We invite you to learn more about our full suite of Training and Development Services led by Director, Heather Trotta.

Click HERE to learn more and to view Courses offered in March & April or contact Heather directly at: 203-322-0538 or Training@OperationsInc.com

The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released statistics on union membership: In 2010, 11.9% of wage and salary workers were members of a union, according to the BLS. That was down from 12.3% a year earlier. The number of union workers declined in 2010 by 612,000, to 14.7 million. Some other highlights of the report were as follows:

• The union membership rate for public sector workers (36.2%) was substantially higher than the rate for private sector workers (6.9%)
• Workers in education, training, and library occupations had the highest unionization rate (37.1%)
• Among states, New York had the highest union membership rate (24.2%) and North Carolina the lowest (3.2%)

According to a recent survey,three-in-ten (30 percent) companies said they cut back on business travel last year, and of those companies, more than one-third (37 percent) said it negatively affected their business. The nationwide survey was conducted among more than 2,400 U.S. employers and more than 3,900 U.S. workers between November 15 and December 2, 2010. When asked how fewer business trips affected their bottom lines, companies reported the following:

• Less effective internal communication - 12 percent
• Fewer sales - 11 percent
• Less effective execution on internal business initiatives - 10 percent
• Less customer loyalty - 8 percent

Because we want to best serve our readers, we feature a segment of our Newsletter where you can submit questions directly to our OperationsInc professionals. Do you have a question related to the management of the Human Resources function? Email it along to enewsletter@operationsinc.com. The best ones will make it into a future newsletter, along with the answer... and those that don't get published will still receive a response.

This week's question:
-Can a company speak to an employee's doctor to better understand an employee's condition and the accommodation that may be needed?

--- General Manager, Hospitality

Answer:
We're talking one of the more slippery slopes here. In short you want to ask for all of this information in writing vs. via call as it may become critical to use the information collected down the road. Having said that you can call for clarification but best practice is to have the doctor add the info you learned of note to an updated piece of documentation. Critical rule - no calls to the doctor without written permission from the employee. When in ANY doubt consult a professional.

"There are no shortcuts to any place worth going."

- Unknown Author

Information provided in The OperationsInc Navigator is researched and reviewed by the HR experts at OperationsInc. The information in every issue of The OperationsInc Navigator is in part gathered via information available in the public domain, as well as in part the original, copyrighted work of OperationsInc and is protected under U.S. copyright laws. As such, you may not reprint or publish in any format any article or portion of article The OperationsInc Navigator without the express permission of OperationsInc.

OperationsInc provides the information in this e- newsletter for general guidance only. The information provided herein should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional human resources, legal, or other competent advisers. Before making any decision or taking any action, you should consult a professional adviser who has been provided with all pertinent facts relevant to your particular situation.

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