| HR HEADLINES |
Roth
401(k): another slant on savings, taxes
Minneapolis
Star Tribune, 10/22/05
Programs
to create jobs for disabled help only fraction
USA
Today, 10/21/05
NLRB:
Teamsters violate labor law in Budweiser
boycott
CentreDaily.com, 10/20/05
Executives
Turn to Employee ROI as HR Gauge
Workforce Magazine,
10/18/05
Sick?
Don’t Go to Work
CBS News, 10/18/05
Cost of Living
Adjustments for Pension Plans
BLR, 10/17/05
Demystifying
SOX
SHRM Cover Story, 10/2005
Employees
Freedom to Fraternize in Limbo with Latest NLRB
Rule
Indy Star, 10/17/05
Court Upholds Firing
for Workplace Violence Joke
Pacific News, 10/16/05
4.1%
Cost of Living Adjustments for Social Security
Benefits
BLR, 10/14/05
CPI
Posts Biggest Gain in 25 Years
CNN/Money, 10/14/05
High
Court Considers Rights of Whistleblowers Who Sue
Government
AP, 10/13/05
Use
of Job Simulations Rise Steadily
Workforce Magazine,
10/13/05
More
Employers Offer Health Savings Accounts
CNN/Money,
10/13/05
Charitable
Giving Up Through Payroll Deduction
Ceridian, 10/12/05
Who
Makes the Most in HR?
Workforce Magazine, 10/11/05
Negotiating
Skills Depend on Respect for Others, Yourself
USA
Today, 10/10/05
Rule
Clarifies OFCCP’s Definition of “Job Applicant”
DOL,
10/7/05
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As a general rule,
married couples working for the same company have
not been successful in filing a joint action for
sexual harassment. When faced with such a claim,
employers have been victorious in asserting the
“equal opportunity harasser” defense which argues
that sexual harassment is predicated on gender.
Therefore, if both husband and wife are harassed,
it must be for reasons other than their sex or
gender. However, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals
(including Illinois) recently carved out an
exception to the general rule. It found that a
couple may bring a joint action when harassing
actions are distinct and have been committed by
different people. MORE
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A recent ruling issued
by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals reminds us
that under the dictates of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), a plaintiff must be able
to demonstrate that (1) he is qualified for the
job; and (2) he is able to perform the essential
functions of the job. Specifically, he must
demonstrate that he meets the necessary
prerequisites for the job including training,
education and experience. However, presenting a
portfolio of qualifications is not enough. He must
also be able to perform the essential functions of
the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.
MORE
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An employer may offer
four affirmative defenses to a charge of gender
discrimination under the dictates of the Equal Pay
Act. Specifically, an employer may point to the
existence of (1) a seniority system; (2) a merit
system; (3) a system which measures earnings by
quantity or quality of production; or (4) a system
which measures earnings by ‘any factor other than
sex.’ Under the fourth defense, an employer may
demonstrate that differential salary levels
between men and women engaged in similar jobs is
legitimately based on varying levels of education
or experience. Once such a defense has been
raised, the burden shifts to the plaintiff worker
to demonstrate that the employer’s explanation is
merely pretextual and intended to mask an
underlying discriminatory motivation. MORE
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| Should your company
invest in training and development of in-house
staff or go outside and buy the talent needed to
keep pace with fast changing product development
needs? A recent study published in
Knowledge@Wharton addresses the considerations
involved in these ‘Make vs. Buy’ decisions. Not
surprisingly, firms whose products have short life
cycles tend have higher R&D spending and they
more frequently go outside to buy the skills
necessary to develop the next level of technology.
Conversely, long product life cycles place more
emphasis on knowledge of current technology and
require lower levels of R&D expenditures. For
these firms it is more feasible to develop talent
in-house by investing in training and development.
The study also defines four (4) most common HRM
systems used by firms resulting from their
make-buy and staff retention decisions and draws
conclusions about the effectiveness of each given
a firm’s R&D spending and product markets. Click
here to read the study. |
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| The Illinois Chamber is
again conducting its annual surveying Illinois
businesses and organizations to determine the paid
holidays they plan to offer their employees in
2006. As in the past, the survey can be taken
online or you may download a simple check-off form
and fax it to us for inclusion in the survey
results. We need your help to make the 2006 paid
holiday survey a success. Please click
here to take the survey and encourage
other businesses in your community to participate
too. |
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The economic value of
stock options granted by America’s largest
corporations has plummeted according to a new
survey conducted by Watson
Wyatt. In fact, between 2001 and 2004, their
value has shrunk by almost 60%, from a total of
$118 billion to $51 billion. Last year alone, the
value of stock options fell 17%. Despite a fairly
steady stock market, the decline in stock options
spanned across all major industry sectors.
MORE
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Thirty million
Americans, or one in four workers, say that they
are experiencing “high” to “overwhelming” levels
of financial stress. And 30% to 80% of those
dissatisfied with their financial situation aren’t
checking their problems at the workplace door.
Instead, they are spending time worrying or
dealing with financial issues when they should be
working. As a result, they are less productive
than their more financially secure counterparts,
says E.
Thomas Garman, Professor Emeritus at Virginia
Tech University. MORE
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| According to a new
survey conducted by workplace consulting firm, the
Marlin
Co., men are more likely than women to feign
illness as an excuse for failing to report to
work. Researchers found that of those surveyed,
29% of men admit to calling in sick when they
really weren’t. On the other hand, 14% of women
offered a similar confession. Overall, 22% of
America’s workforce faked a sick day within the
past year. Surveying across generational lines,
researchers found that older workers were less
likely to concoct an illness than their younger
counterparts. Only 15% of older workers admit to
faking a sick day. And, while some might suspect
that those with young children were the most
likely to call in sick, researchers found that not
to be true. Only 19% of those who had children
under the age of 18 admitted to feigning illness
over the last year. |
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Governor Rod Blagojevich
is proposing a new program that would make
Illinois the first state in the nation to provide
affordable, comprehensive health insurance for
every child. Called All
Kids, the Governor’s press release says that,
“of the 253,000 children in Illinois without
health insurance, more than half come from working
and middle class families who earn too much to
qualify for programs like KidCare, but not enough
to afford private health insurance. Through All
Kids, comprehensive health insurance would be
available to every uninsured child at rates their
parents can afford.” MORE
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| The Illinois Chamber
understands your staff is your most valuable
asset, and failing to keep your compensation and
benefits package competitive can prove to be a
costly mistake! Compensation Data has the answers
to your pay and benefit questions. Compdata
Surveys packs each survey with more information
than any other data provider. In fact, the
Compensation Data survey looks at the entire
compensation package including benefits, pay
practices, salaries and much more! To see a job
title from the 2005 Illinois results, click
here. To order your copy of the newly released
Compensation Data 2005, click
here NOW! |
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The entry deadline for
submission of your company as one of the 'best
places to work in Illinois' has been extended
until January 27, 2006. This program is
co-sponsored by the Illinois Chamber to honor
companies in Illinois that show a dedication to
their employees’ growth and quality of life and it
is open to all for-profit and non-profit companies
in the state. Honors will go to companies in two
categories: medium-sized companies (25-199
employees) and large companies (over 200
employees). MORE
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 For the latest HR
news and analysis, CLICK
HERE or on the "HR Library" link above.
The site is updated daily to keep you informed on
the latest developments and how they might impact
your bottom line.
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Current
HR Economic
Indicators
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| Check out some of our business
service programs and see how your membership
pays with the Illinois Chamber. Another new
program has been added to our growing list of
business services:
Learn more about these
programs and how it benefits your company to Join
the Leaders! And use the Chamber
website to stay current on the issues and
opportunities facing the business community
today. |
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 The Chamber urges
all Illinois employers to recognize their Guard
and Reserve employees by signing and displaying
the ESGR Statement of Support. To get yours,
simply complete their online form and you will
receive a personalized certificate that
demonstrates your support. Also visit the SBA
Veteran's Business Development web site for
assistance to small business owners that have
employees activated in the Guard or Reserves.
Click MORE
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