Tracking comments on Twitter about work related topics has been like getting to see all the morning drive-time auto collisions, all across the country, all at once. People on Twitter like to gripe, and they like to gripe about work. The following comments come from tracking the words "Hate work" over the last 48 hours, which includes the weekend! You would think there would be less anger expressed toward one's job on the days most people are off work... but, maybe those who are forced to work weekends are especially vocal with their angry dismay over laboring away while their friends play (one Tweet said almost exactly that). Without further ado, here's the best of hating work from Twitter posts during the last 48 hours. (If my readers find this "best of Twitter" concept … [Read more...]
Age Discrimination: Beware a Sudden Change in Your Performance Appraisals
Starbucks announced it is closing 600 stores. American Airlines announced it is laying off 900 flight attendants. Polaroid is shutting down two manufacturing plants. The computer chip maker AMD is cutting 10% of its workforce. From coffee to cameras, to computers to planes, people across all industries are facing mass layoffs and the potential to lose their jobs. As an employment lawyer, I always advise companies that the only safe way to conduct a layoff is to follow this simple rule: “Last hired, first fired.” Defense attorneys love this way of selecting employees for layoff, because it is objective. There no way for discriminatory motives and biases to creep into a system that is based solely on dates of hire. But do companies use “Last hired, first fired”? Usually not. … [Read more...]
