Recently in Miscellaneous Category

April 11, 2012

Who are all these people in your (government's) workplace?

Fondue Fribourger StübliIt was either the Mr. Rogers approach or the Seinfeld approach. In the end, I chose Jerry to add some levity to what is otherwise going to be a very boring blog post.

You've been warned.

According this report released last month from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the complexion of the federal workforce really isn't changing all the much. In FY 2010, there were over 2.8 million people employed by the federal government, of whom 56% were men and 44% were women. Of that total:

65.4% were White,
17.9% were Black or African American,
7.9% were Hispanic or Latino,
5.9% were Asian,
1.6% were American Indian or Alaska Native,
.08% were persons of two or more races, and
.04% were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.

Additionally, the participation rate of individuals with targeted disabilities remained at 0.88%. Targeted disabilities include deafness, blindness, missing extremities, partial or complete paralysis, convulsive disorders, intellectual disabilities, mental illness, and distortion of the limb and/or spine.

In hindsight, I probably should have cut this post after the first paragraph and called it a day. Oh well. Don't discriminate and here's Jerry and Kenny talking about Ovaltine.

March 14, 2012

Score! PA Senator pushing to legalize March Madness at work.

marchmadness.pngWill office pools be legal in Pennsylvania this year? One State Senator is trying to make it so. 

Jealous, New Mexico? Yeah, you're jealous.

Details after the jump...

Continue reading "Score! PA Senator pushing to legalize March Madness at work." »

March 9, 2012

More child labor for The Employer Handbook

three meyers.jpgI usually save my best posts for Monday, but what the heck...

We are expecting our third child in August.

February 19, 2012

ESPN disciplines employees for offensive Jeremy Lin statements

jeremylin.jpg

The Associated Press reports here that ESPN, the Worldwide Leader in Sports, has taken action against three employees for offensive comments made about NY Knicks point guard, Jeremy Lin.

The headline "Chink in the Armor" was used Friday on ESPN's mobile website after Lin had nine turnovers in New York's loss to New Orleans.
In a statement Sunday, ESPN apologizes for that headline and also says it is also aware of two other "offensive and inappropriate" comments on ESPN outlets.

On its website, ESPN reported Sunday that it had investigated and responded accordingly:

We have engaged in a thorough review of all three and have taken the following action:
      • The ESPN employee responsible for our Mobile headline has been dismissed.
      • The ESPNEWS anchor has been suspended for 30 days.
      • The radio commentator is not an ESPN employee.

Photo Credit: Frank Franklin II/AP

January 13, 2012

And the most ridiculous lawsuit of 2011 was...

According to FacesOfLawsuitAbuse.org, the lawsuit that keeps those lawyer jokes flowing is...

bartsimpsonfrivolous.jpgConvict sues couple he kidnapped for not helping him evade police. A man who kidnapped a couple at knifepoint while he was running from the police is now suing the victims, claiming that they promised to hide him in exchange for an unspecified amount of money. The plaintiff, currently in jail, is seeking $235,000 for the alleged "breach of contract."

And from the ridiculous to the sublime just-about-as ridiculous...

A top runner-up was featured on this blog back in October; thus proving, once again, that the author of this blog has the maturity of an immature 12-year-old. It's the 60-year-old musician who sued for age discrimination and then claimed that the presiding 88-year-old judge was too old to hear the case.

Although, I particularly like the one that also ppears on the ridiculous lawsuit list about the mother who is suing Chuck E. Cheese, claiming that its games encourage gambling in children. Incidentally, I took my two-year-old and 10-month old to Chuck E. Cheese, last month. Although I have yet to find them throwing dice in the alley behind our house, I'm going to keep a close eye on them.

You can read the rest of 2011's most frivolous lawsuits here.

December 7, 2011

Carnival of HR - Two Turntables and a Microphone Edition (Word!)

Play it loudphoto © 2011 Dr Garageland | more info (via: Wylio)WTH were you expecting? HR compliance?

Psyche!

Hit my music, son...

...and then hit the jump, because DJ E-$killz is on the one and two, mixing beats with some of the best that the HR blogosphere has to offer.

Beleeeeeeeeeee dat! It's the Carnival of HR, yo...

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Continue reading "Carnival of HR - Two Turntables and a Microphone Edition (Word!)" »

December 2, 2011

ABA Journal names The Employer Handbook a top law blog!

Thank you to everyone who voted for The Employer Handbook as one of the ABA Journal's Top 100 law blogs. They also drank the Kool-Aid listened and the blog made the top 100! I am truly honored.

11Blawg100_VoteBlogSmallBlu.jpgNow, top 100 is great and all, but I want to be Number 1. And here's how you can help in three easy steps:

    1. Click here and complete a simple online form. It'll take you 15 seconds.

    2. Then, click here and scroll about halfway down the page until you see the words "Labor and Employment"

    3. Click on the words "Labor and Employment" and vote for The Employer Handbook. 

It's a simple as that! (And you know I would do the same for you). Just make sure to vote by December 30. So why not vote today? I'm talking right now!

Thank you again to those who voted the first time around to put The Employer Handbook into the Top 100 and to those who vote now to make The Employer Handbook the number-one employment-law blog. I truly appreciate it.
December 1, 2011

72 ways to prevent an office party from creating an HR hangover

hangover.jpgIf you read this blog, then I trust you read other HR/Employment-law-related blogs. And, if you do that, prepare for a December-deluge of "Ten Tips for a Safe, Fun, and Legal Holiday Party."

Screw all that! Ten tips is so last year. 

*** Big dork say "what" ***

"What! What!" After the jump, I've collected 72 ways to hold an office holiday party that won't interfere with you ending the year on an HR high-note...

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Continue reading "72 ways to prevent an office party from creating an HR hangover" »

October 25, 2011

The 15 craziest excuses employees have for missing work

doghomework.jpgCareerBuilder.com just released its annual list of most unusual excuses for calling in sick. "Lost track of time browsing TheEmployerHandbook.com" didn't make the list. (Probably because it's sooooooo commonplace). 

"Siri Assistant, what is the greatest labor-and-employment-law blog of them all?"

"I found three stores in your area that sell Altoids."

After the jump, the 15 best excuses...

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Continue reading "The 15 craziest excuses employees have for missing work" »

October 12, 2011

What's new on the interwebs in HR and employment law?

I hope you enjoyed yesterday's Simpsons post. I had a blast writing it but, damn, it sapped the life out of me. So, after the jump, I'm sending you out into the blogosphere for your daily dose of employment law and HR news...

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Continue reading "What's new on the interwebs in HR and employment law?" »

September 19, 2011

Like, wow! We're on Facebook.

The Employer Handbook is now on Facebook. Check us out at Facebook.com/TheEmployerHandbook. And be sure to give it a "like".

September 6, 2011

Happy Employer Day: 140 employment-law characters to follow

picnic.jpg

Yesterday was Labor Day. And on Labor Day we honor the working men and women who are the lifeblood of American industry. 

Most of us spent the day with family or friends, barbecuing or just taking it easy with a cold beer. Not me. 

I spent the day making a special gift for employers. The way I figure it, no one gets honored on the day after Labor Day...until now.


[Cue the music...]

Sure, this blog kicks out some great labor-and-employment-law news and insight. Still, I'm but one man. With one blog. So, what I have for you is this link to 140 employment lawyers, HR folks, and other great resources on Twitter who constantly push out awesome information that will keep you compliant and way ahead of the curve. (If you're not the list, sorry, your post-dated two-party check didn't clear, deadbeat. Email me and I'll look into adding you).

Happy Day After Labor Day (a/k/a Employer Day).

September 2, 2011

Fantasy football: Good or bad for the workplace?

ffg.jpgI've said it before and I'll say it again: the most underrated aspect of the NFL lockout ending is that we get Fantasy Football in 2011. 

What else would I have done with my Sunday afternoons? 

Now, I can dominate with my 60" flatscreen TV (Eagles), one iPad (DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket app tuned to the Red Zone channel), one laptop (multitasking between ESPN.com fantasy football live scoring and Tweetdeck for streaming scoring, news and injury updates), and one iPhone (in case I miss anything else) setup.

Don't judge. Your employees are doing it too. And here are some great blog posts about Fantasy Football and the workplace:

Don't forget, you can still sign up for The Employer Handbook NFL Survivor Pool. It's free, you don't need to know anything about football to participate, the winner gets a prize, and did I mention it's free? Click here to sign up.

August 26, 2011

Sign up! It's The Employer Handbook free NFL Survivor Pool

SurvivorPool.jpg

Are you ready for some football?

Better question: do you think you have what it takes to defeat me, a former 610 WIP SportsRadio Midday Show Survivor Pool Champion?

Now you'll have your chance. The Employer Handbook is hosting a free NFL Survivor Pool, where the winner will take home the picture of Julius Erving and Larry Bird that now hangs in my office -- to the right of Allen Iverson's head. (Yes, that's my office). Here's a close up.

More on how this free contest works -- you needn't be a football fan or know anything about football -- and how you can sign up, after the jump.

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Continue reading "Sign up! It's The Employer Handbook free NFL Survivor Pool" »

August 25, 2011

The Employer Handbook seeks your feedback

'Forbidden Planet customer suggestions box' photo (c) 2010, Ged Carroll - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

The Employer Handbook is fast approaching its ninth month. I've had a blast blogging for my readers. And things appear to be running smoothly. But what do I know? I only write this stuff. I don't have to read it. That's up to you. We make great a team, don't we? 

So, let me know...

  • What do you like so far?

  • How can I improve?

  • What employment-law topics would you like to see discussed more?

  • And what should I discard into File 13?

Please email me your comments or leave them below.

Thank you,

The Management.