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Question: How should employee files be organized? Answer: We recommend having five separate files for each employee, as outlined below: These files should be kept in a secure location that is only accessible to those in the HR function or with a legitimate need to review the information—for instance, in locked cabinets inside a locked
Introduction On some level, I think we all understand that print is a better medium for deeper reading comprehension, but it is nice when a group of researchers takes the time to attach electrodes to some middle schoolers to prove it. That is exactly what Dr. Karen Froud and her team did in a 2024
Question: Are cost-of-living raises mandatory? Answer: Some state minimum wage adjustments are tied to the consumer price index, but otherwise, cost-of-living raises are not required by state or federal law. You just need to make sure you’re paying any applicable state and municipal minimum wages. That said, if the cost of living has increased in
The merger between VMA and Printing Industries Association (PIA) is now official, effective July 1, 2025. Driven by common challenges — such as declining membership, overlapping expenses, and an aging workforce—this strategic union positions both organizations for long-term sustainability and stronger member support. To protect VMA’s interests and preserve its unique voice, leadership engaged legal
Our Industry is Challenged, But Our Findings Show High Performers! We open by assessing our industry using Michael Porter’s Five-Forces model. Then, we share some findings from our February/March 2025 “Printing Industry Performance & Insights” study. Compared to our industry assessment, our study’s findings are a bit surprising. One might see our findings as “striking.” We
Question: An employee requested an unpaid leave of absence to complete their last semester of college. Do we have to approve it? If we don’t but still want to, what should we consider before approving the employee’s request? Answer: A leave of absence for educational purposes isn’t covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act,
Question: Who should be responsible for delivering disciplinary action in response to performance or attendance issues? Answer: In general, disciplinary actions should be delivered by the employee’s manager. It’s the manager’s job to define what success looks like in the role, set performance and attendance expectations, monitor the employee’s work, offer guidance, coaching, and feedback,
Introduction Do you ever wonder if you might not be getting the full picture of something? It could be regarding your production floor data, customer satisfaction surveys, or perhaps the sources for images that a client wants to use, which were generated using artificial intelligence (AI). A military study from World War II provides some
Question: Can we have a mandatory retirement age? Answer: With a few exceptions, no, you can’t have a mandatory retirement age. Forcing an employee age 40 or older to retire at a certain age would likely violate the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. You could, however, offer voluntary retirement plans or various post-retirement benefits for
In December 2024, the US Government Publishing Office (GPO) announced that it had awarded $469.2 million in print procurement program contracts with private-sector printing companies in its fiscal year 2024, which runs (as do those of other Federal agencies) from October 1st of the previous year to September 30th. The stated goal of these contracts
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