The acceptance of shame has been long dead. Shame as still officially defined is: “A painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming or impropriety.” Synonyms are dishonor and disgrace. We rarely see the consciousness of guilt or dishonor or disgrace. What is more often seen is the pain of getting caught or outright denial until the evidence is painfully insuperable. Then there comes an expression of sorrow, maybe a resignation. But shame?

(more…)

Human Resources News provides an important update on a program announced by the U.S. Department of Labor last year and rolled out last week. It’s called “We Can Help.” Employers should pay close attention, because this is a program designed to help employees work with advocacy groups in cracking down on wage and hour violations.

(more…)

I haven’t watched much of the new hit CBS reality show, Undercover Boss. Until last Sunday’s episode, I had watched bits and pieces. Last Sunday, I watched the whole thing, featuring Roto-Rooter’s President and COO. I’m sure this episode was structured like the others: executive goes undercover; works various jobs in the company in different locations; discovers there are some tough jobs; finds good employees who have compelling personal stories; and then is reunited with employees to reveal his true identity.

(more…)

Much has been written about the recent New York Times article on whether employers are violating the wage and hour law by failing to pay interns for their work. See Workplace Prof Blog, Philip Miles, Manpower Employment Blawg, The Atlantic, The Huffington Post, YGLESIAS, Hipsterrunoff, Joanne Jacobs, The Kept-Up Academic Librarian, Minding the Workplace, and FindLaw.

(more…)

Times have changed, we’re reminded every day. Of course, each generation comes to that conclusion, usually meaning that times have gotten worse. This view is quite prevalent today, in light of millions of unemployed, continuing layoffs, the massive chasm between pay at the top and that at the bottom, and the prediction that our children’s generation will never have a chance to live as well as recent past generations.

(more…)

Being overqualified used to be a reason applicants were given for failing to get a job offer. It was assumed that someone overqualified wouldn’t be happy in the job and would be looking to leave as soon as a more suitable job could be found. It’s finally sinking in that times have changed, if not for the long term, then for a long short term.

(more…)

The current recession has already made permanent changes in the private sector’s employer-employee relations. Its now beginning to make those changes in the public or government sector. The private sector overreacted by laying off hundreds of thousands of employees but has now discovered that it can operate with fewer employees. The government at all levels is out of money and can no longer afford to pay police officers, firefighters, sanitation workers, and a host of other public employees whose work we take for granted. (more…)

What are the signs of leadership? Unfortunately, those who hold themselves out as leaders — executives, managers, supervisors, and employees — might list, sometimes secretly, the following:

(more…)

According to the New York Times, a group of West African employees in Colorado has filed discrimination charges against Wal-Mart with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Some of the employees had worked for Wal-Mart for several years, claim they had never been disciplined or given bad performance reviews until recently, and contend they were fired because management wanted to get rid of them to give their jobs to local people who were out of work.

(more…)

American car makers have given Toyota every reason to strut. Even before the so-called “great recession,” Toyota was cleaning the clocks of Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. Its reputation for quality and safety was unsurpassed. It’s now focused on damage control.

(more…)

According to the New York Times, at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, French President Nicolas Sarkozy called on world leaders to embrace “a more moral form of financial capitalism.” Is he saying that regular capitalism is immoral?

(more…)

Most employment disputes are settled, sometimes before a lawsuit is filed, sometimes after. The bigger the players, the more quickly the dispute is settled. The bigger the players, the more money that’s paid to settle the dispute.

(more…)

When I was growing up and afterward, late night comedy meant The Tonight Show, starring Johnny Carson. His only competition (albeit minor) was Dick Cavett.

(more…)

Because of the accident of timing, this week’s news confronts us with the contorted world of brokenness in which we live. Our world’s abyss has been laid bare.

(more…)

A head college football coach is a CEO. He assembles a team of key assistants. He is in charge of the performance of his players. Like other CEOs today, he’s often paid millions of dollars a year.

(more…)

Here’s a brief on few things that have happened while I’ve been loafing. Jobs continue to decline. Most people who have jobs hate them. Bonuses for the haves continue to increase. Employees continue to kill co-workers with guns. Guns have made their way into NBA locker rooms. The immigration fight continues, not to mention health care. Record number of discrimination charges are filed with the EEOC. The Man Gene is threatened by The Word Gene (yeah, right).

I’ve frequently posted about dress codes and appearance policies at work. Some of these posts have been based on articles by Christina Binkley, style editor for the Wall Street Journal. She closes out the year with an article entitled “The Year of Dressing Ridiculously,” made so by the recession, extreme efforts to get people to shop, and fashion designers doing what fashion designers do.

(more…)

The New York Times reports that lawsuits resulting from the recession are finally hitting the courts in big numbers. That’s not surprising. What is surprising is the kind of litigation not included in this report.

(more…)