An early contender for employee of the year

It’s only the 4th day of January, and we already have an early contender for employee of the year. I can not do this story any justice better than the original article in the New York Post.

HR director sues to find out who sent her ‘a bag of d–ks’ 

Why it doesn’t matter that Ohio’s concealed-carry law removed its discrimination protections

We are going to begin 2017 near where we brought 2016 to a close—gun-owner protections.

Shortly before the end of Ohio’s 131st legislative session, Governor Kasich signed into law Amended Substitute Senate Bill 199, which, among other provisions, creates certain rights for lawful handgun owners to store said handguns in their vehicles parked on the property of their employers. You can read the specifics here.

The 12 Days of Employment Law Christmas (2016 edition)

For the past four Noels, I've concluded my posting year with “The 12 Days of Employment Law Christmas.” As this has become a year-end tradition at the blog, I’m sharing it again (with updated links). If you’re feeling brave, post a video of yourself singing along.

(Some musical accompaniment)

12 myths about independent contractor misclassification

Earlier this week, the Department of Labor published a new web guide on the issue of independent contractor misclassifications. The DOL’s tagline, “Misclassification Affects Everyone”, along with the comprehensive content contained therein, makes it clear that this issue remains hot for the agency. 

Contained the guide is a document entitled, “Myths About Misclassification”, listing 12 myths the DOL believes businesses commonly hold about independent contractors.

From the archives: Santa’s Employee Handbook

While I’d like to believe that every post I’ve ever written is indelibly embossed on the brain of every person that’s ever read my blog, I understand that readers come and go, and not everyone reads or recalls every post. As a result, sometimes it makes sense to dive into the archives to revisit a timely (and timeless) post of yesteryear.

So today I bring you, all the way from Dec. 11, 2014, Even Santa needs an employee handbook.

Take a gander at my recent cyber security webinar

Today I thought I try something different. Instead of reading what I have to say, I thought I’d give you a chance to listen to what I have to say.
The topic du jour — cyber security. Below is a video of a webinar I conducted last week, entitled, Everything Homebuilders Need to Know About Cyber Security in 30ish Minutes (but are afraid to ask). 
Even though the webinar was for the Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland, most of the presentation is of general business interest, and of particular interest to HR folks. Cyber crime is one of, if not the, biggest threat to American businesses (see Yahoo, Target, Home Depot, the DNC…). If this issue is not squarely in the middle of your company’s radar, it should be for 2017.

WIRTW #442 (the “Good with God” edition)

Any week my favorite band—the Old 97’s—release new music is a week to be celebrated. (I know, Old 97’s music two Fridays in row. Deal with it or read something else today).

I’ll let Rolling Stone do the heavy lifting:

“I’m good with God. I wonder how she feels about me?” 

So ends the chorus of the Old 97’s’ “Good With God,” the lead single from the band’s 11th album, Graveyard Whistling. Due February 24th, the album offers up another boozy blast of Texas twang, train-beat percussion and guitar grit from Rhett Miller and company, who recorded its 11 songs in the same border-town studio that spawned the group’s major-label debut, Too Far to Care, two decades earlier. 

With their original four-piece lineup still intact, the Old 97’s welcome a new face into the fold with “Good With God,” whose titular omniscient character is played by Brandi Carlile. The two trade vocal duties throughout, with Carlile’s voice bathed in plenty of godly reverb. The result is an ominous, off-kilter duet between Miller and his maker, driven forward at highway speed by bandmates Philip Peeples, Murry Hammond, and Ken Bethea.

You can pre-order the new album, Graveyard Whistling, here (CD, digital, or four different colors of vinyl). Why wait for it’s official release on February 24? They are good musicians and better people that deserve for their music to be purchased, not streamed. And, look for the band to roll though your town in the Spring and Summer. They are a live act not to be missed.


Here’s what I read this week.