5 Ways to Improve Performance for Small Teams

By Hedley Lawson, Contributing Editor

Thursday, July 12, 2018 12:15 AM There is no substitute for great performance. In all industries, from manufacturing to professional services, the businesses that lead ahead of the pack tend to be the ones that emphasize and aim for great performance. There are several aspects of achieving great performance. Great performance can be achieved on an individual level by one person, by a team of talented people, or by an entire business made up of many small and large teams. In this latest installment of HR Corner, here are five valuable ways that that will help you improve the performance of your small team.

4 Tips for Recruiting Summer Interns

By Hedley Lawson, Contributing Editor

Monday, June 4, 2018 4:00 PM Paid or unpaid, a summer internship program can be a great recruiting tool, providing employers with ready access to the next generation of talent without the pressure of hiring someone unknown. But not all summer interns are created equal, which means the success of a summer internship program depends in large part on hiring the right people.

Talent Shortage Continues on a Global Scale

By Hedley Lawson, Contributing Editor
Wednesday, May 9, 2018 3:16 PM We are continually contacted by client companies and others to discuss the difficulties they experience in finding and retaining talent in virtually every market sector around the world. To add to the difficulties, it is a situation that is unlikely to improve in 2018.

4 Key Points Employers Need to Know About Medical Marijuana Laws

By Hedley Lawson, Contributing Editor
Monday, April 23, 2018 4:16 PM Over half the states in the U.S. now have comprehensive medical marijuana laws, and with the proliferation of such laws has come a shift in how courts view workplace drug policies. That means employers may want to update their approach. Here are some key points for employers, as identified by a panel of attorneys at the recent 11th Annual American Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Conference.

Signs That Your Employees May Be Burning Out

By Hedley Lawson, Contributing Editor
Friday, March 23, 2018 3:18 PM NEW YORK— As things finally begin to wind down from Expo (and all the prep that came before it) you may see that some employees are feeling stress in their jobs and in their lives. We must admit, it’s only natural given the many events that push and pull people not only during Expo time, but throughout the entire year.

Signs That Your Employees May Be Burning Out

By Hedley Lawson
Friday, March 23, 2018 3:11 PM NEW YORK— As things finally begin to wind down from Expo (and all the prep that came before it) you may see that some employees are feeling  stress in their jobs and in their lives. We must admit, it’s only natural given the many events that push and pull people not only during Expo time, but throughout the entire year. When employees are not given time to themselves to rest or recharge, constant strain can lead to burnout, adversely affecting the health of your team and your organization. Here are a few of the signs to watch out for. Read More.

Employee Rights Associated With a Sexual Harassment Claim

By Hedley Lawson, Contributing Editor
Monday, February 26, 2018 1:23 PM NEW YORK—Recent workplace sexual harassment and assault allegations, such as those against Hollywood film executives and movie stars, as well as the numerous CEOs and corporate executives, have put employment confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) under the microscope. Can such agreements go too far by keeping victims silent? Businesses that use overly restrictive nondisclosures run the risk of such agreements being deemed unenforceable.

The IRS Releases New Withholding Tables for 2018 in Wake of Tax Reform Law

By Hedley Lawson, Jr.
Tuesday, January 23, 2018 12:18 PM NEW YORK—Earlier this month, the Internal Revenue Service released Notice 1036, which contains updated income-tax withholding tables for 2018 that reflect changes made by the tax reform law enacted at the end of December. The IRS also posted a set of Withholding Tables Frequently Asked Questions. Employers should begin using the 2018 withholding tables as soon as possible but not later than Feb. 15, 2018, the IRS said. As well, employers should work with their internal payroll departments and payroll vendors to ensure that their systems are appropriately adjusted in light of the IRS guidance. Employers should continue to use the 2017 withholding tables until implementing the 2018 withholding tables. The chart above shows 2018 tax rates and income brackets for single filers and married couples filing jointly.

Your ‘Need to Know’ Checklist for Year-End Payroll Filing and ACA Reporting

By Hedley Lawson, Contributing Editor
Wednesday, December 13, 2017 11:37 AM NEW YORK—The end of 2017 is quickly approaching, bringing with it a multitude of annual reporting and filing requirements. If employers do not carefully plan ahead, meeting year-end obligations can be confusing and unforeseen mistakes can lead to costly penalties.

Avoiding Liability in Your Company During Holiday Time

By Hedley Lawson, Contributing Editor
Friday, November 17, 2017 12:00 PM NEW YORK—Holidays are always a joyous time of year. As a reminder, before you begin to plan your holiday festivities, take a moment to assess the potential legal liability that this holiday season may bring. As we do each year, here are some tips from the team at Vision Monday and Aligned Growth Partners to avoid in the form of a new lawsuit.

2018 Salary Increase Budgets Expected to Rise 3 Percent

By Hedley Lawson, Contributing Editor
Thursday, November 9, 2017 2:42 PM NEW YORK—A new forecast predicts that salary increase budgets for U.S. employers will grow 3 percent on average in 2018 across most employee categories, essentially unchanged from 2017.

Getting Ready for Flu Season: A Few Tips Employers Should Know

By Hedley Lawson, Contributing Editor
Wednesday, October 25, 2017 12:05 AM NEW YORK—As we once again get ready for flu season, employers are faced with the challenge of what to do to maintain a healthy workplace and assist with the wellness of employees. In the midst of this planning is the need for employers to respect individual employee’s beliefs about flu vaccines.

Getting Ready for Flu Season: A Few Tips Employers Should Know

By Hedley Lawson, Contributing Editor
Thursday, October 12, 2017 1:05 PM NEW YORK—As we once again get ready for flu season, employers are faced with the challenge of what to do to maintain a healthy workplace and assist with the wellness of employees. In the midst of this planning is the need for employers to respect individual employee’s beliefs about flu vaccines.

10 Key Points to Avoid Employment Application Mistakes

By Hedley Lawson, Contributing Editor
Monday, July 10, 2017 3:22 PM

NEW YORK—Employment applications are the “necessary evil” all employers must have as a part of their talent acquisition process. While seemingly innocuous, they can easily contain unlawful inquiries that can create unintended consequences for companies.

Future Work Force—Human Jobs or Artificial Intelligence?

By Hedley Lawson
Friday, April 7, 2017 12:00 PM NEW YORK—The articles are abundant, including those that I have written for Vision Monday—robots and Artifical Intelligence (AI) are quickly entering the future of work. One famous study predicted 47 percent of today’s jobs may be automated by 2034