The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has reported an increase in the number of sexual harassment charges filed by men. In fact, between 1992 and 2008, the percentage of such charges doubled from 8% to 16%. The media has analyzed this development, opining that it results from the recession, more women in positions of power, more men willing to come forward with the charges, and mysteries yet unsolved (here and here). Fellow bloggers have also weighed in: Molly DiBianca, Workplace Prof Blog, Employment Law Post, Business Insider, and HealthChapter.

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An earlier post advised of a new book about dress codes. Now there’s more good news. According to the New York Times, the suit is back as part of business attire. More specifically, the cheap suit is back. At one point, a cheap suit attracted only a sneer. Then, any suit attracted a sneer, as employers tumbled head-long into the murky realm of business casual.

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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.

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I have done a number of posts on the legalities and practicalities of workplace dress codes. If you want a review of them, click here and scroll down. You’ll find more than 20 posts on dress codes or appearance policies. Thirty years ago, The Official Preppy Handbook gave employers a model from which to work and dress. The book has been out of print for 15 years, so employers have had to stumble and bumble to write and revise meaningful dress policies.

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The Frontal Cortex blog has a post that’s not designated as HR- or employment-related but should be. It doesn’t relate only to the happiness of employees, but it deals with a subject that has a lot to do with employee happiness: the daily commute. The inherently unpredictable flow of traffic ruins the day — possibly every day. In fact, Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert is quoted as saying, “Driving in traffic is a different kind of hell every day.”

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When I was a teenager, Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs burst onto the scene with their huge hit Wooly Bully. The lyrics were hard to make out and hard to discern even if you made them out. It’s clear that Sam and his Pharaohs weren’t singing about bullies at school or work, but they could have been.

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CEOs are making lots of news with emails. Yesterday, I posted about the Michelle Obama-Cheeta email forwarded by a Nashville CEO. Today’s post is about a CEO’s email to employees that’s not deemed offensive in the way the Obama-Cheeta email was, but offensive nonetheless.

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Employers increasingly use background checks and other tests in the hiring process. The killing of three biology professors by a colleague, Dr. Amy Bishop, at the University of Alabama in Huntsville raises the question of whether employers go far enough. (Click here and here.)

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Yesterday, I posted Molly DiBianca’s advice on “5 non-negotiable provisions for your social media policy.” Now, check out Dan Schwartz for a more general post on how employers are beginning to accept these policies.

Everywhere you look, there’s an article or a post on whether employers should have social media policies and, If so, what they should say. Check out Molly DiBianca on “5 non-negotiable provisions” for your social media policy.

A high percentage of employers have workplace smoking policies. Most of these policies say that employees can’t smoke in the workplace, on the premises, in company vehicles or can smoke only in restricted areas. So, in the winter, it’s not uncommon to see a dwindling number of smokers huddled outside an office building trying to stay warm while satisfying a much-scorned addiction. Indeed, smokers are the lepers of the 21st century.

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Are faith healers health care providers under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? Check out Jon Hyman for the answer.

A few days ago, I looked at the late night comedy talk show crisis from a humorous, even made-up, point of view. Check out Bill Bowser for a more serious look at the legal issues involving NBC, Conan, Leno, et al.

When we hear the word discrimination, we think race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability. Jon Hyman provides important information, particularly this day and time, about bankruptcy discrimination.

As Dan Schwartz tells us, the U.S. Department of Labor has finally issued the new model COBRA notices. Dan also provides a link to all of the forms.

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.

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For information on the COBRA subsidy extension passed by Congress and signed by the President, read Dan Schwartz, Molly DiBianca, and Jon Hyman.