Aligning HR
with Business Strategy
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It's Flu Season Again!
Make sure you keep your employees and business protected from influenza in the new year! Visit these links for tips to staying healthy. This information is provided by the Center for Disease Control. |
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Customer Service Solutions
You may not realize that we also offer customer service consultation and training. Our strategic approach helps you and your employees take the guess work out of customer service. We customize our work to best meet your business goals, considering your industry, size, culture, and other factors important to you.
CONTACT US for more information about our Customer Service Solutions. Or, feel free to visit our website page:
CLICK HERE
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SWS News
To serve you better, we have contracted with an online fax service. Our new fax number is 1-866-733-7040.
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Please help us welcome Susie Sloan to our team! Susie serves as our Customer Service Education Specialist. To learn more about Susie, CLICK HERE.
| Susie Sloan
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Carol Rovello is now serving as the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Vice Chair for Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
Carol presented Collaboration and Coalition Building for Interdependent Work for Leadership Asheville participants on October 20th. She has been invited to present a program on workplace trends for the NC Local Government conference on December 9th.
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SWS Services
Many of our colleagues are surprised to learn of the wide range of services we offer. So, here is a short list FYI. We offer these services directly or through our Strategic Affiliates.
Feel free to visit our website for more details.
And CONTACT US anytime if you have questions.
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Pre-employment Screening Services
HR Administrative Support
Payroll & Benefits Administration
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HR Audits/Assessments
HR Technical Assistance and Compliance
HR Practices and Documents
Worker Classifications
Compensation Programs
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Individual Assessments
Leadership Development
Employee Training
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Facilitation Services
Diversity and Inclusion
Employee Relations and Team Building
Organizational Studies
Outplacement and Career Development Services |
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Greetings!
Well, here we are, nearly at the end of 2010. Where has the time gone?We usually reserve our November issue for answering some of the FAQs that tend to come up this time of year. We have also provided a couple of legal updates and, of course, a bit of SWS news. We are winding down the year as well, but we are never too busy to provide assistance, whether it's to answer a quick question or help you with a more complicated HR/OD matter.I hope you find something useful in this issue!Carol Rovello, SPHR |
Party Liability During the Holiday Season
| Holiday parties usually occur without incident, however, planning ahead will help you make sure your employees have a good time while behaving appropriately and remaining safe.
For tips on how to plan for a safe holiday social event,
CLICK HERE.
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Holidays and Religion
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This is the time of year when people celebrate the holidays with long-standing religious and family traditions. Many companies also have holiday traditions, which may align with a particular religious practice. This is a good time to assess your company's holiday traditions to be sure they comply with EEO-related requirements.
For more details, CLICK HERE.
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Toss or Keep? Important Information about Records Retention
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 You regularly take out the trash, put away materials, and clear your desk. Do you feel confident that all of your documents and files are up-to-date and correct?
CLICK HERE to read more about employee records.
CONTACT US to request our complimentary Employee Records Retention Guidelines.
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Are Your Required Postings Up To Date?
| December is also an ideal time to check your bulletin boards to ensure that you have the correct and most recent editions of required Federal and State postings. Keep in mind that some notices are applicable to applicants as well as employees.
CONTACT US to request the free NC Department of Labor poster set.
CLICK HERE to connect to the US DOL poster advisor webpage. This page will guide you through a series of questions and then generate a list of required notices that are applicable to your organization. |
| End of Year Benefits Statements | An end-of-year benefits statement provides your employees with the total value of their "compensation package." Most employees are surprised to see the total amount that you spend on their behalf. We suggest that you send the benefits statement on an annual basis with the W-2s.
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Legal Update: Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
|  As noted in prior Lighthouse Reports, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) became law on May 21, 2008. Title II of GINA became effective on November 21, 2009, however, GINA required the EEOC to issue regulations implementing Title II of the Act, which it just did on November 9, 2010.
Title II applies to private employers and state and local government employers with 15 or more employees, employment agencies, labor unions, and joint labor-management training programs. It also covers Congress, federal executive branch agencies, and the Executive Office of the President.
Title II of GINA prohibits the use of genetic information in employment, restricts employers and other entities covered by Title II from requesting, requiring, or purchasing genetic information, and strictly limits the disclosure of genetic information.
The statute and the final rule say that "genetic information" includes:
- Information about an individual's genetic tests;
- Information about the genetic tests of a family member;
- Family medical history;
- Requests for and receipt of genetic services by an individual or a family member; and
- Genetic information about a fetus carried by an individual or family member or of an embryo legally held by the individual or family member using assisted reproductive technology.
The EEOC has prepared a FAQ page to provide practical information about the most important requirements of Title II of GINA and the EEOC's regulations. To access this page, CLICK HERE.
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| Legal Update: Affirmative Action Requirements for Health Care Organizations | On October 18, 2010, a Department of Labor Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) upheld OFCCP's decision that the Florida Hospital of Orlando was a government subcontractor. The ALJ ruled that the hospital's contract with TRICARE makes it a subcontractor and triggers affirmative action obligations. Florida Hospital has subsequently appealed the ALJ ruling. If the ruling stands, numerous health care providers without direct government contracts will be subject to OFCCP's jurisdiction. This ruling is significant because many hospitals and health care providers have been operating under the assumption that they are not covered by federal affirmative action regulations.
For more information about these requirements, CLICK HERE.
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| Is Ethics Training Really Necessary? | A question often asked by employers of all types is "Are we required to provide employee training on ethics?" While it can be argued that training may not actually be required, the threat of a potential fine and penalty has made ethics/code of conduct training an imperative for most organizations.
CLICK HERE to learn more about ethics training requirements.
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| Clients in the News | FLS Energy was recognized at the Economic Development Commission's Annual Meeting for the company's continued success, which contributes to the economic vitality of the area.
The Asheville Humane Society opened its new facility in West Asheville. The spacious new buildings have been designed to provide the best care possible for the animals. The new location offers state of the art classrooms where A-B Tech Vet Tech students can take advantage of a hands-on learning experience as part of their course of study.
Charlotte Street Computers recently celebrated the opening of its expanded Charlotte Street location with a ribbon cutting and reception. The newly renovated space is the home for CSC's MAC retail store and Apple Authorized Service.
Sisters of Mercy Services Corporation held a ribbon cutting at its new Urgent Care Center on Hendersonville Road. This well attended event offered refreshments and a tour of this beautiful new facility.
On Friday, December 3rd, Mountain Bizworks will hold its annual Open House and Holiday Bazaar from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at its Lexington Avenue location. Buy local, enjoy the food, have fun, and support small business.
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As you know, there are many more timely HR/OD issues than we could possibly include or address comprehensively in our newsletters and announcements. So, please keep in mind that the information we provide is never intended to be all-inclusive or to substitute for professional advice.We always appreciate your feedback. Please let us know if there is a topic you would like us to address in future newsletters, and we'll do our best to fit it in. Have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday!Regards, Carol
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