Sick days – Jon Hyman of Ohio Employer’s Law Blog talks about a recent CareerBuilder survey in which 29% or employees admitted to taking sick days when they really weren’t sick – using the days for other purposes. He notes that only 28% of businesses report that they check on “ill” employees. He proposes what we think is a great solution: getting rid of sick days entirely and using a different system altogether. See Are you checking in on your “sick” employees? Maybe you should be (or not) for more.
Scent-free workplaces – The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety tackles the topic of fragrance sensitive people in the workplace in when fragrances offend. They offer advice and tips for establishing a scent-free policy for the workplace. For more on how this might relate specifically to the ADA, see: Accommodation and Compliance Series: Employees with Fragrance Sensitivity from the Job Accommodation Network (JAN).
Psycho bosses – The bad news: A new study says that one in 15 corporate managers qualify as psycopaths. The good news: Psychopaths had very high ratings on communication, strategic thinking, and creative abilities.
Wellness – in Health Care’s Brave New World of Compulsory Wellness, Ezra Klein reports on Cleveland Clinic’s wellness program, which offers a strong combination of carrots and sticks to influence and change employee health behaviors. Is it working? “Not only has the clinic cut its health-care costs, but its employees are also getting healthier in measurable ways. Workers have lost a collective 250,000 pounds since 2005. Their blood pressure is lower than it was three years ago. Smoking has declined from 15.4 percent of employees to 6.8 percent.”
Age Diversity – In Human Resource Executive, Katie Kuehner-Hebert writes about a new report that highlights some innovative ways companies are beginning to create age-diversity strategies that positively impact the bottom line.Dee: Managing through the Life Stages.
Avoiding litigation – Hr Daily Advisor recently offered a pair of posts from plaintif attorney Whitney Warner on avoiding litigtion – and who etter to learn from? The first post suggests 5 Ways You Attract the Attention of Plaintiffs’ Attorneys, and the second is 6 secrets…from the dark side.
Cool Tool – transportation and auto expenses are a big slice of any family’s budget. According to the Department of Labot, car ownership costs are the sedond largest household expense after shelter. It makes sense to try to control those costs any way that you can – including considerations about the type of vehicles that you buy. If you are considering a new car, check out the Edmunds True Cost to Own Calculator, which figures in the “hidden” costs, such as depreciation, interest on your loan, taxes and fees, insurance premiums, fuel costs, maintenance, and repairs.
News Briefs
- Why Companies Aren’t Getting the Employees They Need
- Plump my workforce: new studies document obesity-related work costs
- 7 ways to get at the truth in a workplace investigation
- Private industry workplace injuries and illnesses decline in 2010
- Workplace Gender Inequality Still Alive Worldwide
- Do Organizations Need a Chief Content Officer?