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Allison Grace Articles

Written by: Allison Grace

33 Ways To Motivate Your Employees - Click To Read Article
Motivating employees has always been a challenging issue. On the one hand, we can say that it's not possible to motivate employees at all - people typically do what they want to do; they are motivated for their own reasons, not for your reasons. On the other hand, research has shown that there is a strong relationship between happy employees and productivity. So how do you ensure that your employees are happy and motivated?

New York Commuter Tax - Click To Read Article
The state of New York recently passed legislation funding the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which serves the 12-county region of New York City. The legislation includes a new payroll tax on wages and compensation paid to employees who are employed within the New York Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD).

What Are You Legally Required to Pay Employees at Termination? - Click To Read Article
Quick summary of what is commonly paid at termination.

Acing a Telephone Interview - Click To Read Article
Guidelines for candidates to follow in preparing for and participating in telephone interviews.

Seven Steps To Downsizing - Click To Read Article
If you're like other companies that are scrambling to stay afloat in this economy, you might be considering downsizing. Letting someone go is always a difficult decision, so make sure you are acting rationally and intelligently when you're forced to downsize. Layoffs create risks for businesses. Employees may view a lawsuit as a way to minimize the impact on their personal finances. The savings you'll generate on your payroll and benefits costs may be negated by legal costs. Follow these guidelines to make sound decisions and avoid the costs of litigation.

Top 5 Reasons To Develop An Employee Handbook - Click To Read Article
Do I really need an employee handbook? This question comes up so many times, especially from small business owners, and the answer is YES! But the reasons may not be what you think.

Cafeteria Plan Rules Require Employer Action - Click To Read Article
Failure to meet the requirements of Code Section 125 will result in benefits being taxable to all employees participating in the cafeteria plan. Therefore, it is imperative that employers prepare to meet these new requirements now. Given the significant consequences for noncompliance, employers should take immediate note of the following and engage the services of a qualified professional to ensure compliance prior to the anticipated effective date of January 1, 2010.

Engaging Your Employees During Difficult Economic Times - Click To Read Article
Tips for keeping your employees engaged when times are tough.

Developing High Potential Employees - Click To Read Article
Every company has rising stars - the select groups of employees with the potential to one day lead the company - and most realize that these "high-potential employees" are critical to their future success. The challenge for managers lies in motivating, retaining and ultimately developing these high potentials into leadership positions. Here are some ways for you to address this challenge.

Top Ten Mistakes That Lead To Employment Law Problems - Click To Read Article
The workplace continues to change. It's becoming more diverse, more regulated, and more unpredictable. The challenges and risks facing employers today have never been greater. What mistakes expose employers most? Here's a brief overview of the ten biggest legal mistakes employers make.

The Importance of Exit Interviews - Click To Read Article
Exit interviews can be a valuable source of information beyond learning the reasons why employees are leaving your company. When exit interviews are done well, they can uncover issues that can be addressed before they turn into lawsuits - issues such as harassment, discrimination and workplace violence. They can also provide information on how to improve procedures and can identify the programs in the company that are highly valued. Exit interviews can provide you with honest, focused feedback that you can act upon in your own time frame.

Supreme Court Ruling May Lead To More Unionization - Click To Read Article
The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that labor unions and corporations are permitted to spend as much as they want on their own campaign ads to support or oppose federal political candidates will have a significant impact on employers who face union interference with their workforce.

Rehiring After Layoff - Click To Read Article
Employers who have laid off employees during the past couple of years may now find themselves in a situation where they want to rehire some of those employees as the economy turns around. Before rehiring, employers will need to review a number of benefits issues to ensure compliance with separation agreements, employee handbooks and Internal Revenue Codes, just to name a few.

Protect Intellectual Property When Employees Leave - Click To Read Article
When employees leave a company, managers and HR professionals should follow a process to ensure the protection of the company's intellectual property.

Performance Review Disagreements - Click To Read Article
What do you do when an employee disagrees with something you've written on their performance review?

Managing Employee Use of Social Media - Click To Read Article
The use of social media has exploded in the last few years and it's clear that it isn't going away anytime soon. While it may have started as a way for people to connect socially online, it's now a big part of business as well. But this huge growth in social networking and media sites presents yet another management problem - how can employers ensure their employees are focusing on their jobs and not spending all day in the office checking their status updates and finding old college buddies online?

More Discrimination Lawsuits Expected in 2010 - Click To Read Article
More discrimination suits can be expected in the future and employers need to make sure they have proper procedures and policies in place so as to mitigate the risk of such claims.

Improving Annual Performance Reviews - Click To Read Article
Employees and managers alike complain about the annual performance review process being a tedious, biased, ineffective morale-buster. A 2007 study of 2,200 employees by Salary.com found that more than 60% of workers say reviews don't do anything to help their future performance. Nearly eight in ten companies conduct performance appraisals, and of those, 72% report being only somewhat satisfied, not very satisfied or extremely dissatisfied with the process, according to a 2006 SuccessFactors study of 1,000 HR professionals. So why have a performance appraisal system in place when everyone is so unhappy with them?

How To Retain Top Talent During An Economic Recovery - Click To Read Article
To prepare for the economic recovery that is coming our way, employers should focus now on boosting employee engagement in order to keep key employees when the economy recovers, the job market is expanded and more attractive employment opportunities arise elsewhere. Many skilled employees may be frustrated by the actions of their employers during the recession and are just waiting for the opportunity to run for the doors.

Fake Job Reference Services - Click To Read Article
You may have heard about new web-based services that are offering fake work histories and references for job seekers. In tough economic times, some unemployed job seekers are taking desperate measures to make up for a spotty work history or poor references. As an employer, this means it's more important than ever that you conduct due diligence on potential employees before you hire them.

Enforcement Audits and Investigations to Increase in 2010 - Click To Read Article
In 2010, all of the federal agencies responsible for enforcing federal employment laws will step up enforcement audits and investigations.

Creative Rewards on a Budget - Click To Read Article
When cash is tight, business leaders may need to get creative to attract, retain, support and fully engage key employees. The following suggestions require minimal investment but can represent sustainable alternatives that truly satisfy what employees need and want.

Cost-Cutting Actions Lead to Decline in Morale - Click To Read Article
The 2009/2010 U.S. Strategic Rewards Survey conducted by Watson Wyatt and WorldatWork, found that cost-cutting actions made by U.S. employers in 2009 to deal with the economic downturn have contributed to a sharp decline in the morale and commitment of their workers, especially top performers.

How To Create an Employee Incentive Program - Click To Read Article
Interview with Allison Grace in the Charlotte Business Journal about incentive programs. By Bea Quirk, March 23, 2007

Seven Steps to Avoid Employee Lawsuits - Click To Read Article
Labor and employment disputes represent the top litigation threat to the majority of U.S. corporations, so it's no wonder that a major fear for business leaders is the fear of employee lawsuits.

US Court of Appeals Rules on FMLA Waivers - Click To Read Article
Summary of US Court of Appeals ruling that forbids the waiver of rights under the FMLA, including in releases signed in exchange for severance pay.

Helping Staff Recover After A Layoff - Click To Read Article
Layoffs are wrenching for companies in many ways. First, there is the sobering reality that layoffs are necessary for the bottom line. Next come the anguishing decisions about what areas to cut, followed by the unpleasant task of sharing the news. No wonder company leaders want to wash their hands of this matter once they hand out the severance packages.

Expansion of Employee Retaliation Protection - Click To Read Article
Actions that employers should take in response to the Supreme Court's expansion of employee retaliation protection provided by Title VII.

Do's and Don'ts of Reference Checks - Click To Read Article
Checklist of what you should and shouldn't do when it comes to providing references.

Compensation Clawbacks - Click To Read Article
In light of recent events in the financial markets, employers are exploring the use of "clawbacks" to recover bonus compensation payable to employees. Clawbacks are contractual provisions that allow employers to recoup compensation paid to employees in the event of an employee's misconduct and/or termination of employment, or voluntary departure to go and work for a competitor. There are special legal issues that may arise in drafting, negotiating and enforcing such clawbacks that employers need to be aware of to ensure compliance.

Dealing with Performance Review Disagreements - Click To Read Article
What do you do when an employee disagrees with something you've written on their performance review? Here are five tips to help you prepare for potential disagreements during performance reviews and how to deal with them effectively.

What You Need To Know Before You Terminate - Click To Read Article
Summary of Federal WARN Act notice provisions and event triggers. And information about WARN Act Updates affecting New York employers.

What the Fair Pay Act Means For Your Business - Click To Read Article
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was signed into law this year and may mean an increase in pay discrimination claims. Read this summary of actions you can take to protect your business.

Victory for Starbucks in Tip-Pooling Class Action - Click To Read Article
A California appeals court has reversed an $87 million award in a tip-pooling class action lawsuit brought against Starbuck's on behalf of the retail chain's baristas (coffee servers). The reversal is a stunning victory for Starbucks and the hospitality industry overall.

Top 5 Warning Signs Your Employees Are Looking For A New Job - Click To Read Article
Signs your employees are looking for a new job.

Top 5 Types of Assistance Offered to Laid Off Workers - Click To Read Article
Benefits provided to laid off workers.

Top 5 Employee Retention Mistakes - Click To Read Article
Yes, it's an employer's market and there are plenty of capable people looking for work in the current economic climate. But now isn't the time to sit back and assume your employees have no options available to them so you can ignore them or treat them poorly. Many employers are making these costly employee retention mistakes.

The Importance of Job Descriptions - Click To Read Article
The EEOC recently published its Best Practices to assist employers in avoiding violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act as it relates to employees with caregiving responsibilities (read more about avoiding caregiver discrimination claims at instanthrsolutions.com). One of the recommendations is that employers develop "specific, job-related qualification standards" to ensure that hiring decisions are based on an applicant's qualifications, rather than on his or her personal caregiving responsibilities. The same holds true for any other protected category under federal equal employment opportunity laws, including race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability, or age.

Quick Tips For Hiring In A Recession - Click To Read Article
Companies that are surviving and even thriving in an economic downturn face the daunting task of sifting through a mountain of job applications for any position they have open. Successful recruiting in this kind of economy boils down to information management. Hiring managers need to take advantage of the high supply in the job market and pull in the right people who can take your company to the next level.

Preparing for Recovery - Click To Read Article
The economic upheaval of the past year has undoubtedly impacted your business in some manner, and we can only imagine what the journey will be like for the next couple of months. The government and the media tell us the economy is turning around, and we're all hoping that's true. Whether it's the latter part of this year or the first quarter of next year, the question is, are you ready?

New laws governing the confidentiality of social security numbers affect Connecticut employers - Click To Read Article
Summary of new regulations that cover Connecticut employers and employee privacy.

New laws protect the privacy of Social Security numbers for New York residents - Click To Read Article
Quick summary of legislation in New York regarding employers' responsibility for privacy of Social Security numbers.

New York State Passes Broadcast Employees Freedom To Work Act - Click To Read Article
New York State Broadcast employers are prohibited from using non-compete agreements as a condition of employment.

New Legislation Affecting Illinois Employers And Reporting of Electronically Transmitted Child Pornography - Click To Read Article
The State of Illinois recently amended the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act and now requires that technology workers and their employers report child pornography discovered on information technology equipment to the appropriate authorities.

Massachusetts Enacts Legislation To Protect Personal Information - Click To Read Article
Massachusetts has joined other states, including California, Texas, New York, Oregon, and Maryland, to enact legislation that protects the privacy of personal information. The regulations apply to any businesses or individuals that own, license, store or maintain personal information about a state resident.

Mental Health Benefits Update - Click To Read Article
Private group health benefit plans that provide mental health and/or substance use disorder benefits as well as medical and surgical benefits, are now required by this Act to do so on an equivalent basis.

Managing In The New Economy - Click To Read Article
Business leaders and managers should be developing a strategy about how they will lead and retain employees who are impacted by the economic changes of the past year. Following are tips for managing in this "new economy".

Is Outsourcing HR Right For Your Business? - Click To Read Article
Whether you currently have a full-time Human Resources professional on board, or an office manager who is handling basic HR responsibilities, an external Human Resources consultant, such as Instant HR Solutions, can complement your existing structure or lack thereof.

Increase in Government Immigration Enforcement Activities - Click To Read Article
Worksite enforcement activities continue to be expanded by the federal government resulting in significant increases in fines and criminal arrests of company owners and managers. Read more about what you need to do to protect yourself and your business.

Increase in Qualified Transportation Benefit - Click To Read Article
Read this summary if you currently provide or are considering providing transportation benefits to your employees.

Illegal Workers Protected by FLSA - Click To Read Article
Summary of a recent court decision that confirms illegal workers are protected by overtime provisions.

ICE Launches Workplace Immigration Crackdown - Click To Read Article
Earlier this year, the Obama administration broke with a previous policy that targeted undocumented workers for deportation, and implemented instead a strategy to go after U.S. employers hiring illegal immigrants. In keeping with this new focus, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") announced on July 1, 2009 that is has issued 652 Notices of Inspection to businesses that it suspects of violating immigration laws.

How To Avoid Caregiver Discrimination Claims - Click To Read Article
In April 2009, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") published its Best Practices to assist employers in complying with federal anti-discrimination laws as they relate to workers with caregiving responsibilities. The Best Practices are not binding on employers and do not make caregivers a newly protected category under federal law. Rather, these are suggestions from the EEOC to encourage employers to consider "the ways in which family-friendly workplace policies can improve workers' ability to balance caregiving responsibilities with work." The EEOC asserts that these recommendations may also benefit an employers' workers, customer-base and bottom line by improving employee retention, increasing profitability and reducing costs associated with high employee turnover.

Health Benefits for Dependent Children - Click To Read Article
Michelle's Law extends eligibility for group health benefit plan coverage to certain dependent children over the age of 18 who are enrolled in an institution of higher education.

Genetic Tests and Group Health Plans - Click To Read Article
The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) amends ERISA to restrict the collection and use of genetic information in connection with group health benefits.

First Impressions Count - Click To Read Article
Tips for getting off to a good start during your first 30 days in a new job.

Five Strategies To Reduce Your Recruiting Costs - Click To Read Article
Economic concerns are causing many businesses to look at all operating costs and find ways to reduce expenses, including the cost of finding and hiring qualified candidates. If using a recruiter doesn't fit in your budget right now, and expensive advertising is yielding so many resumes from unemployed candidates who are desperate for work that you can't manage the inflow, here are five strategies you can implement immediately to reduce your recruiting expenses and find qualified candidates.

Federal Minimum Wage Increase - Click To Read Article
REMINDER: On July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage will be increased to $7.25 per hour from the current level of $6.55, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Employee Behaviors That Can Kill Your Business - Click To Read Article
It's important to clarify for your employees what behaviors are deal breakers at your company. At the very least, the following four behaviors should not be tolerated and should lead to immediate or ultimate termination, depending on the nature of the infraction.

Changes to COBRA Require Employer Action - Click To Read Article
Summary of the COBRA subsidy included in the stimulus package and action that employers must take to comply.

Benefits of Hiring Older Workers - Click To Read Article
By 2016, it is expected that 1 out of 3 workers will be 50 years of age or older. A labor shortage, as much as 30% by 2030, is expected as boomers continue to mature. Employers who learn how to attract and keep older workers will be able to fill the expected shortfall.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Update - Click To Read Article
Summary of changes to the Americans with Disabilites Act that require employer action.

Attracting the Next Generation of Workers - Click To Read Article
Facing the expected retirement of millions of baby boomers and a smaller pool of Generation X employees to replace them, managers will need the help of another group of professionals: Generation Y. Also known as Millennials, this group consists of more than 80 million individuals born approximately between 1979 and 1999. Millennials are the workforce of tomorrow, and according to a survey conducted by Robert Half International with CareerBuilder.com, hiring managers consider this generation the hardest to recruit and retain.

#1 Reason Top Performers Leave - Click To Read Article
Survey results.

10 Tips For Dealing With Employee Attitudes - Click To Read Article
Valuable tips for dealing with employee attitudes.





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