Today’s smokers [are] more addicted to nicotine according to a new study, which notes that 73% of those trying to quit are “highly dependent”. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 20.2% of Americans are smokers. Pennsylvania has a slightly higher rate of smoking at 21.5 % with 51.9% attempting to quit. Many of these smokers
Obama Victory may give rise to Unprecedented Unionization of the American Workplace
Union membership and the public perception of the role of labor unions are relatively unchanged in recent years. Union membership was up only slightly in 2007 based on a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor, which published the following statistics on union membership:
Percentage of unionized workforce
Prohibition of Excessive Overtime in Health Care Act will Exacerbate Nursing Shortage
Clinical staffing problems for Pennsylvania healthcare facilities created by shortages of nursing professionals will be greatly exacerbated by a new law prohibiting mandatory overtime for employees engaged in direct patient care. The Commonwealth is already facing a nursing shortage, which is growing worse. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an arm of the
Employer’s Guide to the Election
The election rhetoric has been relatively quiet on employment-related topics, except for the brief mention in the last debate. Candidate Obama has a clear agenda employment legislation based on his co-sponsorship of various bills and other media comments. Candidate McCain’s position is less clear. Detailed below is a summary of the key legislative initiatives considered by Congress in
HR GENERALIST RESOURCES: Payroll Tax Withholding from Severance Pay and Other Supplemental Wage Payments
Employers offering severance payment to employees are typically uncertain about the payroll taxes that may apply to these additional payments. Severance pay is treated as “supplemental wages” because it is not a payment for services in the current payroll period but a payment made upon or after termination of employment for an employment relationship that has
Bosses do not Deserve RESPECT
October 16th is the annual celebration of Boss’s Day, which has traditionally been the day for employees to “thank their boss for being kind and fair throughout the year”. In most workplaces, it is clear who is a boss and who is not. The boss is the one who tells you what to
Criminal Background Checks – Act 73’s Impact on Pennsylvania Employers
Employers engaging in business where employees have “significant likelihood of regular contact with children” should be paying close attention to the amendments to Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Act, also know as Act 73. Act 73 became effective on July 1, 2008, and has taken many employers off guard.
Act 73 expands criminal background check requirements
Paul Newman: A Lesson in Leadership from Butch Cassidy
Let’s take a moment to honor this cinematic legend while examining the dynamics of leadership that exist in all organizations whether it’s corporate America or in this case the Hole in the Wall Gang.
In this classic flick, Butch is an absentee leader with no succession plan. He is challenged by one of his subordinates for leadership of the gang. Butch leads the gang through his dominant intellect and control over the gang’s star member – the Sundance Kid a.k.a. Robert Redford. Here are some of Butch’s leadership shortcomings:
Assuming his Leadership won’t be Challenged
Butch is surprised when his leadership is challenged, but reminded by a gang member that “you always said that any one of us could challenge you Butch.” Butch responds, “That’s cause I figured no one would do it." The challenger responds, ”You figured wrong Butch.”
Losing Touch with his Team and then making Excuses
There is support for the challenge when one gang member says “ Well at least [the leadership challenger] is with us… you have been spending a lot of time gone.” Butch makes his excuse in that “everything is different now… it’s harder now…you have to plan more….”
No Succession Plan
Butch has no succession plan creating a leadership vacuum where the rules are unclear. The ensuing battle is won only by Butch’s quick thinking and fancy footwork. Ultimately, he must profess to the gang that there are no rules.
Retailating against those who Oppose him
Butch tells Sundance Kid that he doen’t mean to be a sore loser, but it the fight is done, and he’s dead, kill his successor.
Here is the full scene. Your comments on leadership are welcome.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=2y87EaadjqM%26hl%3Den%26fs%3D1
Transcript below:Continue Reading Paul Newman: A Lesson in Leadership from Butch Cassidy
Employer Dress Code Standards: “Neat, Clean and Professional” may not be Enough
The New York Times article Tattoos Gain Even More Visibility discusses the rising popularity of body art and challenges facing employers in regulating employee dress. The article focuses on tattoos but raises the larger issue of employer dress code standards and their challenges in terms of both employee retention and legal compliance.
Jon Hyman at the