Human Resources

How many times have you heard, “There is no such thing as a free lunch”?  Well we want to share with you two resources from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) designed to provide “hands-on” information to assist business owners develop wage, benefit, safety and health, and nondiscrimination policies for their organization.

FirstStep Overview Advisor

The FirstStep Overview Advisor is designed to assist business owners and employers better understand DOL’s major laws.  The employer begins with the FirstStep Overview Advisor.  The Advisor walks the user through a series of questions to determine the major DOL administered laws applicable to their organization.

To learn more about the FirstStep Overview Advisor .

Employment Law Guide

The Employment Law Guide is designed to assist business owners and employers who have an solid understanding of the major laws applicable to their organization.  The guide outlines in detail the major statutes and regulations administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) affecting businesses and workers.

The guide is divided into chapters describing the requirements of each major statute enforced by the Department of Labor. There are seven chapters in the guide.  The first five chapters are by the type of labor standard and the last two chapters discuss laws which apply exclusively to employers holding Federal contracts.

Table of Contents

1. Wages and Hours Worked
2. Safety and Health Standards
3. Health Benefits, Retirement Standards, and Workers’      Compensation
4. Other Workplace Standards
5. Work Authorization for Non-U.S. Citizens
6. Federal Contracts: Working Conditions
7. Federal Contracts: Equal Opportunity in Employment

Each chapter outlines:

1. Employers and employees covered by the statute
2. The basic provisions and requirements
3. Employee rights
4. Recordkeeping, reporting, notice and poster requirements
5. Penalties or sanctions for non-compliance
6. Relation of the statute to state, local, and other federal laws
7. Addition information and compliance assistance from the DOL

The Employment Law Guide is provided as a public resource.  It should not be considered a replacement for the U.S. Code, Federal Register, or Code of Federal Regulations.  As with all publications, the continual statutory and regulatory changes will require the information in the guide to be updated regularly.  To keep up to date on the changes, it is suggested business owners and employers subscribe to the electronic mailing list at www.dol.gov/compliance/CA_subscribe.htm.

Have you considered carpooling with other coworkers or even people who work close by?  Carpooling is a great way for eveyone participating to save on gas.  Gas prices are a concern for many and the financial savings can be significant.  If you live in an area with tolls or parking fees, carpooling can help alleviate the fees for all people participating in the carpool.  Many areas offer high occupancy lanes for vehicles with two or more occupants.  Often these lanes are less busy and can help reduce travel time.  Car pooling can also increase your quality of life.  Reducing the amount of time you drive (since the driving will be shared among a number of individuals) can reduce the amount of stress.  You can also foster new friendships with the passengers in your carpool.

Interested in starting up a carpool?  Remember good carpool etiquette!

1. Be on time!
2. Respect the driver.
3. Think about the other passengers.  You may want to reconsider any products you use with a strong smell.
4. Request any changes to the schedule well in advance (and occassionally).

 

Today is Administrative Professionals Day.  Administrative Professionals Day is one of the largest workplace observances outside of employee birthdays and major holidays.  More than 1.4 million secretaries and administrative assistants are honored in the United States today.

Tell your administrative professionals thank you today!

There are additional simple switches you can do around the office to help reduce waste!  Consider implementing reusable utensils in your break or lunch room to replace any plastic items available.  How about offering dish cloths that can be washed and reused to employees for washing their lunch dishes?  Reusable plates and bowls can easily replace paper or plastic and help reduce the amount of trash used on a daily basis.

Happy Earth Day!  When it comes to Earth Day many of us consider what we can do in our home and community, but what about in the office?

Do you recycle?  If not, consider implementing recycling in your office.  Offices are full of paper – all of which can be recycled.  Also, consider the waste from cans and bottles employees bring for lunches and snacks.

Use both sides of your copy paper before you recycle it!

Recycle office equipment no longer used instead of throwing it away.

Recycle toner cartridges.  Many office supply stores offer a recycling program for used toner cartridges.

Turn computer equipment off when you leave for the day.  During the day, turn off monitors, printers, and scanners during breaks and lunches.

Use electronic documents.  Reduce the amount of paper used in your office by moving to electronic documents. where possible.

Learn more about Earth Day.