personnel files of former employees?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1385</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1385</link>
			<description><![CDATA[If an employee left the company, why should you continue to retain their personnel file? There are a few different reasons why, but one of the main reasons is that the federal government stipulates that companies should retain personnel data for a specified period of time. There are also some states that have additional requirements beyond the federal government requirements. Some of these requirements are dependent on the number of employees, while some are only for government contractors and subcontractors. Regardless, most employers will fall under the records retention requirements.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:49:06 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Generations: A Different View on Diversity]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1384</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1384</link>
			<description><![CDATA[According to the dictionary, diversity is defined simply as variety, a meaning that is sometimes lost when we think of workplace diversity. In this context, our thoughts turn to differences in cultural background and ethnicity, and possibly gender. One type of diversity that seldom enters our minds is age, and we often assume that individuals of similar ethnic and cultural backgrounds will behave similarly, regardless of age.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:48:09 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Staff Retention: Top 10 Tips]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1383</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1383</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The 'job for life' is not a term often used now, but employers need to consider the importance of employee retention as it affects turnover, productivity and the business's long-term success.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:47:09 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Are Your Employees Engaged? How Do You Know?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1382</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1382</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Olden DaysIn the days when courses of a week were still in fashion, I used to run a course of four days split into two sessions a month apart. It was a course in 'Personal Effectiveness'. It was one I particularly enjoyed as it covered a wide range of topics and we often got really great results for the people participating.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:45:49 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[One Cause of Interpersonal Conflict in the Workplace: Mindset]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3425</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3425</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Interpersonal conflict has many roots and sources in the workplace.&nbsp; I would like to highlight one cause of workplace conflict I see quite often: differing mindsets among the team members within an organization]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2009 07:47:56 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Form 941 : What's New For 2009   ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1381</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1381</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Just as in previous tax years, 2009 brings new changes to the different payroll tax forms and regulations. Below is a summary of "What's New" for Form 941 2009.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:49:35 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[STIMULUS FUNDS COME WITH WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS FOR EMPLOYEES WHO REPORT MISUSE ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3423</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3423</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Any employer receiving federal stimulus funds, or who will conduct business with an entity that will receive such monies, must take appropriate steps to ensure that the funds are properly utilized and that employees who report suspected abuse of funds are not retaliated against.&nbsp;&nbsp;Amidst growing concern that stimus funds will not be&nbsp;used for their intended purpose, Congress has enacted whistleblower provisions to protect employees who report the misuse of federal funds received under the Stimulus Plan.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:22:15 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Is Disrespect Affecting Your Outcomes and Profits?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3422</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3422</link>
			<description><![CDATA[If you think that treating people with respect is too touchy-feely for the workplace, think again.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:22:11 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA["Bossmanship" vs. Leadership; Reactions of 21st Century Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3420</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3420</link>
			<description><![CDATA[What is the difference in these two areas?&nbsp; 21st century management expects HR leaders as well as managers to know the difference.&nbsp; Looking for high retention?.....it starts with understanding this kind of concept.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:58:28 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New IRS' 2009 "Dirty Dozen" Tax Scams List  Invites Whistleblower Claims Against Employers, Others Engaged In Listed Transactions]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3421</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3421</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Businesses need to take appropriate steps to minimize their exposure to whistleblower or other claims by employees and other service providers that report the potential involvement of the business in tax scams or other improper tax transactions.Businesses face whistleblower, tax fraud prosecution, additional tax and penalty liability and other sanctions for involvement in tax shelters or other tax schemes.&nbsp; The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 2009 "dirty dozen" list of tax scams released today (April13, 2009) warns businesses about getting involved in 12 tax transactions that the IRS views as likely to create tax fraud and whistleblower risks. The IRS is urging U.S. businesses and other taxpayers to avoid participation in these common schemes. Businesses should review lists of IRS abusive transactions, should evaluate whether any of their transactions may be subject to scrutiny by the IRS, and take other appropriate steps to mitigate their exposure to prosecution for tax fraud, to tax related whistleblower liability and other risks.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:58:21 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Romance]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3418</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3418</link>
			<description><![CDATA[So how did a simple survey on romance, of all things, get me so worked up?  Simple, in my job I see the fallout from failed office romances.  Too often they cause a mess. People lose their jobs and companies get sued. No, I am not being dramatic, although I will confess to having my moments. For every successful office romance, I can probably show you 5 disasters or at the very least a disaster in the making.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2009 07:41:53 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[What it Means to be Brave]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1376</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1376</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Do you have what it takes to be "brave" in today's marketplace?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2009 07:40:55 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Recession-Proof Your Career (Part I of II)]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1377</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1377</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Have you taken the ncessary steps to recession-proof your career in today's job market?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2009 07:40:36 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employer Group Health Plans - What Types Are There?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1375</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1375</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The most important thing most employers want to be able to offer to their employees is an employer group health plan. Through these plans the employer can rest assured that his employees are well taken care. It also helps retain current employees since they are more likely to stay to keep the great benefits. Many people will take a lower paying job if the benefits are worth the lower pay. Having affordable health care is one of the first things people ask about when they start a new job and for many, it can be the reason they accept a position with one company over another. Being able to offer comprehensive, and inexpensive, health care for your employees is a must have in the current economic situation.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:50:51 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[TERMINATING AN EMPLOYEE ON MEDICAL LEAVE: TIMING IS EVERYTHING]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3417</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3417</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employees out on medical leave&nbsp;have a statutory right to job reinstatement&nbsp;upon returning from leave.&nbsp; This does not mean that these employees&nbsp;are completely protected from any form of termination from employment. The&nbsp;general protection under the FMLA is not without exceptions, especially when information is discovered during the leave period that justifies terminating the employee.&nbsp; The bottom line is that when contemplating termination of an employee out&nbsp;on medical leave,&nbsp;timing is everything.&nbsp;&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:30:52 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New 2008 Turnover Stats by Industry Just Released: How Did Your Company Compare?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1372</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1372</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Flashback to January of 2008. It began well, but dramatically disintegrated over time to end in a dismal financial state that has affected each of us in some way. Certainly it made managing HR much more challenging than it is under normal business scenarios. We know that millions of jobs were eliminated as the year progressed, with the fallout of significant job losses spilling over into 2009. As the economy deteriorated, job security became of paramount importance to employees. Towards the end of the year, employees became much more reluctant to seek other employment and had diminished opportunity to do so in view of fewer job openings. Employers found themselves in the diametrically opposed position of laying off employees while still hiring for specialized jobs. Even so, naturally there was still employee turnover in all industries.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:16:31 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Employee Free Choice Act: The Union's Knocking at Your Workplace Door]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3401</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3401</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers beware:&nbsp; pending legislation will make it possible for unions to organize a workplace without ever having a union election and will allow arbitrators to set the terms and conditions of labor contracts if workers and management cannot agree. The Employee Free Choice Act, co-sponsored by&nbsp; President-Elect Obama. will likely be passed in some form in the near future.&nbsp; This sweeping legislation would fundamentally alter how unions are organized in the American workplace and how union contracts are negotiated.&nbsp; Employers need to prepare now for these changes.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:11:49 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Face to Face Communication, 5 Reasons Why It's Still Important]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1367</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1367</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In today's world, reliance on technology is a fact of doing business.&nbsp;However, the value of face to face communication within your organization and with your clients should not go unrecognized.&nbsp;Recently, K HR Solutions conducted a generational survey.&nbsp;56% of survey participants indicated that they prefer face to face communication with their boss and over 50% prefer face to face communication with their colleagues.&nbsp;The next highest was only 35% preferring e-mail.&nbsp;Whereas technology has increased the number of people that we can communicate with, it has also increased the amount of techno-chatter that we experience on a daily basis.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2009 08:46:39 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How to Justify Spending Money on Workplace Wellness During a Recession]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1368</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1368</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Make no mistake, there is no better time to look after your employees than when the pressure is on and demands on them are greatest. If you're working with teams who've had their numbers cut, they need to be engaged and motivated to focus on the job and not on insecurities around them. If your initiatives are properly designed, they will have an immediate impact throughout the business and get great results. A downturn is when your people need support the most.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2009 08:46:06 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Time to Terminate an Employee? Rules For Handling the Unpleasant Task]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1369</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1369</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Rule #1  Get personnel file in order- Documentation is the single most effective defense if a suit is filed. Handwritten notes are fine. There should be specific instances noted in the employee's file concerning performance issues with as many details as possible. Performance reviews that document conversations about areas needing improvement and plans to meet those goals carry a lot of weight.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:45:10 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Your HR Career - The Biggest HR Career Mistake Just About Every HR Professional Makes]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1370</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1370</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many HR professionals are stuck in the old-school mindset that HR career success comes from following some kind of rigid, carefully laid-out career plan. Some companies have even taken years to develop carefully constructed "HR career paths" or "HR career ladders" for their HR folks. This is all a bunch of bunk.  And this is the biggest career mistake just about every HR professional makes.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:44:52 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Happiness Potential: Is it Possible to Be Happy?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3414</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3414</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ Your happiness potential is like the sugar that has settled at the bottom of your glass of lemonade. It's inside the glass; it's inside you. It's there for you when you can't take life anymore and when you're ready to make a change. But it can become stuck. Stir it up! It's holding in your courage, assertiveness and passion--necessary sweeteners.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:27:41 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Are You Hiring the Best Candidates?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1360</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1360</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Now more than at any time in recent history, it is vital that you hire only the best candidates for new positions due to growth, expansion or venturing into new markets, services or products. It's no secret that there are hundreds of thousands of unemployed nationwide. Many of these potential employees can bring creativity, dedication and excellent skills to a new position with your organization. I don't care if you are hiring a new janitor, CEO or Administrative assistant if you want to ensure that you continue to grow profitably it's critical that you only hire the best.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:06:44 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[While Others Are Firing, You Should Be Hiring]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1362</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1362</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In tough economic times, most organizations' first and most predictable reaction is to cut expenses; in today's service economy, the largest expenses are manpower-related. The result is that thousands of talented employees have been released into the marketplace. This increase in talented unemployed workers creates a great opportunity. When others are cutting, now is the time for you to redefine, realign and rehire to pick from the best and create a more powerful and greater performing team.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2009 07:57:13 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New IRS COBRA Subsidy Guidance Defines "Involuntary Termination" & Other Workings of Rules]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3412</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3412</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers, plan administrators and group health plan insurers have more information about what terminations are considered "involuntary" and the meaning of other requirements imposed by temporary modifications (COBRA Subsidy Rules) to the group health plan medical coverage continuation requirements of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (COBRA) enacted under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Stimulus Bill).The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) yesterday (April 1, 2009) released additional guidance about the COBRA Subsidy Rules, including information about the definition of "involuntary termination." Part of a series of guidance trickling out from the IRS, the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Health &amp; Human Services (HHS) about the COBRA Subsidy Rules. &nbsp;The IRS publication of this guidance follows the release by March 20, 2009 of its Model Notices notify certain current and former participants and beneficiaries about some of the Stimulus COBRA Rules.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:35:55 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Is it Worth it to Retain Your Skilled Employees in a Recession?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3410</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3410</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In the current economic climate organizations are scrambling to save cash any way they can.&nbsp; With cash at such a premium many&nbsp;managers find themselves wondering if it is worth going the extra mile to retain their top performers.&nbsp;Tempting as it may be to let up on&nbsp;one's efforts to retain&nbsp;their top performers, retention efforts are still&nbsp;strategically important, even in a recession.&nbsp; Find out why...&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:37:30 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Top 3 Tips For Hiring in a Soft Economy]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1363</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1363</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Everyone knows we are in the midst of a pretty soft economy. It is not yet clear here in March of 2009 how long it will last. Most bets are it will be a long time. This means a lot of things to business people but it particularly impacts hiring...if you are lucky enough to do any hiring. Pure and simple, a bad hire can put you out of business. Here are 3 tips that help you hire right in a bad economy.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:45:26 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Five Employee Retention Mistakes Employers Are Making Now]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1327</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1327</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Even though it's an "employer's market" with millions of capable people looking for work due to the recession, many employers are making five key employee retention mistakes.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:38:12 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[10 Workplace Motivation Commandments That All Leaders MUST Follow]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1326</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1326</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Unmotivated employees have rightly been called "the  black holes of the business universe." Fortunately, motivation is not something  a person is born with or without. Applying these Ten Commandments can go a long  way to helping existing employees find their motivation.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:44:16 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[10 Steps to Landing a Job During the Recession]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1325</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1325</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Ten ways to find a job in ten days. This article was written to help job seekers find a job in this recession. It  is geared towards job seekers that work with headhunters, third party search  firms, and recruiters. It can help you find jobs on the market in your industry  whether you are looking for a sales job or technology job, this article can help  you find a recruiter, has interview tips, and will help you negotiate your job  offer letter. With the recession there are a lot of job seekers, and this  article includes how to find a job during the recession.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:39:39 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Court Recognizes Retaliation For Filing HIPAA Privacy Complaint As Basis For Texas Whistleblower Claim]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3407</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3407</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In a March 19, 2009 ruling, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas recently recognized that the Texas Whistleblower Act prohibits health care organizations run by the State of Texas from retaliating against employees for making good faith complaints of violations of the Privacy Rules of the Health Insurance Portability Act ("HIPAA"),&nbsp; Nevertheless, the court dismissed the wrongful discharge lawsuit brought by a former Terrell State Hospital security guard who alleged he was wrongfully fired for complaining to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights (OCR) that the Hospital violated the HIPAA Privacy Rules because the plaintiff had failed to present sufficient proof that he was terminated in retaliation for filing a HIPAA complaint.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:42:11 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[7 Cost-Effective Ways for Business Leaders to Improve Communication and Collaboration]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1297</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1297</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Some business leaders may argue that it's not important for every employee to  be involved in, or even informed about the company's business strategy,  financial position or other seemingly "executive-exclusive" information. But, my  experience tells me that when companies strangle, or in some cases, sever the  critical lines of communication and collaboration amongst its employees, the  result can be catastrophic.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:49:33 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Shutdowns May Have an Impact on Employees' FLSA-Exempt Status]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1293</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1293</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many companies affected by the current economic downturn are searching for
ways to help weather that storm.&nbsp; Occasional reduction in work hours,
implementing mandatory vacations, or instituting short-term furloughs can
help an employer to retain experienced employees, while allowing the
company to achieve cost savings in this time of economic crisis.&nbsp; The
Department of Labor (DOL) recently released three opinion letters written
in January of this year in response to employer inquiries about the effect
of such&nbsp; short-term shut-downs on employees&rsquo; exempt status under
the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:43:09 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employers Required to Pay Sick Leave- Will Work/Family Balance be Mandated by the Government?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1295</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1295</link>
			<description><![CDATA[With a new administration and a dismal economy, new and amended laws are on
the horizon to transform the ever-changing world we call human
resources.&nbsp; Among these changes, Michelle Obama is making work/family
balance a top priority in her role of first lady.&nbsp; So what does this
mean?&nbsp; For the first time, the government is attempting to mandate
paid sick days and paid leave for businesses.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:40:25 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Time Management Tips - Strategies for Success]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1292</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1292</link>
			<description><![CDATA[One cannot be successful in any field if he is not a disciplined in the area of time management, be he a student, an entrepreneur, or even a retired official. We have to stick some time schedule willy-nilly if we desire to succeed. Where business in concerned, one has to master the art of succeeding over unwelcome interruptions and concentrate on finishing his job on time. In this this write-up, I shall provide the cues for you to follow to ensure nothing comes in the way of your smooth execution of tasks and maintaining your deadlines.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:05:05 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Effects of Unemployment]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1291</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1291</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The US market for instance is a highly unstable market in today's times. In fact, our current market trend is quite low. Although it is possible that we have higher economic growth compared to any other country and during our peak negative cycle, there is no doubt about it- we are in a recession right now. Millions of Americans are suffering such problems like job cuts, decreases in stock withholds and more. Although this is quite detrimental, this is actually a very common phenomena and occurs naturally in any global business setup and will regain its stability within a short span of time. In this article, we will evaluate the effect of unemployment on commerce and business so that we have a better understanding of these matters.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:03:16 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Adapting Your Business to Change]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1290</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1290</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Change occurs in our lives, our homes and our businesses whether we like it or not. And, in order to be successful, especially in business, we need to be able to adapt to that change and use it to our advantage rather than having it become a downfall. Of course, successful adaptation doesn't just happen overnight. It happens through careful planning and organization. In other words, it happens through organizational change management.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:05:03 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Human Resources and Recruiting During the Recession]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1289</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1289</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Defining a clear human resources strategy is key to long-term success during the current economic downturn. Some companies have to make the difficult decisions of who to let go, while others face the daunting task of sifting through a mountain of job applications for any position they have open. For those companies scrambling to stay afloat, analyze each job task and determine the business functions that have the most redundancy. Letting someone go is always a difficult decision, so make sure you act intelligently when you are forced to downsize.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:29:14 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[DOL Posts, Model Notices, Other Additional Guidance On Stimulus Bill COBRA Rules]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3403</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3403</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") this morning (March 19, 2009) posted Model Notices and other additional guidance about temporary requirements added to the group health plan medical coverage continuation requirements of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended ("COBRA") by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("Stimulus Bill"). Employers, health plan administrators, and health insurers involved in the sponsorship or administration of COBRA-covered group health plans should consult with counsel about the suitability of using the Model Notices to provide required notifications of the new Stimulus Bill COBRA rules and other steps necessary to comply with the new requirements.&nbsp;&nbsp;While the Model Notices and other guidance provides helpful insights about the new requirements, many group health plan sponsors, administrators and fiduciaries are likely to find it necessary or desirable to specifically tailor the notifications and other procedures they provide to more clearly communicate the workings of the new requirements as they relate to their specific plans so as to minimize administrative burdens of compliance and fiduciary risks.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:12:52 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Human Capital: Modern Tools and Strategies For Human Resources]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1288</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1288</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Winston Churchill once said, "Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have." An organization, be it a country or a company, is only as strong as the people who drive the process and agenda for that organization. In the modern business environment, Human capital is the driving force behind success and in many cases failure. The modern global economy has brought down barriers and opened up the market place. Under the mounting competitive pressures, many managers lose sight of their most valuable asset, their people. When it comes to employees, I trust the old business adage that an A class person with a B class product will always outperform a B class person with an A class product. Managers need to step back, take a breath and focus on 'who' will help take their company to the next level.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:07:29 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Can March Madness Bolster Employee Morale Without Destroying Productivity]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3399</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3399</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It is that special time of the year for college basketball fans.&nbsp; That is right, March Madness is just around the corner!&nbsp; Offices and workplaces around the country will be abuzz with the latest news and information about the big tournament.&nbsp;&nbsp;All this excitement&nbsp;and time spent following the "Big Dance" can have a considerable impact on productivity if not handled properly by organizations&nbsp;- a&nbsp;3.5 billion dollar loss of&nbsp;productivity according to recent studies.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, if handled properly, March Madness can have considerable benefits in the form of improved employee morale and enhanced camaraderie among team members.&nbsp;Click below to learn how your organization can bolster employee morale without destroying productivity amid all the March Madness.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:16:41 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Managing March Madness]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1287</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1287</link>
			<description><![CDATA[How do you manage March Madness?Do you ban office pools and game watching sessions?Or knowing it will only last three weeks, do you "turn your head"?Or do you participate just to "stay in the loop"?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:11:44 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act: What Employers Need to Know]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1286</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1286</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Have you heard about Lilly Ledbetter and the Ledbetter Act in the news? Here is a straightforward explanation of how this Act affects you as an employer.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:06:16 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Performance Management - A Simple Four Step Feedback Model]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1285</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1285</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Providing clear and direct feedback is an essential function of management. The value of feedback is that it promotes learning and maintains performance in alignment with accepted standards. Frequent feedback provides more cycles of learning and allows employees to more rapidly move up the learning curve. And yet, giving feedback is often a challenge and a source of anxiety for managers. The need is readily recognized, but somehow the action gets put off. Following a simple four step method provides a framework for giving feedback and assures a successful outcome.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:55:36 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Can NCAA March Madness Be Used Improve Employee Morale Without Destroying Productivity?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1284</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1284</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It's that magical time of the year for basketball fans. That's right it's time once again for March Madness! During the coming weeks offices and workplaces around the country will be abuzz with the latest news and information about the big tournament and high hopes will be set for alma maters participating in the Big Dance. All this excitement brings with it office pools and wagers placed by workers who try to predict how the 64 team tournament will pan out. Not surprisingly all this extra-curricular office activity will have an impact on productivity: a 3.5 billion dollar loss in American productivity by some estimates.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2009 07:58:36 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[It's Time to Pay Attention to Personnel ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1283</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1283</link>
			<description><![CDATA[We should never lose sight of the fact that people make a company what it
is today and what it will be tomorrow. Also, we should not forget our
people in the development and organizational sense as well as the
retention situation. Have we taken our people for granted? Like other
industries, the employee in the Home Healthcare market does not always
feel as passionate as the owner about the mission of the organization, and
they may be confused about how they fit in to the organization's changing
future. Many employees are becoming discouraged when they hear or read
about the industry's problems relative to reimbursement schedules and the
expense involved with quality service.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2009 07:44:56 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[President Signs Ledbetter Fair Pay Act ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1280</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1280</link>
			<description><![CDATA[January 29th, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, only
two days after Congress passed the law (see Ogletree Deakins&rsquo; January
27, 2009 E-Alert). The Fair Pay Act is the first law passed by the new
Congress and the first law signed by President Obama. Civil rights groups
and their union supporters hailed the symbolism of the Act&rsquo;s
&ldquo;first law passed and signed&rdquo; status.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:06:15 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Retention: An Employer Hero in the Recession]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1279</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1279</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Although the television networks bring more devastating news about the economy every night, we also need to be aware of employers and employees who are making beneficial, even heroic, efforts to help each other and the economy. Here's an outstanding effort by an employer which will motivate and retain good employees while reducing costly employee turnover.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:52:45 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Understanding your New & Pre-existing COBRA Requirements]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1276</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1276</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Consolidated Omnibus Budget &amp; Reconciliation Act (COBRA) is designed to permit individuals who would otherwise lose their health insurance coverage to continue coverage through their employer, or former employer, at group rates. Employees electing COBRA coverage are responsible for paying the full premium themselves and may be required to pay a 2% administrative fee. COBRA applies to employers with 20 or more employees who offer group health insurance. However, many states have enacted their own COBRA requirements which cover employers with less than 20 employees. Download our COBRA Continuation by State form to determine whether or not your state has specific guidelines on the issue.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:53:21 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Handbooks: 5 Pitfalls]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1275</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1275</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Although Employee Handbooks are a must for most employers, whether they have a binding effect is another story. California presumes the employer-employee relationship is "at-will" (i.e. employers and employees can sever the employment relationship at any time with or without a reason). Yet the reality is that employees can get around that presumption and assert the existence of an employer-employee relationship requiring termination for cause only. Employees often use the employer's own handbook against them.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:51:53 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Importance of Retention]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1274</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1274</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I predict that the topic of talent engagement will be one of the important issues for years to come. The current and future availability of talented executives are affected with anticipated changes in population demographics, more astute potential hires, technology and globalisation. Without a program to identify talent, strengthen the capabilities of existing leaders and increase the number of people in the leadership pipeline, a business is more likely to fail.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:50:57 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[4 Trends Driving Workplace Flexibility]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1273</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1273</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many organizations now offer an alternative to the traditional Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. job. A workplace is thought to be flexible if employees have flexibility in scheduling (e.g., flex time and compressed workweeks), flexibility in the number of hours worked (e.g., part-time or job sharing), or flexibility in the location of work (e.g., telecommuting, satellite office). With benefits such as increased worker productivity, greater ability to attract and retain talent, and higher employee morale, capitalizing on the trend of workplace flexibility is important to your small business success in the coming years. Here are four driving forces behind the push towards increasing workplace flexibility.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:49:21 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[CAN EMPLOYERS REQUIRE MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS WITHOUT VIOLATING THE DISCRIMINATION LAWS? ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1268</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1268</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Can employers require applicants to take medical examinations as a condition of employment?&nbsp; Can employers compel&nbsp;employees to submit to medical testing?&nbsp; The answer to both questions is yes, but only when certain requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act&nbsp;are satisfied.&nbsp; Certainly, medical examinations can be an integral part of maintaining a safe workplace;&nbsp;however,&nbsp;employers must adhere to specific regulations that allow an exception to the ADA&rsquo;s general prohibition against medical exams.&nbsp; ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2009 08:20:08 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Workers Compensation Insurance: Three Secrets You Must Know ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1266</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1266</link>
			<description><![CDATA[For any organization, costs related to employment are without a doubt the largest and most expensive budget item. Often times the drain on your budget is from workers' compensation insurance premiums. Understanding more about these three secrets of workers' comp insurance will undoubtedly help to reduce your costs, and allow your profits grow.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:08:01 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Are you giving employees enough W.A.R.N.ing?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1261</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1261</link>
			<description><![CDATA[As the current economic crisis escalates and businesses are being forced to restructure their operations through mergers, acquisitions or workforce reductions, many employers are faced with the unpleasant tasks of laying off some of their staff members. When workforce reductions are needed, employers must be sure to comply with certain legal requirements. One such requirements is the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act which mandates that under certain circumstances employers provide employees with 60 days advance notice in the event of a mass layoff or plant closing.In 1988, Congress passed the WARN Act to provide workers with sufficient time to prepare for the transition between jobs. Below are some specific guidelines to ensure compliance with WARN...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:50:52 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Stimulus Bill COBRA Highlights]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3395</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3395</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Stimulus Bill provisions that took effect on February 17, 2009 require special COBRA treatment for "assistance eligible individuals." See "Stimulus Bill COBRA Amendments Require Immediate Group Health Plan Action" for more information. The Stimulus Bill definition of "assistance eligible individual" generally includes any COBRA "qualified beneficiary" who meets all of the following requirements...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:00:57 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How to Manage Your Time and Prioritize Your Tasks]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3392</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3392</link>
			<description><![CDATA[If you think you are working too hard and still unable to complete all the tasks on your various lists, you're probably right. It has become a very common way of working and living in our society today.&nbsp; Most people are being asked to do more with less -&nbsp;less resources and less training. "Just get it done!" has become the mindset.&nbsp; This mindset has jeopardized quality and morale at work, and at home.&nbsp; &nbsp; Applying time management techniques and setting priorities are critical if you want to&nbsp;sustain your&nbsp;performance, and if you want to maintain your sanity.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:08:20 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Workplace Observation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1255</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1255</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In discussing network based, team based, boundary-less and traditional organizations, we first want to point out the facts of each type of organization. According to Dessler, a Network based organization is a system of interconnected or cooperating individuals. He describes three types of organizational networks to include formal, informal and electronics networks. Basically all managers and supervisors no matter what department they are in or their geographic location work together and have direct contact with one another. Better communication, more coordinated efforts and expedited results.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:56:37 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Understanding your Pay Requirements under the FLSA]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1254</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1254</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) governs employer pay practices and sets requirements pertaining to minimum wage, overtime, equal pay, child labor, and recordkeeping. Under the Act, all non-exempt employees must be paid at least the minimum wage per hour and must receive overtime for all hours worked in excess of 40 in a given week.But, what are hours worked? Does time spent waiting to be called into work count as hours worked? What about time spent traveling for company business? Or time spent on breaks? The FLSA sets strict requirements pertaining to when employees must be paid given these types of circumstances.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:51:35 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The 10 Most Frustrating Employee Work Habits & What You Can Do to Prevent Them]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1253</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1253</link>
			<description><![CDATA[We've all experienced it, or at least know someone who has: an employee who is habitually late to work, takes extended coffee breaks, or makes personal calls during work time - and leaves you or your co-workers to pick up the pieces. Work habits like these can put a damper on your bottom line. But, with a few simple changes you can turn these challenging employees into your star employees.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:49:19 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Hot Chocolate....It's What Employees Are Looking For!]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3390</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3390</link>
			<description><![CDATA[How does a cup of hot chocolate make you feel?&nbsp; Pretty good!&nbsp; Why can't our employees feel the same way?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:26:53 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Real Reason Why Training Budgets Are Cut First and Budgeted Last]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3388</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3388</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In times of business and economic turmoil, the employee training and development budget is often the first to be cut and the last to be budgeted back when business picks up. I'll take a look at the real reason why training budgets are cut first and budgeted last.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:21:32 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Stimulus Bill HIPAA Amendments Require Employers, Health Plans & Business Associate To Act]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3384</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3384</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A recently announced CVS settlement agreement and newly enacted amendments to the Privacy &amp; Security Standards of the Health Insurance Portability &amp; Accountability Act ("HIPAA") require that health care providers, health plans, health care clearinghouses and their business associates review and tighten their practices governing the use, protection and disclosure of protected health information ("PHI") to guard against growing liability exposures under HIPAA and other federal and state laws. Business associates that have not already done so also must appoint privacy officers and adopt and implement privacy and data security policies and procedures fully compliant with HIPAA and other applicable federal and state rules.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:24:09 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How to Make Mega Millions]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3383</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3383</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Tips on achieving your financial dreams]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:17:47 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How To Destroy The Bridge Between Generations - Scoop 44]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3382</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3382</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Creating effective communication within your organization]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:16:02 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Want to Skyrocket Your Career During This Recession?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3381</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3381</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Tips on how to thrive despite an economic recession]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:15:11 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Dealing With Employee Performance Issues]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1247</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1247</link>
			<description><![CDATA[As much as we hate to admit it, employee performance issues are just inevitable in any business. Fortunately, there is something that managers can do to remedy the situation. Unfortunately, however, this method is something that most managers do not commonly practice. This is not because the managers themselves do not have the time to do this method at all. Managers do have the time, and if they are busy dealing with managerial affairs, this is still something managers should take time to do. But this is not the issue at all because most managers actually avoid circumstances that would require them to do this activity. So, what exactly is this activity?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:32:39 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Art of Employee Motivation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1246</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1246</link>
			<description><![CDATA[If you think that your employees' poor performance on their designated jobs is costing you a whole lot of lost profits, then instead of just doing a total overhaul of your employee roster, why not try to do some employee motivation tactics to get them to actually come around and be able to save your company from looming bankruptcy. It really is fairly easy and simple to rouse some employee motivation, you just have to take these techniques to heart...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:31:21 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Benefits Of Employee Incentive Programs]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1245</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1245</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Businesses often use employee incentive programs to increase profit for the company. But it does not end there. Employee incentive programs also pave way for employees to exceed their current status of "just another hired employee". And because of this, an employee incentive program is a great tool to make your business work and your employees happy. Here are some of the benefits of an employee incentive program.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:28:59 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Human Resources: What Drives An Organization]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1244</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1244</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The field of Human Behavior Organization emphasizes the importance of human resources in any business organization. The business filed offers too much focus on manpower development for it is the lifeblood of an existing industry. This consideration provided several honchos in trade enterprise to create spin off departments to cater on different structural framework of human resource management development.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:26:47 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Understanding the Relevance of HR KPI]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1243</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1243</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Familiarity with the concept of HR KPI will help management and human resource department heads measure their performance in line with organizational goals. Moreover, these factors help them identify strengths and weaknesses of the organization's human assets. HR KPI is actually an acronym for the words, human resource key performance indicators. Human resource refers to the people who are hired to perform certain functions for the company. Key performance indicators, on the other hand, are metrics or measures that are used to quantify organizational objectives that are in line with the organization's strategic performance.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:20:28 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[The Workplace Observation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1241</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1241</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In discussing network based, team based, boundary-less and traditional organizations, we first want to point out the facts of each type of organization. According to Dessler, a Network based organization is a system of interconnected or cooperating individuals. He describes three types of organizational networks to include formal, informal and electronics networks. Basically all managers and supervisors no matter what department they are in or their geographic location work together and have direct contact with one another. Better communication, more coordinated efforts and expedited results.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:56:35 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Cost Effective Strategies for Retaining your Top Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1240</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1240</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Even given today's economic uncertainty, creating a reward system that attracts and retains talented employees is important for the success of any organization. While you may not be able to afford to offer your employees regular pay increases, there are some other simple and cost effective ways to reward your workers.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:51:44 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Leadership Training- How to Increase Skill Sets and Empower Leaders]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1239</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1239</link>
			<description><![CDATA[More and more small businesses and large corporations are investing in programs, retreats, and sessions that focus on corporate leadership training. Companies enlist these leadership training services to teach their employees (and perhaps learn something themselves) vital business skills to empower them to not only be great team players but also strengthen their capabilities as leaders.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:33:13 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Coaching Employee's As A New Supervisor]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1237</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1237</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When we coach our employee's, we have the opportunity to train, motivate, and communicate all at the same time. When we coach the right way, with our focus on "future success" and using great questions, we will make a positive impact on their future performance. However, if our coaching sessions turns into a lecture, we lose any rapport and respect we may have created.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:51:11 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[A Hire Purpose!]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1234</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1234</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Human resources, once considered only to be important to big businesses, has been playing an increasingly critical role in the success of today's small business. Savvy business owners and executives realize that the most critical element of their success is their people. The question becomes how to attract and keep the best ones working for you.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:32:25 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Stimulus Bill COBRA Amendments Require Immediate Action]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3380</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3380</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the "Stimulus Bill") immediately expanded the group health plan coverage continuation obligations applicable to group health plans covered by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) a series of complicated temporary COBRA mandates that became immediately effective when President Obama signed the Stimulus Bill into law on February 17, 2009. The COBRA amendments in the Stimulus Bill are the latest list in a series of new laws and regulations requiring changes in health plan eligibility rules, notices, administrative forms and practices. Employers, group health plan administrators and insurers must act quickly to review and update their COBRA and other health plan eligibility practices in response to these developments.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2009 07:36:15 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Got The Time?  Really?......]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3376</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3376</link>
			<description><![CDATA[How much time do managers really spend with their staff?&nbsp; I'll bet very little.&nbsp; What affect does that have on the workforce?&nbsp; Do you as a manager show your staff love?&nbsp;Love, Inspire, Respect, Communicate, Recognize......all very powerful words that managers can show their staff members each day.&nbsp; There are many books on these kinds of subjects.&nbsp; I've written several blogs on these kinds of topics and readers have responded with positive feedback.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:26:03 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Is Disrespect Affecting Your Outcomes and Profits?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1233</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1233</link>
			<description><![CDATA[If you think that treating people with respect is too touchy-feely for the workplace, think again.&nbsp; Respect in the workplace is a powerful motivator, and disrespect in&nbsp;the workplace is a powerful demotivator.&nbsp; Respect affects outcomes and profits because it affects employee morale.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:35:56 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[The Potential Of Performance Management]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1224</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1224</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Managing Performance is the function of measurement of advancement, of an establishment, towards a coveted goal. It is the measurement, analysis and optimization of resources to furnish a service to a level that has been agreed upon It concentrates on the deliverance of service. The initial thought that is behind performance management is a procedure over which the management unites the people, schemes and schemes, to maximise both strength and efficiency so to deliver the preferred effects. Plainly put, the argument means, doing the precise things and doing the things right. That is, an industrious organization must include one scheme that incorporates leaders, and the other that insists on attaining excellent.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:00:37 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act Signed into Law on 1/29/2009]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1223</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1223</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On January 29, President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. This law applies to discriminatory pay complaints and remedies under several current laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as well as parts of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:57:37 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Supporting Employees with PTSD: Accommodations That Can Help Your Workers With Combat Stress - And Your Business]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1222</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1222</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It's one of the signature conditions of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and by many accounts, a great deal of returning service members will be coping with the effects of PTSD as they transition to civilian life. For employers, that brings up some important questions - among them, what should they expect from employees with PTSD, and how can they support them in the workplace.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:56:10 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Aligning Stock Option Valuation With The Market]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1220</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1220</link>
			<description><![CDATA[As we continue to adapt to the downturn, there are a number of factors around the valuation of companies that are coming into play and, in the end, motivating leaders to re-value options.&nbsp; We're seeing this trend develop in real time, and it prompted us to put pen to paper for our most recent Perspectives article, "Giving Stock Options A Second Look: The benefits of new grants at low values."]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:53:21 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[NO SOLUTION FOR NO-MATCH LETTERS - WHAT TO DO IN UNCERTAIN TIMES]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1218</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1218</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Recent events have created confusion for employers trying to correct problems identified in the Social Security Administration No-Match letters, as well as to comply with Form I-9 requirements.&nbsp;&nbsp;Regulations on these topics are in a state of flux, making compliance extremely difficult.&nbsp; A preliminary injunction&nbsp;prohibits enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security&rsquo;s final regulations on employer responses to No-Match letters.&nbsp; Moreover, President Obama has delayed the implementation of the new Form I-9 until at least April 3, 2009.&nbsp; ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:53:02 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Is Human Bias Helping You Lay Off the Wrong Employee Talent? ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3369</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3369</link>
			<description><![CDATA[There is no place that the impact of human bias can be felt more than when an organization must make the difficult decision to lay off a portion of its workforce to survive trying economic times.&nbsp; Human bias can seriously cloud a manager's judgement and ultimately lead one to layoff the wrong employees without even knowing it.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:32:03 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Some thoughts on Severance....]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3368</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3368</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Since I represent employers and employees, I have mixed feelings about severance agreements. Originally, severance was a benefit that was offered to employees to reward them for their length of service and loyalty to the company. That original concept has evolved. Today, a severance agreement can include a number of things:]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:44:18 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Professional Development - Whose Responsibility Is It? Part II of II]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3367</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3367</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Learn how to develop and retain the talent in your organization. Last month I said that responsibility for your professional development rests solely in your hands. But if you&rsquo;re a manager, and an American for properity,&nbsp;that doesn&rsquo;t get you off the hook for mentoring and developing your talented employees. Sure, it&rsquo;s up to them if they succeed, but since you have a stake in the game (if your employee succeeds, so does the company), I&rsquo;d suggest you consider what you can do to help your direct reports become the superstars you (and they) want them to become.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:27:27 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Wellness Programs Promote Healthier Lifestyles]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3361</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3361</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Sometimes stand-up comics make me cringe as they tend to poke fun at things that are intrinsically tragic - the misfortune of others, war, difficult situations, people with a variety of physical or mental challenges, etc.&nbsp; One that has been an on-going popular target is the ever-present "fat guy" jokes.&nbsp; Even Jay Leno, in his nightly monologue, has a running pitch that starts out "just how fat are we getting?" and then he launches into some situation concerning changing services or particular situations focusing on the preponderance of overweight Americans.&nbsp; However, perhaps this is one of those cases where if "we didn't laugh, we'd cry."&nbsp; Because the reality is, obesity is certainly no laughing matter - here in the United States or anywhere else.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:12:22 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[No Solution For No-Match Letters - What To Do In Uncertain Times]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3358</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3358</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Recent events have created confusion for employers trying to correct problems identified in the Social Security Administration No-Match letters, as well as to comply with Form I-9 requirements.&nbsp; Currently, the regulations on these topics are in a state of flux, making compliance extremely difficult.&nbsp; A preliminary injunction remains in place that prohibits enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security's final regulations on employer responses to No-Match letters.&nbsp; Moreover, President Obama has delayed the implementation of the new Form I-9 until at least April 3, 2009.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2009 08:57:28 CST</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[Lovelace Westside Hospital Knows Their Icebergs]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3355</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3355</link>
			<description><![CDATA[What exactly does the scene look like out there...or what will it look like?1. 11 million = Number of US workers age 55+ in the next eight years.2. But, companies should be looking at strategies to continue to work these folks...right?3. 17% of employers said that this age group are "less attractive" than younger workers!4. By the year 2020, registered nurses deficits will reach nearly 340,000!5. By the year 2010, we will face a labor shortage of 10,033,000 people.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:56:54 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Successful Change Management Tips]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3348</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3348</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Every organization and every individual must have change to survive and prosper. Change at work improves processes and increases a competitive advantage. Change in your personal&nbsp;world expands your opportunities to be authentically happy and to live a really great life.&nbsp; When&nbsp;you decide to resist change, you can become stuck and complacent, and you&nbsp;will most likely lag behind.&nbsp; When you decide to embrace change, you can become&nbsp;happier, and you will most likely advance.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:43:18 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Earthquake]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3354</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3354</link>
			<description><![CDATA[How to handle that small problem before it takes on seismic proportions. This morning I woke up to find out we had an earthquake here in the Seattle area. Depending on who you listen to it was 4.5 or 4.6 magnitude earthquake.&nbsp; I slept right through it.&nbsp; Those of you that have been in an earthquake know that it's not that big a deal until it his a 5 plus magnitude. Then it gets your attention. Often, in the workplace there is a similar phenomenon.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:43:09 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Goal Setting As A Leader ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1206</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1206</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When an artist sets out to make a sculpture, he gets a large rock and begins to chip away at it. Each day this rock becomes just a little bit more like the final product the artist has designed. If the average person sets out to create the same sculpture, the process begins the same way. The difference happens after 3-4 days. Most of us would begin to feel like this process is going to "take forever" or "we are not getting anywhere", and we quit and move on to something else.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:40:39 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Wage & Hour Update: Failure To Pay Travel Expenses Costs Starbucks Millions]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1216</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1216</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A recent class action brought by Starbucks employees serves as a reminder to employers on the topic of travel expenses. The federal court employee class action alleged that Starbucks failed to reimburse employees for their travel expenses. The lead plaintiff, Jonelle Lewis, worked in a retail management positions at a Starbucks in California's Amador County community of Martell. During her year and one half of employment, she regularly used her personal vehicle to perform work-related duties. The duties included making bank deposits, getting supplies from vendors, and attending meetings. Ms. Lewis alleged that on several occasions when she and others requested reimbursement for mileage, they were advised that, as a matter of company policy, Starbucks does not reimburse employees for mileage expenses.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:32:09 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Becoming a Values-driven Culture]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3349</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3349</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Do employees&nbsp;in your organization&nbsp;get their work&nbsp;completed in the ways&nbsp;its desired values are written? Do the actions of managers match their words?&nbsp; If your answer is "no" to either of these questions, your organization is most likely experiencing performance&nbsp;issues and not reaching&nbsp;its optimal potential.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:20:52 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[With Employees, Preparation = Prevention]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1215</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1215</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Another year has come and gone, where does the time go? You need employees to run your business, but with employees come responsibility and headaches. As you start thinking about 2009 there are some important human resource practices you should be thinking about. Employment Screening - In today's society you can never be too careful who you are hiring. Are they a sexual predator? Do they have a criminal history? You could be putting your business and employees at risk. Turnover is costly and not screening applicants before having them join your company can be a tremendous liability - stop it before it's too late.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:35:30 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Are bad employees ruining your business? 4 Simple Steps To Identify and Clear Bad Employee Behavior]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1214</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1214</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It's a brand new day.&nbsp; You wake up after a great night's sleep and get ready for work.&nbsp; You have objectives to meet, deadlines approaching and meetings scheduled which will make for a very full day.&nbsp; After a quick breakfast and a cup of your favorite morning beverage, you head to work.&nbsp;&nbsp;Then your day goes haywire...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:34:13 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[It's Time to Pay Attention to Personnel   ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1205</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1205</link>
			<description><![CDATA[We should never lose sight of the fact that people make a company what it is today and what it will be tomorrow. Also, we should not forget our people in the development and organizational sense as well as the retention situation. Have we taken our people for granted? Like other industries, the employee in the Home Healthcare market does not always feel as passionate as the owner about the mission of the organization, and they may be confused about how they fit in to the organization's changing future. Many employees are becoming discouraged when they hear or read about the industry's problems relative to reimbursement schedules and the expense involved with quality service.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:32:44 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Immigration Related Audits: What Employers Need to Know]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1211</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1211</link>
			<description><![CDATA[There are three potential "hot spots" for audits and investigations for the government related to the immigration and nationality laws. The first has to do with the documentation that the employer is required to maintain in connection with the H-1B nonimmigrant professional and specialty and occupation worker visa. The second area of potential audit concerns the employer's obligations under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 ("IRCA") [Pub. L. No. 99-603, 100 Stat. 3359] (known to HR Professionals as the "I-9 Process"). The third, and one more recent, area of audit surrounds the new Labor Certification Application Program called "Permanent Electronic Review Management" ("PERM"). Each of the foregoing government programs anticipates compliance through "audit". Even a rudimentary understanding of the complex documentary requirements for each of these programs can help and employer to avoid potential liability.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:47:57 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How to Win the War When Working With Wal-Mart]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1210</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1210</link>
			<description><![CDATA[One law firm&rsquo;s story of complying with the &ldquo;roll-back&rdquo; king&rsquo;s employer compliance program- Americans across the country are familiar with Wal-Mart for their "roll-back" prices and friendly service.&nbsp; What most people don't know is that, after their immigration&nbsp; scandals in 2001 and 2003, Wal-Mart has lead the country in enforcing employer compliance with requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 ("IRCA").&nbsp; Since paying a record-setting $11 million to the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division ("ICE"), Wal-Mart has become the reluctant leader in employer compliance programs.&nbsp; As anyone trying to sign a contract with Wal-Mart will tell you, it's no walk in the park to meet their strict demands, but it is the way of the future for employment verification procedures.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:45:34 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[LILLY SAYS: YOU HAVE LOTS OF TIME TO FILE CLAIMS]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1209</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1209</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On January 29, 2009, President Barack H. Obama signed into law (SB 181) an act amending Title VII (Civil Rights Act); the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act to extend the period for filing claims. This period for filing claims is commonly referred to as the statute of limitations. This new law, known as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, reverses the United States Supreme Court's decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire &amp; Rubber Co., 550 U.S. 618 (2007).]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:33:34 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Effective Teamwork Takes Practice And Patience ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1204</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1204</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Teamwork is an integral part of most businesses today: it takes the effective interaction between members of a working team to bring about great results. In order to achieve your goals, your teams need to pull together as individuals unified by a common belief system. Achieving this delicate balance is no simple matter. Truly effective teamwork takes patience and practice. Here are some ideas to help improve your business's cohesiveness.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:21:38 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Increase Goal Commitment By Focusing On Positive Results For Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1203</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1203</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It's the beginning of the year; a time for setting new workplace goals. But how do you get your employees to accept, or better yet, embrace those goals? You explain how achieving goals can positively impact employees. This involves answering the "what's in it for me" question. In other words, you give employees a personal reason for doing their best. Consider these three ideas...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:20:49 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Becoming a More Effective Manager]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1202</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1202</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Management has a lot to do with the desire to make things better. Since the manager's job description is to make the company that he or she works for more efficient and successful, it is a constant strive for perfection -- or the closest that you can get to perfection. For anyone who wants to become a manager, or a better manager than they already are, it's important to recognize that management goes way beyond the confines of one's job and title. The skills and knowledge that one uses as the manager of a company or department will help in managing one's own life, time, and talents. To learn more about management responsibilities and how to become a better manager, read on.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:19:11 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How to Conduct a Performance Review]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1201</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1201</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Managing Performance is the operation of measurement of progress, of an establishment, towards a sought-after goal. It is the measure, research and optimisation of tools to render a service at a level that has been agreed upon by both party's. It centers on the delivery of service. The basic idea behind performance management is a process over which the management unites the people, schemes and schemes, to maximise both potency and efficiency to be able to render the preferable results. Plainly put, the argument means, doing the precise things and doing the things right. That is, an industrious organisation must include one scheme that comprises leadership, and the other that insists on accomplishing quality.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:15:26 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Managing HR in Recession]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1200</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1200</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The recession is about the creative Human Resources Management. The HRM Function is asked to bring new ideas, to change the HRM Processes and to develop or change the procedures. And this effort has to be cheap or it has to cut the costs of the organization. The HRM Innovation is easy in times of the business growth, but the recession is not good for big innovative HRM Initiatives.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:03:13 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Remember to Talk to Them: Five Essentials For Communicating with Employees During Tough Times ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1196</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1196</link>
			<description><![CDATA[There's a lot going on to make people nervous about the economy, their jobs and their futures. During difficult times, employers need to remember to communicate with their employees. The absolute worst thing employers can do at a time like this is to remain quiet. Uncertain times are just when companies should be communicating more--and putting their executives and leadership in visible positions, talking openly with employees.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:42:06 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[A New Approach to Expatriate Compensation in 2009]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1195</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1195</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The challenges of ensuring expatriates are paid fair salaries across different countries, in the current economic climate, of the credit crisis together with rapid currency and inflation fluctuations are increasingly complex. The current economic climate has made it necessary to constantly review expatriate salaries. Rapidly fluctuating exchange rates and inflation can increase or decrease the amount of salary paid, and significantly impact purchasing power both positively and negatively in a very short period of time. The approach many organizations have taken is to convert a spendable percentage (typically 60%) of the expatriate's salary into the host country currency on a monthly basis and to provide non-cash benefits such as accommodation, transport, education of children etc. This can result in employers paying too much or too little salary in these volatile times.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:37:12 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Are Your Rewards Outstanding or Do They Reflect Your True Performance?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1191</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1191</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many business leaders and managers get frustrated when things don't go as
planned. It hurts when you have worked every hour and you have usually
been the last one to leave the building. On the other hand, it also hurts
because you usually have one or two real die-hards who commit to helping
you every step of the way, and you want to achieve so much for them as
well as for yourself and the business. It may also hurt because there
always appears to be a few happier people when the poor results arrive;
you know who they are, don't you?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:33:37 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Congress Goes Back to Work, Passes Two Key Employment Law Reform Measures]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1194</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1194</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Congress has hit the ground running in 2009 and is working hard to push
forward an aggressive agenda. During its first week back in session, the
U.S. House of Representatives rushed through two pieces of pay equity
legislation: the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 (H.R. 11) and the
Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 12).&nbsp;The House passed similar measures
during its previous session, but the proposed legislation lacked
sufficient support in the Senate. Now, with better odds of clearing the
Senate &mdash; and no threat of a Presidential veto &mdash; the bills are
poised to become law in 2009. Both reform measures would make it easier
for plaintiffs to prevail in pay discrimination claims against employers.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:33:34 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Time Away From Work]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1193</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1193</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Everyone needs time away from work. Employers who provide time off benefits
for their employees are showing them that they truly care for each
employee's well-being. Having a work-life balance is hard to do, but when
the employer has an established time away from work policy, such as
vacation time, sick time and paid holidays, they are providing a way in
which employee's can take that much needed break away from work.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:33:31 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Serve Employees ... Not Manage Them]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1192</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1192</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The concept of management has changed greatly in the past few
years.&nbsp;Employees of organizations today are seeking the softer, more
loving kinds of leaders.&nbsp;Think of it this way: management styles
today should be like a nice hot cup of hot chocolate, snuggled next to a
fire with a good movie.&nbsp;Train your managers to be like this, or give
me a call and we can discuss strategies.&nbsp;Servant leadership has this
kind of warm, cozy feeling to it.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:33:26 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[4 Musts for Managing Tough Times]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1186</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1186</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A group of business owners recently attended a workshop on doing business in a recession. The facilitator told them to cut costs, cut employee hours and raise prices. When it was all over, many participants asked themselves and each other, "Okay but --- how?'. As they talked about this, I could hear frustration in their voices. And could see fear on their faces. Or maybe I was projecting my own feelings - re-living some tough times of my own. Yes - I've had lots of experience - not with a recession quite like this - but with major budget crunches. Very challenging ones. Lots of perseverance needed. And creative problem solving. And teamwork. Resulting in lessons learned that I'd like to share here - hoping to help anyone hoping for help.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:10:02 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Why Projected Goals Are Key to Leadership Development]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1185</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1185</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The true desire and intent of my writings is to help people and organizations solve dilemmas and challenges pose before them. Many of us do work from the perspective of take things one step at a time, one day at a time moment by moment. I am not saying this is bad or unhealthy, as I have found those whom take things a bit more at ease seem to be quite content, with a blood pressure of 117 over 70, which I guess for them could be quite ideal. However, in the real world success is difficult to reach if you never turn on those inner excel orators and prepare for the future. Like there is a lot to be said about history, likewise there is a lot to be said about the future. And so, futuristic thinking requires the somewhat overwhelming thought of all that has to get done and what it might be like ten years from now.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:05:13 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Take Steps to Clean Up Workplace Profanity]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1175</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1175</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Vulgar or inappropriate language in the workplace is rising and along
with it an increasing number of court filings and complaints to human
resources departments and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC).If your company doesn&rsquo;t have a specific language code,
take steps to include one in your employee handbook, along with policies
against sexual harassment and discrimination. The use of inappropriate
language can cost your company in lawsuits &mdash; not to mention the bad
image your firm can get if employees use profanity around customers and
suppliers.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:16:23 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[And You Thought the Bailout Was Bad: Employment Law Risks in the Current Financial Crisis]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1170</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1170</link>
			<description><![CDATA[As the current economic crisis escalates and governmental plans to provide
billions of dollars to intervene in the capital markets take shape,
financial institutions and other businesses are being forced to
restructure their operations through merger, acquisition or reductions in
force. The tough economic climate will also, no doubt, lead companies to
reassess their benefit plans and executive compensation packages. However,
employers must evaluate their own responses to these developments to ensure
that they are complying with legal requirements and proceeding cautiously.
There are several, critical employment law issues that must be taken into
account in any organization&rsquo;s plan to address the new economic
realities especially if reductions in force are a part of the
organization&rsquo;s strategy.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:16:16 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[DOL Issues Final Regulations Under ERISA Cross Trade Exemption]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1171</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1171</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On October 7, 2008, the U.S. Department of Labor published final
regulations, mandated by the Pension Protection Act of 2006, to implement
the new statutory exemption for cross trades of securities involving large
ERISA-governed employee benefit plans. The final regulations largely adopt
the provisions of the interim rule published in February 2007.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:16:13 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[A New Political Environment for Labor and Employment Issues]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1174</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1174</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The election of Barack Obama as President and the Democratic gains in
Congress mean that employers face a new legislative, regulatory, and
enforcement environment on labor and employment issues. Employers should
use the transition period to the Obama administration to examine those
issues that are most important in their workplaces and to develop
strategies to prepare for this change.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:16:02 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Summary of Key Provisions of the Revised FMLA Regulations That Take Effect January 16]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1173</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1173</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On November 17, 2008, the U.S. Department of Labor published final
regulations implementing the 2008 amendments to the Family and Medical
Leave Act. Employers should act quickly to update their FMLA policies
before these regulations take effect on January 16, 2009. Below is a
summary of the most significant changes to the FMLA that will take effect
early next year. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:15:45 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Long Awaited FMLA Regulations Released]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1176</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1176</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The United States Department of Labor has released final revised
regulations implementing the Family and Medical Leave Act.&nbsp; The
revised regulations are over 750 pages in length and adopt most of the
positions the DOL outlined in proposed regulations issued in February
2008.&nbsp; The regulations become effective on January 16, 2009, 60 days
from November 17, 2008, the date the regulations will be published in the
Federal Register. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:15:42 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Coping with FMLA Intermittent Leave: Some Relief From the Courts]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1172</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1172</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A recent decision provides some relief to employers over the
troubling issue of intermittent leave mandated, in some circumstances, by
the Family Medical Leave Act.The FMLA imposes
extraordinary burdens on employers to accommodate eligible employees by
providing intermittent, as opposed to regularly scheduled, leave.
Intermittent leave is often difficult to schedule. It is also often
inconvenient to the employer and the eligible employee&rsquo;s co-workers,
who may have to cover for the employee who is on leave. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:15:39 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[15 Ways to Stay Focused With Effective Time Management]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1166</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1166</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Let's face it, there's a lot going on out there. Our economy is on the fritz and every news story tells us that one more multimillion dollar company needs a government bailout. Foreclosures are happening right and left. We have troops in harm's way, and Christmas is only a few short weeks away. And that's just the big picture! We haven't even mentioned your business and all the things that you need to keep up with on a daily basis. Here are 15 ways to keep yourself focused amid all the distraction. See what works for you!]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:16:09 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Are your rewards outstanding or do they reflect your true performance?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1165</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1165</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many business leaders and managers get frustrated when things don't go as planned. It hurts when you have worked every hour that god sends and you have usually been the last one to leave the building. On the other hand it also hurts because you usually have one or two real die-hards who commit to helping you every step of the way, and you want to achieve so much for them as well as for yourself and the business. It may also hurt because there always appears to be a few happier people when the poor results arrive, you know who they are, don't you?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:13:42 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Confusion in the Ranks]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1158</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1158</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I have read article after article regarding the importance of employee retention. I have also read in a recent survey the American Society of Training and Development that the following are ranked according to how the best companies measure performance; 1) Productivity Improvement, 2) Ability to Retain Essential Employees, 3) Quality of Products and Services, 4) Customer Satisfaction, 5) Employee Satisfaction, 6) Sales and Revenues, 7) Overall Profitability, 8) Cycle Time Reduction or Improvement and 9) other.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:26:47 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Time Away From Work]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1157</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1157</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Everyone needs time away from work. Employers who provide time off benefits for their employees are showing them that they truly care for each employee's well-being. Having a work-life balance is hard to do, but when the employer has an established time away from work policy, such as vacation time, sick time and paid holidays, they are providing a way in which employee's can take that much needed break away from work. When employers provide paid time off for vacation, sick and holidays, morale and job satisfaction is higher. The time off, as outlined in your policy, can either be time accrued throughout the year or time off given at the beginning of the calendar or fiscal year. One benefit of providing accrued time off for employees is that the time is taken in a little more even and regular fashion versus the employees having all the time-off accruals in their PTO account at the beginning of the year, with the potential for using it up right away.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:25:00 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Development - Whose Responsibility Is It? (Part I of II)]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1155</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1155</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Learn how to develop your employees more effectively]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:22:10 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Will You and Your Employees Walk the Talk]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1156</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1156</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Have your actions been matching your words? Have the employees in your organization been getting their work completed in the ways its desired values are written? If your answer is "no" to either of these questions, you and your organization are most likely experiencing performance issues and not reaching an optimal potential. Since values demonstrate "how" you do what you do, your daily decisions and actions portray your ways of being and doing. Values shape behaviors and help to ensure your vision comes to fruition with the most effective and efficient approaches. They answer the questions, "How do we get our work done around here?", or "How do I build a relationship with someone?", or "How do we function as a team or family?".]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:22:05 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Succession Planning is a Fiduciary Responsibility]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3341</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3341</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Most executives are aware of the importance of succession planning.&nbsp; However, few realize that&nbsp;it is a major fiduciary responsibility owed&nbsp;to the shareholders of an organization.&nbsp; The lack of a carefully thought out succession plan can leave an organization scrambling for leadership and dramatically impact stock prices.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:40:29 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The benefits of granting your managers and supervisors access to the HRIS]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1144</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1144</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Your organization finally implemented an HRIS system that will allow multiple users on the system. This is great right? Absolutely! However, during the design and implementation process there was discussion about what kind of access the managers and supervisors would have in terms of their employees' information. It's a great idea to share pertinent HR information with your managers and supervisors.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:40:51 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Introduction to HIPAA]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1149</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1149</link>
			<description><![CDATA[What is HIPAA? The Department of Health and Human Services has developed a series of privacy regulations known collectively as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA"). These regulations are designed to protect the privacy rights of individuals with regard to their confidential medical records. The act greatly restricts the dissemination and transmittal of personal patient information and dramatically affects the way healthcare information is handled.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:40:40 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Remember to Talk to Them: Five Essentials For Communicating with Employees During Tough Times]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1148</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1148</link>
			<description><![CDATA[There's a lot going on to make people nervous about the economy, their jobs and their futures. During difficult times, employers need to remember to communicate with their employees. The absolute worst thing employers can do at a time like this is to remain quiet. Uncertain times are just when companies should be communicating more--and putting their executives and leadership in visible positions, talking openly with employees.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:40:37 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[A Vital New Year's Resolution: Preparing Your Workplace for the New FMLA Regulations ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1152</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1152</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On November 17, 2008, the U.S. Department of Labor published its long-awaited final regulations interpreting the Family and Medical Leave Act.&nbsp; The new rules become effective in mere weeks - on January 16, 2009.&nbsp; Serving as the first substantial changes to the regulations since the FMLA became law 15 years ago, the new regulations will significantly impact the manner in which employers administer the FMLA. &nbsp;Although employers will be able to obtain more detailed and timely information from employees and their health care providers (and have access to additional weapons to combat FMLA leave abuse), employers also will take on a greater responsibility to notify employees of their rights under the Act.&nbsp; Indeed, the new rules create a much greater administrative burden on employers than ever before.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:46:51 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Handling Employee Benefit Communication]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1147</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1147</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The human resources department traditionally spends a great deal of time developing written benefit information within the corporate communications structure. Most companies spent a great deal of resources on of general benefit information as well as summaries of health insurance or deductions are printed at the bottom of employee paychecks. Since the role of the HR department has evolved since the 1990s, when the department began to change its role in the workplace, employee benefit communication can be conducted in a number of different ways. The point of solid corporate communications strategies is to make sure that you are providing your employees with as much information as possible to be completely effective at their daily jobs.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:46:02 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[5 Things You Can do to Avoid Payroll Mistakes]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1146</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1146</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Besides fines and angry employees, you also want to avoid penalties placed by the government because of mistakes made on your payroll taxes. Unless you outsource your payroll to a payroll service, like a professional employment organization or hire a properly trained payroll person to do your payroll and payroll taxes there are bound to be a couple mistakes. Here are five things you can do to avoid payroll mistakes.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:28:18 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Enhancing Business Productivity]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1145</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1145</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Productivity is an important element in the success of any business. However, it is truly surprising how little emphasis is placed on this very important aspect. Many people consider a focus on productivity to be a task that is undertaken in times of economic downturn. This is an absolutely incorrect assumption as productivity is not a tool to avoid business closure but a tool to boosts profits. If you want to aims at freeing your time for focusing on developing new products/services and devising strategies to beat the competition - all with the same resources at hand - then read on for five handy tips.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:26:22 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Are You and Your Employees Motivated and Taking Initiative]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1143</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1143</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Apathy and complacency can spread through an organization, like the plague. It is easy to catch if employees are not motivated to work. Take the initiative to spring ahead with fresh action steps that will increase your employees' motivation levels, and yours. Although, you must realize that no one can motivate another person except for the person who is to be motivated. Motivation is an inside job. However, there are ways to create environments that are motivating, which will empower personal and professional initiative-taking.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:55:10 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Benefits are more than Health Insurance]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1142</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1142</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Providing health insurance is a great benefit your organization offers employees, but it is not the only benefit employees are looking for when contemplating different employment options. There are other insurance benefits such as dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance. There are also 401(k) and other retirement plans that benefit employees. And, vacation time is a great benefit to employees, too.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:53:42 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Department of Homeland Security Issues Supplemental Final Rule for "No-Match" Letters]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1140</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1140</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Department of Homeland Security&nbsp;has issued a Supplemental Final
Rule for its &ldquo;no-match&rdquo; rule, which requires employers to
resolve discrepancies between employee Social Security numbers and Social
Security Administration records.&nbsp;The 100-page Supplemental Final
Rule, released on October 23, essentially reiterates the substantive
requirements of the Final Rule issued in 2007.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:52:03 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[What Can Human Resources Do to Give Hope During Layoffs]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1141</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1141</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Just about every industry and employer is feeling the crunch of the
dwindling economy, and knows that they will have to lay off employees, if
they haven't already. A new Watson Wyatt study shows that 26 said they
already have laid off, and 25 percent&nbsp;stated they would have a hiring
freeze over the next 12 months. With this many companies already planning
on job cuts and downsizing, its probably safe to assume that those numbers
will increase. The most important thing to remember is that whenever you do
make those cuts, its going to be a very difficult time for your employees.
Helping them be prepared will make things go much more smooth.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:51:50 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Laws on Leadership]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1139</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1139</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Leaders are made, not born. You become a leader in your business in the world around you by practicing the qualities, attributes and behaviors of leaders who have gone before you. Like any set of skills, leadership is developed by practice, perseverance and repetition, over and over again, until you master it without being weary. The Laws of Leadership have been identified and discussed over and over throughout the centuries. They are taught in military schools, colleges and education institutions. They are taught in business schools and practiced every day in the businesses and organizations of our society. These laws and principles are followed by men and women everywhere who emerge to assume positions of power and authority whenever the situations demand it.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:51:07 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Confusion in the Ranks]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1138</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1138</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I have read article after article regarding the importance of employee retention. I have also read in a recent survey the American Society of Training and Development that the following are ranked according to how the best companies measure performance; 1) Productivity Improvement, 2) Ability to Retain Essential Employees, 3) Quality of Products and Services, 4) Customer Satisfaction, 5) Employee Satisfaction, 6) Sales and Revenues, 7) Overall Profitability, 8) Cycle Time Reduction or Improvement and 9) other.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:48:43 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Attitude: The Power of Positive in the Workplace]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1131</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1131</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Have you ever thought about how your attitude affects&hellip; Personality, work performance, career success, and teamwork? Your employees, customers, relationships and work environment? Bottom-line results? It all starts with attitude! A positive attitude is a priceless possession for personal fulfillment, career success and essential for creating a positive workplace. What is the first thing you remember about someone you meet? Chances are it's their attitude! Let's face it&hellip; no one can be positive all of the time! Events, circumstances, and messages - both positive and negative - can affect your attitude. What we do know is that a positive attitude makes problem solving easier and the more you expect from a situation, the more success you will achieve.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:55:09 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employer Alert: New FMLA Poster and Forms]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3336</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3336</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Department of Labor has just announced that it has issued a new FMLA poster that incorporates changes reflected in its final FMLA rules that were recently published. This poster must be displayed in the workplace in a conspicuous place. In addition, DOL has created new forms that are necessary for every HR Professional.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:00:45 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Why and How to Establish a Records Retention Policy for Your Staff Files]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1130</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1130</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When it comes to retaining personnel records of any sort, some people may panic as it can be very overwhelming trying to decipher the different records retention requirements. The best way to go about ensuring that your organization is compliant with the state and federal record retention requirements is to develop a policy surrounding personnel records retention. Even though there may be some rules and regulations surrounding how long you must legally retain staff records, particularly after an employee terminates, a good rule of thumb is to follow the state's statute of limitations on contract, fraud, and/or tort claims. In most states, this time will not usually exceed seven years. This is a good timeframe to follow even though some of the federal regulations stipulate three years for keeping personnel records.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:21:47 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Unemployment Benefits: 4 Steps to Filing a Successful Claim]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1128</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1128</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Unemployment benefits are designed to help people cope with the transition between jobs by providing temporary financial help to qualified individuals, based on their previous earnings, while they are looking for other work. Unemployment insurance replaces part of the income you lose when you become unemployed, and is available to workers who are out of work through no fault of their own. Unemployment insurance softens the impact job losses have on communities by maintaining the purchasing power in the area where workers live. The money for benefits comes from a tax imposed on employers. The four steps listed below will help you successfully file a claim for unemployment benefits.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:43:43 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Counter-Intuitive Secret to Success in the Workplace]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1114</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1114</link>
			<description><![CDATA[My whole philosophy about fun in the world of business, and in relation to the executive, management, and professional audience is this: If you don't enjoy what you're doing, is it worth doing? Because the higher up you go, the easier it is to think that you have to get more "serious" about the work you do. Well, you were "serious" about it when you were lower down the totem pole, weren't you? And you were still having fun then. A lot of this has to do with responsibility. As we add on more, we often feel as though "fun" becomes responsibility's polar opposite. And it even starts at an early age. When we teach our children about responsibility, it's often a very serious thing, and rarely connected with having fun. Seriously. When's the last time you ever heard of a kid's board game with "Responsibility" in the title?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:39:16 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Develop Your Managers....It's Not Rocket Science]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3335</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3335</link>
			<description><![CDATA[We've heard it over and over again, "people leave managers, not companies."&nbsp; At one time I was a skeptic of such a foolish notion, but perhaps with age comes wisdom... The first question is this...does your organization conduct exit interviews?&nbsp; If not, please start.&nbsp; If you do, what do those exits say?&nbsp; Why are people leaving?&nbsp; Without a doubt, all of the reasons for leaving&nbsp;with the exception of three are related to management.&nbsp; The three reasons not related are "military relocation,"&nbsp;"relocation in general," and retirement.&nbsp;&nbsp;In order to start an effective management development program, these surveys, as well as employee opinion surveys, must be studied.&nbsp; Take all of that data, and summarize it.&nbsp; Bring it down to the top 3 areas that employees are concerned about in regards with management.&nbsp; My guess is that nearly 95% of the data will point to a lack of 3 things in your organization's leadership:&nbsp; respect, recognition and communication.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:56:23 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Human Resource Management.....Punishment or Pleasure?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1108</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1108</link>
			<description><![CDATA[For those who are responsible for Human Resources, you know what I am talking about, for those of you that have not ever had the "pleasure" of Human Resource work, please allow me to explain. Your HR manager plays a vital role in your business. I-9's, Social Security issues, Workers Compensation benefits, these are just a few of the responsibilities in which they are held accountable. However, in many small and medium sized businesses, the HR person usually wears more than one hat. They are often also the accounting department, office manager, or owner. As we all know, wearing multiple hats can lead to a lack of attending to the "less" urgent matters (i.e. HR) Human Resources is a highly organized, carefully documented, area of expertise.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:04:19 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Money (and a Nice Boss, Benefits and Career Development) ... That's What I Want]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1107</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1107</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Get tips on how to land your dream job. Are you a young professional looking to quickly snag the position you want &ndash; complete with the pay you desire? And how about excellent benefits and an outstanding boss who is committed to your professional growth at a successful organization? Before you hit delete because this sounds like a fairy tale, consider this: If I can have the life I want at 30, so can you. Here&rsquo;s how.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:52:41 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Mirror, Mirror on the Wall?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3327</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3327</link>
			<description><![CDATA[If I know something is true about me - and I think I am projecting that image to the world - then other people will see me that way, right? Nope! And I have been privileged to have very generous people tell me exactly how I come across. Even when what they have had to say was the hardest thing to hear, they were granting me an invaluable gift - clear insight into how I come across to them and what my opportunities for growth are. Mind you, it takes guts to listen and great courage to decide how to respond. I will not soon forget a recent meeting with Alex, CEO of a venture capital company and a potential client. When I entered his office space, there was no one at the front desk to welcome me. Within a few minutes, Alex came rushing by and said in passing, "I'll be with you in a minute." Before he finally greeted and ushered me into his conference room, he made sure to rush from office to office - aggressively asserting himself. The message from his words and actions was obvious: he was the alpha male.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:13:21 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Hiring the Best Talent - Is Your Organization Putting Its Money Where Its Mouth Is?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3331</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3331</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Talent is all the rage these days.&nbsp;Look through almost any organization's&nbsp;annual report and you are sure to find a proud declaration that&nbsp;its greatest asset is its people and that it is fully committed to hiring the best talent it can find.&nbsp;While this sounds great on paper, one can't help but wonder if these organizations are truly putting their money where the mouth is.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:13:11 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Serve Employees......Not Manage Them]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3329</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3329</link>
			<description><![CDATA[21st century employees want more from managers than employees of yesteryear.&nbsp; Serve them, don't manage them, and see big dividends paid back to your organization! The concept of management has changed greatly in the past few years.&nbsp; Employees of organizations today are seeking the softer, more loving kinds of leaders.&nbsp; Think of it this way: management styles today should be like a nice hot cup of hot chocolate, snuggled next to a fire with a good movie.&nbsp; Train your managers to be like this, or give me a call and we can discuss strategies.&nbsp; Servant leadership has this kind of warm, cozy feeling to it.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:26:08 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Don't Circle the Wagons....]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3325</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3325</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When tough economic times hit, it is easy to succumb to the tendency to cut every program that is not essential. Often these cost cutting measures target training, employment manual reviews/revisions and annual policy reviews. The justification for these measures is that money is tight and these things can wait. It is reminiscent of the person that stops changing the oil in their car because times are tough. You can do it but, eventually, you will pay the price either in the form of major repairs, lost vehicle longevity or both. The same holds true for your business.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:48:33 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Decertifying the Union]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3324</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3324</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Is your workforce unhappy with the union?&nbsp; Are they grumbling that they wish they had never voted for it?&nbsp; Before you sign that new collective bargaining agreement, learn whether there is a way to rid your company of the employees'&nbsp;"exclusive bargaining representative."]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:51:57 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Social Networks:  Virtual Organize It, Stupid!]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3323</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3323</link>
			<description><![CDATA[No doubt you've heard of the tongue-in-cheek expressions, "Keep it simple, stupid!" and "It's the economy, stupid!" However, in today's day and age, the appropriate mantra for those who belong to social networks should be, "Virtual organize it, stupid!". &nbsp;Let me tell you why...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:30:35 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Do you tip in the workplace?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1099</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1099</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I recently came back from a 10 day trip from Japan and really had a great time with my family. It was really difficult to just let go of work but I felt that being able to let go and take a break is just as important as working hard. For the first 7 days of the trip, it was basically a guided tour. At the end of it, we had to give tips to the bus driver and tour guide. However, as I reflected on the whole tipping process, I believe that there are 2 lessons we can draw and apply in our workplace. Here are the following powerful techniques on motivating your staff to work hard and get results!]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:09:49 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Can We Talk? A Guide to Political Expression In the Workplace]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1098</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1098</link>
			<description><![CDATA[This being a presidential election year, the topic of the &quot;right&quot;
of political expression in the workplace is of particular interest.
Moreover, given that this year represents the first real opportunity for
the election of an African American for president or a woman as vice
president, there are particularly strong feelings among the electorate,
including employees. As the campaign season continues and moves toward the
general election, many employers are reexamining their rights and policies
with respect to political activities in the workplace. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:08:56 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Medical Confidentiality - A Guide For Employers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1097</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1097</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Although the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
became law in 1996, Title II, which contains the Privacy Rule, did not
take effect until April 14, 2003. The Privacy Rule establishes regulations
for the use and disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI), which
generally includes any part of a patient's medical record. However, the
HIPAA Privacy Rule applies only to &quot;covered entities,&quot; defined
as a health plan, a health care clearinghouse, or a health care provider.
Importantly, the definition of &quot;covered entities&quot; does not
include employers unless the employer is the administrator of a group
health plan. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:08:51 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Team Building - How To Build Effective Work Teams]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1096</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1096</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Corporate Team building is beneficial not only in improving the work environment but also glorifies the personal life and personality of a person. Decision making, enhancement in communication skills and self confidence are some important factors that help in minimizing stress and refreshing ones ability to think and adjust to the surroundings. People in every workplace talk about team building activities ideas, but only a few understand how to develop and work as an effective team. Thus it is very important to organize team building events exercises workshops at regular intervals. Working as a team is a feeling that makes you realize your importance as a team member and gives you a feeling of being something larger than yourself. And this feeling in turn leads to the better understanding of company's goals and objectives. Corporate drumming can be a good team building exercise to inspire and motivate teams of people.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:02:50 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Equal Pay and Questions on Violation of Labor Law]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1093</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1093</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The United States constitution takes protection of workers very seriously. Thus, any violation of labor law is also dealt with in court. The labor laws cover a variety of workers' rights, and it would be best to familiarize yourself with them whether you are starting your own business and employing your own people, or you are an employee looking for a job. One of the most frequent violations of labor law is the right to equal pay. The Equal Pay act protects this right. This Act was passed in 1963 aiming to address the wide disparity of wages between and women at that time. In addition, at that time, it was usually used in conjunction with the right of women from being discriminated in the workplace. In reality, this law may not only be useful for women but also for virtually anyone in the workplace, even male employees.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:57:00 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA["Chain of Command"....An Older Management Style and Concept]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3315</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3315</link>
			<description><![CDATA[21st century management needs to be aware of the changing expectations of how people want to be managed.&nbsp; Stay aware and constantly review your methods of management and leadership or suffer the consequences of turnover.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Performance Management: How To Train Employee - 8 essential tips]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1090</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1090</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Performance management and employee training done badly can cause misery, failure and frustration for everyone concerned. Done well it can create a culture of accomplishment and skyrocket an organization's success. It can make or break a career too! Are you looking for some key tips to guide you in tackling this crucial area? Here are eight to get you started...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:55:50 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA['Training is overlooked' for most workers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1089</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1089</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Training needs at work are overlooked believe almost 50% of employees and 33% would like to use the extra day in the leap year for training, according to a recent survey. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) questioned over 1,000 employees to ask what they would most like to use the extra working day for, with training coming top. A Way To Get A Pay Rise... LSC's previous survey has shown that employees can increase their salary by $4,000 to $6,000 per year by getting the right training. Employers overlook training because: 1. Everyone is too busy and can't find the time for Training and Development 2. During hard times the Training and Development budget is slashed.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:52:40 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Introduction to HR]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3316</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3316</link>
			<description><![CDATA[New in the HR field?&nbsp; In short, what is it really about?&nbsp; Read on.....]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:34:50 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Motivation Tip: Break the Golden Rule]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1082</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1082</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It looks very simple, right? "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." The Golden Rule seems so undisputed that it might be a panacea for every relationship. Simply behave toward everyone the way you would like to be handled and all will run easily, yes?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:09:21 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Motivating Employees for Small Business Success]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1087</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1087</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Most small business owners are very focused on motivating their employees to achieve high performance levels. But is it really possible to motivate employees? In this article, I will highlight the keys to motivating employees that are well know to successful business owners, but seem to be hidden from most, such as those who complain, "You just can't get good people these days." My response to them is that they are looking in the wrong direction for the cause of the problem. While the concept of motivating employees may be problematic, it is certainly possible to demotivate employees. Many business owners actually create demotivation by creating a work environment that kills motivation instead of enhancing it.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:40:50 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Generations - Sharing Space in the Workplace]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1084</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1084</link>
			<description><![CDATA[What are Generation Gaps? Is corporate America the same now as it was 20 years ago? No. Is what you believed 10 years ago the same as what you believe today? Probably not. Or consider someone who is 20 years old today. Does he or she have different perceptions than someone currently in their 60s? Most likely, yes. These differences in attitudes, values, beliefs and even ways of working together and communicating are referred to as "generation gaps." Generational differences can lead to misunderstandings and conflict in the workplace.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:38:27 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Cut Employee Communications at Your Peril!]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1074</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1074</link>
			<description><![CDATA[No news is definitely not good news from an employee communications perspective. Uncertainty caused by lack of effective internal communications can cause staff to be less productive. It can also cause high performing employees to jump ship. Low morale within remaining staff can impact customer interactions and damage brand identity. In an increasingly competitive marketplace, effective employee communications plays a critical role.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:10:19 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Improving Employee Health]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1066</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1066</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Why the sudden interest in incorporating walking into the workplace? Walking has been shown clinically to prevent or mitigate the nation's leading diseases including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and even some forms of cancer. It has been shown as an effective measure in promoting weight loss, disease prevention, improving mental and physical health and significantly decreasing the need for medical care. Shackled to desks, most Americans walk much less than the minimum recommended guidelines of 10,000 steps a day set by the Surgeon General (achievable in 3 hours at a treadmill desk). As a result we have an overweight population with all of the related health concerns and a $100 billion annual health care cost attributable to issues of obesity.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:35:36 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Love, The Greatest and Best Retention Tool]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1065</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1065</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Hold on now HR people, we&rsquo;re not talking about hugs and kisses.&nbsp;
No sexual harassment and hostile work environment situations.&nbsp;However,
my thoughts with this kind of retention strategy hover a bit above the
notion of love and caring for employees.&nbsp;In my opinion, it is in
fact, a greater retention tool than money, bonuses, gifts, cards, letters
or any other form of corporate concept to address high turnover.&nbsp;Not
to say that those items don&rsquo;t contribute in a positive manner to the
workforce, they just can&rsquo;t do it alone.&nbsp;What is it that your
employee&rsquo;s are asking you to do?&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:31:55 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Corporate Wellness- Just a Buzz Word?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1064</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1064</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Not anymore.With nearly 48% of our waking hours spent at work, coupled with America's ranking as the world's fattest nation, corporate wellness is not just a fluffy HR benefit - it's a business necessity that has far-reaching implications for corporations, their employees and society as a whole. Few will debate the profound effect a wellness program can have on the bottom-line-both literally and figuratively. It's a no-brainer for most employers: healthy employees add up to a happier, more productive workforce, resulting in lower health claims and decreased costs for employers, and a subsequent ROI on wellness programs. The real challenge is implementation and employee participation.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:49:04 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Good Recruitment Interviewing Skills Training Make Recruiting the Right Person Easy]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1063</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1063</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When you invest in new staff, you want to make the wisest decisions possible. It is in your best interest to make sure that the decision you make is made on an informed basis which has been brought about by the training you have received for recruitment interviewing skills. It is time well spent reviewing resumes and conducting informative interviews to make sure you hire the best people for the job. When you hire the right people to begin with, you will save yourself a substantial amount of time hiring and training replacement staff down the road. The more skillful you become at recruitment interviewing skills the easier you will make the recruitment and management process.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:44:53 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Execution...We're Not Talking About The French Revolution]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3313</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3313</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Would you believe it if I were to tell you that there are over 10,000 meetings every minute across the US during the business day?&nbsp; It's amazing how much time we spend in meetings and yet often, don't get much done.&nbsp; Why does that happen?&nbsp; How can we avoid these situations? The first step is accountability.&nbsp; Everyone in the committee must agree to what the outcomes of the group need to be.&nbsp; This must be the first step!&nbsp; Lower turnover...by what percentage?&nbsp; Lessen spending?&nbsp; Address office space?&nbsp; Whatever the issue at hand may be, make sure that the group commits to solutions.&nbsp; That is key.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:32:59 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[What Should I Do If I Am Layed Off From My Job?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1062</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1062</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Try not to panic if this happens to you first and foremost! Unfortunately, in these economic times the number of people facing this dilemma of becoming unemployed is continuing to grow significantly. This seems to be the current climate due to the condition of our American economy. We are seeing record numbers of individuals in both blue collar and white collar jobs heading for the unemployment lines. You ask what should you do if you anticipate being layed off of maybe you have received your notice of termination from your employer? You may want to consider some of these tips before you leave your employer...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:59:55 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[5 Reasons to Rollover a 401k to an IRA]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1061</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1061</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The global and American economy are in bad shape right now, just about every asset class you invest your retirement superannuation fund into are getting smashed! Ask yourself these questions? Will you retire in 5 years or 30 years? Are you investing for the short or long term? Do you need one or multiple retirement plans? Will you use one or diversify into multiple asset classes? What investment experience do you have? Do you need a financial advisor or professional help? Can you make enough money given your time frame to retirement? The following 5 reasons to rollover a 401k to an IRA may help you answer these questions.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:58:43 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Same Sales Job, Different Accounts: FMLA Rights May Be Violated Even Though Employee is Reinstated to the Same Job Following Leave]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3310</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3310</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When an employee will be absent from the office for an extended period of time, it is common practice for the employer to reassign the responsibility for customer accounts to other employees. Certainly, companies do not want customers to experience an interruption in service.&nbsp; However, consider this scenario:&nbsp; An employee returns to his sales position following a leave of absence taken under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA or the Act).&nbsp; Although he is returned to the same job, an important customer account that was transferred to another sales representative in his absence is not returned to him.&nbsp; The employee claims that this results in a decrease in his annual income.&nbsp; Has the FMLA been violated?&nbsp; The answer may be yes!&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:36:41 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[4 Steps of Telecommuting]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1059</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1059</link>
			<description><![CDATA[There's a relatively new trend in business that is making more and more sense with each passing day. Telecommuting wasn't really possible as little as five years ago, but with technological advances, it's almost negligent to not at least explore the idea for your company. If you do have employees that telecommute, or are thinking about creating such a program, there are things you can do to ensure success.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:51:33 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Classifying Your Employees: Distinguishing Between 1099 and W2 Workers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1055</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1055</link>
			<description><![CDATA[With contract employment on the rise, an increasing number of businesses are hiring specialized workers on a contingent basis in order to help with completion of a project, or to fill in for an absent employee. These contract assignments can last anywhere from weeks to years at a time. By hiring these contract workers, companies enjoy the benefits of hiring a team of qualified professionals on an as-needed basis, maintaing a flexible workforce and, in many cases, helping their bottom line. While bringing in contract employees can provide businesses with some much-needed relief during projects or busy seasons, it can also raise confusion when it comes to classifying them for tax purposes. IRS fines and penalties for incorrectly classifying employees are steep, but can be avoided by knowing the differences between employee classifications.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:48:50 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Why Do a Background Check on Someone? ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1058</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1058</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Today more and more people are opening their eyes to the importance of background check. It has become in demand nowadays. All the time we see crimes being committed, people are being attacked, women and children violated and homes ransacked by robbers and you ask your self how can I be protected? Before if you want to do a background check on an individual you have to go to court houses, federal agencies, government offices and even the library to look for leads that will tell you about the person you are searching for. This task is made harder by the fact that each state holds its own records of criminal and other violations.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:48:06 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Motivation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1057</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1057</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Cash continues to be the most used form of employee motivation while merchandise and travel come in second and third, respectively. It should be asked whether or not these are ordered based on effectiveness in the workplace. Some companies believe whole-heartedly in their incentive programs and other companies do not believe in giving rewards at all. In all probability, the way to motivate an employee is going to be different in each situation and with each employee. But overall, what method of motivation seems to work best?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:45:52 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[In Uncertain Times, The Tough Step Up]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1056</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1056</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When times become uncertain and the economic forecast is bleak, people lose faith in themselves, ultimately affecting their image. In today's business environment, with companies reducing work forces, and mergers or acquisitions occurring weekly, it has become even clearer that to stay at the top you need to project a great image. To remain highly competitive in today's job market, whether you are intent on keeping your current position or hoping for a career move up the corporate ladder, it's critical that you evaluate your attitude and your involvement in helping your organization achieve great long-term results. In this article I've shared a few tips with you to help you stay in everyone's mind at your company so that when the economy turns around and they need someone in a higher position, you are the one that quickly comes to their minds!]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:42:11 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Five Common Reasons CEOs and Executives Don't Share Their Vision for the Future]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3305</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3305</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When you think about a CEO or senior level executive one of the first things that often comes to mind is that of a strategic visionary for the company -&nbsp;the man or woman with the "master plan" who sets the strategic course for their organization.&nbsp;&nbsp;While this is often an accurate description of a CEO or C-level executive, these individuals don't always do the best job of communicating their vision to those they lead.&nbsp; This often has an adverse impact on an organization's overall performance as it is absolutely critical that all team members, supervisors, managers, and executives&nbsp;are "rowing" in the same direction for an organization to realize it full potential.&nbsp;In working with owners, presidents, CEOs, and other high level executives from numerous organizations I have found five common reasons that these individuals fail to effectively communicate their vision for the organization.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:09:36 CST</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[What Can Human Resources Do to Give Hope During Layoffs]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1037</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1037</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Just about every industry and employer is feeling the crunch of the dwindling economy, and knows that they will have to lay off employees, if they haven't already. A new Watson Wyatt study shows that 26 said they already have laid off, and 25% stated they would have a hiring freeze over the next 12 months. With this many companies already planning on job cuts and downsizing, its probably safe to assume that those numbers will increase. The most important thing to remember is that whenever you do make those cuts, its going to be a very difficult time for your employees. Helping them be prepared will make things go much more smooth.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:36:21 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[7 Steps to Successful Workplace Investigations]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1036</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1036</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Everyone complains about work. They complain to their wives, husbands, and friends. With every passing day, however, more and more of these complaints are making their way from the bedroom to the boardroom. In fact, the number of official work-related complaints and allegations are on the rise. "There has been an increase in complaints due to a misperception of what employment law really is," says Patricia C. Perez, SPHR, Attorney at Law. "I think there has been an increase in claims because there has been a shift in our population's perception of fairness at work." Perez, founder and CEO of Puente International Consulting located in San Diego, California, combines her legal expertise and human relations background to offer clients a number of practical business solutions. These solutions include creating human relations departments, providing HR training, mediating employee disputes, and conducting internal workplace investigations.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:34:20 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New Reason for Employees to Whistle - Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1034</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1034</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, recently signed into law by President Bush, provides a new cause of action for &ldquo;whistleblowers&rdquo; who engage in protected activity related to defective products.Although the legislation was prompted by last year&rsquo;s high-profile recalls of toys and other children&rsquo;s products, its protections apply far beyond manufacturing, and far beyond the toy and children&rsquo;s product industries. Employers covered by the CPSIA include not only manufacturers, but also private labelers, distributors, and retailers. And &ldquo;protected activity&rdquo; encompasses the CPSIA as well as any other Act enforced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and any order, rule, regulation, or standard under any such Act.The whistleblower protection provisions (Section 219 of the CPSIA), will be enforced by the Department of Labor, Occupational Safety &amp; Health Administration. The whistleblower protection provisions of the CPSIA went into effect on August 14, 2008, the day the Act was signed into law.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:43:51 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[What is there to know about EFCA?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1025</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1025</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Politics is always a touchy subject, and if any conversation about politics should ever be started, there is no end to the torturous paths it may take. However, there is an aspect of politics that should interest us very much, and that is about the specific laws that are passed and how they affect us. Any laws that pass are meant to affect us in one way or another. Whether they are increasing taxes, lower wages or influence our rights, there is always something that will submit us to some changes. Because of this you should always be aware of the content of any law and what will be changes in your life because of it. Let's talk about one of the bills that are meant to influence employees and employers in America. The Employee Free Choice Act is something that can alter the employment system in America significantly. This is something you should know about and what aspects are included in it, how they could help or harm you or how they can influence your activities.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:30:56 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Decreasing Employee Turnover with Effective Recognition Programs]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1024</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1024</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In today's shaky economy, it's more important than ever for businesses to hold on to valuable employees. According to a recent Maritz&reg; Poll, the cost of employee turnover may be as much as one and a half times an employee's first year salary. With so much at stake, employers are looking for more innovative ways to reduce employee turnover. And while salary and benefits are often deciding factors in the job market, a good employee recognition program can go a long way toward showing employees how important they are to your company.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:28:50 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Getting Hired During a Recession ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1023</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1023</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Getting a job is a sale and requires the skills of a top sales person. Unfortunately most people never learned how to sell, even most sales people. To complicate the matter further this sale is about you, which is very emotional. The good news is that your product knowledge is second to none. So to make the sale of yourself happen faster follow these strategies, tactics, techniques, reasoning's and examples and you'll land the job of your dreams 1 - Sell Yourself To You First.Become Confident.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:27:01 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Pre-Hire Assessments: What Do They Assess?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1022</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1022</link>
			<description><![CDATA[What Are Pre-Hire Assessments? Pre-hire assessments are, often, equated with risk management programs. This is because poor, timeworn hiring practices can cripple even the best organizations. A good hiring process can bring several key benefits. This includes engineering effective individual and collective performance to establish an organization's competitive advantage. The economic downside to bad hiring is that it could lose millions of dollars for an organization due to wasted effort, low productivity and excess administrative costs. Take the real life example of most Asian call centers that are known to conduct pre-hire assessments on a large scale. Certain call center companies test for abilities such as language proficiency, multitasking and responsiveness. The ability to handle stress is also checked. Random hiring practices are also prevalent as there are several companies that hire job seekers based on handwriting analysis too.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:20:35 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Is Attention Deficit Disorder Protected Under the ADA?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1021</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1021</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Recently our staff was asked if children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder were protected under the American with Disabilities Act of 1990. This parent wrote that if in fact Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder was included in the Disabilities Act, her child was being discriminated against by his school. Parents want the very best for their children. And people tend to want everything that they feel that they are entitled to from the government. But sometimes we can expect too much from our public agencies, and sometimes we look in the wrong places for help. The answer to this question is somewhat long and complicated. So we will begin with writing that while someone with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder may qualify for protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act, not everyone with the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder will qualify. And that may include you or your child.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:31:59 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[What to Consider When Drafting a Covenant Not to Compete]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3290</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3290</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A covenant not to compete is a contractual limitation on an employee&rsquo;s ability to work in a given field after they leave your employment.&nbsp; Most employers don&rsquo;t consider a covenant not to compete until a key employee leaves for the competitor across the street.&nbsp; A covenant not to compete, however, should be considered long before an employee leaves.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:07:32 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Compensating Domestic Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1019</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1019</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A domestic (household) worker such as a maid, sitter, health care provider, or gardener is generally considered an employee of the homeowner if the homeowner can control how the work is done. Whether the worker is full or part-time and how the worker is paid have little determination on whether the worker is an employee or independent contractor. Domestic employers are required to withhold and pay FICA tax on wages of $1,600 or more per year per employee ($1,700 in 2009).&nbsp; However, they are not required to withhold federal income tax unless the employee requests that taxes be withheld.&nbsp; If the employee does request withholding, the employee must complete Form W-4 so that the employer can determine how much tax to withhold.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:23:42 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[President Signs Major Overhaul of the Americans with Disabilities Act]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1018</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1018</link>
			<description><![CDATA[President George W. Bush signed into law a measure (S. 3406) that significantly amends the Americans with Disabilities Act. Ironically, the original ADA was signed in 1991 by his father, former President George H.W. Bush. The ADA Amendments Act of 2008, which was negotiated by business groups and the disability and civil rights communities, together with its principal congressional sponsors, passed the Senate by unanimous consent on September 11, and it was approved by voice vote in the House on September 17.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:07:38 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[HRAs Good or Bad?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1002</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=1002</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers looking to reduce the costs of offering group health care to their workers are quite happy with HRAs, as they offer a lot of advantages, not the least of which is they aren't like a plan and don't have the same level of intense management other health care plans do. Another feature employers seem to like is the ability to place caps on the amount of money they are willing to pay out for employee's health care expenses. The system is fairly easy to administer, just post notices in the workplace letting people know what is available, have them sign up and they're in business. The only thing employees need to know is what categories the employer will pay in and the amounts. HRAs are portable which makes employees happy, but they might not like the caps employers put on them. However the simplicity of just submitting receipts after paying for medical services using pre-taxed dollars is pretty enticing overall.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:25:45 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Federal and State Payroll Laws]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=999</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=999</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The following are basic procedures for maintaining Federal and State payroll legislation. Following these procedures will help to sure that you stay on track correctly with your payroll obligations. Failure to comply with these laws can result in severe consequences. Obtain your Federal Employee Identification Number or EIN. This allows you to hire and pay your employees and registers them for tax levies and deductions. Use the W-4 form available on the IRS web site to calculate the payroll for your employees correctly. The IRS requires a W-4 for all new employees for the marital status and the number of tax allowances claimed. Based on the number of allowances claimed, employers can determine the amount of federal income tax to withhold. This can be revised at any time that an employee marries or has a child.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:30:49 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Form I9 Verification]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=998</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=998</link>
			<description><![CDATA[What is I-9 Form? I-9 form or Employment Eligibility Verification Form is a drafted file that has to be furnished by the employer, if he/she is hiring a new employee. This serves as a legal document mandated for the employees approval and to ascertain their entitlement to work legally in United States. An I-9 form must be completed for every person your firm hires to perform labor or services, in return for wages or remuneration (including food and lodging).Also, adhering to the mandatory requirement of Form 1-9, enables employers to easily conduct legal "right to work" form I-9 employment verification, on new employees. The I-9 form verification helps you to properly scrutinize the candidate's status about his legal permission to work in United States. Any non-complying company, employing illegal immigrants or people who have not been entitled to work in U.S, may have to face sever legal and financial consequences as imposed by the Department of Homeland Security.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:28:54 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Leave It On The Hanger]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3288</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3288</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Do you have personal problems at home?&nbsp; Has your car broken down lately or had problems?&nbsp; Is your marriage going well?&nbsp; Is your teenager acting up?&nbsp; Do you have financial woes?&nbsp; Is your roof leaking in yet another spot?&nbsp; Do you feel fat?&nbsp; I could go on and on, but the point is....]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:24:37 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Executive Compensation Provisions In Bailout Bill - A Sign of More Changes On Horizon?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3287</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3287</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The landmark Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (the "Act") signed by President Bush today (October 3, 2008) includes certain restrictions on executive compensation arrangements for "senior executives" of financial institutions selling assets to the Treasury Department pursuant to the Act. &nbsp;&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:24:05 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Not Hiring? That's Okay, I'm Not Looking]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=992</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=992</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Dude, where's my bailout? A few weeks ago, Harvard Business School mounted its own emergency rescue mission on Wall Street. In the school's first intervention on behalf of newly minted graduates, 7 Harvard career coaches flew to New York to huddle with 18 members of the Class of 2008 who had taken jobs at troubled firms like Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch. At last word, most were still working, but didn't know what the next days or weeks would bring. The ranks of passive job seekers are growing as workers decide now is not the time to look for a new job. There are 9.5 million people out of work and prospects for rising unemployment are expected to continue into 2009. So what's up with the growing number of job seekers who have decided now is not the time to look for a new job?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:48:14 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Alcoholism and Substance Abuse in the Workplace ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=991</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=991</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Alcoholism and substance abuse is a very common work related problem that human resource managers have had to encounter and solve. Reliable surveys reveals that at least fifty percent of alcoholics are women, twenty five percent of them being white collar workers , forty five percent being in senior management positions while thirty seven percent happens to be fresh graduates after receiving their first paycheck. When effects of alcohol and substance abuse on workers and work are severe, both the quantity and the quality of work decline radically.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:45:24 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Disability & Accommodations: 3 Easy Steps to Establishing & Implementing a Reasonable Accommodation Policy]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=985</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=985</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I've worked with a large number of One-Stop or workforce development agencies across the State of California. As part of the technical assistance and training we provide, I often engage staff in a conversation around the agency's Reasonable Accommodation Policy. I'm often surprised at the number of staff that are either unaware of whether they actually have a policy (all should) or what exactly the policy says. I say that all should because it is a requirement under Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Section 188 as well as other disability-related laws that apply to federally funded programs. If you're unsure if you need a policy, a good question to answer is whether or not your agency or business is required to provide reasonable accommodations under the American's with Disabilities Act or the Fair Employment Housing Act (CA Only). If you are, then you should have a policy, and this applies to you.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:33:46 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Organizational Development - A Process of Continuous Improvement]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=984</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=984</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When we talk about an organization or business, we mean two or more people working towards a common set of goals. Sometimes, the development of a business may reach a point of stagnation due to bigger challenges facing the organization. In such a case, the organization generally undertakes a process of change that includes a series of steps to bring about improvements. This process is known as organizational development. Over the years, organizational development has come to be recognized as a business discipline in itself and is part of the course curriculum in major business schools across the world.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:31:25 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Performance Appraisals - Improving and Rewarding Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=983</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=983</link>
			<description><![CDATA[As a general rule, managers are apprehensive about having to give performance appraisals to their subordinates. And no wonder. It involves an uncomfortable face-to-face interaction with an employee, who might be performing below his capabilities. In addition, most managers are united in their emphasis that paperwork and standardized forms don't really give a true picture of an employee's worth for the simple reason that there isn't just ONE type of employee in the company.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:29:24 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[General Orientation....Set The Tone For Success]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=979</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=979</link>
			<description><![CDATA[General orientation.&nbsp; Do those words make you shudder?&nbsp; Most workers go through so much of this stuff that it is simply agonizing just to hear the words "general orientation."&nbsp; Some companies spend more than one day conducting orientation classes.&nbsp; Other companies spend little or no time at all in this area.&nbsp; It can be painful, or it can be one of the best days one can have at work.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:19:40 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Fair Opportunity for Disabled Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=926</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=926</link>
			<description><![CDATA[There are certain forms of workplace discrimination that are not allowed in the United States under the Employment Law. The employer must be discriminating on the basis of a protected category in order for the discrimination to be considered illegal.Such forms of illegal discrimination protected under the area of Federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Laws include age, gender, race, sexual orientation...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:18:58 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[With PTSD - Sleep is a "Major Life Activity"]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=964</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=964</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In Desmond v. Mukasey, 07-5139 (D.C. Cir. July 1, 2008), the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit held that sleeping
is a major life activity for the purposes of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973. The act prohibits federal agencies from discriminating in employment
on the basis of disability, defined in part as an impairment which
substantially limits one or more &ldquo;major life activities.&rdquo;
Under the Code of Federal Regulations, major life activities mean
functions such as caring for one&rsquo;s self, performing manual tasks,
walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing and learning.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:45:05 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Can California Law on Noncompete Agreements Affect You?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=966</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=966</link>
			<description><![CDATA[California is known as one of the most difficult places to enforce a
noncompete agreement. The California Supreme Court&rsquo;s recent decision
in Edwards v. Arthur Andersen LLP reinforces that reputation.
Though Edwards interprets California noncompete law, it carries
repercussions for employers outside of California.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:44:46 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Supreme Court Restricts States' Ability to Limit Employer Speech]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=965</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=965</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In a highly contested case, the Supreme Court of the United States, in
Chamber of Commerce v. Brown, recently addressed the issue of
whether a state could enact a statute that restricted employer speech
during a union organizing campaign. The California statute at issue in
Brown was passed in an effort to undermine the effectiveness of
employer opposition in response to union organizing campaigns.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:45:04 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ADA Amendments Act Passed By House and Senate]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=967</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=967</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In a sweeping display of bipartisan support, the Senate and the House of
Representatives have passed the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. The Senate
approved the bill (S. 3406) by unanimous consent on September 11th, and
the House, which passed a similar measure (H.R. 3195) by a vote of 402-17
in June 2008, approved the Senate&rsquo;s version of the bill less than a
week later. President George W. Bush is expected to sign the ADAAA into
law within the next few weeks. Once signed by the President, the
legislation is set to take effect on January 1, 2009.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:44:44 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Health Insurance Plan - The Easy Way to Getting Health Insurance]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=959</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=959</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Even though more and more people are realizing that they need health insurance many are apprehensive about getting a health insurance plan for them. This is because there are too many choices that leads to confusion as to which plan will serve the health needs of them and their family. By learning some basics about health insurance, one can easily get a health insurance plan that is right for their needs. ost of the health insurance plans are got by going through the employer. These days most companies provide health insurance to its employees through a group plan. As most of the employees will be covered through a group, the premium for health insurance comes down. Many of these plans are designed not only to cover the employee but also the family members of the employee. Although this increases the premium paid out, the plan covers the entire family thereby increasing the benefits of the plan. To go by this route through the employer, one needs to check with the department of human resources in the company and check the policy of the company towards health insurance. Every employee should be able to begin an individual health insurance plan through the group scheme at any point of time during the tenure with the company.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:34:32 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Benefits of Employment Management System]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=958</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=958</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employees are the most important element of every business. Their contributions play a significant role in determining the success of any organization. Companies with a medium or large scale employee base rely on employee management systems to manage and utilize their workforce to the maximum advantage. Outsourcing employee management services is becoming an increasingly popular and sought after option for many companies around the globe.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:30:39 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[What is I-9 Form?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=956</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=956</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I-9 form or Employment Eligibility Verification Form is a drafted file that has to be furnished by the employer, if he/she is hiring a new employee. This serves as a legal document mandated for the employees approval and to ascertain their entitlement to work legally in United States.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:26:05 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[THE NEW ADA AMENDMENTS - WHAT CAN EMPLOYERS EXPECT IN 2009? ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=957</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=957</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In September of 2008, President Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (&ldquo;ADAAA&rdquo; or the &ldquo;Amendments&rdquo;), which will become effective on January 1, 2009.&nbsp; The ADAAA amends the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (&ldquo;ADA&rdquo; or the &ldquo;Act&rdquo;) in an effort to expand protections to persons with disabilities in the workplace.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Amendments&nbsp;create further burdens on employers and will probably increase the number of claims filed, but on a positive note, may&nbsp; reduce&nbsp;confusion with respect to who is disabled under the&nbsp;ADA. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:25:48 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Bad Economy Makes Business Owners Targets of Employee Lawsuits   ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=921</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=921</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It's no surprise that when the economy takes a nose dive, people get extremely anxious about money. And what do we do in this country when we are low on cash? That's right, WE SUE! All of a sudden seemingly normal people start paying closer attention to all those lawyer ads on TV. After all, somebody must be responsible for this. Since most lawyers know that suing the government is a big waste of time (and money), who is the most logical choice? Why employers, of course.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:52:42 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Sexual Harassment in the Workplace ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=930</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=930</link>
			<description><![CDATA[All employers are always responsible for harassment by a supervisor that culminates in tangible employment actions. If the harassment did not lead to a tangible employment action, the employer is still liable unless it proves that reasonable care was exercised to prevent and promptly correct any harassment and that the employee unreasonably failed to complain to management.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:05:24 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA["Hey! - I Want My $200,000 Back!"  The Impact of Poor Hiring Decisions]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3280</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3280</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The cost of a bad hiring decision is much greater than the costs associated with recruiting, selecting, and training a new employee.&nbsp;A poor hiring decision can create a massive "opportunity cost" in the form of lost revenues and diminished customer goodwill that can far outweigh the "hard costs" of hiring a new employee.Warning!&nbsp; After reading this article you may have an uncontrollable urge to cry out: "Hey! I want my $200K Back!"]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:44:50 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[10 Tips on Defensible Documentation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3281</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3281</link>
			<description><![CDATA[[T]he recipe for legally defensible documentation begins with common sense and ends with a consideration of who your audience will ultimately be. Unfortunately, I can't help you with common sense. You either have it or you don't. There is no middle ground. As far as your audience, potentially it could be an EEOC investigator or a jury. That audience will look for a degree of clarity in your documentation that you might not usually employ.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:56:18 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Employee Free Choice Act--It's Anything But]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3279</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3279</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Congress is considering legislation that would eliminate secret ballot elections and require mandatory interest arbitration.&nbsp; Is your business ready to recognize a union without the chance to run its own anti-union campaign?&nbsp; Or&nbsp;plead its&nbsp;bargaining position before a government-appointed arbitrator?&nbsp; If you think this sounds bad, you have no idea.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:05:20 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Re-evaluation of Worker Classification & Other Employment Strategies In The Face of A Business Slowdown]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3276</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3276</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Businesses concerned the uncertain economy will adversely impact their businesses should act early to evaluate their existing worker classification and other employment practices for opportunities to manage costs and promote efficiency.&nbsp; For example, a business anticipating a business slowdown that currently employs workers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) minimum wage and overtime rules on a salaried, non-exempt basis rather than a straight hourly basis often can reduce costs by converting these employees to a straight hourly pay arrangement.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Sep 2008 06:57:51 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[8 Ways to Get Managing Telecommuters Right]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3274</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3274</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Technology is rapidly changing the landscape of today's workplace. One of the biggest changes taking place is how and where work gets done.&nbsp; I'm talking of course about telecommuting - the practice of working from a remote location removed from an organization's physical place of business. While telecommuting offers numerous benefits to employers and employees alike, it can pose a number of challenges to managers who are not accustomed to leading remote workers.&nbsp;I'll provide 8 tips to help you successfully manage your remote workforce.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:58:06 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Exit Interviews: Easily Overlooked - Too Valuable to Disregard]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=876</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=876</link>
			<description><![CDATA[What is an exit interview? Exit interviews are individual meetings to
question departing employees about their reason for leaving as well as
their attitudes and observations about the company. These interviews are
conducted in a variety of ways: the formal interview in which specific
prepared questions are asked, a casual conversation interview, and the
written questionnaire. As a general rule, written questionnaires are not
effective because they do not allow for follow up questions and they do
not protect against evasive or incomplete answers. The most successful
exit interviews are those that follow a preplanned format, like the formal
exit interview, and are conducted in a casual conversational manner. These
types of exit interviews allow the employee to feel relaxed, thereby
allowing the interviewer to elicit information about the employee's work
experience and decision to leave.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:57:43 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employers Should Brace For New Disability Exposures As ADA Amendments Act of 2008 Awaits President's Signature]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3273</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3273</link>
			<description><![CDATA[U.S. businesses employing 15 or more employees should brace themselves to face new challenges in defending themselves against employment disability claims.&nbsp; The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (the &ldquo;Act&rdquo;) awaiting signature by President Bush will make it harder to defend disabilities claims of certain employees under the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (the &ldquo;ADA&rdquo;).&nbsp; In light of these impending changes, employers covered by the ADA and/or the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 should review and strengthen their existing hiring and other employment practices and documentation to strengthen their defensibility in the face of these new challenges.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:55:45 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Flip-Flops on Friday: Summertime in the Workplace]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=875</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=875</link>
			<description><![CDATA[For many of us, summer will always seem like the time to relax, be more
casual, and, of course, take vacations. But transferring the spirit of
summer to the workplace always raises a number of issues for
employers.&nbsp;To find out more about these issues, including dress
codes, use of mobile devices while on vacation, the impact of the economy
on employee vacations, the use of summer interns and how to be more
&ldquo;green&rdquo; this summer, read on.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:45:33 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Federal Overtime Requirements - Who may take advantage of the Fluctuating Workweek Method of Calculating Overtime? ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=873</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=873</link>
			<description><![CDATA[With some exceptions, both hourly and non-exempt salaried employees are entitled to overtime pay at a rate of one and one-half the regular rate of pay for all hours actually worked over 40 in any given workweek.&nbsp; In some instances, the &ldquo;fluctuating workweek&rdquo; method of calculating overtime may be applied to reduce the employer&rsquo;s overtime pay obligation to one-half the regular rate of pay for overtime hours worked in excess of 40.&nbsp;&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:41:42 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Common Mistakes in Documentation and Recordkeeping]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3263</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3263</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Your company's record keeping and document retention practices will often be the difference between winning and losing a lawsuit. Over the years I have seen a variety of areas where employers and human resources professionals get themselves in trouble. One common theme has been a failure to have reliable and accurate documentation.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Sep 2008 07:10:53 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Tenth Circuit Endorses "Fluctuating Workweek" Method of Calculating Overtime for Misclassified Salaried Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=867</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=867</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In a decision that could lead to significant litigation cost savings for
employers, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit endorsed the
fluctuating workweek method of calculating back pay awards for
misclassified salaried employees in lawsuits arising under the Fair Labor
Standards Act. In Clements v. Serco, Inc., 2008 U.S. App. LEXIS
13806 (10th Cir. July 1, 2008), the 10th Circuit held that the district
court properly used the fluctuating workweek method to calculate a back
pay award for unpaid overtime, rather than the alternative time-and-a-half
formula, because the parties had a &quot;clear mutual understanding&quot;
that the plaintiffs would be paid a fixed salary regardless of the number
of hours they worked each workweek. In addition, the court joined the 1st
and 4th Circuit Courts of Appeals in rejecting the proposition that the
fluctuating workweek method applies only where the parties also had a
&quot;clear mutual understanding&quot; as to how overtime pay would be
calculated.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Sep 2008 07:10:33 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employers Face Increase in Donning and Doffing Suits]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=868</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=868</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Any company can be targeted for a donning and doffing lawsuits as long as
its employees wear uniforms or protective gear, or spend pre- or
post-shift time performing a task like booting up a computer. This
includes food processing companies, power plants, chemical manufacturers
and call centers to name a few.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Sep 2008 07:10:20 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Addressing Reasonable Compensation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=866</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=866</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Executives tend to be well paid in corporate America.&nbsp; In response, the media is debating whether these executives are really worth the amounts they are taking home.&nbsp; And, since the answer to that question has dramatic tax consequences, the Internal Revenue Service is paying close attention to this debate. The income tax laws allow corporations to deduct "ordinary and necessary" expenses incurred in carrying on their businesses.&nbsp; This includes compensation for services performed by stockholders and their family members, but only if the amounts paid are "reasonable" for the services performed.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:49:00 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulations Will Become Effective August 25, 2008]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=865</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=865</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On August 25, 2008, certain newly created U.S. Department of
Transportation&nbsp;drug and alcohol testing regulations will become
effective. The new regulations amend or create new sections to 49 C.F.R.
Part 40, and contain new or revised guidance on issues related to
adulterated, substituted, diluted and invalid urine specimens.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:34:36 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Seven Ways to Improve Your Working Relationships]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=860</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=860</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Each of the seven steps can help litigators de-escalate the conflict inherent in litigation before all-important settlement negotiations, whether they are conducted with the assistance of a third party neutral or not.&nbsp;One or more of them might&nbsp;also help ease tension in the law firm -- a very tense place these days given the recession, lay-off's, the de-equitization of partners and the shedding of non-productive practice groups or of those&nbsp;that might conflict with the law firm your firm is about to merge with.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:04:40 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Workplace Bullying - A Label of Convenience?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3253</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3253</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Over the past several months, I have been reading article after article about a highly emotional and ugly workplace phenomenon commonly refered to as workplace bullying. While I am certain that bullies in the workplace do exist, I am concerned that this&nbsp;label is&nbsp;being used too freely and without regard to the real problem at hand. Quite frankly, I have a hard time believing that workplace bullying exists at the level that the many blogs and articles I have been reading suggest. Here's why...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:53:26 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[U.S. Supreme Court - U.S. Supreme Court Rules In Key Benefit Cases]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=856</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=856</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In the closing days of its most recent term, the U.S. Supreme Court issued
two decisions relating to the design and administration of employee
benefit plans. The first, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company v.
Glenn, addressed (without giving significant guidance) the question
of whether a conflict of interest exists when a plan administrator who
decides questions of eligibility for benefits is also the person
responsible for paying any benefit claims, and the effect of such a
conflict on a reviewing court's analysis. The second, Kentucky
Retirement Systems v. EEOC, addressed the question of whether a
pension plan's failure to increase benefits to disabled retirees once they
reach normal retirement age (but continue working) violates the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:32:29 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[NLRB General Counsel Issues Guidelines On Political Advocacy In The Workplace]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=855</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=855</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On July 22, 2008, the Office of the General Counsel for the National
Labor Relations Board issued General Counsel Memorandum GC 08-10 to all of
the NLRB&rsquo;s regional directors, officers in charge, and resident
officers setting forth the General Counsel&rsquo;s guidelines concerning
the handling of unfair labor practice charges involving political
advocacy.The memorandum was issued in response to the numerous ULP
charges filed in late 2006 and beyond by employees disciplined after their
participation in demonstrations protesting legislative proposals imposing
greater restrictions and penalties on immigrant employees and their
employers. The purpose of the memorandum is &quot;to provide guidance to
employees, unions, and employers in this important and developing area of
the law.&quot; Specifically, the memorandum sets forth a framework for the
NLRB regional directors and their personnel to review, consider and rely
upon in the processing of all ULP charges involving political advocacy.
The guidelines set forth within the memorandum are especially pertinent to
employers in light of the upcoming presidential elections and the continued
national debate on immigration reform.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:32:11 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Properly Applying Discipline:  Using Professional Sports as an Example]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3239</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3239</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When it comes to applying discipling, will your company handle a problem employee like the Red Sox or the Eagles?&nbsp; Two malcontent professional athletes and their employers' responses provide examples for all employers.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:29:46 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[DOL Provides Guidance Regarding Hours Worked Under FLSA]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=853</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=853</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The U.S. Department of Labor has clarified compensable work time under
the Fair Labor Standards Act in regard to meal breaks, straight time and
overtime. In an opinion letter dated May 15, 2008, the department reached
the following conclusions:If an employee fails to take a
30-minute unpaid meal break and the failure to take a meal break does not
cause the employee to work more than 40 hours in the workweek, no
additional compensation is due to the employee if the employee's total
wages for the workweek divided by the compensable hours worked equal or
exceed the applicable minimum wage.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:24:52 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[IRS Provides Guidance on Proper Income Tax Withholding for Nine Common Supplemental Wage Payment Scenarios]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=854</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=854</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In Revenue Ruling 2008-29, the IRS has provided specific guidance on the
proper amount of federal income tax an employer must withhold in nine
different situations under the supplemental wage regulations1
that became effective January 1, 2007. Typically, states with income taxes
default to following federal regulation principles for distinguishing
between regular and supplemental wages. In addition to federal income tax
withholdings, states also look for proper withholding on supplemental
wages for state income tax purposes.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:16:02 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[President Signs Executive Order Requiring All Federal Contractors to Use E-Verify]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=850</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=850</link>
			<description><![CDATA[President George W. Bush signed an Executive Order requiring all federal
government contractors to use E-Verify to confirm the employment
authorization of new hires and persons assigned to perform work on future
federal contracts.&nbsp; E-Verify is the internet-based system operated by
the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security
Administraion to electronically verify employment eligibility of newly
hired employees.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:48:45 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Court Holds that FMLA Provision in Handbook May Create Employer Liability Despite Employee's Ineligibility Under FMLA Statute]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=847</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=847</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The United States Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently concluded that an employee may rely on language contained in an employee handbook to support his claim for family and medical leave benefits regardless of the employee&rsquo;s actual ineligibility for such benefits under the Family and Medical Leave Act.&nbsp; This decision highlights the importance of a carefully drafted employee handbook, as well as proper attention to detail when determining whether an employee is eligible for various company benefits.&nbsp;&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:46:05 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Exit Interviews: Handling the Bad News]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3230</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3230</link>
			<description><![CDATA[If there is a problem that led to the departure of an employee, that problem won't go away just because your company did the equivalent of closing your eyes, plugging your ears and chanting, "I can't hear you. I can't hear you." Problems left unchecked will  ripen into a full blown crisis at a later date. By being proactive, the information you learn in an exit interview can be used to conduct an investigation while memories are fresh and there is an opportunity to minimize your legal exposure.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:07:53 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The WARN Act - Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Concepts]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=839</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=839</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many businesses are feeling the pinch that comes with the current economic downturn.&nbsp; In response, businesses are increasingly deciding to layoff employees.&nbsp; As a human resources professional you must be aware of the federal law that places certain obligations upon companies laying off employees, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act ("WARN"), 29 U.S.C. sections 2101 et seq.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:19:40 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Take Your Guns to Work? Florida Passes the Preservation and Protection of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in Motor Vehicles Act of 2008]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=478</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=478</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On April 15, 2008, Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed the Preservation
and Protection of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in Motor Vehicles Act of
2008. The act, which takes effect July 1, 2008, will impose significant
restrictions on the ability of employers and businesses to prohibit and
monitor the presence of firearms within automobiles owned by employees and
customers on their property. The law is intended &ldquo;to codify the
longstanding legislative policy of the state that individual citizens have
a constitutional right to keep and bear arms &hellip; and that these rights
are not abrogated by virtue of a citizen becoming a customer, employee or
invitee of a business entity.&rdquo; The act&rsquo;s approval comes less
than a month after the United States Supreme Court heard argument in
District of Columbia v. Heller, a case in which the Court is
expected to analyze the issue of whether an individual citizen has a right
to own a firearm under the Second Amendment of the United States
Constitution.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:10:15 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[LACK OF CELL PHONE DRIVING LAWS MAY NOT PROTECT AGAINST EMPLOYER LIABILITY FOR EMPLOYEE ACCIDENTS]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=799</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=799</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Regardless of whether your state or municipality has enacted a hands-free device law to regulate the use of cell phones while driving a vehicle, your liability as an employer for the vehicular negligence of your employees has increased as a result of the invention of the cell phone.&nbsp; This is because employees are more likely to be on business calls during off-duty hours, and while driving to and from work now that everyone over the age of ten has a cell phone.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:08:35 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Are Killer Benefits Poised to Kill Employee Morale and Your Bottom Line?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3224</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3224</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Google is renowned for the lavish benefits and work perks it offers its employees.&nbsp; The daycare services that Google offers are second to none and&nbsp;among the most coveted benefits that it offers.&nbsp;However, with stock prices down 25% from their highs, the $$37,000 per child subsidy Google provides isn't sitting so well with investors, prompting a 75% increase in employee paid premiums. As you can imagine, this isn't going over well with Google parents.&nbsp;The question that begs to be asked is: "Are killer benefits poised to kill employee morale and the bottom line in your organization?"]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[No Such Thing As Caregiver Discrimination, But ...]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3190</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3190</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In modern society, the issue of treatment of individuals with caregiving responsibilities in the workplace is becoming more and more important.&nbsp; More employees have some form of caregiving duties than ever before - whether one is talking about single parents, two-parents households where both adults work, or the ever increasing situation where an employee is responsible for the care of elderly or disabled parents or other relatives.&nbsp; This issue has raised enough concern that the EEOC recently issued a guidance document relating to potential disparate treatment of caregivers in the workplace.&nbsp; Additionally, a newly-issued case from the 1st Circuit sheds light both on the EEOC's guidance and the issue generally.&nbsp; In Chadwick v. Wellpoint, Inc., No. 07-70 (D. Me. 5/2/08), the court held that, while there is no such thing as "caregiver discrimination" under federal law, treating employees differently because of traditional sexual stereotypes does constitute actionable sex discrimination under federal law.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Conducting an Exit Interview]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3210</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3210</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Exit interviews should be conducted if you want to learn how to improve your team, make your company more competitive and preempt potential claims. Remember this in an interview of a departing employee, it is not an inquisition. Your company should have a reason to conduct exit interviews. If that reason is &ldquo;because everyone else does it,&rdquo; then my advice to you is reconsider whether you should conduct exit interviews. You should conduct exit interviews only if your motivation is to learn how to improve your team, make your company more competitive, or preempt potential claims.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:29:05 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Subcutaneous RFID Tag Implants - "Beam Me Up, Scotty"]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3196</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3196</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags sound like a something out of science fiction.&nbsp; A tag, about the size of a piece of rice, can be injected under a human being&rsquo;s skin (&ldquo;subcutaneous insertion&rdquo;).&nbsp; A scanner can be used to &ldquo;read&rdquo; the tag and learn information about the bearer.&nbsp; Information contained on the tag can include address and medical history, and its availability could literally be a lifesaver, if used to identify a lost child or retrieve the medical history of an unconscious person.&nbsp; Tags can also be used for less important tasks, too:&nbsp; An anecdotal search of the Internet found that patrons in certain Rotterdam and Barcelona bars have had RFID tags placed under their skin so they can enter VIP rooms and run tabs.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:49:46 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Supreme Court Ruling Provides Guidance For Improving Defensibility of ERISA Claims Decision]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3191</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3191</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The United States Supreme Court&rsquo;s decision in Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. v. Glenn provides an invaluable roadmap for employers, insurers, administrators and plan fiduciaries sponsoring or administering employee benefit plans regulated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to help position plan administration decisions made by fiduciaries that also are responsible for or are employed by the employer or insurer liable for funding the plan or with another financial interest impacted by the claims decision.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:00:50 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Opinion Letters on Compensation Paid by Charities]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=801</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=801</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Internal Revenue Service now keeps a close eye on charities and social welfare organizations to ensure that their tax-exempt status is not abused.&nbsp; One of the primary factors the IRS examines is the amounts of compensation and benefits provided by these tax-exempt organizations to their key employees. The IRS believes that some officers and other employees may be taking advantage of their influential positions by setting their own compensation at above-market levels.&nbsp; The IRS has begun a wide-spread initiative to find those overpaid individuals.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:33:34 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[FLSA Preempts Duplicative State Law Claims, Fourth Circuit Rules]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=477</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=477</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Ruling that an employee cannot circumvent the federal Fair Labor Standards
Act by pleading causes of action under state common law, the
U.S.&nbsp;4th&nbsp;Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond rejected an
attempt to invoke North Carolina state laws to obtain relief that is only
available under the FLSA. Anderson, et al. v. Sara Lee Corp., et
al., No. 05-1091 (4th Cir. Nov. 19, 2007). The court, which has
appellate jurisdiction over Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South
Carolina and West Virginia, affirmed a district court's dismissal of
several state law claims and remanded the remaining state law claims to
the lower court with instructions to dismiss them without prejudice, to
give the plaintiffs an opportunity to pursue claims under the FLSA.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:28:37 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Associational Discrimination Claims a Growing Concern for Employers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=476</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=476</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers from
discriminating against employees based on race, color, religion, sex or
national origin. Title VII also prohibits discrimination against employees
who have opposed any practice that is an unlawful employment practice under
Title VII, or who have made a charge, testified, assisted or participated
in any manner in an investigation, proceeding or hearing involving an
alleged violation of Title VII. Employers typically know that they may not
take adverse action based on their employees&rsquo; protected
characteristics, and that it is impermissible to retaliate against
employees based on their own protected activity. Two recent cases,
however, demonstrate that Title VII also may provide an employee with the
right to allege discrimination or retaliation based, not only on his or
her own protected characteristics or activity, but on the employee&rsquo;s
association with another individual who comes within a protected
classification or who has engaged in protected activity.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:27:30 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Lack Of Cell Phone Driving Laws May Not Protect Against Employer Liability For Employee Accidents]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3187</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3187</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Regardless of whether your state or municipality has enacted a hands-free device law to regulate the use of cell phones while driving a vehicle, your liability as an employer for the vehicular negligence of your employees has increased as a result of the invention of the cell phone.&nbsp; This is because employees are more likely to be on business calls during off-duty hours, and while driving to and from work now that everyone over the age of ten has a cell phone.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:22:15 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[11 Things to Think About Before You Fire]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3188</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3188</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The decision to discharge an employee should be made only after careful reflection. Yes, I understand there are circumstances where the misconduct is so significant that immediate termination is warranted.&nbsp; Those instances tend to be the exception rather than the rule. In most cases, the employer is aware that things are just not working out, but is either distracted with more pressing issues or just does not want to address the problem.The purpose of this Blog post is to review some areas for consideration&nbsp; before the decision to discharge is made. Ultimately you will have to weigh these considerations and make the call.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:21:44 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Tortilla Maker Accused of Religious Intolerance Against Muslim Workers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=639</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=639</link>
			<description><![CDATA[As reported in the Minneapolis Star Tribune on May 28, 2008, a group of Muslim workers allege they were fired by a Mission Foods tortilla factory for refusing to wear uniforms that they say were immodest by Islamic standards. Employers are reminded, by this example, of their obligation to reasonably accommodate religious beliefs and practices.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:10:07 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[I-9 Audits Return, Verification Expands]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=484</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=484</link>
			<description><![CDATA[While promising to continue its strategy to increase raids and prosecutions
of companies it claims have knowingly hired large numbers of unauthorized
workers, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has signaled a plan to
expand random and targeted audits of employers' I-9 forms that reflect the
employers' federally required efforts to screen out unauthorized workers.
This comes as pressures intensify on many fronts toward electronic
employment verification.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:09:32 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Legislation to Ban Discrimination Based on Genetic Information Passed by Congress]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=474</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=474</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On May 1, 2008, the House of Representatives, by a vote of 414-1, passed
the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, which prohibits
discrimination on the basis of genetic information with respect to health
insurance and employment. The Senate had previously approved the bill,
with a 95-0 vote, on April 24, 2008. President Bush is expected to sign
the bill within the next two weeks.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:09:02 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Request for Coffee Prompts Employee to Sue for Sexual Harassment]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=638</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=638</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Tamara Klopfenstein was a part-time receptionist for National Sales &amp; Supplies for six weeks. During her employment, two vice presidents regularly asked her to bring them coffee. Her job description did not reference coffee service. However, she was told in her job interview that her supervisors did expect her at times to get them coffee. The individuals who held the position of receptionist before Ms. Klopfenstein were required to do so, and they performed the task without objection.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:07:47 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Armored Truck Company Has Ironclad Defense to Disability Claim]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=637</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=637</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers frequently experience the following scenario: Employee is suspected of wrongdoing. Employer investigates and decides to terminate Employee. At the eleventh hour, before he is fired, he claims that he is injured and disabled. He files a workers&rsquo; compensation claim. Employer wants to fire Employee, but is concerned about the appearance of discrimination and retaliation. Has the employee trapped the employer?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:06:36 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[State and Federal Regulations of Summer Jobs for Teenagers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=636</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=636</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Summer is here and many teenagers will be hitting the workforce to earn a few extra dollars. Companies who hire teenagers should be aware that state and federal law restricts the use of minors or &ldquo;child labor.&rdquo; The laws apply to &ldquo;minors.&rdquo; The California Labor Code defines &ldquo;minors&rdquo; as people under the age of 18 who are required to attend school. The definition also includes people under age 18 who are not required to attend school because they are not California residents. The definition also covers any child under the age of six.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:05:08 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[4 Signs You Are a Victim Of The "Employee Love Paradox"]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3176</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3176</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Loyalty and Devotion to one's employees is generally a good thing.&nbsp; However when ones loyalty to an employee causes a blind eye to be turned towards performance an organization's bottom line can really begin to suffer.&nbsp; This article offers four signs that you have become victim to the "Employee Love Paradox"]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:07:10 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[DOL Opinion Highlights Need For Accurate Record Keeping Under FLSA]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=634</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=634</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On May 15, 2008 the Department of Labor (&ldquo;DOL&rdquo;) issued an opinion in response to an inquiry concerning an employer&rsquo;s break and meal policy under the Fair Labor Standards Act (&ldquo;FLSA&rdquo;).  In addition to other areas of inquiry, the DOL responded to the question of what happens when an employee fails to take a meal break or other allotted break during the day.  In some instances, the employee&rsquo;s refusal to take the allotted break is in violation of a company policy stating that employees must take all such breaks during the work day.  Issues raised by this problem include: whether the employee is entitled to additional straight time if the hours worked in a given workweek do not exceed 40; whether the employee is entitled to overtime if the hours exceed 40 in a given workweek despite the employee&rsquo;s violation of company policy; and, what is the role of FLSA&rsquo;s recordkeeping requirement for employers in such situations?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:15:45 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Supreme Court Provides Guidance About When Conflict of Interest Justifies Closer Scrutiny of Employee Benefit Plan Claims Decisions]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3166</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3166</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In a June 19, 2008 decision, the United States Supreme Court provided helpful guidance to administrators, insurers and employers sponsoring and administering employee benefit plans regulated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) about the circumstances under which a plan administrator's decision will qualify for this helpful deferential review when the plan administrator bears responsibility both to administer and to pay claims.&nbsp; As the availability of deferential review can substantially impact the ability of plan administrators to successfully defend claims decisions against litigation brought by disappointed claimants and the cost of that defense, plan administrators and employers and insurers that sponsor and fund such plans should review their existing plan design and administrative procedures in light of guidance provided by Glenn and other existing judicial precedent to position their plan administrator's decisions to qualify for judicial deference in the event of a law suit.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:15:41 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Evolution Of Social Networks Into Virtual Organizations]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=626</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=626</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Although modern social networks such as MySpace.com, FaceBook.com, Orkutt, LinkedIn, and XING are enjoying a great deal of notoriety and success these days due to their popularity with--and wild embrace by--today's youth and the business community, their roots can be directly traced to Classmates.com and SixDegrees.com, both of which were formed in 1995 and 1997 respectively.&nbsp; In other words, it took 13 years for modern social networks to finally reach their peak--become ascendant-instead of some spontaneous explosion in popularity.&nbsp; Therefore, contrary to the idea that this is some sort of new Web 2.0 phenomena, this ascendant position most resembles the supernova stage of social networks and the beginning or emergence of a new phenomena.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:04:02 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Exit Interviews: Easily Overlooked - Too Valuable to Disregard]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3165</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3165</link>
			<description><![CDATA[From the perspective of the employment lawyer, a properly conducted exit interview can be the first line of defense that can minimize or completely avoid employer liability. What is an exit interview? Exit interviews are individual meetings to question departing employees about their reason for leaving as well as their attitudes and observations about the company. These interviews are conducted in a variety of ways: the formal interview in which specific prepared questions are asked, a casual conversation interview, and the written questionnaire.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:18:46 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[It's Not Always What it Seems...]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3047</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3047</link>
			<description><![CDATA[As the employer, you now have the duty to investigate. That does not mean jumping to conclusions but learning the facts from all the parties. As with any task, it requires advance planning. Here are 8 things you should consider before commencing an investigation.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:18:12 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Is There A Doctor in the House?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=475</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=475</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Fifty years ago, a sick or injured worker in a manufacturing plant did not
have to leave work to get health care &ndash; the worker simply went to
the plant clinic and saw the company doctor.&nbsp;Today, the idea of the
company clinic is making a come back, but with a new emphasis on wellness
and prevention.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:36:15 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Existing Shift Rotation and Swap Policy for Title VII Religious Accommodation May Be Insufficient]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=473</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=473</link>
			<description><![CDATA[An employer's existing shift-rotation system and voluntary shift-swappolicy alone may not constitute a reasonable accommodation for employeesasserting they are unable to work on certain days due to their religiousbeliefs, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvaniahas found in denying summary judgment for the employer under the federalCivil Rights Act of 1964.&nbsp; EEOC v. Aldi, Inc., No. 06-01210(W.D. Pa. Mar. 28, 2008).]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:34:08 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Is Talent Management Too Important to be Left to HR?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3161</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3161</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Talent Management is becoming a growing priority for many organizations as the Age of Talent is now upon us.&nbsp; For many HR seems to be the natural choice when it comes to leading&nbsp;talent management initiatives, while others doubt HR's ability to&nbsp;meet the challenge and&nbsp;feel that it should be left to&nbsp;department leaders and executives. Given the importance of strategic talent management to an organization's success,&nbsp;the question must be asked: Is Talent Management Too Important to be Left to HR?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:33:08 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New Law Increases Penalties For Violations of FLSA, Child Labor, Minimum Wage & Overtime]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3160</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3160</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers violating federal child labor and other wage and hour rules under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) now face increased civil penalty assessments by the U.S. Department of Labor (Labor Department) for under amendments to the FLSA signed into law by President Bush yesterday. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, H.R. 493 (GINA) signed by the President yesterday primarily focuses on regulating the use of genetic information by employers, unions, employer and other group health plans, and health insurers for certain employment or benefit purposes. However, GINA also includes provisions raising the maximum civil penalties that the Labor Department can impose for violations of the FLSA child labor, wage and hour, and overtime requirements. Perhaps due to widespread publicity about the implications of genetic information nondiscrimination provisions, however, most employers are unaware of the FLSA wage and hour liability expansion hidden at the end of the legislation.&nbsp; Employers should confirm their child labor, wage and overtime practices meet these requirements to avoid these and other substantial civil and criminal liability exposures.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:32:20 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[To Avoid Becoming EEOC Statistic, Plan Ahead]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=472</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=472</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The economic woes dominating the headlines provide plenty of toughissues for employers. The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commissionhas added one more item for concern &ndash; the level of discriminationcharges. Private-sector discrimination charge filings with the EEOCjumped 9 percent&nbsp;in the last fiscal year (2007), the largest annualincrease since the early 1990s. The total number of charges, just fewerthan 83,000, represents the largest number of charges filed since1992.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:53:58 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Good Faith = No Willful Violation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3149</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3149</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A recent case decided by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals signifies good news for employers who make a good faith effort to comply with the provisions of the Family &amp; Medical Leave Act of 1993.&nbsp; According to the court in Bass v. Potter, D.C. No. 05-CV-2002-TCK-FHM (10th Cir. 2008), in order for an employee to prove a "willful" violation of the FMLA by his employer, he must show that the employer "knew or showed reckless disregard" for whether its conduct was prohibited by the FMLA.&nbsp; This holding should provide some level of comfort for those employers who make good-faith efforts to ensure their compliance with the requirements of the FMLA.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:08:22 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Intermittent Leave Under the FMLA]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=486</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=486</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In some situations, FMLA leave may be&nbsp;requested in&nbsp;short increments of&nbsp;time such as&nbsp;partial day absences from work, reduced leave schedules, or absences from the work station in small increments of time.&nbsp; When intermittent leave involves the serious medical condition of the employee or of an immediate family member of the employee,&nbsp;and the FMLA&rsquo;s requirements are met, the employer may be required to honor such requests for intermittent leave.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:52:14 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Dispel the Irrational Conversation Regarding Younger Workers and Tight Labor]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3136</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3136</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Leaders today can unintentionally be drawn into conversation regarding younger workers and tight labor conditions, which simply does not solve the challenges present. This piece presents several questions which are helpful in potentially reorienting the conversation.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2008 07:31:54 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Management and Myers-Briggs- The Power of Understanding Tendencies]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=414</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=414</link>
			<description><![CDATA[First a bit about Myers-Briggs; Myers-Briggs was developed after WWII to assist GI's returning to the workforce in their career search. Considered to be 85% reliable, it's become one of the most widely used and most trusted of all of the personality assessments. The ninety-three item self report instrument results in the taker being slotted into one of sixteen four letter type preferences.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2008 07:29:25 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Creating Sustained Culture Change]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3131</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3131</link>
			<description><![CDATA[HR/OD professionals are often asked to help change a corporate culture. The purpose of this&nbsp;blog is to provide some information about culture from the existing literature as well as provide best practices for diagnosing, mapping, and planning corporate culture change.&nbsp; With the right tools, HR/OD can truly be a change agent and bring about radical change in the cultures of their organizations.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2008 10:07:47 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employers, Health Plans & Insurers Face Significant New Nondiscrimination & Other Rules]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3130</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3130</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A&nbsp;broad definition of the term &ldquo;genetic information&rdquo; contained in the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, H.R. 493 (GINA) means employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, joint labor-management committees, group health plans and insurers will need to carefully review and update their group health plan and employment policies and practices to comply with forthcoming implementing regulations to avoid liability under new GINA&rsquo;s rules governing genetic information collection, use, protection and disclosure signed into law by President Bush&nbsp;on Wednesday, May 21, 2008.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2008 07:47:44 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Keep an Eye on Hiring Practices to Avoid Problems with DHS]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=426</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=426</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Since the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs
Enforcement arm has been conducting frequent public and aggressive
investigations into illegal hiring at worksites, companies are paying a
lot of attention to worksite issues.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 May 2008 16:07:21 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Can Employee Turnover be Too Low?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3125</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3125</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Reducing employee turnover is a goal for most organizations.&nbsp; However there are situations where low levels of employee turnover can become undesirable.&nbsp; This post addresses to such circumstances where employee turnover can in fact be too low.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 May 2008 16:06:54 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Mind-Reading or Brain Imaging]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3124</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3124</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Have you ever wanted to tell someone, &ldquo;Hey, you know I can&rsquo;t read your mind!&rdquo;&nbsp; Actually, I have to admit that I may have even said it aloud a few times to some of those individuals closest to me, but I think I&rsquo;ve managed to just &ldquo;think&rdquo; it in the workplace while I was saying aloud (keeping it politically correct), &ldquo;We need to keep the lines of communication open &ndash; so talk to me and let me know what&rsquo;s going on.&rdquo;&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 May 2008 16:06:22 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Storm Clouds at The Weather Channel ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3121</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3121</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Weather Channel is currently embroiled in litigation concerning the disclosure of the outcome of a sexual harassment and retaliation arbitration in which the arbitrator issued what one media outlet has described as a &ldquo;blistering arbitration ruling in favor of a former anchorwoman...&rdquo; Presently, The Weather Channel is attempting to keep the results of that arbitration cloaked in secrecy. Here are the facts as I understand them...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 May 2008 15:20:46 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Department of Labor Issues Proposed FMLA Regulations]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=427</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=427</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On February 11, 2008, the Department of Labor&nbsp;issued much-anticipated
proposed regulations impacting the Family and Medical Leave Act. These
rules, which seek to clarify existing regulations, are open for public
comment for a 60-day period.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 May 2008 07:24:24 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Recent Federal Court Decision Affirms Use of Joint Employer Doctrine to Hold Staffing Agency and Automotive Design Company Jointly Liable for Violations of the FMLA]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=470</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=470</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On March 26, 2008, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit concluded that a staffing agency and an automotive design company could be combined for purposes of finding that the 50 employee requirement of the FMLA had been met.&nbsp;&nbsp;The court applied the joint employer doctrine to hold that an automotive design company, which had no employees, and a staffing agency from which the automotive design company obtained its employees, had joint liability for violations of the FMLA. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 07 May 2008 13:22:36 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Harassment by Jilted Boyfriend is Sex Harassment]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3114</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3114</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A failed work romance can still lead to a claim of workplace harassment. Regardless of what you wish, workplace romances will happen and they will fail. Once the romance ends, hurt feelings may create a less than harmonious workplace.&nbsp; As an employer, your best line of defense is to make sure your employees are aware of your policy on interpersonal relationships and that inappropriate conduct following a failed romance will not be tolerated.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 06 May 2008 14:56:31 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[On the Horizon: Highlights of Proposed FMLA Changes]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3110</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3110</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In addition to the recent military family leave changes to FMLA, employers will be interested in learning about the Department of Labor's decision to update the fifteen-year old regulations in an effort to improve communications among workers, employers, and health care providers.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 06 May 2008 10:46:45 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Managing Phrases- Three Ways to Thoughtfully Handle Disagreement]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=464</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=464</link>
			<description><![CDATA[As managers we&rsquo;re constantly challenged on how to express ourselves diplomatically. This can be tricky when our thoughts are in conflict with others. How do we express disagreement without alienating colleagues? Learning some simple approaches and some phraseology can improve results in these situations.

]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 May 2008 10:58:12 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Good Faith Belief = No Pretext]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3108</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3108</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A case recently decided by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, involving an employee who was discharged because of reports that he had been sleeping on the job, reinforces the idea that the relevant inquiry in such a case is not whether the stated basis for termination actually occurred, but whether the employer had a good faith belief that it had occurred.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 May 2008 10:57:36 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Quest Diagnostics Inc. to Pay $688,000 in Overtime Back Wages After Misclassifying Systems Employees as Exempt Under FLSA]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3102</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3102</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Medical diagnostic testing company Quest Diagnostics Inc. (&ldquo;Quest&rdquo;) has agreed to pay 238 employees across the country a total of $688,772 in overtime back wages due under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) after having misclassified certain computer systems workers, the U.S. Department of Labor Wage &amp; Hour Division announced today.&nbsp; The settlement stems from a misclassification of systems workers as &ldquo;exempt&rdquo; which commonly occurs not only among health industry employers, but also among other employers as well.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:55:38 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Improving Employee Training and Development During an Economic Downturn]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3092</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3092</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When business leaders become worried about the economy they tend to scrutinize every dollar that is spent to ensure that scarce resources are being used wisely.&nbsp; When this happens department budgets are gone over with a fine tooth comb to see what can go and what should stay. Unfortunately the training and development portion of the budget is often put on the chopping block. Discover five things you can do to improve the way training and development is approached in your organization.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:38:19 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Top 10 Handbook Mistakes PLUS 3]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=467</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=467</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Not all employment handbooks are created equally.&nbsp; That handbook, which was originally created to help things run smoother, can also get you in trouble. Unfortunately, by the time you realize your handbook "has issues" you may be involved in litigation.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:48:28 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Mentoring, Management Development, Employee Training and Employee Feedback - What's the Value?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=463</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=463</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Sometimes, employee development may be dismissed as a luxury organizations are unable to afford. I'd like to suggest that the returns are much greater than the investment. In fact, it may be best to continue employee development as a strategy even in a difficult economic cycle.&nbsp;

]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:39:44 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Major Changes to Americans with Disabilities Act Under Consideration by Congress]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=431</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=431</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers need to begin considering seriously the impact of a potential
major expansion of employee protections under the Americans with
Disabilities Act that has over 240 co-sponsors in the House. See proposed ADA Restoration Act H.R.3195 and S.1881. The House Education and Labor Committee, House Judiciary Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee already have held hearings and more are expected soon.


]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:21:21 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[When is an Independent Contractor Really an Employee?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3075</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3075</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The story is all too familiar.&nbsp; A company engages the services of an individual as an independent contractor.&nbsp; In reliance on this type of relationship, the company does not deduct payroll taxes from compensation amounts paid, does not pay the individual overtime, does not provide company benefits, and takes other positions consistent with the existence of an independent contractor arrangement.

]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:50:11 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Corporate Relocation: Plan, Plan, Plan]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3069</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3069</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When looking at corporate relocation, the absolute most important rule is planning, planning, planning!&nbsp; With employees becoming ever more mobile, and companies constantly looking for quality workers and ways to streamline their operations, it is essential that policies be in place before tackling employee relocation issues.

]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 Apr 2008 07:56:51 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[From Web 2.0 to Web Infinity  with Virtual Organization Management]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=430</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=430</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Virtual Organization Management exponentially accelerates the evolution of the Web by leaps and bounds. Although we're already in Web 3.0 stage---the processes and procedures tinkering stage---many of our colleagues are still talking Web 2.0--the social network stage. Nonetheless, regardless of which numeric [x.x] we attach at the end of the word "Web", we will never be able to truly tap into the FULL power and potential of the Web, which I call "Infinity", until we first understand and adopt the virtual organization management concept.

]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:31:05 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[From Web 2.0 to Web Infinity  with Virtual Organization Management]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3068</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3068</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Virtual Organization Management exponentially accelerates the evolution of the Web by leaps and bounds. Although we're already in Web 3.0 stage---the processes and procedures tinkering stage---many of our colleagues are still talking Web 2.0--the social network stage. Nonetheless, regardless of which numeric [x.x] we attach at the end of the word "Web", we will never be able to truly tap into the FULL power and potential of the Web, which I call "Infinity", until we first understand and adopt the virtual organization management concept.

]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:30:11 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[It's Not Always What it Seems...]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3048</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3048</link>
			<description><![CDATA[As the employer, you now have the duty to investigate. That does not mean jumping to conclusions but learning the facts from all the parties. As with any task, it requires advance planning. Here are 8 things you should consider before commencing an investigation.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:29:54 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[When is an Independent Contractor Really an Employee?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3049</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3049</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The story is all too familiar. A company engages the services of an individual as an independent contractor. In reliance on this type of relationship, the company does not deduct payroll taxes from compensation amounts paid, does not pay the individual overtime, does not provide company benefits, and takes other positions consistent with the existence of an independent contractor arrangement. Several months or even years later, taxing authorities and/or other governmental agencies notify the company that the individual has been misclassified...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:21:49 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Health Care Plans That Work]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3037</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3037</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It&rsquo;s no secret that health care costs are spiraling out of control, impacting companies and employees alike.&nbsp; The key is to find a compromising balance that is practical and palatable to all concerned.&nbsp; What most organizations have discovered is that one size does NOT fit all; health care plans need to be tailored to fit the individual worker.&nbsp; Therefore, many employers today are opting for tiered plans which offer a variety of choices to their employees, allowing each individual some input as to the extent, and cost, of his/her coverage.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:14:57 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Gentle Ears Makes For Good Management]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=423</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=423</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Studies have shown that regarding communication activities, humans use listening skills (45%) more than talking (30%) reading (16%) and writing (9%). So why does it seem that everyone talks so much!!!? Since our brain moves four times faster than our mouth the urge is to talk to attempt to keep up with the internal activity.&nbsp; So temporarily stifling our brain waves to listen requires a considerable amount of self control.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:21:25 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Tuition Assistance Programs: Learning Without Getting "Schooled"]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3029</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3029</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many employers provide tuition assistance benefits to their employees.  Such programs are often viewed as ?win-win? as the employee receives the money to pay or an education, and the employer has a better-educated employee.  Employers often approve only those courses or areas of study that relate to the employees present position or anticipated career path within the company.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:48:06 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[FMLA Amendments and Revisions]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3025</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3025</link>
			<description><![CDATA[While there has been a lot of commotion recently regarding the Family and Medical Leave Act, most of that has centered either on the recent passage of amendments to the Act or on the Department of Labor's promulgation of revised regulations interpreting the FMLA.  However, in addition to those legislative and regulatory changes that are underway, a couple of recent court cases from the 7th and 9th Circuits could go a long way towards defining how employers continue to adapt to the requirements and application of the FMLA.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:45:52 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Every Dream Has Its Imperfections]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3022</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3022</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Everyone has his or her own idea of the ?perfect? home.  Likewise, everyone has a personal idea of the ?perfect? job.  Both of these are extremely individualistic with each person suiting his or her idea of ?perfection? to ones own unique tastes.   If you ask 25 different people, you will most likely receive 25 diverse replies to either one or both of these queries.  But, not to worry!  Diversity is good; it makes life interesting!]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:13:21 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[When Johnny Comes Marching Home . . .Will He Have a Job?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=389</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=389</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In May of this year, 6,500 former soldiers in the Individual Ready Reserve received notices ordering them to report to an Army installation because they were being pulled back into the active duty. As the United States military commitments in Afghanistan and Iraq continue to remain great, employers are faced with tough decisions concerning their employees with National Guard and reserve responsibilities. &ldquo;An increasing number of U.S. soldiers deployed in Iraq have gray mustaches, bald heads, and noticeable paunches as more reservists and National Guard units are being sent to war.&rdquo; The ratio of active-duty Army and other elements - Reserves, National Guard and IRR - is now about 50-50. Whether a police officer, trucker, nurse, or pharmaceutical distributor, these individuals leave their everyday jobs to serve the United States through military service. &ldquo;Once a soldier, always a soldier,&rdquo; said Paul East, a long-haul trucker from Florida.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:04:03 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[People Management: Employees Are Saying This About Our Managers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=422</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=422</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When management is able to make meaningful connections with their employees, it&rsquo;s truly a beautiful thing. If the employees aren&rsquo;t roiling over poor management, their comments in feedback sessions are free of stress, full of commitment to perform their job well and brimming with true job satisfaction. This can do nothing but create great results for the company and the employee. And that&rsquo;s what it&rsquo;s all about!]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:03:04 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Before You Fire That Problem Employee...]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3020</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3020</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A large number of organizations have an unwritten policy of hiring quickly and firing slowly, and justify such actions with comments such as, ?The position just needs to be filled?by anybody!? or ?Lets give Bill a few more months, maybe he will come around?? Actions such as these consistently rob an organization of possibility as hasty hiring decisions typically put the wrong people in the wrong seats within an organization where they are allowed to perform below expectations and sap an organization of productivity and morale.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:09:57 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Arbitration Agreements - New Supreme Court Decision Concludes State Laws May Not Undercut FAA]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3019</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3019</link>
			<description><![CDATA[For over a decade, employers have increasingly sought arbitration as the forum of choice for the resolution of employment disputes.  Arbitration is relied upon to direct employment-related, as well as other disputes, away from the courtroom and into the arbitration forum for a variety of reasons.  These reasons include the belief that arbitration is less likely to result in large damage awards and can be less costly than the traditional arbitration process.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:52:17 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Fair Labor Standards Act Regulations Must Receive Appropriate Attention (Part II)]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3016</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3016</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In this second installment of a series of items discussing the Fair Labor Standard Act, we will look at the second of six key areas which should receive attention in order to reduce the likelihood a wage and hour challenge (or worse) will arise. This second installment is a discussion of the time-keeping practices of an organization.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:08:15 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[What Our Employees May Be Saying About Their Pay]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=415</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=415</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When I meet with employees to discuss their concerns the subject of pay sometimes comes up. I say sometimes because it appears if people perceive they are paid fairly, it's never an issue. However, if some inequities are present, it will come up, sometimes with a vengeance. While I've read scholarly works on how pay isn&rsquo;t why people leave companies and that other factors are more important, my experience strongly suggests that pay may be in fact, the most keenly felt factor if it's neglected.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 26 Mar 2008 09:51:30 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Promoting Diversity in Management]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3011</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3011</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Weve come a long way in accepting diversity in our communities and in our workplaces since the 1960s ? but we obviously still have some ground to cover.  Research shows that females and minorities still lag behind in management jobs, compared to white males.  For example, while women comprise 45 percent of the workforce, fewer than 15 percent of females are Fortune 500 officers.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:01:40 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Family and Medical Leave Act Expanded to Cover Relatives of Military Service Members]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=416</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=416</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On January 28, 2008, President Bush signed the 2009 Defense Authorization
Bill (Pub. L. 110-181) into law, which expands the Family and Medical
Leave Act of 1993 to assist military members and their families. This
expansion of the FMLA, the first changes to the law in the nearly 15 years
since it was enacted, is likely to have a significant impact on employers
covered by the FMLA as the military continues to deploy significant
numbers of its men and women overseas, resulting in continuing casualties
abroad and putting increasing stress on families of those service members
at home.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:23:50 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Cost Savings Through Return To Work Programs]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=394</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=394</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Looking for ways to lower work comp costs? One way you, as an employer, can substantially reduce your workers compensation costs is by establishing an early return to work program. Employer vigilance in ensuring compliance with employment laws, specifically the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) will be imperative as a safeguard from potential litigation and exorbitant legal costs.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:22:44 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Military Leave Law]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=396</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=396</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Not long ago, the topic of military leave barely registered on the radar screens of most employers. Then 9/11 happened. Since that time more than 420,000 citizen-soldiers have been mobilized. Nearly overnight, the Uniformed Service Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, better known as USERRA, moved to the forefront of employment law topics. With complaints under the Act by returning veterans up11% over last year, employers and their legal counsel need to become familiar with this often overlooked law.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:22:10 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Breastfeeding in the Workplace]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3009</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3009</link>
			<description><![CDATA[While there is seemingly a federal law that governs all workplace issues, there isnt one that provides the right to breastfeed or express milk in the workplace.  As such, the states have responded with a patchwork of laws ranging from the very general to the quite specific to address this issue.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:38:09 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Ethics in the Workplace]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=397</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=397</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Director of Human Resources at a Texas based company with five thousand employees receives a bad performance review and subsequently resigns. Upon her departure it is discovered that she directed the IT Department to erase her entire hard drive - which they did, no questions asked. Her hard drive contained all allegations, complaints and subsequent responses made by the company for the past six years. Now the company's ability to successfully launch a Faragher/Ellerth defense in any of the complaints made in the last six years is severely compromised.A top manager in a New York based company has had shortfalls in his budget. The losses are small, a few hundred dollars here and there every few weeks. However, an audit reveals that these shortfalls have cumulated in over $200,000 in losses over the past three years. Upon investigation, it is discovered that employees under this manager have been told to hide money and compromise business policies in money handling.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:12:58 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Age Discrimination and Retiree Medical Benefits]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=398</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=398</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) prohibits
employers from discriminating against any individual with respect to
&quot;compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges or employment, because
of such individual&#39;s age.&quot; Protected individuals include retired
employees. Since the enactment of the Older Workers Benefit Protection
Act of 1990 (OWBPA), this prohibition has extended to employer-provided
medical benefits. In the past, many employers relied on legislative
history to OWBPA which appeared to indicate that eliminating, reducing,
or altering employer-sponsored retiree medical benefits when an
individual us eligible for Medicare as being permissible under ADEA.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:12:10 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New Overtime Rules Take Effect]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=399</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=399</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A controversial new set of Department of Labor regulations took effect on August 23, 2004. The regulations define what are known as the &quot;white collar&quot; exemptions, i.e., those professional, executive, and administrative employees who are not entitled to overtime. The new regulations replace rules that had been in place for more than fifty years.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:11:51 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Wal-Mart Pays Record Immigration Fine]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=400</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=400</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ Wal-Mart&#39;s recent $11 million civil fine for alleged 
immigration violations is the largest ever paid by Corporate America.&#160; 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials also announced that subcontractors 
providing the floor cleaning crews in question to Wal-Mart plead guilty to 
criminal immigration charges and will pay a total of $4 million in fines.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:11:18 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Sexual Harassment Prevention]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3007</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3007</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Sexual harassment training is no longer a luxury utilized only by those employers who wish to be, or appear, proactive in an effort to promote a positive workplace. Since the Supreme Court's landmark decisions in the 1998 Faragher and Ellerth sexual harassment cases, subsequent court decisions and EEOC Guidelines have demonstrated that sexual harassment training is essential and is not to be viewed as something to be dismissed or taken lightly.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:46:54 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[HIPAA Privacy Requirements and Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts,   Have Smaller Employers Forgotten Something?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=401</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=401</link>
			<description><![CDATA[45 CFR Section 164.530(k) provides an exception for many administrative
safeguards under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act of 1996 (HIPAA) if an employer sponsors a group insured health plan
that does not create, maintain, or receive &quot;protected health
information&quot; (PHI).&#160; Under this exception, the group health plan
is not required to maintain or provide privacy notices or comply with
any of HIPAA&#39;s administrative safeguard provisions except for the
prohibitions against intimidating or retaliatory acts and against
requiring a waiver of HIPAA rights.&#160; Because the insurance company
providing the health benefits is considered a &quot;covered entity&quot;, it must
meet these HIPAA requirements.&#160; This exception still applies even
if the insurance company provides the employer sponsoring the health
plan with summary health information and enrollment/disenrollment
information. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:24:37 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employment of Minors]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=402</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=402</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Ever summer millions of teenagers enter the workforce for several months.&nbsp; Employers need to have a working knowledge of various aspects of the Fair Labor Standards Act (&quot;FLSA&quot;), as it relates to the employment of minors and what jobs they can perform.&nbsp; Failure to comply with the FLSA, as well any state or local statutes or regulations which govern the employment of minors could result in severe civil fines and penalties and criminal prosecution. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:24:10 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Could Your Illegal Employees Become Your New Bargaining Partner?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3006</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3006</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Most employers know that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) broadly defines the term ?employee?.  What employers may not know is that definition has been expanded so broadly that it now includes persons who are not even properly documented to work in the United States.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:14:19 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Pregnancy Discrimination: A Growing Cause of Concern for Employers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=390</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=390</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Title VII prohibits an employer from discharging any individual, or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to his/her compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual's sex. In 1978, Congress enacted the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), which amended Title VII to specify that sex discrimination under Title VII includes discrimination on the basis of pregnancy. Both Title VII and the PDA apply to any employer with 15 or more employees. By incorporating the PDA into Title VII, Congress stated that discrimination based upon pregnancy constitutes discrimination based upon sex. Therefore, it is now well settled that a claim of discrimination on the basis of pregnancy must be analyzed in the same manner as any other sex discrimination claim.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:51:38 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[President Vetoes FMLA Amendments Extending Leave to Families of Servicemembers, New Legislation Expected]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=377</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=377</link>
			<description><![CDATA[For reasons unrelated to proposed Family and Medical Leave Act amendments,
President George Bush has vetoed a defense authorization bill that
included provisions providing for (a) up to six months of leave for family
members caring for military veterans injured while on active duty in the
U.S. Armed Forces and (b) 12 weeks of leave to family members of service
members called up to active duty under certain circumstances.&nbsp; The
president has stated he supports the FMLA amendments which have extremely
broad Congressional support.&nbsp; New legislation is likely to be passed
in early 2008 and is expected to be signed by the president.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:51:17 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Plugging the Baby Boomer Brain Drain]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3001</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3001</link>
			<description><![CDATA[You are probably well aware of the coming exodus of Baby Boomers from the workforce.  You may have even heard that the first official Baby Boomer ? Kathleen Casey Kirchling ? recently filed for social security benefits with the Social Security Administration, further underscoring the fast approaching departure of millions of highly trained and experienced workers from the workforce. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Mar 2008 08:58:03 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[THESE ARE THE DAYS!]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3000</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=3000</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Do you remember everyones favorite bigot of the 1970s ? Archie Bunker?  Maybe you watched the show, All in the Family, back then ? or maybe youve caught it in some recent reruns on cable.  Poor Archie was having a heck of a time adjusting to all the changes resulting from the turmoil of the 1960s.  New legislation was altering workplace and social norms in the areas of civil rights, womens rights, and environmental awareness.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 10 Mar 2008 07:59:52 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Supreme Court Gets In The Employment Game]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2999</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2999</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On February 26th and 27th the United States Supreme Court published its decisions in two important cases in the arena of Employment Law -- Sprint/United Management Co. v. Mendelsohn and Federal Express Corp. v. Holowecki.  These cases are two of a surprisingly large number of employment-related cases accepted for decision by the high court in recent days, and they will both likely have significant repercussion in the employment arena.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:43:26 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Tips for Interviewing Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2998</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2998</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Companies spend substantial resources to obtain, train, and when necessary, to replace employees.  The workforce should be seen as a valuable resource for a company.   The importance of obtaining the right person for the right position in the company cannot be underestimated. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:00:54 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[They're Lucky to Have You!]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2997</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2997</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Its no surprise to anyone that there is a gender gap in the American workplace.  It is well publicized that men continue to earn higher salaries (on an average basis) and often advance quicker than females, obtaining the ?plum? jobs in corporations.  However, it is also recognized that although the management styles may be different, women are just as intelligent, skilled, and educated as their male counterparts, and are often experts in communicating and understanding the needs of the organization.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:00:19 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Arbitration Agreement- Providing More Coverage Than You Might Think]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2994</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2994</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When I help employers prepare an employee handbook, they typically question the efficacy of an arbitration agreement.  Erroneously, they believe that an arbitration provision is unenforceable, or will be held unconscionable by a court.  When properly drafted, however, a mandatory arbitration provision is enforceable, and can cover virtually any employment related misconduct.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:23:43 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Supreme Court:  ERISA Participants Can Sue Fiduciaries For Individual Damages ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2992</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2992</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The United States Supreme Court in Larue v. DeWolff, Boberg & Associates, Inc. February 20 ruled that although Section 502(a)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) generally does not provide a remedy for individual injuries distinct from plan injuries in plans providing ?fixed benefits,? ERISA ? 502(a) does allow individual participants to seek to recover individually from fiduciaries for lost value to plan assets in a participant's individual account resulting from a fiduciary breach.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:16:03 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The National Labor Relations Act from A to Z.]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=403</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=403</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Even though the workings of the National Labor Relations Act (&quot;NLRB&quot; or
&quot;the Act&quot;) can have a tremendous impact on a company, too many
employers have a woefully inadequate knowledge of the various aspects
of the Act and how it can effect their operations. In the face of a
union election campaign, which is where most employers come into
conflict with the Act, many employers respond in a harsh and
threatening manner which places them in violation of the Act, while
others are afraid to say anything, which is problematic in inhibiting
their ability to convince their employees not to vote for a union.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:52:16 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Vocational School Research Strategies]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2990</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2990</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Are you or someone in your workplace considering making a career change, upgrading skills or attending school? Do you have a career bound family member? How do you go about identifying an appropriate training facility?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:03:15 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[EBSA Issues- Guidance on Health Plan Wellness & Disease Management Practices Subject to HIPAA Nondiscrimination Rules]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2988</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2988</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On February 14, 2008, the U.S. Department of Labors Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) released guidance to the agencys national and regional offices on the types of health promotion and disease management programs required to comply with final regulations  relating to the application of the nondiscrimination requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to wellness and disease management programs.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 19 Feb 2008 07:56:07 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Hiring During an Economic Cool Down - Beware of the "Low Bid"]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2987</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2987</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many have heard the following advice when hiring a contractor to perform construction or remodeling work on ones home ? ?Beware of the low bid.?  These words of advice can also be applied to managers hiring new employees during sluggish economic times such as the ones we seem to currently be in.  ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:29:07 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Domestic Partner Benefits Are Here Now]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=404</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=404</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Lost in the turmoil over the constitutionality of same sex marriage are
the state statutes that already provide benefits to same sex partners,
whether or not their unions are sanctioned as marriages. Vermont,
Hawaii, New Jersey and California have conferred rights on domestic
partners. Eleven other states have conferred limited rights by banning
sexual orientation discrimination. Others may follow. This article
focuses on the California statute to illustrate the types of issues
that employers will face in jurisdictions that recognize domestic
partner rights.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:37:24 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Second Circuit Holds That ADEA Covers Disparate Impact]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=406</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=406</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Second Circuit decided recently that a reduction in force that
selected the 31 employees based on performance and relevance of skills
had a discriminatory impact upon employees over 40 years old. The case
is Meacham v. Knolls Atomic Laboratory, Inc.

]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:34:04 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[HR Audits]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=407</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=407</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A human resource (HR) audit is a comprehensive review of a company&#39;s systems and processes to determine if they meet current and projected HR needs, whether such systems are in compliance with current state, local and federal regulations, and whether the company&#39;s internal processes include practices that minimize legal liability. The HR audit allows a company to systematically measure where it currently stands and what actions need to be taken to improve its human resources function. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:33:38 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Don't Just Manage - Motivate]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2981</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2981</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Were all familiar with the clich?s: ?attitude is everything,? ?believe in yourself,? ?success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration,? and ? well, you get the idea.  Actually, we all know that as trite as they may sound, theres really a great deal of truth in all the old platitudes.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Feb 2008 10:53:22 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[FMLA Changes Expand Protection to Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2979</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2979</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On January 28, 2008, President Bush signed the National Defense Authorization Act.  While this law was primarily intended to address concerns over litigation surrounding the Gulf War, one section of the bill included provisions extending Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protection to close family relatives of uniformed service members.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:39:56 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Additional Leave for Military Families Passed]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2978</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2978</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Its Official ? on January 28, 2008, President Bush has signed into law the first legislative expansion of rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act since its enactment in 1993.  The expansion of FMLA is part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).  The new provisions, like the old, will continue to be enforced by the Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:18:50 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[A Revolutionary Approach to Recruitment in the 21st Century]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=385</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=385</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Every now and then something comes along that revolutionizes an entire industry or brings about a new age. Without having to go all the way back to ancient history, we can refer to some of the most recent events that have taken place during our lifetime and which have shaped the world in a way that none of us baby boomers could have ever imagined.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:12:55 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The FMLA In A State Of Flux]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2974</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2974</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), enacted in 1993, is a federal statute that requires that public agencies and private employers with 50 or more employees provide eligible employees with the right to take family and medical leave in certain circumstances.  Generally, the FMLA requires employers to permit eligible employees to take up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave in any twelve-month period for the birth and care of a newborn child, for the placement of a child for adoption or foster care, to care for the employee's child, spouse or parent with a serious health condition, or for the employee's own serious health condition.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jan 2008 09:25:05 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[EEOC Provides Guidance On Employment Testing And Selection Procedures]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=376</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=376</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many employers use employment tests and selection procedures &ndash;
including cognitive tests, personality tests, physical ability tests,
credit checks and criminal background checks &ndash; to screen applicants
for employment and employees for promotion. As such testing and selection
procedures have become more prevalent, the number of cases challenging
various tests and selection procedures as discriminatory also has
increased. Given this trend, in December, the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission issued a fact sheet regarding the application of federal
anti-discrimination laws to employment testing and selection procedures.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jan 2008 08:01:44 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The EEOC Puts Humpty Dumpty Back Together: Employer-Sponsored Retiree Healthcare Coverage Can Again Be Coordinated with Medicare]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=375</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=375</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has accomplished what the
kings&rsquo; men could not &mdash; it has affirmed that employer-sponsored
retiree healthcare benefits can be coordinated with Medicare or comparable
state health benefit programs. The EEOC&rsquo;s final rule is an
affirmative act to encourage employers to offer retiree health benefits,
while it acknowledges that employers have no obligation to do so.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jan 2008 08:01:38 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[GREAT GET-AWAYS - IN 30 MINUTES OR LESS]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2970</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2970</link>
			<description><![CDATA[We all have our ideal spots for a great get-away ? Maui, London, Paris, New York, San Francisco; or something more generic like the mountains or the beach.  But, lets face it, we cant be jetting off to exotic places every week ? or sometimes, even once a decade.  These days we all just seem to get busier and busier with the responsibilities of the 21st century ? family, work, church, friends, civic duties, school, childrens activities, clubs/organizations, and the list goes on and on.  ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jan 2008 08:40:14 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[EMPLOYMENT NEWS - NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENTS]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2969</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2969</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Non-competition agreements between employers and employees, as opposed to those included as part of the sale of a business or the purchase of substantial stock in a company, are generally disfavored as a restraint of trade that must be limited in scope to protect employees with unequal bargaining power.  Nevertheless, most states recognize that under certain circumstances companies will have a legitimate interest in restraining employees from engaging in unfair competition with the employer after the employment relationship has ended.  ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jan 2008 08:35:09 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[NLRB Email Decision]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2968</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2968</link>
			<description><![CDATA[At a time when the labor movement is working to increase its ranks, unions are increasingly relying on e-mail and web pages to spread their message and organize new members.  While an employer's ability to monitor traditional methods of communication ? print and oral ? and in-person solicitation has been the subject of numerous National Labor Relations Board (?NLRB? or ?Board?) decisions, until now the Board had not addressed the rules regulating electronic workplace conduct vis a vis the National Labor Relations Act (the ?Act?).]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:02:21 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[SMART GOALS: Planning for Success]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=374</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=374</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The first part of the year is often a time when organizations, departments,
teams and individuals focus on the future and establish goals and
accompanying plans that will create a road map for business and personal
success. SMART goals will provide greater opportunities for accomplishment
than those that are stated in a vague, general, or hopeful manner.&nbsp;The
acronym SMART spells out criteria for goals that are specific, measurable,
achievable, relevant and time-based.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:43:52 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Hiring Foreign Professionals and The Recruitment Process - The H-1B 'Scramble' for Work Visas on April 1, 2008, Starts Again Soon]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=362</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=362</link>
			<description><![CDATA[We are approaching the scramble to qualify for the 65,000 slots for
first-time H-1B workers for the 2009 government fiscal year. April 1, 2008
will be the first day that employers can file for professional specialty
workers wishing to qualify for work authorization to begin on October 1,
2008, the first day of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' new
fiscal year. We expect that the entire allocation of 65,000 visas (the
Cap) will be reached within a day of the April 1 initial filing date. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 07 Jan 2008 18:14:18 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Congress Amends FMLA, Extending Leave to Families of Servicemembers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=361</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=361</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Congress has overwhelmingly passed the 2008 National Defense Authorization
Act which included provisions providing for (a) up to six months of leave
for family members caring for military veterans injured while on active
duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and (b) 12 weeks of leave to family members
of servicemembers called up to active duty under certain circumstances.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 07 Jan 2008 18:13:38 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Why not Hiring is Better than Hiring the Wrong Person for the Job]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2954</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2954</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In a tight labor market everybody is searching for the right talent.

Often times during a labor ?crunch? I commonly hear comments such as ?We just need to get someone in that position? or ?Can we just hire somebody?Please!?

When a client comes to me with statements like these, my response is always...  "You need to hire the right employee for the job.  Don't destroy possibility by hiring the wrong person and paying for it later."

Keeping a position open until the right candidate is identified is one of the most strategically important moves an organization can make.
]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:44:13 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[In Wage and Hour, Threat Remains High]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=363</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=363</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Plaintiffs' lawyers are filing Fair Labor Standards Act claims in record
numbers. According to Business Week, cases more than doubled in
the federal courts from 2001 to 2006. Plaintiffs' lawyers have hit several
large Minnesota employers recently with collective action claims in
Minnesota federal court, while suits invoking state wage and hour laws
have also been brought against well known Minnesota companies in state
court.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 02 Jan 2008 08:22:14 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Cost Savings Through Return-to-Work Programs - Pt 2 ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2951</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2951</link>
			<description><![CDATA[This is the second in a two part series on experiencing cost savings by implementing an effective return-to-work (RTW) system. The first part explained the benefits. In this second part, we look at some of the mechanics.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 20 Dec 2007 20:38:41 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[CONDUCTING BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS OF EMPLOYEES AND APPLICANTS: EMPLOYER'S MUST PROCEED WITH CAUTION ]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2947</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2947</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers increasingly rely on the results of background investigations to evaluate the suitability of an employee, or applicant for employment, before making employment decisions. This trend is certainly not surprising in light of post-9/11 concerns about national security, as well as public demand for increased honesty and integrity of corporate executives, officers and directors following the Enron scandal.  Background investigations are often conducted in the employment context to verify a variety of information such as previous employment, educational history, credit history, to identify criminal activity and to otherwise evaluate the truthfulness of an employee or applicant for employment.  In certain industries, federal or state law may require background checks of individuals who will work in sensitive positions.  Some examples are the banking industry, certain government jobs and positions involving work with children, the elderly or the disabled. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 18 Dec 2007 20:26:09 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New Rules for an Old Game:  Conditional Job Offers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2943</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2943</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Hiring is one of the most critical steps in the employment process ? where precision and diligence pay off.  Is the company line on hiring: "At this point in our recruiting process, I am pleased to make you a conditional offer of employment.  It is, important, however, that you fully understand the conditions of this offer as they are detailed below. . . our offer is contingent upon your successful completion of a drug test, a medical examination, and a satisfactory background check...."?  Based on new case law, your company may need to rethink the hiring process.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:11:04 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New Form I-9 is Latest in DHS Immigration Enforcement Strategy]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=294</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=294</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Department of Homeland Security has announced and published a new,
long-awaited version of the I-9 form used to confirm the identity and work
authorization of every new hire since 1986. The new form puts into practice
the reduction of the number of documents that had been technically required
since 1996. Employers should start using the new I-9 form as quickly as
possible, and no later than December 7. DHS will publish a Federal
Register notice imminently giving employers 30 days from then to begin
using the form.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:01:56 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[UNAUTHORIZED WORK TIME: THE COMPENSABILITY OF HOURS WORKED BEFORE AND AFTER THE EMPLOYEE'S SHIFT.]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=317</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=317</link>
			<description><![CDATA[As any employer knows, employees sometimes make their own decision to commence work before their shift begins, or after their shift ends, despite the fact that the employer has not approved additional hours, and in some instances, in violation of a company policy restricting the practice. &nbsp;Courts have increasingly been asked to address these issues and to determine when such practices result in compensable time for which the employee must be paid under the Fair Labor Standards Act (&ldquo;FLSA&rdquo;).&nbsp; ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 05 Dec 2007 21:56:11 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employers Must Pay For Protective Gear]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2939</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2939</link>
			<description><![CDATA[After eight years in the making, OSHA has released a Final Rule setting out when an employer must pay for personal protective equipment.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:34:57 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Retention - How much is retaining the wrong employee costing you?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2938</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2938</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of speaking at a conference about employee hiring, retention, and interpersonal communication based on behaviors. The audience was comprised of business owners and their immediate senior management team members.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:31:17 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Councils and Minority Collective Bargaining--]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2933</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2933</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Unions are using two long forgotten tools in their effort to turn around failing organizing efforts and declining membership?employee councils and minority bargaining.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:13:25 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[FLSA Regulations Must Receive Appropriate Attention (Part I)]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2931</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2931</link>
			<description><![CDATA[What's common may not be what is accurate. Litigation and challenges to various aspects of wage and hour law continue to grow. Employers need to reconsider practices which are fairly common if they want to reduce the likelihood they will become an employee target.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:08:33 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2928</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2928</link>
			<description><![CDATA[	On November 7, 2007, the United States House of Representatives approved the Employment Non-Discrimination Act  by a vote of 235-184.  The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, H.R. 3685, is intended "to provide a comprehensive Federal prohibition of employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation" and "provide meaningful and effective remedies for employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation."  In short, if the Employment Non-Discrimination Act were to become law, it would extend the protection of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prevent disparate treatment of employees based on sexual orientation.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:47:46 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Paid Holidays Count Toward Twelve-Week FMLA Entitlement]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=293</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=293</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In a case of first impression, the First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled
that work holidays falling on days when an employee is out on intermittent
Family and Medical Leave Act leave of one week or more can count toward the
employee's statutory twelve-week FMLA leave entitlement. Mellen v.
Trustees of Boston University, No. 07-1151 (1st Cir. Sept. 21, 2007).]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 21:29:55 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Understanding the Growing Trend of Organizations Outsourcing Their HR Functions]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=292</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=292</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Human Resource Outsourcing organizations exist to support, extend, or
replace the human resources functions for other companies. HRO's core
business is finding the ways to make their clients&rsquo; HR functions
more efficient and delivering them to the client organizations. For that
reason many of these organizations strive to stay on top of the best HR
practices, emerging workforce technologies, as well as relevant laws, and
regulations. This allows client companies to focus on what&rsquo;s core to
their business and re-allocate internal resources for initiatives focused
on increasing revenue and profitability.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 21:29:23 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The NLRB Issues Two Major Labor Law Rulings]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=291</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=291</link>
			<description><![CDATA[NLRB Modifies Voluntary Recognition Bar to Allow
45-Day Period for PetitionsNLRB Rules Strikers
Lost Job to &ldquo;At-Will Replacements&rdquo;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:52:02 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[A Message From Our Sponsors: Did You Know?  You Can Go Green With Labor Law Posters!]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=290</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=290</link>
			<description><![CDATA[If your business is environmentally conscious as so many are these days, you will be glad to know you no longer have to throw away laminated, nonbiodegradable posters every time the labor laws change in your state or with federal mandatory updates.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:51:28 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Cost Savings Through Return-to-Work Programs]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2923</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2923</link>
			<description><![CDATA[This is the first in a two part series on experiencing cost savings by implementing an effective return-to-work (RTW) system. This first part will explain the benefits. Part two will look at some of the mechanics.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:37:40 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Help! I Need to Upgrade My Technology]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2915</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2915</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Obviously you have to keep up with technology in order to remain competitive.  Your hardware and software need to be updated regularly and employees must be trained frequently to ensure their competence on same.  Even I attest to this, and can proficiently use any number of software applications and navigate the web super-highway and admittedly conduct a wide amount of research on the Internet.  However, I recognize that there are limits to things on which I wish to remain current. If you own a business, work in a business, or simply have a telephone and/or mailing address youre keenly aware that technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 02 Nov 2007 08:44:45 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Playing Fast and Loose With "Contractors" May Get Your Agency in Trouble]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2912</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2912</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In certain situations, employers that wish to avoid the hassle and expense of bringing on additional employees will simply enter into ?independent contractor? agreements with individuals and have them perform the services desired.  But does the parties agreement that their relationship will be considered an independent contractor relationship make it so?  More often than not, the answer is ?no? leading to potentially crippling liability for the owner of the agency.  This was recently discovered by Bankers Life & Casualty Company in a class action lawsuit filed against it by one of its ?independent contractors.?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:01:53 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Re-Employment of the Troops]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2911</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2911</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Let this serve as an hypothetical:  The second line manager of our manufacturing facility was called to active military duty over a year ago.  Due to the need for a manager, the position was immediately filled by a person who has worked out great.  The previous manager recently returned from active duty and notified the company of his intent to return to work.  Reinstating him would mean displacing one of the best managers the company has ever had, which would be very disruptive.  Are we required to reinstate the returning reservist?  If so, can't we just create an assistant manager position for him, with the same rate of pay as the general manager?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 01 Nov 2007 08:42:13 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Labor Board Ruling May Empower More Aggressive Pushback Against Union Corporate Campaign Tactics]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=277</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=277</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Addressing a dispute that began 20 years ago, the National Labor Relations
Board has issued a new standard for determining when employer legal action
challenging union campaign tactics is lawful.&nbsp;Following a long trail
of litigation, including a Supreme Court decision in 2002, in BE&amp;K
Construction Co., 351 N.L.R.B. No. 29 (Sept. 29, 2007), the Labor
Board has held that &quot;the filing and maintenance of a reasonably based
lawsuit does not violate the [NLRA], regardless of whether the lawsuit is
ongoing or completed, and regardless of the motive for initiating the
lawsuit.&quot;&nbsp;This ruling may provide employers with additional
tools for pushing back against union corporate campaign tactics through
reasonably based legal recourse, such as allegations of labor law and
antitrust violations, even if ultimately unsuccessful.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Oct 2007 23:08:22 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Coming Changes in Employment Verification Procedures]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=254</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=254</link>
			<description><![CDATA[For more than two decades, employers within the United States have been required to verify the work authorization of new hires (8 USC 1324A et seq.). This verification is performed by reviewing documentation tendered by the new employee to confirm identity and immigration work authorization and memorializing the results in a form I-9. The form is retained by the employer for three years after the date of hire of the employee or one year after the date that employment is terminated, whichever is later. The form is not filed with the government. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:23:11 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New Cafeteria Plan Regulations]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=276</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=276</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The IRS recently published new proposed regulations providing guidance on
cafeteria plans (sometimes called Section 125 plans).&nbsp;These proposed
regulations withdraw other proposed regulations that had been published in
1984, 1989, 1997 and 2000.&nbsp; Even though the new regulations are not
yet final, employers will want to review their cafeteria plans for
compliance, since the IRS has said that employers can rely on the proposed
regulations until final regulations are issued.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:14:52 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Did You Know?  31 States Have Had Changes In Their Labor Law Posters in 2007]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=274</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=274</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Thirty-one states will have had significant changes in their labor law
posters by the end of 2007.&nbsp;That&rsquo;s in addition to the federal
minimum wage increase in July which affected every state.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:14:48 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[IRS Extends Section 409A Documentation Compliance Deadline to December 31,2008]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=275</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=275</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On September 10, 2007, the IRS announced in Notice 2007-78 that the
deadline for amending nonqualified deferred compensation plans to comply
with the Section 409A requirements has been extended by one year, to
December 31, 2008. However, the extension is not
available for all Section 409A amendments and it generally does not apply
to the limited Section 409A transition relief available in 2007. Employers
and executives who would like to take advantage of the transition relief
provisions must do so before the end of the year. In addition,
irreversible design decisions and certain plan documentation amendments
must still be completed in 2007.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:14:34 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Do You Yahoo® on the Company's Computer? E-Mail Privacy and the Attorney-Client Privilege]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=278</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=278</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many employers have policies that limit use of the company&rsquo;s e-mail
system and Internet access to company business.&nbsp;Despite these
policies, employees routinely use their employer&rsquo;s e-mail system and
Internet access for personal business, including shopping or playing games
on the Internet, sending digital pictures to relatives and personal e-mail
messages to friends, and even communicating with their
attorneys.&nbsp;Courts have ruled that, if the employer has a clear policy
reserving the use of company-owned computers and Internet access for
business reasons only, employees have no right to privacy in their e-mail
messages or Internet access logs that used company hardware and software.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 11 Oct 2007 01:18:30 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New Social Security "No-Match Letter" Final Rule from Department of Homeland Security]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=262</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=262</link>
			<description><![CDATA[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a final regulation on
August 10, 2007, describing the requirements for employers when they
receive &quot;no-match letters&quot; from the Social Security
Administration&nbsp;or receive a letter regarding employment verification
from the Department of Homeland Security. Its effective date was 30 days
from the issuance of the final regulation. This rule finalizes a June 14,
2006, proposed rule, where the DHS received approximately 5,000 comments
from a wide variety of interested parties, including employers, unions,
lawyers and advocacy groups.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Oct 2007 12:24:00 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[National Article Provides Valuable Reminders Regarding Harassment]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2895</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2895</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A recent Wall Street Journal article regarding harassment provides context for consideration of several important principles which help reduce the likelihood important resources will be drained off by protracted litigation.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sun, 30 Sep 2007 13:00:40 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[NLRB Upholds Employer's Promulgation of Complaint Panel]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=263</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=263</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In a decision favorable to employers, the National Labor Relations Board has ruled that a Staff Complaint Process SCP established by Syracuse University to govern certain types of grievances did not result in the creation of a &quot;labor organization&quot; within the meaning of Section 2(5) of the NLRA. Syracuse University, 350 NLRB No. 63 (Aug. 15, 2007).]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:20:30 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Actual Knowledge of False Claim Required]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=258</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=258</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The False Claims Act is the federal government&rsquo;s primary weapon in
combating healthcare fraud. 31 U.S.C. &sect; 3729, et seq. The FCA imposes
liability for treble damages and civil penalties when a person knowingly
submits statements to the federal government to secure payment of a false
or fraudulent claim, or to conceal, avoid or decrease an obligation to pay
or transmit property to the government. 31 U.S.C. &sect; 3729(a).]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 05 Sep 2007 14:40:55 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Growing Number of States Passing Family Military Leave Acts]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=249</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=249</link>
			<description><![CDATA[With the continuing demands on the military Reserve and National Guard, a
growing number of states have been passing Family Military Leave Acts
giving soldiers' family members limited unpaid leave entitlements. In
general, the acts allow the family members of active duty soldiers to take
unpaid leave during periods leading up to or immediately following their
family member's deployment and also during periods of leave while still on
active duty. The new statutes vary, but employers should be cognizant of
these new laws and prepared to adjust their leave procedures to comply.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Aug 2007 10:23:20 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[SEXual Harassment... The BIG Issue in the Workplace, part 2]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2886</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2886</link>
			<description><![CDATA[National media coverage has made it more than apparent that sexual harassment within the workplace is an area of critical exposure for business owners and corporations alike. Federal guidelines through the EEOC recommend, and California law AB 1825 requires, communication of harassment policies and proactive education of supervisors regarding company policies against harassment. Proper employee training can significantly minimize the risk of sexual harassment lawsuits.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Aug 2007 11:29:23 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Department of Labor Issues New Federal Minimum Wage Poster]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=244</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=244</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, has issued the new
federal minimum wage poster reflecting the recently passed increase in the
federal minimum wage.&nbsp;This is the first federal minimum wage change in
over 10 years.&nbsp;This significant change means that employers must post
the new poster, regardless of the wage or salary paid to employees.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Aug 2007 08:18:59 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[An Emerging Trend: Gender Identity as a Protected Characteristic]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=241</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=241</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On June 17, 2007, New Jersey joined the ranks of a handful of states that
explicitly prohibit transgender discrimination, adding &ldquo;gender
identity and expression&rdquo; to the list of protected characteristics
under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD). While not
widespread, New Jersey&rsquo;s amendment to the NJLAD represents a growing
trend among states adding gender identity bias to the list of prohibited
forms of discrimination. In fact, currently pending at the federal level
is the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 (H.R. 2015) which, if
passed, would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation and gender identity.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 03 Aug 2007 08:06:51 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Key Elements of Effective Compensation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2881</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2881</link>
			<description><![CDATA[What contributes to an increased likelihood that compensation will actually produce its intended results? There at least five general elements of effective compensation, which must be considered if the return on the resources used is to be maximized.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sun, 29 Jul 2007 20:40:34 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[I-9 Compliance - Avoiding the Violation of Employee Rights and IRCA Penalties]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=240</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=240</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Just in time for summer, Congress is providing a true fireworks show on the
issue of immigration. There have been countless views, opinions and
positions put forth by so many, that most of us are confused as to the
current state of affairs on the issue of immigration. What remains
constant throughout all the passionate wrangling across the political band
is the idea that the U.S. government must do something about immigration
and its effect on American jobs. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:15:55 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Ten Tips for Conducting an Effective Investigation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=236</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=236</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The following are ten tips to assist in conducting an effective workplace investigation.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jul 2007 08:09:42 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Third Circuit Clears Path for Retiree Health Plans to Coordinate with Medicare]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=237</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=237</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a much anticipated opinion
that supports the ability of employers to reduce or eliminate the health
benefits payable to retirees who qualify for Medicare. In AARP v.
EEOC, the court ruled that the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission may lawfully issue an exemption to the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act&nbsp;that allows retiree health benefit plans to coordinate
with Medicare or comparable state-sponsored health benefit programs.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jul 2007 08:09:22 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Discriminatory Pay Setting Decision Must Be Made During the Limitations Period to Be Actionable]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=227</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=227</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On May 29, 2007, the Supreme Court ruled that a plaintiff may not bring a
claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for pay
discrimination when the discriminatory decision setting the pay was made
prior to the statute of limitations for filing such claims. The decision
reinforces the need to identify the alleged discriminatory decision at
issue and when that decision took place.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 02 Jul 2007 08:22:05 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employing People with Disabilities, part 2]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2880</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2880</link>
			<description><![CDATA[This is the second article in a series regarding employing people with disabilities. The purpose in writing this series is to enhance employment opportunities for people with disabilities, through dispelling myths and providing some tools.

In the first article, we explored some of the barriers to hiring from the employer's viewpoint. We also discussed some of the concerns expressed by job applicants through the employee's viewpoint.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jun 2007 10:04:53 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Working Mothers: A Protected Class? Courts Allow Discrimination Claims Based on Family/Childcare Stereotyping]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=230</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=230</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It should come as no surprise to most observers that women are ascending
the corporate ladder. For example, 43 of the Fortune 500 General Counsel
are women and 10 percent&nbsp;of the major executive positions in such
corporations are held by women. But the growth has slowed in recent years
and one of the major obstacles to women ascending to management positions
are stereotypes regarding their ability to handle a career and their
family responsibilities.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jun 2007 08:18:31 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[A Behavioral Definition of the Open Door Policy Is Important]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2877</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2877</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Open Door policies are common. As a result of specific false conclusions, such policies may not be as effective as they are intended to be. Defining what an Open Door looks like behaviorally reduces conflict and increases productivity.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:26:15 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ER visits decline under CDHP]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2876</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2876</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study shows decline in nonemergency procedures under Consumer-Driven Health Plans]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:29:29 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Using Demonstrative Evidence In Employment Trials]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=228</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=228</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Fully half of the lawyers in any trial end up complaining about the
jurors after the verdict is returned.&nbsp;While complaining is simple,
what is more difficult is acknowledging that jurors are being asked to do
something new and unusual for them, and to take that fact into account in
trying to present the case to the jury&mdash;to recognize, and attempt to
address, the very issues that might create an ineffective or unfavorable
juror.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jun 2007 08:04:27 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[EEOC Issues Guidance on Workers With Caregiving Responsibilities]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=229</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=229</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Although no federal law specifically prohibits discrimination against
caregivers, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in its newly
issued Enforcement Guidance entitled, &quot;Unlawful Disparate Treatment
of Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities,&quot; addresses in detail the
circumstances in which discrimination against caregivers may violate Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or the Americans with Disabilities Act
and outlines how the EEOC will approach the investigation of charges
brought by caregivers.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jun 2007 08:04:11 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[High Court Upholds Department of Labor Regulation Exempting from Overtime Companionship Services Employees Paid By Third Party Agencies]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2875</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2875</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The US Supreme Court has held that companionship services employees are exempt from the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regardless of whether they are paid directly by the individual or family receiving their service or by a third party home care company or agency. The case, Long Island Care at Home, Ltd. v. Coke, was decided on June 11, 2007. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 15 Jun 2007 12:26:53 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[CIAB Poll Shows Benefit Costs Soaring - Again]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2874</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2874</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employee group health benefit costs for businesses continued a rapid increase over the past six months, and a majority of employers, regardless of size, paid a lot more to renew, a producer group reports. What are you going to do?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jun 2007 11:01:21 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Supreme Court Limits Untimely Pay Discrimination Suits]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2873</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2873</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In a ruling that will greatly limit the ability of employees to file pay discrimination lawsuits, on May 29, 2007, the United States Supreme Court held that courts cannot consider claims of discriminatory pay based on acts preceding the deadline to file a charge with the EEOC.  ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 May 2007 09:30:58 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[A New Retaliation Decision Offers Some Relief to Employers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=223</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=223</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Has the target of an internal investigation you have initiated ever been
the person who actually is responsible for investigating discrimination
complaints?&nbsp; Have you ever had a long time employee participate in
that internal investigation?&nbsp; Have you then later terminated that
employee for reasons unrelated to the investigation and faced a lawsuit
challenging the basis of the discharge?&nbsp; Let's look at a recent Sixth
Circuit case to see how it strengthens your hand when defending this kind
of lawsuit.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sat, 26 May 2007 11:51:07 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Legal Implications of Employee Blogs]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=222</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=222</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Web logs, or &ldquo;blogs,&rdquo; have gained enormous popularity over the
last few years. From traditional journalism to consumer marketing, few
communications channels have escaped their impact. This is particularly
the case in corporate America. Many companies have realized that
company-sponsored blogs offer a means of communicating with customers in a
more direct, personal manner. At the same time, employees are blogging
about product strategies, financial prospects and corporate politics with
or without their company&rsquo;s knowledge and/or approval.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sat, 26 May 2007 11:51:05 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[OSHA's Newest Ergonomic Initiative: The Ergonomic Hazard Alert Follow-Up Policy]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=221</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=221</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On April 2, 2007, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
issued a new Ergonomic Hazard Alert Follow-Up Policy (the Policy) as a
directive to regional and area offices.&nbsp; This is OSHA&rsquo;s newest
attempt in a 20-year effort to regulate ergonomic hazards in the American
workplace.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2007 10:46:09 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[What should private, non-profit, and public employers do in response to the final Section 409A regulations?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=220</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=220</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The document compliance deadline is December 31, 2007, with no hint of
extension. Treasury representatives have made clear that
&acirc;&euro;&oelig;savings clauses&acirc;&euro;? will not be an effective
means of compliance. The substantial penalties for noncompliance and the
very short time to the compliance deadline, make immediate action vitally
necessary.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sun, 20 May 2007 00:31:30 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Imus Dismissal: Some Considerations Regarding Policy Enforcement]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2869</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2869</link>
			<description><![CDATA[How does your organization react when faced with its own Imus? It's not if policies will be violated by high performing, highly visible employees - it's when. What happens next typically sends powerful messages to employees. Are they be messages the organization wants sent?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2007 21:50:11 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employer E-Mail Policies Scrutinized for Violations of Federal Labor Law]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=218</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=218</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit recently upheld an order
of the National Labor Relations Board (&quot;Board&quot;), finding that an
employer&rsquo;s uneven enforcement of its business only e-mail policy
violated the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). Media Gen.
Operations Inc., d/b/a Richmond Times-Dispatch v. NLRB, 4th Cir., No.
06-1023 (unpublished opinion 3/15/07).]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sun, 22 Apr 2007 16:06:22 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Final Regulations Issued Under Section 409A On Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=217</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=217</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On April 10, 2007, the Internal Revenue Service (&quot;IRS&quot;) and the
Department of the Treasury issued final regulations under Internal Revenue
Code Section 409A.&nbsp; Section 409A was added to the Code by the
American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and is generally effective for
compensation deferred on or after January 1, 2005, under certain
nonqualified deferred compensation plans and arrangements
(&quot;nonqualified plans&quot;).]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 17 Apr 2007 14:05:59 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Beware: Your Employee Handbook May Be Hazardous Under the NLRA]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=219</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=219</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals recently affirmed the decision of the
National Labor Relations Board which found that the confidentiality
provision in the employee handbook of a non-unionized employer violated
the National Labor Relations Act. In light of this decision,
employers&mdash; particularly non-unionized employers&mdash; should review
their confidentiality and communication policies, in handbooks and/or
employment agreements, and determine whether they need to be revised. This
alert reviews the court&rsquo;s decision and provides practical guidance
for employers in revising their policies.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 17 Apr 2007 14:05:52 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Violence in the Workplace, part 3: GANGS]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2868</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2868</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ Gang activity is on the rise in the United States.

What are some proactive  strategies employers can implement to promote a safe workplace?
]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:31:57 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Ten Tips for Creating Respect and Civility in Your Workplace]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=216</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=216</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The workplace is a reflection of society at large. Today, we see a gamut of
behaviors that demonstrate a lack of respect and civility, both inside and
outside the workplace. Studies and polls indicate that Americans view
incivility as a serious problem that is getting worse.&nbsp; One study
found that 60% of employees believe that co-workers&rsquo; annoying
behaviors negatively impact the workplace and, as a result, 40% reported
that they are looking for new employment.&nbsp; These and other findings
illustrate that disrespectful and uncivil behaviors drain productivity and
negatively influence both an organization&rsquo;s bottom line and the
overall economy.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 12 Apr 2007 17:06:46 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[File for New H-1B Immigration Status on April 1st, 2007]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=214</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=214</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers should prepare now to file H-1B petitions for their
professional-level prospective foreign employees on April 1, 2007. That is
the first allowable filing date for work to begin on October 1, which is
the first day of the 2008 government fiscal year. Given the serious
backlog that has been created because of the high demand for the limited
number of visas in this classification, there is a real possibility that
the entire allocation of 65,000 visas (the Cap) could be reached on or
within several days of the April 1 initial filing date.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Mar 2007 21:07:23 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[E-MAIL ETIQUETTE TIPS TO APPLY IN YOUR WORKPLACE]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=213</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=213</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Over the past decade, e-mail technology has enhanced our ability to
communicate and changed the way that many of us work.&nbsp; Although this
technology has numerous benefits associated with its use, it also has
potential downsides, including unintended damage to relationships.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Mar 2007 14:30:01 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[IRS and DOL Address New Rules for Non-Spouse Beneficiaries]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=212</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=212</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Pension Protection Act of 2006 (the &quot;PPA&quot;) created a new rollover opportunity for non-spouse designated beneficiaries under qualified retirement plans (including 401(k) plans), 403(b) annuity plans and governmental 457 plans. The new provision allows a non-spouse designated beneficiary who receives a plan distribution after December 31, 2006 upon the death of the participant to roll over the distribution directly into an individual retirement account (&quot;IRA&quot;). The rollover IRA must be treated as an inherited IRA under the tax code.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Mar 2007 14:29:57 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[What You Need To Know About The EEO-1 Report]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=215</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=215</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The EEO-1 Report &ndash; formally known as the &ldquo;Employer Information
Report&rdquo; &ndash; is a government form requiring many employers to
provide a count of their employees by job category and then by ethnicity,
race and gender. The EEO-1 report is submitted to both the EEOC and the
Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
(OFCCP).]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Mar 2007 16:05:37 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Conflict Resolution:  An Increasingly Important Consideration (Part I)]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2867</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2867</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Life in any organization will involve differences, or what most refer to as conflict. Its not if but when and about what the conflict will occur. Despite the certainty, an irony exists in our behavior toward these differences. Further, there are several convergent factors that potentially increase the frequency and intensity of the interactions we typically refer to as conflict. The outcomes of conflict can be quite damaging to an organization. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 06 Mar 2007 22:55:30 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employers Beware: Recent  U.S. Supreme Court Decision Adopts Liberal Standard of What Constitutes Retaliation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=210</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=210</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A female forklift operator complains of inappropriate remarks and is
reassigned to strenuous, less desirable duties, albeit within her job
description. Is this retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964? In a recent case, Burlington Northern &amp; Santa Fe Railway
Co. v. Sheila White (126 S.Ct. 2405, June 22, 2006), the U.S. Supreme
Court said yes. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Feb 2007 20:04:38 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Emergency Preparedness Includes Consideration]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=209</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=209</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In the event of avian flu or other health crisis, employers likely will
face mass absenteeism of employees who become ill or must care for family
members or friends or choose not to come to work for fear of becoming
contaminated through exposure to other people. Employers may be able to
mitigate the adverse effect of widespread absenteeism by allowing
employees who are well enough to work from home. A telecommutingor
work-at-home policy raises a number of legal issues that ought to be
considered now before an employer is inundated with requests from
employees who want to work from home and maintain a salary stream during a
health or other crisis.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Feb 2007 16:20:31 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Notice 2007-7 Addresses Various PPA Changes in Employee Retirement Plan Requirements]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=208</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=208</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Earlier this month, the Internal Revenue Service issued Notice 2007-7 (the
&ldquo;Notice&rdquo;) to provide guidance on a number of provisions in the
Pension Protection Act of 2006 (the &ldquo;PPA&rdquo;). The following is a
summary of certain aspects of the Notice which are important to sponsors
and administrators of employee retirement plans.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Feb 2007 16:20:20 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Are You Taking An Ostrich's Approach To Workplace Harassment?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=211</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=211</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In today&rsquo;s environment where sexual and other harassment cases have
exploded in number in all workplace settings, you unintentionally may be
placing your organization at risk if you are approaching this subject by
burying your head in the sand in any of the following ostrich-like ways,
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll take my chances,&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;It won&rsquo;t
happen here,&rdquo; &ldquo;Training is unnecessary,&rdquo; or &ldquo;We
are too busy to train.&rdquo;&nbsp; ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Feb 2007 16:19:52 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[EEOC Revises Compliance Manual to Target More Contemporary Forms of Discrimination]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=204</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=204</link>
			<description><![CDATA[With the stated purpose of reaffirming its commitment to end race-based
discrimination in employment, the US Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC) revised its long-standing Compliance Manual on April 19,
2006, to address what it calls &quot;contemporary discrimination
issues,&quot; according to a press release that accompanied the release of
the revisions.&nbsp; In addition to defining race and color
discrimination, the new Compliance Manual also addresses what it terms
&quot;related protected bases&quot;&mdash;national origin, religion, and
&quot;intersectional discrimination,&quot; i.e., discrimination based upon
more than one protected basis, such as both race and sex.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sun, 18 Feb 2007 10:59:15 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[How To Avoid Wage and Hour Violations]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=203</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=203</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The wage and hour laws can cause employers tremendous aggravation. Here are
ten tips for avoiding common mistakes.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sun, 18 Feb 2007 10:58:48 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[USERRA part II]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=202</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=202</link>
			<description><![CDATA[This is the second part of a two-part article reviewing the recent
regulations (the &ldquo;Regulations&rdquo;) promulgated by the United
States Department of Labor (the &ldquo;DOL&rdquo;) implementing the
Uniformed Services Employment Rights and Reemployment Act
(&ldquo;USERRA&rdquo;).&nbsp; USERRA provides extensive rights to
employees who are forced to leave their employment position for service in
the uniformed services.&nbsp; Due to the recent expansion in military
activity around the world, employers of every size and type should become
familiar with USERRA and its specific requirements.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Feb 2007 17:51:08 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New Hurdles for Employers Who Obtain New Corporate Owned Life Insurance]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=201</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=201</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Pension Protection Act of 2006 includes new rules applicable to
employers who obtain life insurance policies, also known as corporate
owned life insurance, or &ldquo;COLI,&rdquo; on the lives of one or more
of its employees. Under the new rules, the following requirements must be
satisfied if the employer desires to exclude the policy proceeds from its
income upon the death of the employee. Failure to satisfy the
requirements will result in the policy proceeds being included in the
employer&rsquo;s income (except to the extent of the premiums paid by the
employer).]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Feb 2007 17:51:00 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Retention Crisis]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=200</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=200</link>
			<description><![CDATA[&ldquo;It&rsquo;s too touch-feely,&rdquo; &ldquo;takes a lot of time and
money,&rdquo; &ldquo;I would rather focus on recruitment for now,&rdquo;
&ldquo;you just can&rsquo;t keep good people these
days&rdquo;&hellip;..retention&hellip;.do our organizations focus on it as
much as they should?&nbsp;Statistics tell us as HR professionals that we
need to be a bit nervous right now. We have a retention crisis
going on. Employees have more options in the workforce and are happy to
engage those options if they make sense. In short, they leave your
company. What are we doing about it? How can your organization address
this crisis? How can you lower your risk of watching employees walk out
the back door? In this article, we will explore some ideas that will
assist in addressing retention.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Feb 2007 17:50:54 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Proposed Default Investment Rules Offer an Important New Avenue for Protection From Fiduciary Liability]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=199</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=199</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Pension Protection Act of 2006 made a number of changes to the ERISA
rules that govern plan investments. One of the more significant changes
was to create a special safe harbor from fiduciary liability for default
investments in individual account plans (such as Section 401(k) plans).
Beginning in the 2007 plan year, a fiduciary may be relieved from
liability for investment losses that relate to investment of a
participant's account in a default investment option following the
participant's failure to affirmatively direct how his or her account
should be invested. Under current rules, such fiduciary protection is only
available where a participant has made an affirmative election to invest
in an investment option.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Feb 2007 17:50:44 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Role of the Vocational Consultant, the Underutilized Resource,  Part 2]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2866</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2866</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Did you know that Vocational Consultants have the unique skill set to foster proactive discussions and actions? When brought in early enough,they have the capacity to turn the tides on complex situations and offer a winning edge! Read on!]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sun, 04 Feb 2007 11:25:27 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New Trend to Reduce Corporate Health Care Costs: Employers Realizing Savings Through Multi-Pronged Approach]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=198</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=198</link>
			<description><![CDATA[With employers spending in excess of $390 billion annually on increasingly
expensive employee health insurance, many are adopting strategies to help
curb costs that actively engage employees in their own care, including
consumer-driven health care (CDHC) options, such as account-based
consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) and/or wellness and care management
programs. The study features case studies that highlight employers&rsquo;
innovative and successful approaches.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sat, 03 Feb 2007 23:43:22 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Sharing Compensation or Benefit Information Between Competitors May Violate Antitrust Laws]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=197</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=197</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers commonly participate in surveys to assist in setting competitive
wage rates, salaries, or benefits. With today's tight labor markets,
these surveys can be valuable in attracting and retaining employees.
However, a series of lawsuits filed during the summer of 2006 demonstrate
that there are potential dangers in this practice. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sat, 03 Feb 2007 23:42:58 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New Section 199 Guidance: Rules for Allocating W-2 Wages]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=196</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=196</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In mid-October 2006, the IRS and Treasury published Rev. Proc. 2006-47,
which provides methods to compute W-2 wages (as defined in Section
1.199-2(e)(1) &mdash; hereinafter &ldquo;(e)(1) wages&rdquo;) and
published temporary regulations which provide methods for determining the
amount of (e)(1) wages (calculated under Rev. Proc. 2006-47) that are
properly allocable to DPGR.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
temporary regulations provide, generally, that a taxpayer may determine
the amount of (e)(1) wages &ldquo;properly allocable&rdquo; to DPGR using
any &ldquo;reasonable method that is satisfactory to the IRS based on all
the facts and circumstances.&rdquo; The regulations offer safe harbor
methods for computing wages properly allocable to DPGR. The safe-harbor
method a taxpayer uses depends on whether the taxpayer uses either the
Section 861 or the simplified deduction method to allocate costs or
whether the taxpayer uses the small business simplified overall
method.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sat, 03 Feb 2007 23:42:31 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Labor Board Issues Historic Decisions Clarifying Standards for Supervisor Status]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=195</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=195</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employees who assign other employees to overall duties, are held
accountable for directing subordinates to undertake specific tasks, and
have the discretion to do so without close direction from management will
be recognized as &quot;supervisors.&quot;&nbsp; So says the National Labor
Relations Board in a trilogy of decisions issued on September 29,
2006.&nbsp; Long anticipated and much discussed, the clearly
reasoned decisions deliver on the expectation that employers would be
given the guidance they need to know who is, and who is not, a
&quot;supervisor&quot; within the definition contained in Section 2(11) of
the National Labor Relations Act.&nbsp; The fact that most individuals
asserted to be &quot;supervisors&quot; in these cases were deemed to be
&quot;employees,&quot; and thus protected by the National Labor Relations
Act's anti-discrimination provisions, reveals that organized labor's
predictions of the demise of bargaining unit eligibility for millions of
workers appear to have been greatly exaggerated.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sat, 03 Feb 2007 23:41:44 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Critical Issues in the Law and Their Impact in the Workplace:]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=194</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=194</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Whistleblower and retaliation litigation are among the hottest and
fastest-growing areas of employment law.&nbsp; The public policies behind
these statutes are self-evident.&nbsp; Lawmakers recognize that
individuals would be reluctant to oppose misconduct by higher-ups if they
feared that they could be punished for asserting their rights, and a
chilling effect might arise without a remedy against retribution.&nbsp;
Depending on the particular statute, whistleblower and anti-retaliation
laws cover job applicants as well as employees, including full-time,
part-time, seasonal, temporary, consultants, contractors, and
subcontractors. Since a challenged action might occur at various points in
the employment life cycle, from hiring through firing, the entire human
resources function should be considered when evaluating strategies
designed to lessen the possibility for liability. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sat, 03 Feb 2007 23:40:57 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[To Insure Or Not To Insure, That Is The Question: Employment Practices Liability Insurance]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=193</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=193</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Uninsured and underinsured employers who bank on never facing an allegation
of an unlawful employment practice because they have never been embroiled
in such a dispute in the past may be gambling with their own financial
futures. Employment-based litigation is not going away anytime soon. The
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) remains busy receiving
administrative employment discrimination claims. In fiscal year 2005, the
EEOC received 75,428 charges of discrimination for all statutes enforced
by that agency.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sat, 03 Feb 2007 23:40:03 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Risky Business: Giving Employees the Option of Resignation Instead of Discharge Can Be Dangerous]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=192</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=192</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers often give employees the option of resigning instead of being
discharged and often fail to appreciate the dangers of this approach. The
fact that forcing a resignation is actually the legal equivalent of a
discharge is not known to all employers. A resignation also gives the
employee a potential retaliation claim after refusing to sign a legal
release and being fired. A claim can be made that the firing occurred
because the employee refused to give up federal civil rights. Also,
offering employees a choice to resign frequently leads to shortcuts,
because the employer incorrectly believes that if the employee resigns,
the employer doesn't have to comply with its polices or otherwise support
a discharge.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sat, 03 Feb 2007 23:39:29 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Telecommuters--The Next Wave of Wage and Hour Litigation?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=191</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=191</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many accommodating employers offer their employees the opportunity to
work from home (telecommute) either on a regular or temporary basis. The
flexibility of a telecommuting arrangement can benefit both employers and
employees. However, the practical realities of allowing a nonexempt
employee to work away from the principal worksite can lead to a minefield
of wage and hour issues that an employer must carefully navigate in order
to avoid potential liability. As telecommuting has become more
prevalent, there have been a number of lawsuits filed by telecommuting
employees (often as class actions) claiming violation of various state and
federal wage and hour laws.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sat, 03 Feb 2007 23:38:51 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Modifications To Retiree Benefits Breaches Merger Agreement]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=190</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=190</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently ruled that
Halliburton Co., breached the terms of a merger agreement with Dresser
Industries Inc. when it made modifications to a health plan for retirees
of Dresser without making similar modifications to Halliburton&rsquo;s
health plan for active employees. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sat, 03 Feb 2007 23:38:10 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employees Cannot Waive or Release FMLA Claims]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=205</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=205</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers frequently ask departing employees to sign separation agreements
releasing the employer from any and all claims that the departing employee
may have, in return for severance pay or some other form of consideration.
However, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals now cautions that even if a
separation agreement provides for a release of all claims, this does not
prevent a former employee from asserting a claim under the Family and
Medical Leave Act (&ldquo;FMLA&rdquo;). ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sat, 03 Feb 2007 23:37:20 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Fraud in the Workplace]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=188</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=188</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Most fraud is ongoing; once it starts it does not stop by itself, and as it
continues, it grows. Very few thefts occur for the first time in large
amounts. However, after the fraudster realizes how easy it is to take
$100, the next week its $200, then $500, etc. By the time it is caught,
each individual occurrence can be in the thousands of dollars or more.
Many are surprised to find out that most fraud is perpetrated by
well-educated males in senior executive positions (61%), and is affected
by conditions within the organization, beginning at the top, and filtering
down.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jan 2007 14:44:03 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employers in Fifth Circuit Have Another Weapon to Stop Unauthorized Access of Proprietary Information by Employees, But Should be Careful in Exercising Damage Control]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=189</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=189</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On November 22, 2006, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decided Fiber
Systems International, Inc. v. Roehrs, ruling that the
Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (&ldquo;CFAA&rdquo;) allows an employer to
bring a civil action against an employee for downloading and copying
confidential or proprietary information from its computer system if it
spends more than $5,000 in any year to recover the data. This case is the
first reported decision by the Fifth Circuit on this issue and has armed
employers with a potential weapon in fighting unauthorized access of
proprietary information and theft of trade secrets by their employees.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jan 2007 14:43:00 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The ADA and the Web: New Ruling Calls for Increased Accessibility to Business Websites]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=187</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=187</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Surfing the web. It&rsquo;s something most of us take for granted. Something we do every day. We use the web to perform many routine tasks such as reading the newspaper, checking stock prices and even shopping. It&rsquo;s so convenient. We don&rsquo;t have to go out in the rain or cold, we avoid those lines at the mall, and we save money on gas. For one group of disabled persons, however, surfing the web is not something that can be taken for granted. For the blind and visually impaired, many websites are inaccessible. A federal court ruling may soon change that along with the requirements that many business websites have to meet.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jan 2007 14:42:10 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Change in Congressional Leadership Puts Employment Issues at Top of Legislative Priority List]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=186</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=186</link>
			<description><![CDATA[When the 110th Congress commences in January 2007, the leadership of both
the U. S. House of Representatives and the Senate will swing to the
Democrats, and it is widely anticipated that among their top priorities
are a number of legislative initiatives affecting employers and employees.
These initiatives likely will be spearheaded by the new Speaker of the
House Nancy Pelosi; by Senator Edward Kennedy as Chairman of the Senate
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee; by Representative George
Miller as head of the House Education and Workforce Committee; by
Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee as head of the House Immigration
Subcommittee; and by Representative John Conyers as head of the House
Judiciary Committee, among others. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jan 2007 14:40:35 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[It's About The Culture]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=207</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=207</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Exceptional market rate pay programs, fully paid benefits, relocation
assistance, sign on bonuses, retention bonuses, flexible work schedules,
401k/403b/457 retirement plans, car allowance, gas cards, tuition
reimbursement/assistance, loan repayment programs, outstanding CEU
support, excellent orientation programs, perks&hellip;the list could go
on. Are all or part of these, perhaps even other examples, part of your
recruiting plan? How do you recruit your field? According to experts,
there will be a shortage of over one million workers by 2010. The fact is
that there is a shortage of workers and it will only worsen as we move
along in the coming years. How do we sell our organization? What makes the
difference when a candidate has so many choices?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jan 2007 14:36:56 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Expert Witness Communication: One Size Does Not Fit All]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=206</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=206</link>
			<description><![CDATA[An effective financial expert witness knows this is the most important factor. While testimony may be founded on substantial financial theory and painstaking research and calculation, the information must be presented in a way the audience comprehends.  For financial experts, then, it's critical to know if a case will be heard before the court or before a jury. Presentation skills, body language, the complexity of the testimony &mdash; and to some degree dress &mdash; vary significantly depending on the persona of the trier of fact.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jan 2007 14:35:05 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Vocational Expert: the underutilized resource, part 1]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2865</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2865</link>
			<description><![CDATA[ Early intervention and enlisting the services of a skilled vocational expert has the potential to impact case outcomes in the legal arena in a positive, winning fashion.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jan 2007 15:14:01 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Eight in Ten Internet Users Go Online for Health Information]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2864</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2864</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Eighty percent of American internet users, or some 113 million adults, have searched for information on at least one of seventeen health topics.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 Dec 2006 08:46:08 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[LA Times Article Highlights the Importance of Health Plans for Employees.]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2861</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2861</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Make sure you are looking at all of your options: Health Savings Account - HSA, Health Reimbursement Arrangements - HRA, Flexible Spending Accounts - FSA and Health and Wellness Tools to develop a plan that creates the proper financial incentive for employees to get engaged in their health care.
]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 Dec 2006 08:45:50 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Ohio Minimum Wage and No Smoking Ballot Issues to Have Impact on Ohio Employers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2862</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2862</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On November 7, Ohio voters passed two statewide issues that will have an impact on the vast majority of Ohio employers. The voters passed both Issue 2, a minimum wage issue, and Issue 5, a smoking ban issue. It is important for Ohio employers to gain a good understanding of what their legal obligations will be in light of these two ballot issues.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 Dec 2006 08:44:41 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[View From The Trenches (....or what they wish you knew)]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2863</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2863</link>
			<description><![CDATA[How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these. -George Washington Carver]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Nov 2006 15:28:23 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Survey Shows Health Insurance Premiums Continue To Rise Twice As Fast As Wages]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2860</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2860</link>
			<description><![CDATA[If you havent taken the time to review the recent Kaiser/HRET Employer Health Benefits Survey, you should.

]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Nov 2006 13:29:40 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Interactive Process]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2859</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2859</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A company's greatest resource is the staff.
Learn about how the Interactive Process Meeting can serve as a productive forum for branstorming working safer,smarter strategies.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 01 Nov 2006 07:35:04 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[DOL Issues Recent Opinion Letters Construing White Collar Exemptions Revealing Trend of Applying Principles In Place Before 2004 Amendments]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2858</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2858</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Within the last few months, the United States Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division ("the DOL") has issued a number of opinion letters construing the executive, professional, and administrative overtime exemptions to the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA") with respect to a number of very specific positions.  These opinion letters are worth paying attention to.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 16 Oct 2006 08:21:51 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Ties that Bind, part 2]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2857</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2857</link>
			<description><![CDATA[We do not get to choose who ends up at the desk next to us. Therefore, with this in mind, it is essential that we develop tools to embrace each other's uniqueness, no matter what pre-existing viewpoints are held and stereotypes.Read on!

]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 10 Oct 2006 08:57:22 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA["On Call" Does Not Equal "On the Clock"]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=183</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=183</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Often, job duties require employees to carry pagers or cell phones and be available in case of an emergency. Employees often feel as though their free time is restricted due to the possibility of being called into work and that times where they are on call should be considered &ldquo;on the clock.&rdquo; In a recent decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, which has jurisdiction over Ohio, Adair v. Charter County of Wayne, 452 F.3d 482 (6th Cir. 2006), declared that this time is not compensable if certain conditions are met.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 09 Oct 2006 14:45:29 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Inspections By the U.S. Department of Labor]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=182</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=182</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers may be investigated, inspected, audited, or visited by the United States Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (&quot;WHD&quot;), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (&quot;OSHA&quot;), or assigned state agencies.The WHD is provided authorization by &sect;11(a) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (&ldquo;FLSA&rdquo;) to conduct audits, inspections and visits. The most common federal laws that are investigated by the WHD are the FLSA provisions related to minimum wage, overtime pay, and laws related to employment of minors. In addition, the WHD enforces the Family and Medical Leave Act, Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, Field Sanitation Standards of the OSHA, McNamara-O&rsquo;Hara Service Contract Act, Davis-Bacon Act, Employee Polygraph Protection Act, and the Consumer Credit Protection Act.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 09 Oct 2006 14:42:52 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Penalizing Applicants and Employees For Smoking: A Potential Smoking Gun?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=181</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=181</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Faced with skyrocketing annual increases in health care and workers' compensation premiums, employers are looking for ways to manage the health and health care costs of the workforce. Employers have increasingly focused on employee lifestyle choices in an attempt to control these costs. One area where employers have focused their inquiry is on smoking and use of other tobacco products by employees. Many employers have implemented wellness programs to encourage non-smoking. Some employers have gone so far to make hiring decisions based on smoking/non-smoking status.Legal issues must be carefully considered before taking action based on smoking/non-smoking status. Specifically, issues could arise under HIPAA, ERISA, the ADA, Title VII and other federal and state laws.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 09 Oct 2006 14:37:42 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Embezzlement: Prevention, Detection, and Cure]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=180</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=180</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employee embezzlement costs American employers about $6 billion per year. Embezzlement is the fraudulent taking of personal property with which one has been entrusted. By definition, the offender is someone trusted by the employer. When detected, embezzlement brings great heartache to the perpetrator&rsquo;s victims and families. The typical motive for embezzlement is simple greed. However, theft arising out of addiction to gambling has grown along with the Minnesota gaming industry.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 09 Oct 2006 14:31:28 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Yet Another Potential Danger Zone for Employers Applying the FMLA]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=178</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=178</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A new decision was issued by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals last week which highlights an FMLA regulation that many employers may be overlooking in their implementation of this law.The decision (Killian v. Yorozu Automotive Tennessee, Inc.) focused on the time period for employees who already are on FMLA leave to submit medical recertification forms when their previous medical certification forms have expired or their need for leave otherwise has expanded beyond what originally was anticipated/authorized. The employer in the Killian case had a written policy which provided that such employees&rsquo; recertification forms had to be received before the expiration of their current medical certification forms in order for their additional period of leave to be approved/excused. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals found that this policy violated the FMLA UNLESS such employees were given at least 15 days to provide the recertification forms from the time the employer specifically requested them. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 09 Oct 2006 14:18:33 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Executive Employment Agreements:  Employer Prevails Against Terminated Executive In Case Over Executive's Contract Giving Company Discretion to Determine Whether "Just Cause" Exists]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2856</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2856</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A state appeals court recently reversed a jury verdict in favor of a companys former executive, finding that the employer had the discretion to determine whether just cause existed, highlighting the importance of close attention to ?just cause? provisions in executive employment agreements. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 09 Oct 2006 11:31:19 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[THE TIES THAT BIND, part 1 by Jamie Charter, M.S., CPDM]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2855</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2855</link>
			<description><![CDATA[?Goodwill is the mightiest practical force in the universe?-Charles F. Dole

]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 Sep 2006 15:38:15 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Controlling Medical Trend]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2854</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2854</link>
			<description><![CDATA[There are three components of medical trend - knowing which one you can influence is key to controlling costs over time.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 05 Sep 2006 12:58:21 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[An Employer's Guide for Dealing with "Unusual" Tax Withholding Requests]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=107</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=107</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In the ordinary course of commencing employment a new employee will execute a W-4, Withholding Exemption Certificate, to inform his or her employer of the correct filing status and number of exemptions and personal allowances to use when calculating income tax withholding. This process occurs upon hire, and sometimes changes during the year. But what happens when employees make &quot;unusual&quot; requests of their employer relating to withholding? This Insight provides a brief guide for employers to help determine their payroll tax obligations.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Aug 2006 13:05:47 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Avoiding Sexual Harassment Lawsuits]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=106</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=106</link>
			<description><![CDATA[With sexual harassment lawsuits on the rise, both supervisorsand employees should know what qualifies as sexual harassment and how to avoid it.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Aug 2006 12:57:46 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Do Employers Have A Duty To Monitor Employees' Internet Activities?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=93</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=93</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In a case with potential national implications, a New Jersey court recently held in a case of first impression that employers have a legal obligation to investigate an employee&rsquo;s activities when they know or have reason to know that the employee is using a workplace computer to access child pornography. Doe v. XYC Corporation, 382 N.J. Super. 122 (App. Div. 2005). The court also held that an employer is required to report the employee&rsquo;s activities to the proper authorities and to take &ldquo;effective internal action&rdquo; to stop the employee&rsquo;s activities. Based on the facts of the case, the court also ruled that &ldquo;no privacy interest of the employee stands in the way of this duty on the part of the employer.&rdquo;[fn1] ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Aug 2006 12:48:29 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Notice the Leave, and Leave with Notice: FMLA Recent Developments]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=92</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=92</link>
			<description><![CDATA[By now, we all (hopefully) have our Family and Medical Leave Act &ldquo;FMLA&rdquo; procedures down to a science. After twelve years of practice, most employers are very familiar with the basic eligibility standards, paperwork requirements, and timekeeping rules involved with this legislation. Recent case law, however, serves to define, limit, enhance, and sometimes confuse what you thought was standard procedure. From the moment an employee gives notice (or not!) of their need to take leave, to the time an organization asks them to leave with a severance package, the FMLA controls an employer&rsquo;s options, as the cases discussed in this article instruct. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Aug 2006 12:48:17 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Evaluating the statistical and economic significance of statistical evidence in employment discrimination cases]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=91</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=91</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In many, if not all, employment discrimination lawsuits both the employer-defendant and the plaintiffs realize that there is a statistical disparity between the protected and non-protected employee groups at issue in the case. It is the meaning of the statistical disparity that is most frequently the area of contention and subject to differing interpretation by the employer and plaintiffs in the discrimination lawsuit. Since the 1970s employment attorneys and the courts have relied heavily on the mathematical and probability concept of statistical significance in assessing the underlying importance of an observed statistical disparity in employment conditions between different groups of employees.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Aug 2006 12:48:09 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Title VII Retaliation Claims & the Impact of Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Co. v. Sheila White]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=90</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=90</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The United States Supreme Court recently addressed retaliation claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights (&ldquo;Title VII&rdquo;) in Burlington Northern &amp; Santa Fe Railway Co. v. Sheila White, __S.Ct. __, 2006 WL 1698953 (2006). The decision will be important for employers to understand to properly prevent and defend against retaliation claims under Title VII, and other employment laws such as the Americans With Disabilities Act and Age Discrimination In Employment Act. As a result of this decision the United States Supreme Court has broadened the scope of the Title VII retaliation provisions thus making it easier for a plaintiff to proof retaliation.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Aug 2006 12:48:03 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Beware of the Push for New Employment Verification Systems]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=98</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=98</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The passionate debates surrounding immigration reform have receded from metropolitan marches back into Capital Hill offices.&nbsp; While most issues are seen as too polarizing to aggressively address, one relatively innocuous area has survived andactually gained tremendous momentum&mdash;Employment Verification Systems.&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Aug 2006 12:43:50 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Telecommuting as a Reasonable Accommodation for Disabled Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=104</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=104</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Telecommuting (also called telework) can be a great boon, or a nightmare. Some employers find that it allows their employees to be more productive, and to get more work done. Other employers are reluctant to adopt such policies because they worry that employees will seek pay for goofing off at home. EEOC guidance and a federal court of appeals decision make clear that employers must consider telecommuting as an accommodation option for their disabled employees, no matter how they feel about the subject in general. This article explores the circumstances that may require employers to consider telecommuting as an accommodation for their disabled employees.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Aug 2006 12:42:51 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Federal Agencies Position Themselves for New Focus on Systemic Discrimination by Employers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=99</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=99</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) have taken a number of steps over the last several months that indicate the agencies are preparing to shift their investigative and litigation focus to targeting systemic, or company-wide, discrimination by employers. As described below, employers need to understand and respond to these changes in order to avoid becoming the object of unwanted scrutiny.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:53:18 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[CHANGE POSITIONS!]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2853</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2853</link>
			<description><![CDATA[?Nothing is permanent but change?-Heraclitus


Change.  It is inevitable, yet it is much feared often avoided and will send grown people kicking and screaming, running for the hills, fighting like mad against it.
Why is this? Want to learn more? Read on!
]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Aug 2006 09:50:48 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[He put his money where his mouth is... and it is working.]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2852</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2852</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Last week, I met with one of the most sophisticated buyers I have ever met.  This Human Resources professional oversees the North American HR functions for a very large, world wide company]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 15 Aug 2006 08:05:15 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[THIS IS NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2851</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2851</link>
			<description><![CDATA["Love the moment. Flowers grow out of dark moments. Therefore, each moment is vital. It affects the whole. Life is a succession of such moments and to live each, is to succeed"....Corita Kent]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 Aug 2006 08:20:30 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[What is the goal?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2849</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2849</link>
			<description><![CDATA[As an employer, you control the dollars that provide health benefits for your employees.  Know what you want before you make a change.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 04 Aug 2006 10:06:12 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[THE CARE AND FEEDING OF THE DOVE]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2848</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2848</link>
			<description><![CDATA[What could an aviary and bird rescue possibly have to do with workplace discrimination and promoting diversity?
Read on!]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 31 Jul 2006 08:17:28 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Age Discrimination: The Naked Truth!]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2847</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2847</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Did you know that the ADEA provides protection for those over 40?
Learn more, read on!]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 24 Jul 2006 07:43:34 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employment - Partnership or Prison?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2811</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2811</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Is it possible that much of what companies do to prevent challenges actually contributes to its production?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 19 Jul 2006 09:23:15 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Hiring Practice Issues]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=82</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=82</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The hiring and firing processes utilized by an employer are two of the most fertile areas for potential litigation. Because an employer must keep in mind all of the statutory schemes governing employment when looking for and hiring a new employee and when firing an unsatisfactory one, employers can easily overlook a crucial and potentially devastating matter.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jul 2006 12:07:04 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[WAGE AND HOUR ISSUES - Minimum Wage]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=88</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=88</link>
			<description><![CDATA[This paper examines the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (&ldquo;FLSA&rdquo;). Section I examines the minimum wage requirements. Section II addresses what constitute hours worked under the FLSA. Sections III and IV discuss the overtime compensation requirements, with Section III reviewing which employees are exempt from overtime and Section IV explaining how to calculate the required overtime compensation.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 12 Jul 2006 11:19:43 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[EMPLOYING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, PART 1]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2846</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2846</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Want to enhance your workforce in your organization?
There is a fantastic resource available to you!]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 12 Jul 2006 10:33:33 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Did you miss the H-1B visa cap? - Part II]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2842</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2842</link>
			<description><![CDATA[All hope is not lost.  There are alternatives to H-1B visas.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 06 Jul 2006 08:39:56 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE, part 2]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2844</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2844</link>
			<description><![CDATA[This article will continue to discuss the subject of workplace violence. In part 1, we discussed the different forms in which workplace violence can manifest.
Workplace violence can range from threatening or offensive language and, in the most extreme cases, homicide.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 05 Jul 2006 12:57:29 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Controlling Costs and Achieving Better Health with CDHP]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2841</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2841</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A successful consumer-directed health plan is not about an acronym or an account, but about providing a reason for a consumer to enhance his or her healthcare purchasing behavior with information.
]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 30 Jun 2006 15:15:49 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[High Court Broadens Grounds for Retaliation Claims]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2838</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2838</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The US Supreme Court has held that employer actions less severe than those needed to establish a claim for discrimination can form the basis for a retaliation claim under Title VII.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jun 2006 08:49:04 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The Value of Independence]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2840</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2840</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Stability, Flexibility and Trust - what you need to keep control of costs and improve benefits for your employees.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jun 2006 10:50:37 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Protect Your Business]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=73</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=73</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Companies lose millions of dollars every year because they hire the wrong person for the job. While many employers are already familiar with the high cost of employee theft, they may be less aware of other, equally destructive employee behavior, such as filing false disability claims.Bad apples can do more than eat into your company&rsquo;s budget. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, 30 percent of businesses go under mainly because of poor hiring practices. Clearly, performing background checks on job candidates should be an essential part of your hiring process.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jun 2006 15:04:14 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Homeland Security Publishes Proposed Rule Outlining Employer Responses to Social Security "No Match" Letters]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2836</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2836</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has published a proposed rule to amend the regulations relating to the unlawful hiring or continued employment of unauthorized aliens (8 CFR ?274a). The amended regulation describes the legal obligations of an employer that receives a "No-Match Letter" from the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the DHS.
]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Jun 2006 15:26:00 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Update: Workers Compensation Claims]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=76</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=76</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Controlling workers compensation costs requires consistent investigation and a standard claims management processes. In an on-the-job injury or illness, something happened, somewhere, to somebody. In the realm of workers compensation the something, somewhere, and somebody are the landscape of the claim. Employers must ensure there are standard procedures in place that include having management survey the landscape by investigating what happened, how it happened, and who did what after it happened. Have a post accident check list that includes inspection of the physical location where the accident occurred, preserving any visual depictions of the area, and record the facts that your insurance company or attorney may need later if the employee files a workers compensation claim.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jun 2006 11:00:38 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Protecting Trade Secrets in the Hiring and Firing Process]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=75</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=75</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Virtually any information that is kept secret and is considered to be of value may constitute a trade secret. This includes not only scientific and technical data, but also marketing strategies, product formulas, customer lists, pricing or financial information or other information used in business. To protect such information, the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, which has been adopted in most states, provides for money damages and injunctive relief for the unauthorized disclosure or use of trade secrets, as well as the unauthorized acquisition of trade secrets where such information was acquired by improper means. Further, the federal Economic Espionage Act, 18 U.S.C. Section 1831, provides criminal penalties for theft of trade secrets affecting interstate commerce.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jun 2006 10:58:38 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Supreme Court Ruling Regarding Employee's Performance]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=74</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=74</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In a 5 to 4 opinion in Garcetti v. Ceballos (No. 04-473) authored by Justice Kennedy and joined by Justices Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, and Alito, the Supreme Court held that government employees who &ldquo;make statements pursuant to their official duties&rdquo; do not engage in speech protected under the First Amendment. The ruling involves a government lawyer&rsquo;s claim for protection from retaliation under the First Amendment, but also has significant implications for the private sector, which is subject to many state and federal statutes that protect private sector employees from retaliation. The opinion probably will be influential to state and federal courts faced with the question whether private sector employees who are merely performing their daily jobs may be viewed as engaging in legally protected activities under state and federal anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection statutes.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jun 2006 10:57:21 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Violence in the Workplace, part 1]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2835</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2835</link>
			<description><![CDATA[My motivation in writing this article series at this time is to put a spotlight on the vital issue of violence in the workplace. I had been planning to write this series in the future but now it takes precedence over other subjects. This week, a story unfolded in Santa Cruz, California that is very close, both in geographical proximity to my business, as well as on a personal level. 

On Wednesday evening, June 14, 2006, an applicant attorney, Jay Bloombecker, was shot and killed by a disgruntled injured worker. This incident occurred right in our community, where Mr. Bloombecker and his family reside. The situation has far-reaching impacts on both a professional and personal level. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jun 2006 10:35:53 CDT</pubDate>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[300 Benefit Managers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2830</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2830</link>
			<description><![CDATA[What 300 benefit managers were talking about last week: Consumer-Driven Health Plans and Health Awareness Strategies.
]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Jun 2006 12:01:37 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[DOL Issues Opinion Letter Limiting Employers' Ability to Make Deductions from Pay of Salaried Nonexempt Employees Paid Using Fluctuating Hours Method]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2828</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2828</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many employers take advantage of the fluctuating hours method of paying salaried nonexempt employees.  The DOL's Wage & Hour Division, however, recently issued an opinion letter pointing out an important drawback to the use of the method.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jun 2006 09:06:08 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Did you miss the H-1B visa cap? - Part I]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2825</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2825</link>
			<description><![CDATA[If you use H-1B visas, then you probably know that the annual quota for H-1B visas was reached at the end of May 2006.  That is frightening news.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jun 2006 08:43:19 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[DIVERSITY AND DISABILITY]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2824</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2824</link>
			<description><![CDATA[According to recent studies, the workforce of America is rapidly changing and growing more diverse in nature. It is anticipated that over the next few decades, the primary percentage of new growth in the workplace will be comprised of ethnic minorities, immigrants and women. It is also anticipated that the number of employees with disabilities will increase.

With labor shortages as a factor facing businesses in America, there is a very logical solution to hire the current generation of Americans with disabilities.
]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jun 2006 10:25:55 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[IS YOUR ORGANIZATION PREPARED TO COMBAT SEXUAL HARASSMENT LAWSUITS?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2820</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2820</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers need to be certain they are providing a comprehensive program that meets all Federal expectations, including preventive education for your employees. Such a program can include:

* Supervisor and management training. 
* Prevention compliance to meet Federal recommendations (EEOC) and state regulations. 
* Interactive discussions regarding less-than-obvious harassment. 
* Presentation of clear on-the-job rules for both male and female employees.
* How to prevent sexual harassment.
]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 31 May 2006 11:14:49 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[USERRA Regulations - Part I]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=64</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=64</link>
			<description><![CDATA[This is the first part of multiple part article which addresses the new Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (&ldquo;USERRA&rdquo;) Regulations which were recently promulgated by the United States Department of Labor (&ldquo;USDOL&rdquo;).1. INTRODUCTIONWith the increased number of deployments of active duty soldiers and the activation of thousands of military reservists following September 11, 2001, it is imperative that employers and attorneys be familiar with the USERRA, 38 U.S.C. &sect;&sect; 4301-4334. USERRA attempts to mitigate the financial losses an employee may endure as a consequence of service in the uniformed services and his or her return to work.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 May 2006 14:03:05 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Hiring Illegal Immigrants - Lawsuits by Legal Employees]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=65</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=65</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (C.I.S.), formerly known as the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (I.N.S.), requires employers to complete Form I-9 for each individual they hire for employment within three working days of the new employee&rsquo;s employment. On the form, the employer must verify the individual&rsquo;s employment eligibility by identifying documents presented by the employee and recording the document information on the Form I-9. Acceptable documents for this purpose are listed on the back of the Form I-9 and at the end of this article. (See Tables A-C for a listing of these documents.)]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 May 2006 14:03:02 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Analyzing Past Investigations: An Investment in the Future]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=66</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=66</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Workplace complaint investigations are a necessary part of every human resource practice. When the investigation is over, we breathe a sigh of relief and, all too often, put it behind us. If we never go back, however, we miss an important opportunity to analyze complaints and the resulting investigations for trends, potential process improvements, and results. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 May 2006 14:02:59 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Non-Compete Agreements: Getting What You Bargained For?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=67</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=67</link>
			<description><![CDATA[According to the English philosopher Francis Bacon, &ldquo;A man must make his opportunity as oft as find it.&rdquo; Preventing a person from making his opportunity runs counter to the American ethos that a person should have the freedom to work wherever and whenever the person desires. This notion has been tempered by contractual and equitable principles that a person can bargain away or limit his freedom to work under certain circumstances as manifested in non-compete agreements (or covenants not to compete). Courts loathe to deprive someone of the ability to make a living. The following commentary is a generic discussion of this kind of an agreement.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 May 2006 14:02:23 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Top 20 FMLA Questions]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=68</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=68</link>
			<description><![CDATA[1. Do Employers Have To Tell Employees that FMLA Leave Is Available?2. Does the Employee Have To Give the Employer Notice of Intent To TakeLeave?&nbsp;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 May 2006 14:00:50 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Not-So-Comprehensive Immigration Reform]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2808</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2808</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A vote on immigration reform is likely in the coming days.  But is the proposed legislation a real solution?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 May 2006 11:49:07 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[We've Been Through This Before]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2810</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2810</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Attention Health Care Shoppers, you have already experienced what is going on around you the last time you bought a car, researched real estate, invested, purchased music or a book, or looked for the latest news. ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 May 2006 08:51:03 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Doctor Google]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2809</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2809</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Health Care Consumerism Just Took a Huge Leap Forward

Now when you go to Google and type in a health related search you will find different options that will make searching for health care related information easier.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 May 2006 08:49:15 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION: WHAT EMPLOYERS NEED TO KNOW]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2807</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2807</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Sexual Harassment Prevention: This is the first in a series of informational articles on this important subject. Through this article series, we will discuss sexual harassment, what it is, what it is not, some strategies, and work toward instituting measures to ensure that the workplace is a safe and respectful environment.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 19 May 2006 09:03:40 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Want to withhold payment for unused vacation upon termination?  Make sure you can.]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2806</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2806</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It happens all the time.  An employee departs either voluntarily or involuntarily under unpleasant circumstances.  The employer believes the employee isnt deserving of receiving a check?often a sizable one?for unused vacation.  So, the employer simply pays the employee their base pay through the last day worked.  Permissible?  Sometimes.  Sometimes not.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 May 2006 00:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[CDHP controls costs]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2804</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=2804</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Heres what I know:  consumer-driven health plans (CDHP), structured correctly, can control costs for employers, provide employees the financial resource necessary to obtain health care services and improve benefits for companies that have been hit with increase, after increase, after increase, after increase?

I make that statement based on the renewal rates for companies (more than 250) I know are taking advantage of consumer-driven health care plans.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 10 May 2006 00:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Documenting Your Way Out Of Trouble]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=9</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=9</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Sometimes you may get the feeling that judges and legislators have complete control over your employment relationship with your employees. While there are laws that regulate some aspects of employment anti-discrimination statutes, workers compensation acts, wage and hour rules, for example,the law also recognizes a simple yet powerful tool for controlling the terms of the employment relationship documentation. Here is what documentation can do for you...]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 14 Apr 2006 10:29:14 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[OFCCP Regulations on]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=59</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=59</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs' (OFCCP) final regulations defining &quot;Internet Applicants&quot; and setting forth new recordkeeping requirements went into effect on February 6, 2006. Although the regulations are already in effect, OFCCP has stated that it will exercise enforcement discretion for a period of 90 days. During that time, the department will not cite a contractor for purely technical recordkeeping violations where the contractor is taking reasonable steps to update its systems to comply with the rules and is maintaining records according to previously established procedures.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 14 Apr 2006 10:26:40 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Know Who Is An Employee]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=15</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=15</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The creation of an employer-employee relationship imposes many obligations on the employer verifying authorization to work on the I-9 form, providing workers' compensation insurance, paying payroll taxes, and on and on. Many businesses try to avoid those obligations by classifying some workers as independent contractors, or 1099 workers. Too frequently, such classifications are made without sufficient attention to the applicable legal standards, leading to possible liability for unpaid taxes, overtime and other obligations. The government agencies with an interest in the obligations that flow from the employer-employee relationship are always looking for violators from whom they can extract money owed and penalties.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 14 Apr 2006 10:25:48 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Lighten The Evaluation Load]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=61</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=61</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many managers view employee performance evaluations as a bothersome chore. After all, compiling an annual evaluation for each employee is time-consuming and distracting, especially for those who supervise large numbers of employees. If evaluations are done near the anniversary of the date each person was hired, it can be a never-ending process. As a result, managers sometimes take shortcuts and overlook strengths, weaknesses and accomplishments that are critical to an employee's future.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Mar 2006 16:28:45 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Family And Medical Leave Act Clarified By D.O.L. Opinion]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=60</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=60</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Administering the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is enough to give even the most patient human resources professional a migraine. Faced with new and creative requests by employees for time off, employers are looking for guidance in navigating FMLA regulations pertaining to medical certification.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 01 Mar 2006 17:48:45 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[It's Time to Update Your Employee Handbook]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=58</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=58</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Most all of us have our list of New Year&rsquo;s resolutions. The question
for employers is&hellip; Is a review of your organization&rsquo;s
Employee Handbook on that list? If you&rsquo;re like most employers,
this is something you know you need to do, but may not have the time,
expertise, resources, or motivation to tackle. Here are a few things that
just might motivate you to move that Handbook to the top of your
list&hellip;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 01 Mar 2006 10:56:24 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Strong Organizations Start with Careful Interviewing]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=54</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=54</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Do you have the right people in your company? Before you say
&ldquo;yes,&rdquo; have you ever hired the wrong person for a job?
It&rsquo;s a very easy mistake to make, isn&rsquo;t it?  Would you like to
attract more of the right people if you could?  In his well-known book
Good to Great, Jim Collins writes, &ldquo;Those who build great
organizations understand that the ultimate throttle on growth for any
great organization is not markets, or technology, or competition, or
products. It is one thing above all others: the ability to get and keep
enough of the right people.&rdquo;]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2006 14:16:38 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Reconsideration of Stock Valuations for Equity Compensation Programs]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=56</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=56</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The recent adoption of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (&ldquo;Code&rdquo;) has prompted significant concerns about valuation practices relating to stock options and other forms of equity compensation. This Legal Update gives an overview of Code Section 409A and its impact on stock option valuation and provides guidance on how to address its valuation requirements going forward.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2006 07:29:30 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Roth 401(k) Contributions]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=57</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=57</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In March 2005 the Treasury Department issued proposed regulations that would permit 401(k) plans to allow participants to make Roth contributions to the plan. We expect the proposed regulations will eventually be finalized and that many participants will find the new Roth 401(k) an attractive alternative to saving for retirement.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2006 07:28:53 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Issues in Accommodating  Mental Disabled Under the ADA]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=55</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=55</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A top-performing employee is diagnosed with depression and now says her medication makes it impossible for her to get to work on time; must an employer change her work schedule? A job applicant who volunteers that he is intellectually disabled states he can perform his job, but only with a job coach; is that a reasonable accommodation? Are you prepared to answer these questions &ndash; and more?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2006 07:11:07 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Disease Management: Legal Implications]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=43</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=43</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Health plans and employers in general continually struggle to control
health care costs. Over the past several years, many plans have turned to
disease management and wellness programs (collectively,&quot;DM
Programs&quot;) to control health care costs. However, the legal aspects
of DM Programs are frequently not fully appreciated when a DM Program is
implemented. This article provides an overview of the legal issues
associated with a DM Program.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2006 00:00:00 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employers Beware: Sarbanes-Oxley Requires Reinstatement for Real]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=25</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=25</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Three years after the whistleblower provisions of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 were passed, it has become clear that
litigation of Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower cases differs in several
critical respects from litigation of other employment disputes. This
article will provide a brief overview of the Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower
provisions, and then discuss how unique features of those provisions have
led to results that would be unusual in other types of employment
litigation.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2006 14:13:27 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Section 409A Year-End Checklist]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=49</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=49</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The new requirements relating to deferred compensation under section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code are effective January 1, 2005. Although the due date for amending plans to comply with section 409A is generally December 31, 2006, there are several earlier compliance dates under the proposed Treasury regulations. Plans have to be administered in compliance with section 409A as of January 1, 2005, and certain plan amendments and actions have to be made or taken by December 31, 2005.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2006 09:54:25 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Medicare Part D - Creditable Coverage Disclosure to CMS]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=51</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=51</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On January 4, the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) issued long-awaited guidance on the obligation for entities to inform CMS of whether prescription drug coverage is creditable for purposes of Medicare Part D. The guidance mandates that most entities providing prescription drug coverage complete an electronic Creditable Coverage Disclosure in order to inform CMS of whether the coverage is creditable or noncreditable.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2006 09:50:43 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Retaliation Claims: An Increasing Problem for Employers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=50</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=50</link>
			<description><![CDATA[With increasing frequency, employers are facing claims of retaliation.
According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the
number of retaliation claims filed with that agency has doubled over a
10-year period, and now represent more than a quarter of all claims filed.
Lawsuits alleging retaliation are also on the rise.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2006 06:26:34 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Big Brother? - "Can I Be Fired For What I Do On My Own Time?"]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=52</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=52</link>
			<description><![CDATA[&ldquo;Off-the-clock&rdquo; conduct is increasingly resulting in costs to employers. Additionally, off-duty conduct that has long added to cost for employers (such as smoking or other unhealthy conduct) is now being identified and measured. In an attempt to control costs, employers are responding by implementing policies to limit their costs related to off-duty conduct. In doing so, however, employer interests are colliding with interests and values of their employees. At what point do employer attempts to limit their own liability reach too far into the personal lives of their employees?]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2006 07:31:27 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Criminal History Checks and The Fair Credit Reporting Act]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=53</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=53</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many employers are required by law to perform criminal history checks prior
to making permanent offers of employment to certain types of employees.
Other employers conduct pre-offer criminal history checks on applicants
for certain jobs. Recently, we were asked if criminal history checks
performed by an employer on certain categories of employees were subject
to the provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (&ldquo;FCRA&rdquo;).]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2006 07:13:01 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Avoiding Pitfalls In Job Interviews]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=47</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=47</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Employers can be sued in connection with decisions not to hire a
prospective employee or not to promote an existing employee based on
conduct that occurs in a job interview. The good news for employers is
that most of the reported cases involving actions arising out of a job
interview have eventually been resolved in favor of the employer. However,
such cases undoubtedly cost employers substantial legal fees. Also, many
cases are settled prior to trial at a significant cost to employers.
Clearly, it is a better idea to avoid situations that can give rise to
claims instead of defending such claims in court.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sat, 10 Dec 2005 10:02:31 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Benefit Plan Sponsors Impacted By Recent Hurricanes]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=46</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=46</link>
			<description><![CDATA[In recent months, the Internal Revenue Service (&ldquo;IRS&rdquo;), Department of Labor (&ldquo;DOL&rdquo;), and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (&ldquo;PBGC&rdquo;) have provided relief for individuals and employers impacted by recent hurricanes in the south eastern part of the United States. This article provides a brief summary of some of the relief available to sponsors of employee benefit plans and plan participants impacted by hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. Generally, certain relief is available to employers and participants located or residing in presidentially designated areas in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, and Florida. However, not all relief is available to employers and participants in each of those areas.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Sat, 10 Dec 2005 09:09:16 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[FLSA Employers Must Pay From Beginning to End]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=48</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=48</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Walking is actually an Olympic sport. Sadly, it produces virtually no
income for participants. However, thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court,
walking recently became more lucrative. Earlier this month, the High Court
held that the Fair Labor Standards Act required a prominent meatpacking
company to pay employees for time spent walking to workstations after
donning and doffing required protective gear. Alvarez v. IBP and
Tum v. Barber Foods were decided November 8 in a single opinion
by a unanimous Court and are available at IBP Inc. v. Alvarez,
126 S. Ct. 514 (2005). Those two opinions patched significant holes in the
Court&rsquo;s existing FLSA precedents.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 09 Dec 2005 15:16:55 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Time's Up - When Is 12 Weeks of Leave Not Enough?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=45</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=45</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The length of an employee&rsquo;s medical leave of absence can include
considerations under the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Americans
With Disabilities Act and state equivalent laws, if any. Although both
federal laws may be implicated, the FMLA and the ADA differ in terms of
their purpose, coverage, and requirements. It is well-settled now that the
FMLA permits eligible employees to take up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave
for a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform
the essential functions of their job.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 09 Dec 2005 14:53:58 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employee Identity Theft Becomes a Growing Concern for Employers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=41</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=41</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A few years ago, identity theft was an occasional topic of conversation in the national press as a relatively rare criminal activity largely left to the attention of state and local law enforcement authorities. Today, the subject is everywhere in the media; it's a felony under the federal Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998; and it ranks as the nation's top consumer fraud complaint, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2005 09:26:03 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employers' Obligations in the Event of an Emergency]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=42</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=42</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita serves as a graphic reminder
for businesses that they need to revisit their emergency preparedness
plans and consider how they might respond in the event of an emergency. An
employer that fails to take reasonable steps to prepare for and respond to
emergencies will not only suffer greater immediate physical and financial
impact from the event but also may be liable for losses incurred by
employees, surviving relatives and investors. In the event of a natural
disaster or other emergency, numerous employment laws may be implicated.
This article will touch upon a few of those laws and provide some advice
to employers in terms of how they can prepare for such disasters.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2005 16:08:08 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Soundbytes for Supervisors: Lessons Learned in the Recent Past]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=44</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=44</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The everyday actions and decisions of your supervisors are the foundation
of your organization&rsquo;s employment practices. It is crucial that you
effectively arm these individuals with the tools to make sound decisions.
Hiring and/or developing supervisors with a proven track record and
providing training on preventing workplace discrimination is a good start;
however, it is also important to periodically refresh supervisors on these
concepts and keep them updated on recent developments and trends, with a
particular emphasis on how these concepts impact their daily dealings with
employees.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 07 Nov 2005 11:50:38 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Pension Reform Legislation]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=40</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=40</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Administration, the House (the Pension Protection Act of 2005) and the
Senate (the National Employee Savings and Trust Equity Guaranty Act of
2005) have proposed legislation affecting qualified retirement plans and,
in particular, the funding of defined benefit pension plans. Effective
dates are for the 2006 or 2007 plan year depending on the proposal. While
there are significant differences in these proposals, the following common
themes exist:]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 07 Nov 2005 11:45:32 CST</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Pre-Employment Personality Testing May Violate the ADA]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=36</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=36</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has recently ruled that an employer violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when it used a personality test on prospective managers. In Karraker v. Rent-A-Center, Inc. (2005 WL 1389443), the employer required prospective managers to take the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), a test that the employer said was used to measure personality traits. However, the MMPI is often used to help diagnose mental disorders such as depression, hypochondriasis, hysteria, paranoia and mania.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2005 11:25:15 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Reviewing Your Interviewing: A Refresher]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=37</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=37</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Let&rsquo;s face it. Hiring decisions are some of the most critical
decisions that an employer makes. Even under the best circumstances, the
costs of training and orienting a new employee are significant. A poor
hiring decision increases those costs dramatically. Nonetheless, in many
organizations the selection process is haphazard, with time crunched
managers squeezing interviews into an already crowded schedule. The stakes
are too high. Take the time to review the hiring process and give guidance
to those who will interview the candidates &ndash; it will yield a better
hiring decision and facilitate an easier transition for the organization
and the new employee.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2005 11:23:40 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[What Employers Need to Know About Retaliation Claims]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=39</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=39</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Moving up the list of the most common types of employment related challenges by terminated employees are claims of retaliation. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the number of retaliation claims filed with that agency has doubled over a 10-year period, and now represent more than a quarter of all claims filed. Lawsuits alleging retaliation are also on the rise.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2005 13:09:27 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Layoffs: A 12-Step Program for Getting Through Down(sizing) Times]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=38</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=38</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Many companies have experienced layoffs over the past few years, and the worst of the bad times may be over. Still, as every human resource professional knows, corporate reorganizations, including outsourcing, mergers, and acquisitions, continue apace. Whether emanating from sourcing, a merger, an acquisition, or simply due to a corporate restructure or cost-cutting measure &ndash; or any combination thereof &ndash; the elimination of positions and resulting separation of employees means the same thing from a human resource perspective:  layoffs.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2005 12:51:06 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Preparing For Roth 401(K) Plan Accounts]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=35</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=35</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Starting in 2006, plan sponsors can allow participants to make after&#8209;tax Roth contributions to 401(k) or 403(b) plans through a qualified Roth contribution program. Roth contributions are available under new Internal Revenue Code (the &quot;Code&quot;) section 402A, which was added by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (&quot;EGTRRA&quot;). ]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2005 12:47:18 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New Regulations On Disposal Of Consumer Report Information]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=18</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=18</link>
			<description><![CDATA[On December 4, 2003, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003,
Pub L. 108-159, 117 Stat. 1952 (&ldquo;FACT Act&rdquo;) was signed into
law. The FACT Act amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act
(&ldquo;FCRA&rdquo;), 15 U.S.C. &sect; 1681 et seq., by requiring that
&ldquo;any person that maintains or otherwise possesses consumer
information, or any compilation of consumer information, derived from
consumer reports for a business purpose to properly dispose of any such
information or compilation.&rdquo; Regulations were added, effective June
1, 2005, to assist businesses in complying with the record disposal rule
imposed by the FACT Act.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Sep 2005 13:24:15 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Trade Secrets: Protecting Trade Secrets When Employees Terminate]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=32</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=32</link>
			<description><![CDATA[One of the most likely times to lose trade secret protection occurs when an
employee leaves the company. If there are feelings of resentment, the
employee may want to harm the employer by revealing its secrets, thereby
diminishing its competitive edge. The employee may also mistakenly feel
that he or she will be more valuable to a new employer if such information
is used for the benefit of the new employer.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Sep 2005 06:53:22 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Revised Fair Labor Standards Act Regulations: One Year Later]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=34</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=34</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Last August, the U.S. Department of Labor issued final regulations
governing employees who are exempt from the overtime provisions of the
Fair Labor Standards Act (&ldquo;FLSA&rdquo;). The Department of Labor
estimated that the new regulations would extend overtime protection to 1.3
million employees who were not previously eligible for overtime pay.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Sep 2005 10:08:44 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Employers Face New Risks Including FMLA Claims In Their Releases]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=31</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=31</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The common employer practice of including Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) claims in general releases is now in jeopardy after the Fourth Circuit&rsquo;s recent decision in Taylor v. Progress Energy, No. 04-1525 (4th Cir. July 20, 2005). Although it is unclear whether other U.S. Courts of Appeals or the U.S. Supreme Court will follow Taylor, employers in the Fourth Circuit must now seek prior approval by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) or a court for a release of FMLA claims to be valid.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Sep 2005 11:14:04 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Disparate Impact and Age Discrimination: Hidden Threat to Employers]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=30</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=30</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Most employers and human resource managers assume that, as long as they do not intend to discriminate against current and potential employees, they will not be liable for claims of discrimination&mdash;unfortunately, this is not always correct! Under the &ldquo;disparate impact&rdquo; theory of liability, employers can be liable for discriminatory damages regardless of their good intentions.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Sep 2005 06:58:05 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[BAPCPA Act of 2005 Adds Benefits Provisions]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=33</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=33</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The most heavily publicized provisions of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (the &ldquo;Act&rdquo;), signed into law on April 20, 2005, limited the availability of bankruptcy relief for debtors by establishing a means test that a debtor must pass before filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, also known as liquidation bankruptcy. Yet, there are significant provisions of the Act that focus on employee benefits and executive compensation. These changes, described below, are generally effective as of October 17, 2005.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Sep 2005 06:50:41 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Alleged Misclassification of Stock Brokers Leads To Large Settlement]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=29</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=29</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A recent announcement that Merrill Lynch has proposed to settle a class action overtime lawsuit on behalf of its stockbrokers for $37 million emphasizes the high stakes that accompany classification decisions. If San Francisco federal judge Maxine M. Chesney approves the settlement on September 9, up to 3,000 brokers will share the settlement with their lawyers, earning payments of $10,000 to $15,000 each.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Mon, 15 Aug 2005 12:23:12 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Blogging in the workplace: Is your company prepared?]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=27</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=27</link>
			<description><![CDATA[An estimated eight million American adults publish their own web logs, or
&ldquo;blogs.&rdquo; These are online personal diaries in which the
authors spout opinions on current affairs, politics, sports, or any number
of other subjects, often under a pseudonym. You might not think people
would be interested in reading a stranger&rsquo;s web site, but blogs can
be powerful communication tools &mdash; they are read by some 32 million
people.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 10 Aug 2005 15:37:20 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Conducting an Employment Relations Audit]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=26</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=26</link>
			<description><![CDATA[A proactive approach to employment issues can pay substantial dividends in reduced legal challenges and associated costs. Many employers find that the best time to review and revise their employment practices is before a potentially costly and disruptive issue arises.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 10 Aug 2005 15:32:13 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[New Interest in Enforcement of Labor]]></title>
			<guid>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=28</guid>
			<link>http://www.hrresource.com/articles/view.php?article_id=28</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced that it will depart from its longstanding policy of not aggressively enforcing the reporting requirements for employers and labor organizations under the Labor-Management Reporting Disclosure Act (LMRDA). In early July 2005, the DOL announced its intention to begin actively enforcing this reporting requirement for both employers and labor organizations. This new DOL policy is especially dangerous for employers because it can result in both criminal and civil penalties against the employer and its officers, in their individual capacity, for failing to meet the reporting requirements.]]></description>
			<pubDate>Wed, 10 Aug 2005 15:26:47 CDT</pubDate>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>