Most Viewed Stories of 2009
Here are the stories, features and columns our readers viewed more than any other stories during 2009 -- focusing on HR strategic plans, the complexities of compliance issues and other topics that are keeping HR leaders awake at night. Did you miss any of them?
1.
Alternatives to Layoffs
By Peter Cappelli
Cutting wages or hours across the board in an attempt to save jobs would save more money and be less agonizing than layoffs. But too few companies even consider such alternatives, possibly more due to psychological reasons than fiscal ones.
2.
Best HR Ideas for 2009
By Kristen B. Frasch
The editors of HRE announce their top picks for ideas launched this past year that helped strengthen productivity, boost morale and engagement, and put a well-deserved spotlight on the creative powers within HR.
3.
Relearning FMLA
By Keisha-Ann G. Gray
It's out with the old and in with the new, as updated FMLA regulations go into effect. In the first of two columns on the subject, we look at the changes in definitions and eligibility, including the expansion of FMLA rights for military families and an extended timeframe for making FMLA decisions.
4.
Are We Mismanaging Our Top Talent?
By Peter Cappelli
Asked why they left their past jobs, a group of high performers didn't offer the usual "I hate my boss" or even "I don't fit." Their unhappiness with their former employers boiled down to questions of fairness. And there might not be a solution to be found in today's organizations.
5.
FMLA Obligations
By Keisha-Ann G. Gray
In this second column on the Family and Medical Leave Act, questions this month address an employee's right to have the same job after returning from FMLA leave as well as some of the complexities dealing with intermittent leave.
6.
Signs of Bad Times Ahead
By Bill Kutik
You can call it girding your loins, battening down the hatches, or another cliche you prefer, but HR technology companies are facing what nearly all assume is going to be a very tough year. There have already been layoffs, but also some original thinking for coping with hard times.
7.
EFCA's Significance for HR
By Peter Cappelli
With the long, slow decline of unions over the past quarter-century, many HR leaders have little firsthand experience with the labor movement. The possible enactment of the Employee Free Choice Act could change that. But the end result for HR may not be what many in the profession think.
8.
Congress Begins Review of 401(k)s
By Dallas Salisbury
Although retirement-plan design is probably not at the top of any company's agenda in these tumultuous times, delaying such consideration may not be an option for long. With trillions being lost and Congress preparing for hearings, HR leaders may need to start paying more attention to this issue.
9.
Who's Breaking Wage-and-Hour Laws?
By Peter Cappelli
A new study finds low-wage workers are suffering rampant violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act -- and it's hurting both workers and employers. The violations do not seem to be oversights in the service industry where demands are more variable. The most violations were actually in manufacturing, where the old stereotype of sweatshops lives on.
10.
Commitment Takes Another Hit
By Peter Cappelli
Has the recession killed off any thoughts of employer loyalty? A recent study finds that two-thirds of employers are using the downturn to replace low-performing employees -- actions that apparently wouldn't have been taken in happier economic times. What's the long-term effect of such an approach?
11.
Kronos: Not So Boring Anymore
By Bill Kutik
Kronos is breaking out of its niche as the country's leading provider of time clocks and associated software to push the envelope of the "Workforce Management" category. And in the current economy that couldn't be better news for customers and Kronos -- and worse news for the ERPs.
12.
Stamped Over Relocation Program
By Paul Gallagher
At a time when the U.S. Postal Service is swimming in red ink, cutting jobs and closing offices, the last thing it needed was criticism over its relocation program. The real-estate slump is affecting many other large organizations as well.
13.
Rewarding the Performers
By Paul Gallagher
Reward programs are powerful tools in creating and keeping talent, but an exclusive recalibration of Fortune magazine's "Most Admired Companies" list shows total rewards isn't all about money.
14.
Cream of the Crop
The editors of Human Resource Executive
®
announce their selections for the top 10 HR products and top five training products of 2009 -- products that are capable of delivering on their promises and making HR's job easier.
15.
Responding to Criticism on the Web
By Keisha-Ann G. Gray
Employers seeking to respond to workers' negative comments posted on the Internet should be careful not to violate the bloggers' rights under state and federal laws. And with the number of bloggers increasing daily, employers should consider adopting the sample social-networking policy in this month's Legal Clinic.
16.
Communications on the Rebound
By Kristen B. Frasch
Few employers are planning to beef up communication with employees about pay or benefits. That's a mistake, experts say, and it could lead to the loss of top performers. But, even when employers do communicate, they too often try to "push" their message out without considering engagement or other long-term factors.
17.
The Value of HR
By Michael O'Brien
A Rutgers University professor has ruffled the feathers of many in HR after his comments at a recent conference painted a less-than-flattering picture of the function. The reactions to his comments have been both strong and varied.
18.
Tackling Workers' Comp
By Keisha-Ann G. Gray
This month, our Legal Clinic is about the length of time an employer must keep a job open for an employee who suffered a work-related injury, exploring the anti-retaliation principles that apply across many states. Also answered this month is a question on the relationship between the FMLA and workers' comp leave.
19.
Lessons from the Dark Side
By Paul Gallagher
A disgraced human resource leader and his wife tell their story about falling into crime, struggling for redemption and learning valuable lessons through it all.
20.
HR's Pay Disparity
By Tom Starner
The number of women in HR may dwarf the number of men in the profession, but when the numbers talk turns to compensation, the disparity is quite different, according to a recent analysis. Male HR leaders earn far more than women overall because there are far more men in senior-level positions, experts say.
21.
Propping Up Employee Morale
By Lin Grensing-Popha
Not surprisingly, employee morale and commitment has worsened during the recession -- and in response to company actions to cope with the downturn. A recent survey finds that high-performing employees have been substantially more affected than the rank-and-file. Although HR leaders are hampered financially, there are ways they can address this issue.
22.
Warnings from the Top
By Paul Gallagher and Stephen Barlas
The nation's most powerful employment attorneys for 2009, presented exclusively by HRE, tell you what they see on the horizon from the Obama administration, and what you need to do.
23.
Assessing FMLA Obligations
By Keisha-Ann G. Gray
HR professionals face myriad legal issues when managing employees with serious medical conditions who request leave or accommodation. HR leaders should take special care to ensure that, in responding, the company adheres to its statutory and regulatory obligations. Failure to do so can result in costly litigation.
24.
Obama's Appointments
By Michael O'Brien
As his administration gets going, President Barack Obama has filled a number of vacancies, including top spots at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board and the Office of Personnel Management. Experts weigh in on what it could mean for HR.
25.
Health Reform Taking Shape
By Dallas Salisbury
The administration and Congress are working at a feverish pace to craft a new health system -- work that may be completed before the August recess. The possibilities are complex and varied, but the mission may be gearing up for a successful conclusion.
December 23, 2009 Copyright 2009© LRP Publications
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