Management
« Previous EntriesRelativity in the Workplace
Monday, September 28th, 2009There is an old Hollywood story that warns of family-run businesses:
Despite their joint ownership (with Albert and Sam) of Warner Brothers studios, little love was lost between Jack and Harry Warner (who once chased Jack around the Warner Brothers lot brandishing a lead pipe, threatening to bludgeon him).
Albert Einstein was given a tour of the [...]
Popular Culture in the Workplace May Be Inappropriate
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009Michael’s co-worker liked rap music. He liked it so much that he constantly played it and rapped along. Even though the songs contained the “N-word”. Even though Michael is African American. Even though Michael complained several times over a year’s time to his supervisors that the lyrics he was forced to listen to were offensive.
Because [...]
Beware New ARRA Whistleblower Law
Monday, April 20th, 2009More than just Big Brother is watching you. Your employees are watching too, and can use the protections of a new whistleblower law to protect their jobs if they report any kind of wrongdoing by your business.
The new whistleblower law is included as a tiny piece of the massive American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (”ARRA”). [...]
Is There a Union in Your Future?
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009Across the country, approximately 8% of the workforce is unionized. Speculation is that if the Employee Free Choice Act (”EFCA”), the union-backed legislation making its way through the Democratic-controlled Congress, passes, that number could double.
This is causing concern for many employers, who fear that a unionized workforce makes the company less flexible, innovative and responsive [...]
Time for Servant Leadership
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009In this time of economic shrinkage, it is tempting for employers to believe that any remaining employees should consider themselves “damn lucky to have a job” (as one of my former law partners used to say). This attitude can lead to subtle exploitation of employees who will do almost anything to keep their paychecks coming [...]
Cupid at Work? Bah humbug!
Wednesday, February 11th, 2009Reuters published a story today about a CareerBuilders.com survey on workplace romances. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, 40% of American workers admit that they have dated a coworker. Another 10% say there is a coworker they would like to date. Interestingly only 5% of women want to date a coworker while 14% of men [...]
Training Slashed Even As Employees File Lawsuits
Thursday, February 5th, 2009One of the ironies of recession is that businesses tend to cut back their training of their employees at the same time that layoffs are spawning the filing of higher numbers of employee lawsuits. This is happening again during the present deepening economic crisis. Unfortunately, this is one of those situations of businesses “cutting off [...]
Lessons from NASCAR’s Discrimination Suit
Friday, January 9th, 2009Six years ago, I had never watched a NASCAR race and would have laughed if you had suggested I ever would. Aaahhh, what love will do to an otherwise rational person! Enter Rohn Butterfield into my life, and I can now tell you that there are 36 races in a season, the Daytona 500 (the [...]
Employer’s Ten Commandments
Monday, December 15th, 2008If you are a Texas employer, you may be wondering whatever happened to the concept of employment at will, where you could hire, discipline and fire an employee for a good reason, a bad reason, or no reason at all. You are worried that the pat on the back that you once gave for encouragement [...]
Your Opinions: What Makes a Good Boss?
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008I recently wrote a blog post about what it takes to be a good boss. According to the statistics counter on this blog, it has been one of the most widely read entries. I’m glad it has been well-received. But now I want to know your anecdotes, opinions, and lists of the qualities that good [...]
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