Issue 13, October 2007   SECTIONS Articles & Insights Case Study EmpCenter Archived Webinars Upcoming Events by Roger A. Smith, CPP & Payroll Consultant Looking Ahead? Many employers are unprepared for events such as major ice storms, snowstorms, or power outages, which can make it difficult or impossible to carry on normal business processes. It’s not just here in Michigan, of course. Tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, fires, even terrorist attacks can cause businesses to shut down. Many never re-open. [more]   OTHER ISSUES September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 SUBSCRIBE   Welcome to The Workforce Chronicle! In this edition of The Workforce Chronicle we discuss change management and why it's important for your business. Plus learn how Ohio Univesity automated the once manual process of time collection for over 10,000 employees. Congratulations to Wayne Hellebust from St. Francis Academy and Carrie Buchli from Noridian for winning the BLR Special Report on FLSA Overtime: Making Your Way Through the Exempt/Nonexempt Minefield. Featured Article Tips on Managing Change Why is change management important, you say? Change is inevitable and it is important in life and in business, yet there is always that fear of change. Whether you embrace or fear change, the unknown is something we all fear. Getting a new job is exciting, but we all worry about how well we can do the job, how well we will fit in, and how well we will like our new boss. All valid worries or fears, but sometimes they overshadow the excitement of getting a new job. Don’t do that to yourself. It pays off to embrace change, accept change, and learn how to manage change. Unlike the example of accepting a new job, in business you typically do not have control of when change occurs. For example, going through a corporate buy-out, getting a new boss, team or project, or implementing new processes can happen at any time. Prepared or not. COMPLETE ARTICLE Articles & Insights Judge rules on police overtime dispute A U.S. District Court judge has issued a mixed ruling for the Natick police officers and superior officers unions, which sued the town more than three years ago in a dispute over overtime. The two unions filed suit against Chief Dennis Mannix, the town and the police department, seeking overtime money they say they were short changed. Judge Richard Stearns ruled in favor of the regular patrol officers and detectives, but ruled in favor of the town in regards to superior officers, those with ranks of sergeant or higher, agreeing they are exempt employees. [more] Tyson sued by previous workers A Nampa (ID) attorney has filed a class action lawsuit against Tyson Foods on behalf of former employees of the company’s Boise plant. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court Sept. 11 as Victorio vs. Tyson, claims that workers were not paid for some of the time they worked at the plant. Nampa attorney Bruce Skaug, with Goicoechea Law Offices, said more than 300 people have come forward in the last few days to talk about their experiences. Many employees say they were required to work off the clock for at least an hour a day on a daily basis, Skaug said. [more] Wal-Mart on trial in Dakota County A trial has begun in Dakota County pitting Wal-Mart against former workers alleging wage-law violations by the retail giant. Four women who worked for the company claim the retailer was in violation of the Minnesota Fair Labor Standards Act, the Pioneer Press reported Wednesday. [more]   WorkForce News WorkForce Software to Demonstrate its EmpCenter Software Solution at the 10th Annual HR Technology Conference and Exposition in Chicago WorkForce Software’s EmpCenter System to Automate Workforce Processes at Ohio State University Libraries WorkForce Software In The News   Case Study Ohio University Customer Since: August 2002 No. of Employees: 10,000 Industry: Higher Education EmpCenter Solution: Time & Attendance ,Activity Based Costing, Accruals & Absence Manager, Multiple Assignments, Report Generation Platform: Windows Other ERP Solutions: Oracle HRMS & Project Accounting COMPLETE CASE STUDY   EmpCenter Multiple Assignments Cost control is a fact in today’s competitive economic environment. Knowing where a company’s costs are incurred is an important part of a CFO’s job. EmpCenter™ Multiple Assignments tracks the largest controllable expense—your employees. Certain organizations place employees into multiple, concurrent positions. For example, a police officer may also have a part-time job with the Parks and Recreation Department coaching Little League baseball, or a student tutor may also work for the school library. Each of these departments—Police, Parks and Recreation, Student Services, University Library—operate as a completely independent entity with separate pay rules, workflows, and approval procedures. The parent organization, though, is still responsible for regulatory compliance. This is where Multiple Assignments provides value. Contact WorkForce Software for more information at info@workforcesoftware.com.   Archived Webinars Time Collection for your Mobile, Field, Remote Workforce Process Modeling in the Payroll Department Strategic Planning in the Payroll Department Payroll Technologies: Past, Present and Emerging Top 5 Essential Practices for Payroll Professionals Controlling Overtime Pay with Scheduling Automation Trends and Myths of Workforce Management The Fair Labor Standards Act - A Review   Events Stop by the WorkForce Booth to receive your free gift and register for our drawings! HR Technology Navy Pier, Chicago October 10 – 12, 2007 Booth 1112 APA Michigan Statewide Conference Crowne Plaza Grand Rapids Airport October 18, 2007 CUPA-HR National Conference & Expo Baltimore Marriott Waterfront November 8 – 11, 2007 Booth 614     Sponsored by: