Congress Urged to Improve Accuracy of Davis-Bacon Prevailing Wage Rates

The Davis-Bacon Act’s prevailing wage rates for federal contractor construction workers “vary wildly from actual market pay,” testified James Sherk, senior policy analyst in labor economics for the Heritage Foundation, before the U.S. House of Representatives Education and the Workforce Committee on April 14, 2011. The Davis-Bacon Act requires contractors on federally funded construction projects to pay employees at least as much as other construction workers in the area earn—the prevailing wage.This prevents construction contractors from winning federal construction projects by bringing in outside workers earning below local wages.  Full Story | Video

Report: Many HR Departments Lack Crucial Skills for Success

A stepped-up level of performance and acquisition of new, critical skill sets will ensure that human resource organizations are equipped to help their companies drive bottom-line impact. However, many HR professionals are in as great a need of these skills as the proverbial cobbler’s children are in need of shoes, a research report released Jan. 26, 2011, by the consulting firm Bersin & Associates indicates. The data from surveys and interviews with more than 720 global organizations found that overall spending levels, organization structure, and team size have far less impact on business performance than the skills of the HR professionals themselves.  Full Story | Video

SHRM Partners with White House on Military Family Initiative

On Tuesday, April 12, SHRM's Acting President and CEO Hank Jackson participated in the White House announcement of a new presidential initiative called Joining Forces, accompanying President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Dr. Jill Biden on the dais during their remarks. Joining Forces is a national initiative to encourage public and private sector support of America's service members and their families in the areas of employment, health, and education. Led by Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden, the program aims to spark action from all sectors of our society to ensure that military families receive the support they have earned—including employment opportunities. You can read more about Tuesday's announcement on SHRM's website.  Full Story | Video

Don’t Toss off Common Sense During Workplace Investigations

When a parent caught high school teacher Tom Elsass watching a group of teenage girls from the school parking lot with his fly down and his maleness exposed, which is the more likely explanation for the large wet spot on his shorts? Elsass, who claimed to suffered from a leaky bladder, was vigorously rubbing his pants “inside and out” to rid his shorts of the wet spot from an embarrassing “pee stain.” Elsass, who claimed to suffered from a leaky bladder, was vigorously rubbing his pants “inside and out” to rid his shorts of the wet spot from an embarrassing “pee stain.” -or- Elsass was masturbating. Full Story | Video