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How to Handle an Autocratic Manager
Last Updatedin Employee Relations
I work for a manager who is a retired, very successful captian of a submarine for the US Navy. There are 45 people under this manager varying in age from 21-50, and we are losing people from our team left and right due to his autocratic management style. This management style worked very well for him as a captain, but in the civilan world we don’t know what to do. What can our team do to work together and change this so that we can enjoy coming to work again?
Designing an Assessment Center
Last Updatedin Training & Development
Question: My company is in the chemical manufacturing industry where there are many processes involved in the different jobs. I would like to design an assessment center for technicians and other workers that would assess their ability to handle these tasks, such as checking temperatures and pressures, evaluating the raw materials used, etc. How do […]
Pre-tax and Post-tax on Benefits
Last Updatedin Benefits & Compensation
Question: I have always taken my employee’s premiums for benefits out of their pay check on a ‘pre-tax’ basis. It was my understanding that was something I was allowed to do. Recently, I was told I am not technically allowed to do that. Is that true? Answer: You ARE allowed to take premiums out of […]
Paying to Get Ready for Work
Last Updatedin Benefits & Compensation
Question: I have an employee telling me that I should be paying them for the time it takes them to go to their locker and get ready for work. Is that true? Answer: Paying employees for the time they work seems pretty straight forward, however, the activities that they perform before or after their shift […]
Am I Required to Offer COBRA?
Last Updatedin Benefits & Compensation, HR Compliance
Question: How do I determine if I have to offer COBRA to our employees for their health insurance? We are ‘on the bubble’ with 21 employees this year, but some are part time. Answer: According to the Department of Labor, group health plans for employers with 20 or more employees on more than 50 percent […]
Snow Storm Pay
Last Updatedin Benefits & Compensation
Question: What do you pay when a snow storm hits? Answer: This winter has been one for the record books, and with nearly two months of winter left to go there is a good chance that companies will be faced with this question. Fortunately, two Labor Department opinion letters help clarify the confusing issue of […]
When to Offer a Part-Time Employee Company Benefits
Last Updatedin Benefits & Compensation
Question: How quickly do we need to offer benefits once a part-time employee is working 40 or more hours per week? The employee is regularly scheduled to work 30 hours per week and is ineligible for coverage. However, the employee is currently working on a major project where the hours worked tend to often exceed […]