Will Work for… Free?

Will Work for... Free?

By Tim Eavenson on June 15th, 2009

As the recession sits on the international job reports like a boulder, a lot of us are waiting to find out what the great HR idea is going to finally pull us out of the opportunity vaccuum we’re currently stuck with.

NPR is reporting on one small business owner in New York that thinks he’s found the answer – at least for his company.

Here’s an innovative concept: all those job searchers need a place to search, right? Well, if you’ve got an empty desk and an internet connection, why not offer it up? Maybe they’ll give you some free labor in return.

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Southern Cops in MS Aren’t Feeling the Hospitality

Southern Cops in MS Aren’t Feeling the Hospitality

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has concluded an investigation of racial discrimination claims made by black Mississippi state troopers. The investigation spanned several months and resulted in the agency finding in favor of the state troopers. Now state lawmakers are fighting over when and how to address the issues.

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Union-Tribune Follow-up: A Response

In response to the story I posted about the LA Police Protective League asking its private equity fund, Platinum Equity, to oust the editorial staff of the newspaper it acquired, I got the following email from Eric Rose at Englander & Associates, the PR firm working with the LA Police & Fire Union, along with [...]

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Union's Call for Editorial Staff Ouster Raises Ownership Questions

Union’s Call for Editorial Staff Ouster Raises Ownership Questions

Last week, I posted a summary of a LERA presentation on the benefits of private equity firms using labor pension funds to invest in struggling businesses. One of the upshots discussed was that the pension funds could use their investments to advance the agendas of the union.

At least one union is stretching the limits of that theory.

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Fashionable Unions - H&M Workers in NYC Ratify First Contract

Fashionable Unions – H&M Workers in NYC Ratify First Contract

When you think of unions and New York City, what comes to mind? Probably not what they’re selling at international reasonably-priced fashionista retailer H&M.

But in a sign of the times, over 1,000 NYC employees are going to work today under a newly-ratified union contract that will raise their hourly pay and place restrictions on the company’s ability to change schedules at the last minute.

So does this mean the labor movement is getting a makeover?

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Strange Bedfellows: Labor & Capital

Strange Bedfellows: Labor & Capital

As companies continue to suffer losses, unionized workforces are increasingly worried about their employers’ health and the future of their jobs. Some unions in troubled companies are finding an unlikely source of salvation and partnership: private equity.

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EEOC Issues Opinion Letter Holding Health Risk Assessment Violates ADA

EEOC Issues Opinion Letter Holding Health Risk Assessment Violates ADA

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently opined that “an employer violated the Americans with Disabilities Act when it required employees to undertake a health risk assessment (“HRA”) as a condition of participating in the employer’s group health plan.” The case the EEOC based its informal opinion letter on involved a county that had implemented an [...]

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