(From Transworld Business) Radical revolution. Breaking boundaries. Peak performance. Sounds like the last ten years in surfing, skating or riding, right? Probably.

But that also describes the advances in personal communication platforms. These changes have altered how we all play, live and work. What was once spoken, or written and edited, is now instantly uploaded for all to see and hear. Coupled with eroding workplace boundaries, employers face new challenges with employees.

This article briefly discusses how these personal communication platforms (i.e., social or new media) are impacting the workplace. And potentially increasing liability risks for employers.

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Tags: social media, workplace, policy, social learning, informal learning

Categories: Learning & Development | Learning Technologies | News

(From The Washington Post) WASHINGTON — The Supreme Count on Tuesday seemed deeply divided on how far the government can intrude inside the employment practices of churches and religious groups, a decision being closely watched by religious institutions concerned about their independence and by civil rights groups looking out for their employees.

The issue in the dispute between the Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School of Redford, Mich., and former teacher Cheryl Perich is whether a government agency has the right to sue the school on her behalf for firing her after she complained of discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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Tags: policy, discrimination, US government, religion, workplace policy

Categories: Human Capital | Government | News | Public Policy

(From btobonline.com) Think your company has an adequate understanding of how employees may or may not use social media? Think again. Last month the National Labor Relations Board issued a decision that roiled the common thinking about how companies can govern the social media activities of their employees.

The NLRB ruled Sept. 2 that Hispanics United of Buffalo, a New York social services nonprofit organization, must reinstate five employees with back pay after they were fired for griping among each other on Facebook about a co-worker's job performance.

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Tags: social media, Twitter, workplace, policy, social learning, informal learning

Categories: Learning & Development | Learning Technologies | News

RICHMOND, VA, April 08, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Federal and commercial experts will discuss the rapidly-evolving government workplace and how compliance with Telework mandates are affecting agency buildings, workers, policies and budgets. This web-based panel discussion will be held April 12 at 1:00 pm EDT.

Beginning in June 2011, every federal agency is to report on their progress towards the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010. However, the policies, tools and cultural changes to implement these changes take time and money. Four other mandates related to COOP, flexible workplace and real estate reduction also require agency attention and action. Several agencies have already had success and support from business has been strong.

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Tags: government workplace, telework, policy, workplace

Categories: News

(From the Ottawa Citizen) You've been working on your Respectful Workplace Policy for months. You've held meetings, got suggestions and made several drafts. You're ready to unveil it.

But when it's time for the Big Reveal, managers and staff give it just a brief glance then shelve it. It's back to business as usual -and respect in the workplace hasn't changed or improved. It's easy to feel let down.

The problem with policies is that we don't tend to behave differently by reading about how we should behave. We learn by doing.

So what do we need to do to make such a policy come to life? There are three key elements to creating a respect ful workplace. Too often, organizations aspiring to build respect into the culture overlook the need for everyone to take personal responsibility. Blame cultures that are dependent on management to get things done tend to focus on what everyone else should be doing to make the workplace hum. Instead, get people to ask: "What can I do to make this place better for everyone?"

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Tags: positive workplace, respectful workplace, management, workplace, policy, positivity

Categories: News | T+D

(CNSNews.com) -- A provision in the Senate version of the health-care reform bill would push private employers to create a “culture of health” for employees in the workplace.
 
While many employers already have wellness programs that include onsite clinics, and programs for reducing obesity and encouraging exercise as a means of lowering health care costs, these programs are private-sector initiatives—between an employers and workers—and the government is not involved.

That could change if the language in the version of the health care bill drafted by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is adopted.  The bill would create tax incentives for employers to create worker “wellness” programs and directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to evaluate employers for the effectiveness of the wellness programs they offer. The findings from these evaluation will be reported to Congress.

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Tags: workplace, public sector, benefits, policy

Categories: News

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray wants to put $912 million into a new national center that would invite states to compete for money for innovative job training programs.

Murray, a Democrat who represents Washington, said Wednesday that she hopes the bill will encourage employers, schools and work force training experts to get together with state officials to create programs to train high school and college students for jobs that pay enough to support families.

She is being joined in the move by U.S. Rep. John Tierney, a Democrat who represents Massachusetts.

Murray says she got the idea for the bill while traveling around the state of Washington talking to employers who say they can't find enough skilled workers to fill their needs.

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Tags: training, policy, government, innovation

Categories: News