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California Passes Historic “All Leave” Law

Mark Toth — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:13:51 +0000

California has passed a new law that requires employers to provide 52 weeks of paid leave to all employees.

The All Leave Act of 2008 (SB-401) cleared its final hurdle yesterday when, as expected, it passed the Assembly by a wide 65-12 margin.

“This is a great day for all Californians,” said bill co-sponsor David Lirpa (D-San Jose). ”This law represents an historic bipartisan effort by both sides of the aisle to ease the burden on this great state’s workers,” added the bill’s other sponsor, Barbara Loof (R-Palo Alto).

“I would consider a veto,” said California Jerry Brown as he stepped onto a plane bound for the Cayman Islands. “But, technically, as an employee of the state, I can’t — I’m required to be on leave every day for the rest of my term.”

The new law is effective today, April 1.

Performance Evaluation Worst Practices

Mark Toth — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 12:20:13 +0000

Yesterday, we discussed performance evaluation best practices. Here are some worst practices – actual real-life performance review quotes used as evidence in employment litigation (courtesy of Professor Dick Beatty of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business):

“I would not allow this employee to breed.”
“The gates are down, the lights are flashing but the train isn’t coming.”
“He’s so dense, light bends around him.”
“The wheel is turning but the hamster is dead.”
“He’s got the whole six-pack but lacks the plastic thingy holding it all together.”
“Since my last report, the employee reached rock bottom and began to dig.”
“He would argue with a signpost.”
“If you stand close enough to him you can hear the ocean.”
“Takes an hour and a half to watch 60 Minutes.”
“If he were any more stupid he’d have to be watered twice a week.”
“His men would follow him anywhere, but only out of morbid curiosity.”

Don’t let this happen to you. Please follow the suggestions we made here yesterday.

Got any performance evaluation nightmares you’d like to share? Leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at blawg@na.manpower.com.

Help Prevent Workplace Violence and Promote Peace on Earth

admin — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:04:20 +0000

To help reduce potential fistfights, riots and other forms of workplace violence, we thought we would seek a peaceful resolution to a highly charged and controversial question that inevitably pops up at this time of year. That question, of course, is: What is the best holiday movie of all time?

So, please promote peace on earth by voting in our latest poll to help resolve this divisive issue once and for all. If you’d like to add a write-in candidate, please leave a comment below.

Thank you.

Help Make Literary History

Mark Toth — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:01:19 +0000

Click here to view our interactive online novel, Bob Sits In His Cube (And Other Exciting Adventures).

At each critical juncture of this action-packed saga, we stop and give you a chance to tell us what you think should happen next. We’ve gotten some highly creative suggestions, but I wanted to give you one last chance to express yourselves before we create the next chapter. Just leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at blawg@na.manpower.com.

Thank you for your assistance in this important endeavor.