Transgender policies – Currently, only about 4 in 10 Fortune companies have gender-identity-inclusive policies but that may change soon since the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has recently issued guidelines on transgender workers. David Shadovitz of Human Resource Executive notes that with more than 2 million employees, OPM’s actions might spur other organizations to follow its lead. “In addition to clarifying the meaning of terminology such as gender identity and gender transition, the OPM memo outlines how managers, supervisors and co-workers should address issues such as privacy, dress and appearance, restroom access, recordkeeping and insurance benefits.”
It’s Lightning Safety Awareness Week – June 19 to 25 is Lightning Safety Awareness Week and Consumer Insurance Blog offers some tips and resources that might be good to share with employees through your health, safety & wellness programs. Knowing what to do in electrical storms is particularly important information if you have employees who work all or part of their time outdoors.
Employment issues and trends – Talent Edge 2020: Blueprints for the new normal features results from an October 2010 Deloitte survey that polled 334 global senior business leaders and human resource executives at large organizations about employee trends as we emerge from the global downturn and confront the next decade’s challenges. Retention, the race for talent, and leadership development are seen as key issues.
Working like a dog has a new meaning – Friday, June 24 is Take Your Dog to Work Day. This event was created to celebrate the great companions dogs make and to encourage their adoption from humane societies, animal shelters and breed rescue clubs. But if you don’t do it for the dogs, how about for your employees? Pets can offer an important health benefit by helping to reduce stress and depression. Here are some ideas for how your workplace can get involved. Visit the Professional Pooch Gallery – you can also enter your submissions to win a potential cash prize.
ADA – Marlene Prost of Human Resource Executive looks at the issue of whether there are limits to ADA leave requests. She reviews a hearing between the EEOC and employers earlier this month and the guidance that the EEOC provided. The EEOC says companies must be flexible in going beyond their attendance policies but some employers still find a lack of clarity in this issue.
A stitch in time – At E.L.I’s Blog, Stephen M. Paskoff offers 3 phrases – 12 words to help you avert a major organizational disaster. In looking at corporate crises, he notes that most “are not the result of random, unpredictable acts. Instead, they arise from repetitive practices which are ignored or a few outrageous acts. In either instance, retrospective analysis reveals problems which usually raised complaints but, too frequently, resulted in inaction or harm to complainants rather than steps to address the problems.”
Uninvited guests – Bill Pokorny of Wage & Hour Insights has good advice for employers on what to do when the DOL makes an unannounced visit. The long and the short of it is: call your lawyer!
Bad supervisor of the year award – An egregious case of sexual harassment led to a $95 million verdict (explicit language alert) for a Missouri plaintiff. John Hyman of Ohio Employer’s Law blog notes that, “…this verdict underscores the importance of prompt and thorough investigations into complaints of harassment by employees. The jury did not subject the employer to this verdict because of the acts of a rogue supervisor, but because the company did not do anything about him when the plaintiff complained.”