Friday, June 7, 2013

TimeTrex – Information Security

Remember to not use a Social Security Number or date of birth in TimeTrex
Additionally, it is best not to use a partial of the SSN or DOB in TimeTrex in fields like an employee number or password.  If you would like to use a unique employee number please feel free to use the randomly generated employee number Cardinal assigns to all employees.  Your Cardinal representative will be able to provide you with that number.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Don’t Lean into My Cubicle Like That!

Sexual harassment is, by definition, a type of discrimination which includes gender-based harassment, bullying, or coercion of a sexual nature.  Any type of unwelcome or unwanted sexual advances, requests for favors, or other conduct that is used as a condition of employment may be considered unlawful sexual harassment. If a supervisor uses sexual favors as a basis of employment decision-making, whether between same-sex or opposite-sex individuals, this too may be considered sexual harassment in the workplace.  It is imperative that an employer has a thorough workplace policy in place which communicates the company’s zero-tolerance of any type of harassing  behavior, as well as what employees may do if they become victims of harassment.  Employers who are proactive in training employees and supervisors, and regularly enforce the organization’s stance against harassing and intimidating behavior in the workplace generally have reduced exposure to harassment-related liability. 

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Labor Trends – Affordable Care Act

Working at Cardinal has afforded me the opportunity to interact with business owners all over Oregon. In the last few months I have noticed some trends related to the upcoming employer mandate requirements under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. To provide some background the employer mandate is a $2000 penalty per full time employee per year (note the first 30 are tax exempt) which only affects large businesses, those with 50 or more full-time employees or their equivalents. Small businesses, defined as having fewer than 50 full-time employees, do not face a penalty.

Among small employers that clearly have fewer than 50 full time employees there is an increased awareness that health insurance is an upcoming concern.  As I note in my recent Affordable Care Act presentations, many of these small business owners are waiting for