I’m always amazed at the different corporate cultures created among businesses of the same type. For example, rank and file employees in one glass company appear to be happy and loose, while those in a similar company are wound-up tight and jumpy.

When is the last time that you or one of your employees actually used a portable fire extinguisher? I mean they actually pulled the pin, aimed at the fire, and discharged the contents of the extinguisher at the fire. If you can’t remember ever having that experience, it’s time for a little practice.

We all enjoy the internet videos of people taking unexpected tumbles or bounces off trampolines in the backyard or the ones where the old guy slips off the diving board while trying to impress his grandkids with his abilities as a circus acrobat. The commonality about slipping and falling and our enjoyment of same is that it is truly funny – when it happens to someone else.

For some time now, Employers Resource Safety and Loss Control manager have been speaking to groups of business owners and managers about the increased compliance enforcement activity exhibited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We’ve been telling anyone who will listen about the 13% increase in the number of OSHA inspectors (130-160 NEW boots on the ground), the stepped up inspection program, and the issuance of citations for even the most minor of infractions.

In an effort to boost profits and meet the changing needs of an increasingly diverse employee population, U.S. employers are offering flexible work benefits that go beyond telecommuting. HR directors at organizations that offer employees flextime, compressed workweeks, shift flexibility, job sharing, and sabbaticals, are reporting that these programs are proving to be cost-effective morale boosters that benefit company bottom lines

Last year, employers paid out nearly $180 million in back wages to more than 208,000 employees in minimum wage and overtime claims as a result of federal wage and hour law violations. With the number of complaints registered increasing more than 34% from 2008 to 2010 (24,000 to 32,000 cases annually), this trend is expected to grow again in 2011.

We’ve been with Employers Resource for more than 10 years, and our payroll runs so smoothly, that I wouldn’t change a thing – especially our payroll specialist, who is wonderful! Thank you Employers Resource, everything is perfect! Tonya L. Office Manager

Establishing discipline procedures is critical to the effective enforcement of work rules. Progressive discipline is a discipline system where the severity of the penalty increases each time an employee breaks the rules. Typically the progression is from oral warnings to written warnings and finally to termination of employment.

When I was a kid – I’m not saying how long ago, but Beaver Cleaver was a baby – nobody worried much about mosquito bites, wasp stings, poison ivy, chiggers, no-see-‘ums, and such. Being attacked by the local flora and fauna was all part of summer. You took your lumps, scratched to your heart’s content and went about the business of having fun. Ok, if it got REALLY bad, mom would put some pink stuff on the affected areas…

“We’ve used PEO’s for more than 20-years.  In all that time, there have been some good ones, and some bad ones, but we’ve never worked with anyone better than Employers Resource.  In our experience, they’re definitely top of the line!” Barbie T. Owner