ADA Enforcement

The EEOC enforces Title I of the ADA. That agency will accept complaints of illegal discrimination based on mental or physical disability. Once an employee has established that he or she is disabled and claims that he or she has…

ADA “Job Accommodation”

Someone with a disability doesn’t necessarily need a job accommodation. Remember that we select people and place them in jobs if they are qualified for the performance of the essential functions, with or without a job accommodation. Someone with diabetes…

ADA “Major Life Activities”

Caring for oneself, seeing, hearing, touching, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, sitting, reaching, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, interacting with others, and working all are considered “major life activities.” Also included are major bodily functions such as…

ADA “Substantially Limits”

Employers are required to consider as disabled anyone with a condition that “substantially limits,” but does not “significantly restrict,” a major life activity. Even though the limitation might be reduced or eliminated with medication or other alleviation, the treatment may…

ADA Amendments Act of 2008

Following the U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Sutton v. United Airlines and in Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc., v. William, Congress felt that the Court had been too restrictive in its interpretation of who qualifies as disabled. It was the…

ADA Provisions and Protections

ADA Provisions and Protections Title I—Employment—applies to employers with 15 or more workers on the payroll. Those employers may not discriminate against a physically or mentally disabled individual in recruitment, hiring, promotions, training, pay, social activities, and other privileges of…

What is attrition?

Attrition or restrictive hiring is the act of reducing the workforce by not replacing individuals who leave an organization. Only essential positions are filled. Attrition is used to avoid layoffs. A hard freeze means that all open positions will remain…

Three stages of HR Planning

HR planning systems should support an organization’s business plan. Businesses must have a precise blend of knowledge, skills, and abilities among employees. HR Planning can be separated into three forecasting periods: Short-range planning involves projecting workforce staffing requirements. Middle-range planning…

Five Group Development Stages

The five stages of group development developed by Bruce Tuckman are: Forming: superficial introductions and determining boundaries of acceptable behavior. Storming: the team must work through conflicts related to authority, vision and values, personality, and cultural differences. Norming: greater cooperation…

What is KPIs?

KPI stands for Key Performance Indicators. KPIs measure specific human resource activities that contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of a company. KPIs provide a company with quantitative measurements that can be used to examine qualities and actions that contribute…

HR Staff per FTE Formula

To calculate this ratio: (number of human resources FTEs / Number of total FTEs) x 100 This ratio allows for the comparison of staffing levels among firms. In general, larger organizations employ more human resource professionals to meet the needs…

What is Self-Determination Theory?

Self-Determination Theory identifies three core intrinsic motivators: Autonomy, Competence, Relatedness. Autonomy in this context focuses more on self-initiation and regulating one’s behavior toward task selection, organization, and completion. Competence involves the mastery of skills required to complete the work and…

Skinner’s Operant Conditioning

  B.F. Skinner concluded that motivation is based on extrinsic factors such as reward and punishment. Employers can influence behavior through positive reinforcement or negative reinforcemen, which results in employees acting in certain ways to receive prizes or to avoid…

Herzberger’s Motivator Hygiene Theory

Herzberger’s Motivator Hygiene Theory Herzberger said an employee’s motivation is affected by both hygiene factors and motivators.   Hygiee factors: are extrinsic and include salary, benefits, and work environment. Motivators are intrinsic and include growth and recognition. Herzberger discovered that…

Characteristics of a Transformational Leadership

Characteristics of a Transformational Leadership include: Charismatic: gains buy-in for the vision and mission, earns respect and trust, and enstills pride. Inspirational: communicates heightened performance expectations and encourages big-picture thinkin. Intellectual stimulating: promotes learing and development. Individualized consideration: coaches followers,…