Wednesday, May 16, 2012 —10:30 a.m. to Noon (Pacific)
Are all your employees accurately classified as exempt or non-exempt? Are you sure?
The DOL estimates that nearly 70 percent of employers are not in compliance with FLSA. In 2010 alone, it set aside $25 million for an enforcement crackdown, adding 350 FLSA investigators with the goal of sniffing out employers who commit wage and hour offenses -- especially exemption misclassifications in California where the legal risks are substantial.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012 —10:30 a.m. to Noon (Pacific)
How do California’s employee-friendly wage & hour laws come into play when your employee is traveling for work? When is travel time considered “hours worked” under FLSA? What other laws impact your travel pay policies? How are exempt and nonexempt employees handled differently?
Employers face these questions and many others when it comes to determining employee compensation for travel time in the Golden State. Don't let confusing laws lead to administrative headaches, conflict, and even devastating class-action lawsuits. Get up-to-date on the latest California-specific rules and regulations to stay in compliance.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012 —10:30 a.m. to Noon (Pacific)
The California Supreme Court has finally ruled on the Brinker case, concluding that employers must merely "provide" the required meal and rest periods and aren't obligated to make sure that workers actually take them.
While the Brinker decision may seem like a break for employers, don’t get complacent about your wage and hour obligations. California has some of the toughest such laws in the country.
Thursday, May 24, 2012 —10:30 a.m. to Noon (Pacific)
A Yale study revealed that weight discrimination occurs in the workplace as often as racial discrimination. Even more disturbing, the EEOC sued an employer, claiming it violated the ADA Amendments Act by firing a worker because she was obese.
So does that mean obesity is now considered a disability?
The HR department is the repository for all employee files, and from résumés to attendance records to healthcare information, California professionals have a lot more piling up on their desks these days. As employees come and go, it can turn even the most organized office into a recordkeeping nightmare.
Personnel files often contain sensitive information, and what you do with them is more than a matter of recordkeeping rules compliance—it can make or break a case during disputes with current or former employees.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 —10:30 a.m. to Noon (Pacific)
"Those who fail to prepare, prepare to fail!" It's an old saying but one never more true for organizations without a leadership succession plan in place.
Leading a workforce isn't easy. From the C-Suite down to front line supervisors, leaders are having to do more with less while managing an increasingly stressed out workforce, one frustrated from a slow-to-improve economy. Good managers are hard to find, and when you have one driving your organization's success, you want her to stick around for the long haul, and assume positions of increasing responsibility.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012—10:30 a.m. to Noon (Pacific)
What are you doing to dynamically transform the way your organization gets the maximum value from every employee? Where is your next great employee hiding, and what are you doing to develop her confidence, moral, and commitment? Why do so many onboarding programs fail -- and what are you doing to ensure yours doesn't? How is your organization using social media?
With hundreds or even thousands of applicants for one job opening, it's easy to become overwhelmed. How do you sort through your inbox of resumes to find the right candidate? And what about your current employees? With a recent survey revealing that 84 percent of employees are ready to jump ship if a better opportunity presents itself, how do you keep your top producers with you for the long haul?
Friday, June 8, 2012 —10:30 a.m. to Noon (Pacific)
In February, the Treasury Department, the IRS, and the White House released guidance and commentary on proposed regulations that would allow defined benefits plans, defined contribution plans, IRAs, 403(b), and 457(b) plans to allow benefits options such as partial and longevity annuities.
The new proposal may come as good news for employees who have been forced to rely heavily on employee-sponsored 401(k) plans after the 2009 financial meltdown tanked investments, including retirement savings, but could pose a challenge for employers who are not up to date on the latest information.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 —10:30 a.m. to Noon (Pacific)
When it comes to how you draft your commission agreements in California, you can’t afford to take any chances -- especially since a new law, A.B. 1396, affects employers’ drafting obligations in a major way.
Commissions can be a great way to boost your sales staff’s entrepreneurial spirit because a commission-based compensation strategy rewards them for their hard work and gives them the incentive needed to help grow your business.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012 —10:30 a.m. to Noon (Pacific)
How do you deal with an employee who is constantly late for work? What about the constant complainer or one whose negative behavior is taking a toll on coworkers? What’s the best way to handle a sensitive employee who has trouble hearing bad news?
If you don’t address these problems, you're putting your organization at risk for missed goals, employee conflict, loss of top performers, even a lawsuit.