Resources

What if we lived in a world in which organizations were held accountable for wages owed to their employees? Look no further than Cook County, Ill., whose board of commissioners recently approved a wage theft ordinance. The new ordinance was passed on behalf of low-income employees who increasingly have been plagued by businesses taking advantage of their hard work and abusing labor requirements.

I am hard-pressed to make sense of the hesitation organizations have for building stronger leadership pipelines. In a recent Bersin by Deloitte study, organizations cited leadership as one of the most important challenges, yet only 6 percent are confident their organization is “ready” to make a change. Here is where I struggle: If we say leadership development is important, then why aren’t more companies taking initiative? The real answer is that many companies confine leadership to the “exclusive” few, failing to make long-term investments and neglecting to construct a larger leadership pipeline at all levels.

Businesses find that labor is one of the expenses taking a big bite out of their budgets every year. They strive to find a balance between labor and workload for optimal performance and cost effectiveness, but leave themselves vulnerable to serious risk without the proper tools and processes in place. Although a large cost, labor can be controlled with a few best practices.

A cultural shift is happening in the education industry that challenges existing practices - how labor is allocated, how hiring is managed, how talent is evaluated and how teachers are empowered. This “new” approach is a plea to fix existing problems, so instead of constantly jumping through hoops, charter school leaders can focus on reaching academic excellence.

In late February, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule to revise specific conditions in the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The new rule modifies the definition of a “spouse,” extending federal job-protected leave benefits to eligible workers in legal, same-sex marriages.

Everything you used to know about work? Throw it out. Human resources (HR) departments today must operate in a whole new working world – a world that requires dramatic change and innovative thinking. It challenges existing practices – how leaders are developed, how teams are engaged and how work is designed. It’s all different.

If you are a manager, HR professional or anyone with a hand in the payroll process, you probably already know that altering employee payroll sheets can land an organization in a heap of litigation. According to a new ruling, even your personal assets can be targeted if you are found guilty.

I find myself having a love-hate relationship with New Year’s resolutions. Was I not good enough in 2014? Then I remember, each year is a blank, 365-page book, and we have the opportunity to rewrite our own story. It is a chance to restart and redefine who we are as people, as leaders and as businesses. A wise man once said, “I always wonder why birds stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on earth, then I ask myself the same question.”

When it comes to company wellness programs, 88 percent of employees feel their employer has no significant impact on their overall well-being. “But wait,” an employer might say, “we have a company gym to promote wellness, right?” Unfortunately, the Field of Dreams line of “If you build it, they will come” doesn’t apply here. Well-being includes elements other than the physical kind.

The time has arrived for employers impacted by the eligibility reporting requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), as the IRS officially released the 2014 versions of the final forms and instructions on Feb. 8. Posted were the following forms, which fulfill the reporting requirements under ACA sections 6055 and 6056:

You've made up your mind to start a mentorship program at work, the research is clear and the boss approves … now what?

Ross Perot, Andy Grove, Kobun Chino Otogowa, Regis McKenna… what do all these names have in common? They were all mentors to Steve Jobs. Jobs knew that having the support of a network of seasoned individuals was instrumental in growing his business. In fact, Otogowa is credited with advising Jobs to start Apple rather than become a Zen monk. Without the advice and support from strong mentors, Apple may have looked very different.