On May 14, 2008, Georgia’s governor signed the newest state gun law that may–may–make it more difficult for employers to ban guns in the workplace.  At one point during the law’s circuitous route through the Georgia General Assembly, it would have prevented employers from banning guns from employee vehicles in employer parking lots.  Although business groups sponsored amendments eliminating the parking lot provision, it’s less than clear what this new law does for Georgia workplaces or their parking lots when it comes to guns.  Time (and no doubt litigation) will tell. 

Guns and the workplace haven’t proved to be good partners.  Between 1980 and 2006, there were 16,459 homicides by shooting in the workplace.  (Click here and here for more.)   Consequently, employers adopted strict weapons policies, banning guns from the workplace and from vehicles employees drive to work.  Various state laws made it possible for employers to do this, serving as a welcomed barrier between guns and the workplace. [Read more →]

When we try to motivate others, sometimes we’re successful, sometimes not. If you’re having trouble with your motivation techniques, perhaps the following YouTube clip will give you new ideas. Even in French, this video clip makes its unmistakable point.

Responsable de la motivation au travail

If immigration had fallen off the presidential campaign radar, it may be forced back on now.  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted the largest single-site raid ever in Postville, Iowa (the state where the first presidential caucus/primary is always held), at the Agriprocessors meatpacking plant, which is also the nation’s largest kosher slaughterhouse. 

The number of alleged illegal immigrants detained amounted to 390, consisting primarily of Guatemalans and Mexicans.  Hundreds more may be charged with aggravated identity theft, unlawful use of Social Security numbers and other criminal and employment law offenses.  Chaos reined at the plant and all across Postville and surrounding communities where there is a large immigrant population. [Read more →]

Although there could be debate about this, the founder of modern human resources management is often said to be John H. Patterson, founder and president of the National Cash Register Company.  In 1901, he formed a personnel department to manage the grievances of employees after a bitter union strike.

As a human resources professional, part of your job is convincing executives, managers, supervisors and employees to adopt an idea or practice that makes the workplace better.  Patterson had some advice for you:

“Before you try to convince anyone else, be sure you are convinced, and if you can’t convince yourself, drop the subject.”

You have a key sales job open.  One of the applicants you interview says, “I need to be in a white territory.  The territory I have right now with my current employer has too many black people in it.  I’m someone who appeals to whites.  If you give me a white territory, I’ll make you a lot of money.”

Given our country’s quickly changing demographics and the intensely competitive sales environment that pervades every business, smart employers have no room for a sales employee who can only sell to one race–one ethnic group.  Plus, from an employment law standpoint, it’s legally dangerous to have a person who thinks this way in your workforce.  He/she is a discrimination complaint in the making.  What does this have to do with Hillary? [Read more →]

Stop thief!  A cry on the subway?  A call for help on a crowded sidewalk?  A homeowner’s shout to neighbors?  Or a frustrating demand from human resources?

Employee theft is nothing new.  It’s just bigger than ever.  I’ve seen estimates that employers in the U.S. lose anywhere from $4 billion to $40 billion per year to employee theft.  Unless your pockets are terribly deep, either number is staggering.

What’s even more interesting–unbelievable to some–is that management is an unintentional co-conspirator when it comes to employee theft. [Read more →]

Beginning this week, there will be a week’s worth of Corporate BS posted every Saturday.  For those of you interested in this kind of bs, the first weekly post will be on May 17.  To make this works out right, I need to give you this past Saturday’s Corporate BS definition, so here it is:

May 10–off the record:  Spoken in confidence or unofficially, as in “I’m not supposed to tell you this, and if you ever say I said it, I will categorically deny it; the fact that I am saying this is off the record absolves me of all responsibility for sharing this privileged information with you”; also, code for “Here comes some really good gossip about who is sleeping with whom,” etc.

Managing Leadership mentions the post I did on “Executive Leadership:  What is it good for?”  Managing Leadership also comments on my post on The Reinforced Glass Ceiling.  Managing Leadership has a make-you-think-post on the true meaning of something we’ve heard much about lately:  change–and another one on the unfortunate failure of senior execs to bring along their juniors.

Corporate Vigilance mentions my post on “Guide to Hiring Women.”  Also, check out Corporate Vigilance for posts on communication, delegation, an interesting company called CoinStar, SOX matters, and the financial services industry post-subprime mortgage fiasco. [Read more →]

In honor of Mother’s Day, EJ Graff has posted a thought-provoking piece about working mothers in Slate Magazine.  It’s not your typical Mother’s Day greeting, but it’s worth the read.