Around the Employment/HR Blogosphere

With a little holiday work lull, and extra time at home, I’m catching up on my blogreading using bloglines.

Following are some of my favorites from the many interesting posts I’ve seen on other employment/HR blogs (all listed in the blogroll at right).

First, from Benefitsblog, a prediction regarding 2005 compensation: “Costs of Benefits Will Eat Into Pay Increases for 2005″

Per survey released Dec. 13 by Mercer HR Consulting, highest-performing employees are expected to receive 4.9%, average performers 3.2% percent, and weak performers 1.0%.

But “pay increases for 2005 will likely be eaten up ‘by taxes, inflation and higher benefit insurance costs’ and . . . many employees will be ‘underwhelmed’ by their net increases.”

Next, a number of good posts from the Disability Law blog, which is off to a great start since coming online in November.

“Soliders with Amputations Returning to Duty”

Linking to a Washington Post article, notes “the U.S. Military’s emerging policy of allowing soldiers who lose limbs in war injuries to remain on duty, provided they can pass physical fitness tests and the like,” and “wonder[s] how this development will affect the policies of police departments and the like stateside who refuse to hire people with prosthetic limbs.”

Perhaps the military will play a leading role in the integration of some physically disabled persons into the workforce, as many believe it did with racial integration.

“Interacting With Others” cites several law review articles on the interesting issue of efforts to establish an ADA-protected disability based on a major life activity of “interacting with others,” touched on earlier this month by Michael in this post.

“D.C. Circuit on Definition of Disability”

Discusses case lost by plaintiff who claimed disability based on “itching reaction to something at his workplace” that made it “impossible for him to get a good night’s sleep.” No substantial limitation in major life activity of sleeping, because limited only if continued to work in current job.

“Seventh Circuit on Definition of Disability”

Case in which plaintiff with insulin-dependent diabetes survived summary judgment on often-fatal issue of existence of disability. Court found plaintiff had presented sufficient evidence of substantial limitation in major life activity of eating, although underlying condition was mitigated with insulin.

Shows how careful attention to medical facts and practical realities of individual’s life is essential on this crucial issue. Here it looks like the plaintiff’s attorney did a nice job. I’m sure one could find many other cases in which diabetic plaintiffs lost on this issue. I wouldn’t rely on them any more (at least in the 7th Cir.), without facts to distinguish this case.

“D. Minn. on Stuttering as Disability”

Plaintiff in this case apparently gets past summary judgment on disability issue with persuasive evidence severe stuttering disorder substantially limited major life activity of speaking.

Next, though her posts are relatively infrequent, Beth Carvin, CEO of Nobscot, often has insightful comments. I liked her post entitled “Stay Interviews and Exit Interviews”

“Stay interviews” being the concept of interest to me (though not main focus of the post). Described by Beth as “reaching out and . . . listening to each employee and showing that you care about their individual success. . . [;] an important part of your employee retention strategy.”

Don’t wait until an exit interview. A broad-based periodic “stay interview” is an opportunity to learn of problems before they spin out of control. And if an employee later claims bad stuff (e.g., sexual harassment) was going on for a long time, but failed to mention it in a stay interview (without being asked about the subject per se), that’s great evidence for the defense.

Beth also has “Good News for Retention of NextGen Employees”

“Teens and young adults between the ages of 14 - 21 said they would prefer to advance within one company rather than grow by switching jobs. If true this is great news for companies. With any luck this could signal the end of the “knowledge nomads” and good riddance to them.”

Much more to come in future episodes of “employment/HR blogosphere.” Lots of people blogging much useful info. I’ll keep trying to highlight what I find to be the best in a wide variety of related subject areas.

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