Companies that routinely conduct criminal background checks need to take another look at their current policies and procedures. In April, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued new guidance about the use of arrest and conviction records in hiring.

... So the guy stands there with his mouth agape and says, “But Doc, why do you have to operate on my foot? The splinter is in my finger!” Why am I leading off with a punch line? Because it applies to about 80 percent of people who can’t figure out why their website doesn’t “work.”

Companies with federal contracts or subcontracts may soon risk losing their contracts if they do not meet quotas to hire more disabled workers. Proposed rule changes would require employers with federal contracts and subcontracts to set a hiring goal that 7 percent of their employees are qualified workers with disabilities.

Bigger is better. All businesses must either “grow or die.” If you’re a small business owner, you might have been nodding along as you read those business maxims, agreeing wholeheartedly. After all, it’s what you’ve always heard. But according to Ed Hess, these “truths” are anything but.

Along with underfunded corporate and public pensions, many union pensions are massively in the red. For employers who have union workers who participate in these types of multiemployer pension plans, the growing liability involved with withdrawing from pension funds presents a serious issue.

According to a Harris Poll, majorities of Americans are doing some basic things to be more energy efficient like turning off lights, televisions, or other appliances when not in use (82 percent), replacing incandescent bulbs with fluorescent ones (58 percent), and looking for Energy Star labels when replacing appliances (55 percent). But there are other things majorities of Americans are not doing.

Striking the balance between the need to hire qualified employees and the need to avoid disability discrimination claims has become even more challenging since changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) went into effect in 2009.

There’s a lot riding on a website that’s working for a business. It has to convey brand and professionalism, communicate the right message, and engage visitors. Every detail plays a role, from the logo to the text to the design and functionality.

If one of your employees calls her boss an insulting or obscene name on her Facebook page, you might think you could fire her without fear of reprisal. But you could be wrong. One company found itself in exactly that situation.

Recognizing the depth of consumer concern and its potential impact on their business, many service contractors have initiated employee screening processes to avoid hiring staff who may be convicted felons or registered sex offenders. These are generally described within the HVAC industry as safe hiring programs.