In the wake of the #MeToo movement and the flood of new sexual harassment laws, I wanted to take a moment and discuss one of the newest methods for fighting sexual harassment that government agencies are now ordering employers to train employees on in the workplace: Bystander Intervention. It started at Colleges & Universities a…
In January 2012, U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn ruled that a defendant in a digital forensics criminal case must turn over the unencrypted contents of her currently encrypted laptop. The defendant, Ramona Fricosu of Colorado, is charged with bank fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and providing false statements to financial institutions in connection with her…
The Colorado Supreme Court has delivered an important ruling on the issue of medical marijuana that is sure to be used immediately as case law across the U.S. The topic is very important because it clarifies one of the most confusing aspects about the employment of medical marijuana users. In essence, medical marijuana is legal…
Undercover Boss, is a reality television series that places the CEO’s or Presidents of businesses in entry-level positions to work alongside unwary lower-level employees. Usually, the CEO’s of large businesses are so far up the chain of command, they lack exposure to the day-to-day activities of the employees who drive their companies’ profitability. The show,…
According to Patricia Kotze, president of Diversified Risk Management, Inc. (DRM), there is a new threat to employers and their Human Resources departments: the “Professional Applicant.” “This is a person who applies for a position with a company but has no intention of sticking around to be a productive employee,” says Ms. Kotze. “Instead, their…
Belfour Holdings CEO Sheldon Yellen was recently interviewed regarding his experience on the show Undercover Boss. Yellen worked alongside low-level workers removing soot, hanging dry wall and crawling underneath homes. Mr. Yellen recognized that working in the trenches helped him to better understand his company’s needs and the importance of getting unadulterated feedback from his…
As an employer, how do you know if an employee is taking prescribed pain killers at work and may be addicted? What happens if the prescription for the medication has expired and now the employee is buying illegally obtained medication or even worse, has substituted heroin for the similar effect? In a combined years report…
Imagine you’re a supervisor, walking the production floor. As you pass a group of employees, you overhear two young men conversing: “Yeah, we were dabbing all night, you should have come down. I picked up some skywalker wax and my buddy brought his new vape, we were so lit. How about you? We were at…
By Rory Montez and Patricia Kotze Since the economic downturn of 2007, many Americans have dealt with decreased wages, less chances for pay increases, and being asked by employers to “do more with less.” A recent report from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors indicates under-employment is rampant. The report includes figures from the Census…
Investigative Interviews As an employer, you need a solid basis for taking action and defending yourself against claims of inaction and unfair treatment. Or perhaps you need assistance because an employee has made a sexual harassment complaint. The objective of any workplace investigation is to gather the facts so you can make an informed decision.…
A recent study on workplace productivity found that employees spend nearly half of their time of any given workday on unproductive tasks. For small and mid-size business owners, the loss of worker productivity can amount to almost a million dollars a year. In a study conducted by Webtorials, it was noted that employees waste a significant portion…
Threats of terrorist acts and mass shootings are occurring at an alarming rate. Employers are being forced to think about the safety and security of their employees like never before. With that in mind, we have assembled some useful tips for protecting your business and employees. Know your Industry Some industries are inherently…
