It’s been announced that there’s a holiday gathering! Fantastic! Finally time to let loose, party it up and have some fun with coworkers – or is it? I suppose the answer can depend on the person, but as rule, remember that work-sponsored parties, even if they do offer free booze, is still a WORK party! Don’t let one party be the game-changer for how people see you professionally after that “one crazy night!” Here are a few tips to survive the party without ruining your professional reputation: 1. Keep the cocktail count down! The company may be picking up the [...]

Hopefully employee engagement and morale is a year-round focus and effort for your company, but the holiday season certainly brings out an elevated level of giving thanks and celebrating those around us. For some of your employees, however, the holidays may be extra stressful. Trying to balance the demands of hosting family or traveling to see family, purchasing gifts, attending religious services, volunteering at food banks, and countless other holiday-related obligations alongside work deadlines and expectations, this season may leave people feeling overloaded. Depending on budget, some companies can offer more perks than others, but even the little things can [...]

As the holiday season has quickly come upon us, many companies opt to throw a party! We’ve all heard some Holiday party horror stories – and if you haven’t, check out Inc.com’s list of holiday party faux-pas! But all jokes and horror stories aside, holiday parties can be a real source of liability for employers! Have no fear!  Peoplescape is here to help guide your party planning committee on how to limit  liability. Naming the event Every good event should have a name! In the case of holiday parties, remember the name needs to be inclusive of all cultures, religions, etc. Do not call [...]

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, he could hold a rather large amount of gratitude.” – Winnie the Pooh Thanksgiving is a time for all of us to sit back and evaluate what we are grateful for. In America, this holiday has a competing message because of the history behind it. But let’s put that aside for a moment and concentrate on what truly matters. Let's Give Thanks! What are you thankful for in your life? Of course, family and friends should top the list! But what about your job? Are you thankful for your [...]

The list of lawsuits against Uber is long, and appears to be growing. From rider safety and information security to employee misclassification, the legal team over at Uber has its hands full! Back in September, California drivers for Uber were granted class-action status over the company’s failure to pay for necessary benefits in an employment relationship. Currently, all Uber drivers are classified as independent contractors, which means that these self-employed drivers are responsible for paying for gas, insurance, and car maintenance – expenses which would typically be covered by the company in an employment relationship. The issue with Uber’s classification [...]

Natural Disasters are unpredictable and always seem to strike at the most in-opportune times. In California, the natural disasters we tend to plan for most are fires and earthquakes. Many people have at least one, if not multiple earthquake kits should a disaster strike while you are at home, but what about natural disasters at work?  What are the emergency supplies you have at the workplace? Who knows where these supplies are and how to access them? Responsibilities like these tend to be the responsibility of HR professionals, owners, and operators. If this blog is setting off the “panic” alarm [...]

A few weeks back we brought you the top ten list of issues that could get employers sued in 2015. This week we are reviewing Mercer’s Top Ten Compliance-Related Issues for Employers! As you are finalizing the 2016 health benefit programs, contribution strategies, vendor terms, and employee communications, here is Mercer’s list of things to think about: 1. Employer shared-responsibility (ESR) strategy. Ensure the intended goal of avoiding or paying ESR assessments for 2016 coverage is supported by coverage offers, administrative and recordkeeping processes, and benefit documents. 2. ESR reporting. Arrange data sources, systems, and administrative processes to collect all [...]