Managers are the primary contact with most of the rank-and-file employees in an organization. Whether it is an office manager in doctor’s office, the warehouse manager in a storage facility, or an inventory manager in a retail operation, all managers interact with their staff on a daily basis. As such, maintaining an educated and informed management team will go a long way in helping your business comply with complicated labor and employment laws.In an informal poll taken by AllBusiness (a division of Dunn & Bradstreet), managers were asked, “What is a manager’s role”? The answers were wide-ranging, but all shared the same underlying theme: daily oversight of the staff:”A manager’s role is to provide proper oversight and direction to a group that is trying to accomplish a certain task. They may also act as a mediator between those under him. Managers may need to be called upon at times to be disciplinarians or morale boosters.”"To make sure the place runs smoothly.”"A manager’s role is to maintain a productive atmosphere while conserving cost. He is the communication link between the employees and upper management.”The Manager’s RoleFor a manager to effectively do their job, they must be educated on the proper methods of discipline, motivation, and management. Furthermore, managers act as a direct extension of the executives and ownership of the organization. As such, any misstep by a manager may expose the entire organization to an employment lawsuit. While much of a manager’s role may seem like common sense, they must virtually become employment law and human resources experts to do their job properly.Dozens of State and Federal laws dictate precisely how managers can treat employees, speak to them, discipline, warn, and terminate them.Some of the most important laws governing these areas are Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits employment discrimination; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), which protects individuals who are 40 years of age or older; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), which prohibits disability discrimination, and the Civil Rights Act of 1991, which, among other things, provides monetary damages in cases of intentional employment discrimination.Educated Managers = Safe EmployersSo, while you may have hired your manager to “make sure the place runs smoothly”, or to “maintain a productive atmosphere”, equally, if not more important, is to make sure your management team is aware of the laws that govern their daily interaction with their staff. If you follow the steps below, you’ll be on your way to protecting your company, and yourself, from lawsuits:
Make sure management is familiar with all company policies and procedures.
Managers should actively review the Employee Handbook.
They should be familiar with the company Mission Statement.
Managers should be positive role models, always acting ethically with motivational leadership skills.
Act professionally at all times.
Encourage management to attend training classes to further educate themselves.
CONSTANTLY and CONSISTENTLY contact the Human Resources department before taking employment-related action.
In summary, encourage and provide learning opportunities to your management staff. Make it clear to them that conscious application of that knowledge is expected on a daily basis. Following these best practices will go a long way to help you and your business remain compliant with employment and labor laws, while promoting a positive and motivated work environment.
Educated Management Will Help Keep Your Business in Labor Law Compliance
Fitting Tips For Swim Wear
When buying a suit for competitive or serious swimming, the most important thing to remember is fit. Because you’ll be spending a considerable amount of time in your suit, you want to make sure you’ll be able to move comfortably without hindering your movement through the water. Here is what you should look for to achieve a good, comfortable fit.
The suit should like perfectly flat against your torso making sure there are no puckering or pulling at the seams. Also be sure there is no pulling from the straps or openings. A suit that has a higher spandex content will allow for a flat fit. You are looking for a snug fit that will accommodate a good range of body motion, but not a fit that is too tight.
Make sure you can stretch your body out without any stretching from the leg or neck openings.
The next thing you’ll want to look for is how the leg openings fit. Make sure the elastic in the openings do not dig into your legs or pucker. Move to a larger size if the leg openings are too tight.
Check the back for adequate coverage. If the suit does not provide enough coverage you may want to try a larger size or perhaps a different style.
How do the shoulder straps look and feel on your shoulders? Make sure they do not dig into the skin. A suit with wider straps may work better for you than a narrow one. Rotate your shoulders to determine if the straps will remain comfortable and in place in all arm positions. You want straps that are not too loose which can slow you down if they don’t stay securely on your shoulders as you swim.
When fitting the suit to the chest and bust area you are looking for one that will provide you with sufficient coverage. Lift your arms in front of a mirror to determine if the suit is adequate. Make sure the suit provides ample support without completely flattening the breasts.
If you are a serious swimmer and have considered purchasing a full body suit, be aware these suits can be quite pricey because of all the additional fabric used in making them. They can be great for shaving off fractions of seconds, but are probably not necessary if you are merely swimming for fitness purposes. These suits should fit snuggly against all parts of the body, but not so tight that they are uncomfortable, painful, or cuts off circulation.
Now that you’ve got the tools for correctly fitting competition suit, you are ready to go out and purchase a suit that you feel confident in!