Newsletter Sign-up

Office designs that are circular or rectangular, or those with open floor plans that allow workers to more easily see each other, should lead to greater collaboration and idea-sharing, according to a recent study. But seating arrangements must provide a bit of privacy as well.

A study finds that reduced smoking in the workplace may lead to higher rates of obesity, leading some experts to wonder whether company smoking bans really do have an overall beneficial effect. They stress that a holistic view on wellness initiatives, including incentives, is necessary.

Comparing workers to their peers can often backfire, according to a new study. It doesn't create more competitiveness. Instead, it can make higher-ranked employees complacent and causes lower-ranked workers to give up. That's not true, however, when financial incentives are tied to the rankings.

More working women than men report feeling more stress, and suffering stress-induced headaches and sleep problems. But more men than women take sick days because of stress, according to a recent survey. Women are also more likely to seek help.

Younger generations of workers say they are more inclined to participate in pay-for-performance compensation plans than their predecessors. Such arrangements can create a "powerful bond" between companies and workers, but research indicates such plans can have unintended consequences in some instances.

Postings on online job sites are on the rise. That's been a good predictor of an uptick in hiring in the past, so proactive HR executives should consider mining for talent now before their competitors find them -- as well as consider ways to protect their own organizations from losing their best performers.

A report finds the pay gap between men and women has narrowed, but there remains a portion of the difference that cannot be explained by measurable factors, such as jobs held, levels of experience and education. What does the EEOC plan to do about it? And how will it impact the work of agency EEO and HR practitioners, as well as federal contractors?

In any company emergency, HR leaders are in a great position to help craft solutions and dispense information. And one thing employees crave is information. One of the best ways to counter gossip and make sure your messages are accepted by employees is to establish an HR-communication strategy that's consistent, transparent and authoritative.

As tougher questions get asked during boards of directors' meetings, experts share tips on ways to answer them. Be concise; answer the question that is asked instead of including extraneous issues; and use concrete examples of how or why the policy should or should not be adopted.

Most companies plan to modestly hike base pay for workers, with differentiated levels for the various types of performers. In addition, most compensation surveys find that few companies plan to freeze salaries next year. But uncertainty about the economy remains.

Nearly all individuals are guilty of embellishing and exaggerating, but when a misstatement crosses the line, it can destroy a career. In this tight job market -- where workers fear for their job stability and out-of-work individuals are trying to get a foot in the door -- the tendency to fudge facts may be on the rise. Company leaders need to manifest acceptable behavior.

The economic recession has led many employers to trim payroll in an effort to stay afloat. However, layoffs can have negative consequences for a company's healthcare and workers' compensation costs.

With so many Americans out of work, labor unions want a commission to be created to regulate the number of high-tech foreign workers allowed to come to the United States for jobs. Business organizations disagree, however, saying the country needs foreign talent to spur the economy and innovation.

Preliminary survey results from Prudential indicate companies will continue to push for a larger employee share of the healthcare cost burden. The era of paternalism is over. But while companies push for more employee decision-making, they are cutting back on educational efforts.

The latest outbreak of workplace violence offers some food for thought for HR leaders on the importance of compassion during terminations, as well as the importance of a corporate culture that embodies a zero-tolerance policy toward bias.